Pader, Uganda

 Hey Everyone! 

Curtis here live from Pader, Uganda! I'm here in the E.I. community center with Terry & Tes completely draining this petit generator of all its power as it roaringly chugs away. It was a long, bumpy ride from Kampala squished in the back seat between 4 hockey bags full of soccer equipment; not to mention a plethora of pineapples and bananas we picked up enroute to Lira. Thank God for keeping us safe and out of harms way! Thank you also for your many prayers over the past couple of days. Much appreciated 

I can't find the words to express to you the joy that is in my heart right now. The Acholi people of N. Uganda are the warmest and most beautiful community of people I have ever met. Everywhere I go I am greeted with smiles and a heart felt welcome. The pictures I have posted can only give you a small glimpse of the beauty of this tribe of people. The amount of trials and hardships they have endured over the past 25 years is completely disheartening and a sheer tragedy. I have heard many in the West speak of Northern Uganda as a God forsaken part of Africa. I assure you that God is very obviously here and He is at work. 

I am working side by side a man named Francis who I am privileged to know and call my friend. During the insurgency Francis was abducted by the LRA and because of his height and size was told he would be a great soldier for the rebel army. Only 3 days in the bush the rebel leaders called him by his very name and told him that he was released to go home. To this day Francis does not understand why this happened but he knows God has a purpose for his life and the way He seizes every moment to love on others is incredibly inspiring to see. 

My mind is somewhat scattered right now so I apologize for run-on sentences and disorganized paragraph formations... 

After a couple of stalls and some sharp turns, I am now considered a good motorcycle driver by Acholi standards! (Watch out Steve McQueen!) The Eritrean food was the underlying cause of an upset stomach as I hopped right onto the D-train within a couple of days. Thanks to anti-biotics (shut up Bebbs! ha) the tummy is back up to par. Solar eclipse today! Checked it out through my sunglasses (or goggles as they call them here). Pretty exciting! Terry and I took the E.I. staff (8 of us in total) out for dinner yesterday and the total came to 25,200 shillings which is equivalent to $14.00 CAN. Unreal! Very tasty food too. 

Had a meeting today with a number of leaders in the district about the upcoming soccer ministry in which a lot of you provided the resources for. I am completely humbled at how much God is entrusting me with here in Pader. There are huge hopes and expectations for the sport of soccer to be a driving force for peace and reconciliation amongst the divided villages in the north. Please pray that God would work mightily through this opportunity. 

I must be going as a pot of rice and beans is getting cold. Till next time...

I love you all, 

Curtis