Namayingo June 2019
Yearly Report 2015
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We began our journey at Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta Georgia. Boarded Canadian Airlines to Toronto----a 2 hour layover then Boarded Ethiopian Airlines 787 for a 13 hour flight to Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia. Then boarded another E.A. flight to Entebbe where a number of close friends greeted us with trills and and much joy. Then a short trip to the money exchange office to convert Dollars to Uganda Shillings-----3,800 schillings per dollar. We received the shillings in bundles, each wrapped in a band and in denominations of 20,000 to 50,000 each. I felt very wealthy but when you figure a 5,000 ugs note will render less than1.25 dollars----NOT SO RICH. Then on to the Kitoro market for some supplies and to the pharmacy for Doxycycline for malaria prevention.
Gracious Host
On to the Host Home of the Otage family, an absolutely lovely place to stay and rest for two days.
Andrew Otage and myself
Delightful quarters
Two days here, shopping for a bicycle in Kampala, and on to Jimmy's work shop near Kyunga.
Quick stop for Driving Lessons
Truth in advertising ?
Motorized
Jimmy rents a workshop for his bussiness where he builds quality Surge Protected power strips which he sells to banks, stores and businesses. Power surges are frequent in Uganda which makes "Bita Power Strips" very popular. This location is where we will install a 50cc, 4 stroke gasoline engine to Jimmy's bicycle. I purchased the engine in the U.S. online, my wife the bicycle in Kampala, to build the only bicycle of it's kind in Uganda. This machine will travel 120 miles per gallon of gas, saving Jimmy a good deal of money for Boda transportation from home [Lusenke] to his shop some seven miles distance. A "nights rest" at a local motel with intermittent cold running water and electricity, and a western style toilet with no seat-----8 dollars/18,000 schillings.
Stripped down bicycle frame to begin, Jimmy to my right.
A crowd begins to gather.
Installing new pedals, drive gear, and rear wheel gear to frame.
Pedal chain in place. This bike can be operated with traditional pedals or gasoline engine.
Checking for needed alterations for engine mounting plate.
Mounting plate alteration by Jimmy.
Mounting plate installed and now the engine with centrifugal clutch.
Transmission installation.
Fuel tank.
Engine adjustments
Here's where things got a little crazy
When Jimmy pointed the bike toward the exit door and fired up the engine the clutch kicked in and the bike lunged forward and the crowd scattered.
Crowd scattered in approximately 1.5 SECONDS as the bike lunged through the doorway without a driver. Thanks to a quick thinking onlooker who lifted the rear of the bike so the drive wheel was off the floor, no harm was done------WHEW.
Bita Bike----The only one in all of Uganda
On to Lusenke Kyunga Uganda
Click arrow for video
A wonderful welcome at the Church of Jesus Christ, Lusenke Kayunga-----Burcham John James Bita [foreground].
This school was founded by Regina Bita, the wife of Bishop Pastor Bita James [Jimmy] Oloo. It has been less than a year since it began enrolling students and there is now more than fifty regular students. The school meets inside the Church-house which was constructed only one year ago. A "miracle" to the people of this village. A dear saint from North Carolina, U.S.A. funded the Church-house building project.
First Pre-School Graduation
December 2015
Bishop and Schoolmaster Bita welcome teachers and special guests.
Bishop Bita presents teachers with Certificates of Appreciation
Special Presentation for proud student
Two special students. Principal Regina Bita [center----white gown].
Students and parents
Strike up the band
Pre-school graduates smartly dressed. Ready for Primary education.
Children's medical emergency fund
This is a fund that B.F.U. initiated shortly after the death of two year old Brenda Modong who died from Malaria exacerbation because her parents had no money to send her to the nearest clinic. A link has been provided for you to familiarize yourselves with this ongoing effort.
click below
Last season Jimmy and village men dug a hole near the Church-house looking for water with which to make bricks to be used for the construction of a school-house. What they found was clean, clear water via an underground flowing spring. Because the hole was so large [five feet across] we feared that a small child could fall in and drown so Jimmy secured it until I arrived and we began a project to put in a six inch breadth "well pipe" made of sturdy PVC.
Toting water from the Nile to use for cooking and to boil for safe drinking water.
Digging deeper.
Dredging
Prepping the well pipe by drilling intake holes every 16 inches on both sides.
Onlookers gather-----will this really work?
Setting the pipe.
Dead center.
Second of two loads of stone arrive. First load two inch plus stone. Second load a bit smaller.
Beginning to fill the hole with stone----a community effort.
A few stones down the pipe so that the well bucket will not land in sand.
Stone secures the pipe.
Almost filled with stone.
The rock will be covered with a thick layer of polyethylene plastic sheeting, then back-filled with dirt. Will it work? We'll see.
Constructing a PVC well bucket with brass check valve at the lower end.
Installing line anchor.
