Uganda and Tanzania March 2012

During March 2012, I (Johan) travelled to both Uganda and Tanzania. Many things happened during this trip which once again reminded me of the importance of being in alignment with the Lord’s plan. Ever so often we, as human beings, ask God what is His plan for our lives. We need to know what our ministry, calling or purpose is. And when we cannot find an answer, we feel unworthy or of no use in the Kingdom of God. But this is not how it is meant to be. We are here to do His Will and be part of His plan for His Body.

The Kingdom of God is not an individual thing, but rather it is about the corporate Body of Christ. Each individual plays a role in the whole body. It is not a case of “my ministry” but rather about the Lord ministering through us as a whole. What we need to do or accomplish to fulfill His plan and His will for His body is up to us. The Lord requires obedience from us, no matter the cost. Yes, there are times when it is not easy, when we face difficulties, we get hungry and thirsty, our money runs out or we face opposition. But in the end His Kingdom has come and His Will on earth is done, through the Body of Christ.

Bearing this in mind, we would like to share a few experiences during the trip to Uganda and Tanzania. When I arrived at the Guest House in Kampala, Uganda, I discovered that intensive renovations and power sharing were taking place. As a result there was no electricity. This meant that the ceiling fans were not working – and Kampala is a very hot place!!!! Secondly, I needed to do admin work on my laptop during the evenings. One night, I sat with a torch and the light from the laptop screen, trying to get on with my work!! However, laptop batteries need to be charged, so after a few hours, I could not continue.

On the last night, I was taken to the airport and arrived some 6 hours early. I spent most of the night and morning waiting for my flight to Nairobi, for the next leg of the trip. On arrival in Nairobi, Kenya. I then took a flight to Mwanza which lies on the south shore of Lake Victoria. Here I teamed up with Bishop Leonard Daffa, the co-ordinator for Afmin in Tanzania. Together we travelled to Musoma by bus. My first Afmin On10 School in Tanzania for 2012 was held in this little village in the North west of Tanzania, next to Lake Victoria.

On our way to Musoma we travelled through the western part of the Serengeti National Park. One tends to imagine the Serengeti as a place of vast savannah with wild animals roaming freely. This indeed is the case. However, there are many villages of people living in the reserve, etching out an existence amongst the animals.

Musoma is a fishermens’ town. Fish forms their staple ingredient of all meals. At the end of the week, when we were to fly back to Mwanza,  the plane did not arrive and we were informed that it was cancelled. Precision Air (just imagine), the flight company, arranged a small bus which took us to Mwanza, on the same route we had travelled in the bus, a few days previously. We were running very late by now but fortunately the plane for our next flight to Dar-es-Salam, had not yet left. On arrival at Dar-es-Salaam International airport round about midnight everything was closed and the only alternative for me was to spend the night sleeping on a bench outside the airport.

This was by far one of my most challenging trips.