Our Mountaintop Experience

Our adventure on April 28-29 has to be at the top of our experiences in Uganda. Little did we know that when we ventured out to move Pastor Musungu Fred, his wife Moreen & daughter Tryphena we would be surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. Just thinking about it today brings back many joyful memories. 

We left about 8:00 Sunday morning, expecting to reach Sipi Falls about 1:00. Nope! But memories of the pothole-covered road from Soroti to Mbale pales in comparison to the joy awaiting us in the mountains… 

We reached Sipi Falls about 2:15pm, where we were to meet Wolimbwa Rogers, my translator on the 2008 mission trip. When we reached Sipi Falls we called Rogers and he came to meet us, along with another pastor who grew up in the area we would be exploring. While we waited Dennis talked with some of the locals and saw coffee trees for the first time in his life. Kids surrounded our van and I interacted with them the best I could…only a couple could speak English. This is Silas, who helped me high-step up the mountain. He was 12 years old, but he could hike. I asked him what he would like to do when he grows up, and he replied, "Tour Guide". Coffee beans were growing on trees near the base of the mountain. These are almost ready to harvest. They will be ready when they turn cranberry in color.

Rogers & George took us on a hike up the mountains where we saw the gorgeous & largest waterfall, Sipi Falls (see photo on left). Then we crossed a narrow old wooden bridge, hiked some more and came to the top of a second waterfall. The mountains & vegetation are breathtaking!! We could not believe the great soil on the mountains which allowed the farmers to “dig” (plant crops) on mountain ridges & even on the sides of the mountains. It really is beautiful to see. We could have hiked near another waterfall, Sisiye Falls. (2008 team, remember the waterfall on Dr. Patrick’s property? This is it!)  

About 4:00 we headed towards Rogers’ home village. What a ride that was!!! Rogers was concerned that Dennis might not be accustomed to driving in this type of terrain, but Dennis soon proved otherwise. We saw the beautiful countryside where he lives. He showed us his “coffee gardens” (orchards). He has three separate gardens. Since land is handed down there from generation to generation it is hard to purchase plots together. He also has avocado trees. He showed us the area where he and Pastor George hope to plant a church. Since Rogers finished seminary he has helped a couple of younger pastors get started, but has not really had his own church, but he is a really good pastor.This is a photo of Rogers & his family in front of their home.

The roads had ruts but it had not rained for a few days, and we were able to reach his home…almost! You see, he & his family live on the side of a mountain. It was interesting walking up the path to his house, which we could not even see from below. His wife graciously welcomed us & had prepared a meal for us of rice & beef soup. Beef is usually only served on Christmas & Easter. It was delicious. It was very humbling to be served large helpings of beef while the rest of the family just had rice. We also met his three children. His father, brothers & two close friends were served the meal. Then one by one his stepmother, aunt & other women greeted us during the meal. 

This was such a great experience for me, seeing this humble, faithful, godly servant of God who has led all of his family to the Lord & has such a burden that the people in the area come to Christ. He and several others in the village have started a school for the children in the area. It meets in a crudely constructed building, but many children are learning for the first time in their lives. The pastors in this school are each supporting 5 orphans with school fees to attend this school. I have been praying for him for five years & God has answered so many prayers. My greatest prayer is that God will provide a church of his own to pastor.

As soon as the meal was over it was time to head back to Mbale for the night. Rogers gave us a large sack of avocados which he had raised & a chicken. The avocados are larger than most avocados we see in Lira. They are the best we have ever tasted! We hoped to reach Mbale before dark, but of course that did not happen. When we finally reached Mbale it was a welcome sight to meet Pastor Fred and Moreen. They lovingly welcomed us and we went to our hotel for the night. Dennis was very tired after all that driving and experienced some leg cramps, so he did not sleep well. 

Monday morning we had an early breakfast and Fred met us at the hotel at 8:00. Moreen was teaching in a nursery school but met us in town. Fred had one important stop he wanted us to make. He wanted us to visit with his father. This was again in the mountains, close to the area we had visited on Sunday.  Again it was a beautiful drive with lots of ruts. We kept driving and began to be concerned that we would run out of diesel. Finally we reached his father’s home. 

Fred had told me earlier that he wanted us to share the gospel with his dad, but I’m not sure he conveyed that to Dennis. So I put my Bible in my large purse. Dennis did not have his Bible with him & had left his reading glasses in the van when we arrived at his dad’s house. There were lots of nieces & nephews, and all of Fred’s family who were not out “digging”. His mother greeted us warmly; she is a believer. Then we went inside and met his father, who recently had a stroke and was sitting in a chair.  

Dennis shared the gospel with all of them and I read the scriptures he wanted read. He used the analogy of our reaching up to God as stretching up to get a beautiful, ripe mango which is out of our reach, and told them that our sin prevents us from reaching God. Fred’s dad and many children said they wanted Jesus to forgive their sin and come into their lives!!! What a wonderful day! We are so glad we did not miss this divine appointment!!! 

When we left we took a different, though longer route with a highway and a gas station. God answered our prayers to find diesel.

We packed up the Musungu’s belongings and left Mbale about 2:15. It was a quick trip home with little traffic & we reached Lira by 6:00. Moreen & Tryphena came on Thursday because she had to finish the school term. We are happy to have the new pastor & family. They are living at the orphanage. His installation service was on Sunday, May 5.  Photo below, l. to r. Emiku Dennis, Dennis Baltzer, Moreen & Fred Musungu.

We praise God for His protection and care. An immense “Thank you” to everyone who is praying for us! 

Blessings,

Dennis & Margie