Adding screw on extension to accomodate more water in the bucket.
Water-----A resounding success
Break for lunch
Lusenke cook house
Lunch in Regina's office.
Chicken livers, cabbage, rice, sweet potatoes, beans and posha
Reading glasses
Two generous donors from from the Augusta/Evans Georgia area, U.S.A enabled us to purchase 300 pair of reading glasses 1.5 to 3.5 strengths. Many of our conference attendees have told us they have a difficult time reading their new native language Bibles because of poor eyesight. We placed an appeal to our regular donors for funds to purchase reading glasses and as usual, our donors stepped to the plate to help.
In all, eighty people received reading glasses in Lusenke. Most departed before we could get a photo of them. We will continue to distribute reading glasses at our quarterly Bible distribution conferences. Next conference scheduled for the second week in December.
Happy Birthday to me
On October 7, 2015 I celebrated my 70th birthday in Lusenke Kyunga Uganda. The Church-house was filled to capacity with people who came to wish me a happy birthday. Singing, praise, and rejoicing were the order of the day.
Prayer over B.F.U. chairman Danny McDowell
Church prayer in unison for Bibles for Uganda Governing Board.
Introduction to elder women of the Church including 100 year old Sister Sara [with red scarf on her head].
100 year old Sister Sara introduced to Danny through an interpreter who spoke her language. She was so excited that a Mzungu [white man] from the U.S.A. had come to Lusenke to meet her.. The interpreter is Elder Beatrice.
Speaking to Church leaders through interpreter Bishop Bita, the Pastor of this Church. Bishop Bita speaks five languages including English.
Ochomo Edison
Pastor Jimmy found this man at his hut, starving and sick. He feared to eat food and ate only kasava root. He was quite delusional and confused. Jimmy looked after his immediate needs and invited him to worship with the Church of Jesus Christ Lusenke. He bagan to attend regularly. His mind began to clear and he began to eat a normal village diet. He stood before the congregation while I was there and gave a wonderful testimony of how the Lord saved him from his troubled mind. He spoke with absolute clarity and free of confusion. A MIRACLE INDEED.
To the Nile for Birthday Baptism
While still in the U.S. I considered a renewal of my faith in the Resurrection of the Righteous dead at Christ's return. Bishop Pastor Bita, Pastor Joshua and Pastor Kirkiriza agreed to baptize me in the nearby Nile River of Biblical fame. What an exciting experience. More than twenty new believers were baptized on October 7th.
Procession to the Nile.
Toting gallons of water from the nile, up hill to their village. A common site in rural Uganda.
Baptizing elder women who had walked a good distance to be baptized.
Baptizing Sister Sara.
Baptized in Christ and raised to the newness of life at 100 years of age-----AWESOME! Pastor Kirkiriza [black jacket] and Bishop Pastor Bita [red t-shirt].
One of the most exciting days of my life, watching so many believers being baptized.
Omuzungu omunene owichwalata---"the big bald white man".
Into the Nile.
A renewal of faith in the Resurrection.
Back to Entebbe
After ten days in the Lusenke Kyunga area we headed back to Entebbe and the Otage family home for two days of rest and preparation for travel back to the U.S.
Nice day------gorgeous wife of 29 years.
Lynette and Mrs Otage [Andrews mom]. Mrs Otage is the Matriarch of the Otage clan. She is well known and respected in Entebbe. For many years she was a midwife and delivered many babies, some of which grew to be notable people in the community. She also delivered many of the children of those same notable individuals. She is always soft spoken, kind, and hospitable.
A lakeside lunch on the North shore of Lake Victoria----source of the Nile. Lynette behind the camera.
Lakeside kiss------29 years and still my sweetheart.
Jimmy, Joshua and Danny at the Otage home a day before our departure. It has been a memorable time and experience in Uganda. Wish we could have stayed longer.
Our primary objective is to purchase and distribute quality native language Bibles to village Pastors and Church leaders whose own Bibles are tattered beyond practical use. We distribute hundreds of Bibles per year. We charge no fee. As a matter of fact, we refuse to receive compensation of any kind from the recipients. Our rewards await us at the Last Trump. All travel expenses incurred for yearly travel to Uganda are paid for out of the personal funds of Board Chairman Danny McDowell and wife Lynette. All contributions are used to purchase and distribute Bibles into the village Churches of Uganda unless otherwise delegated by the donor.We have a number of individual ministries in Uganda which are supported by particular donors for that express cause. Some of our missions---
Native language Bibles, teaching sound fundamental first century Christianity, crop seed distribution, emergency medical attention, quality used clothing to poor Pastors and Elders, bicycles for village Pastors and Elders to minister to God's people, Basic provision to the poorest of the poor, Reading glasses and many other needed projects at the express will of particular donors.
If you would like to participate in "Bibles for Uganda", please review the links below.
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