celebration

Doug and Destiny watched our kids for two nights while Cheryl and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. We went to Mweya Safari Lodge in Queen Elizabeth national park. At dinner time we got all dressed up and enjoyed just being together. It was really fun. We laughed and laughed.
Thanks you Doug and Destiny for this wonderful gift!
During the day we went swimming "It felt strange not to have a single floaty to blow up." Resting by the pool felt nice.
We also went on a game drive and saw elephants and all kinds of animals. It was a great two days!

July 4th

I woke up at 4AM. Ronald, Dick and I were all staying at the Baptist Guest house in Kampala. Cheryl stayed home to get ready for the party and asked me to get the meat. (The meat is in Kampala which is several hours from Fort Portal!) So count your blessings if you were able to run over to a grocery store and get just what you wanted.
I wanted to leave Kampala by 6 but I didn't have an alarm clock so I woke up early. That gave me time to get ready, write the last blog and eat some strawberry rice crispies that Ronald picked out. Have you ever accidentally inhaled strawberry rice crispies? I mean literally inhaled them?
I had a big spoonful that I was about to eat but Ronald made me laugh and in the process I sucked them into my lungs like a shop vac!
Cough..cough cough..cough
It was like a pink rice crispie fireworks show. Happy 4h of July!
I wouldn't recommend trying this stunt at home.
We drove back to Fort Portal and got there just in time for the party! There were 25-29 adults and a bunch of kids.
There were two tables of food and deserts! The men gathered around the barbque grills outside and cooked the meat! Ar Ar Arrr
Bob and Jennifer Chedester and their kids along with Pat Abbot and some intern/ teachers came from Presbeterian mission, Our friends Doug and Destiny who are starting a Calvary Chape came with their little guy Jotham. Brandy and Lou came with their new baby and a fun group from the Baptist mission, Aguida a church of Christ member who was baptised in Hondura was there. There were some young women who came to help aids orphans were there. We had a house full of people.
Cheryl started off with a Baby dedication for Lou and Brandy's baby...Elizabeth. She is beautiful baby.
It was fun to be with so many Americans!
One of the Baptist guys was joking about the rivalry in a small Texas town that he has seen between the Baptist and church of Christ. Lord forgive us!
We all love the Lord. We all love our country and we all love to Barbque. That sounds good to me! Let's eat!
Happy fourt of July! 231 years of Indepedence!
We have so much to celebrate!

ambassadors for Christ.

What a wonderful evening I had last night. I was given a special invitation to join the American ambassador and the rest of the embassy staff in hosting a party to celebrate our nations Independence. I was invited because I am a volunteer for the embassy as the chief warden.
All of the Ugandan ministers of parliment were invited along with the diplomatic core living in Kampala. The ambassadors residence was decorated with flags from from all 50 states. The marines performed the color guard duty. We celebrated July 4th on the 3rd.
I met so many interesting people. The Swiss ambassador and I talked for a while. He told me the Swiss are very liberal and many don't believe in "religion." I laughed and replied not believing in God would be like me not believing in the Swiss.
He is a nice man and was very interested in what the church of Christ does in Uganda. He was real interested in what I believe and what I teach the Uganda Christians. I was able to share my faith with him.
I told the Italian ambassador that I had gone to school in Florence Italy for a semester. All of a sudden you would have thought he had known me for years. He wanted to talk about wine and car racing. ok
(I needed Cheryl's Mom for this conversation...at least the part about car racing)
There were military commanders and politicians. I had some great conversations with Ugandan leaders as well.
I was interviewed by a TV crew about the 4th of July and what it means to me.
The woman threw me off when she asked me a question about Paris Hilton of all things.
I met a list of ambassadors but the nicest one there was the US ambassador. We talked for a long time. It turns out that he is from Odessa, Texas! He went to Permian High school were Cheryl graduated from. Cheryl's family lived on Englewood and he grew up on Maple. He knew 6th and Jackson church of Christ where Cheryl and I were married.
I told him about Ben Wall coming from Odessa last January to help with Faith Quest and how they bought the Odessa country club for a church/community out reach. Ben had mentioned that their lawyer was the ambassadors brother!
All of a sudden we had so many things to talk about. It really was like being with an old friend. We had so much fun.
It really is a small world.

As I was meeting all of these diplomats I thought of one of the last conversations I had with my Grandad Cash. He put his arm around me and told me how proud he was of me and how there is nothing greater I could do with my life than serve the Lord. With the choice I made to be a missionary ... he would not be prouder if I were the president of the United states.

There is nothing better than being an ambassador for Christ. That is what we are!
I thank the Lord for the freedoms we have as Americans. From those who are given much ...much is expected.
Thank you Lord for our freedom!

a servant of Christ

Is the power on?

What are you doing Silas?


I want to watch the popcorn grow!