Bumps and more...

BUMPTY, BUMP, BUMP…that is how it goes riding on the roads in Africa, as most already know. We get to drive on a section of road, almost daily, that can give a whole new meaning to African pot-holes as they are so BIG, so DEEP, and MORE numerous than you can count? It can “feel” that you are in a demolition derby, as you are bumped and jostled around, getting back and neck adjustments (whether you want them or not) on this rough two-lane road.

Then, as if you haven’t had enough fun for the day, those two-lanes can expand before your very eyes, as if you are having double, no quadruple vision; as various vehicles of differing sizes and shapes start coming out from behind larger vehicles, that are all headed toward you. Now all of a sudden, you may have 1-3 lanes on your right and/or 1-3 lanes on your left that can consist of big buses, bug trucks, lorry’s (with or without people standing in them & swaying back and forth), vans, car, &/or motorcycles…and as if that wasn’t enough, a bicycle or two might try and squeeze by, from behind you, on your passenger side.

Now, not only does it “feel” like a demolition derby but now it also “looks” like one, as many vehicles are now driving toward you in a most chaotic, haphazard way, trying to dodge the worse of the pot-holes…and also trying to beat everyone else at it. (Now, I know this just made you want to jump on the first plane over here and take a ride with us. Just so you know we are not exaggerating about how bad the pot-holes are, the Ugandan newspaper ran an article last week, saying this road is the worse road, in all of Uganda. Boy, there are some things I would rather not be #1)!!!!

After two or three days of this, as Harry was trying to maneuver around the deepest of holes with the least amount of bumping (my heart has repeatedly prayed for him and his back), I reached over and laid my hand on his arm and said, “Lord, you tell us that you make the crooked roads straight; will you please make these bumpy roads smooth?”

Then a couple of days later, as we were bumping and bouncing along, we both spotted a big bulldozer parked on the side of the road. Oh, my! Hopes started going up because it usually takes a long time for things to get done here. As we got closer, we could see that the bulldozer had already scraped a couple of hundred feet of dirt along the roadside, for another lane. OH, WOW…this was a huge glimmer of hope! Maybe, just maybe they would use some of the extra dirt to fill in the huge holes. You can believe we prayed!

When we came back from helping at the hospital that afternoon, the bulldozer had filled in some of the holes!! I cannot tell you how excited we were and how we praised the Lord for answered prayers!! I kept thinking that God can and does move mountains, even to fill in the worse pot-holes in Uganda! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, prayer warriors, for your continued prayers!!

FYI-Harry has been invited to preach at First Baptist Church of Mbale tomorrow, we would appreciate your prayers!!

Thanks so much,
Harry & Pam