This fall has been a blur… most of it has been spent training pastors, or traveling to/from those trainings. This is what I’m called and equipped to do, and I love what I do, but because I don’t know when/if Africa will close due to Covid, I’ve packed my schedule as tightly as possible. My friend Jeremy and I have just returned from launching two new Pathways Bible Training networks in Uganda, one to the north in Gulu, and one to the East in Iganga. Both networks were successfully launched, although not without their challenges. But the pastors in both locations soaked up the training, and seeing their expressions ignite with joy and excitement as they caught Bible study principles was priceless.

One of the challenges in Gulu was the sheer number of participants. We limit Pathways workshops to 16 master trainers, so we can go deep with those 16, and they will each have opportunity to interact well with us and each other. However, the group in Gulu at various times had as many as 24 participants, and it was difficult to move well with the group. Some had come from refugee camps from South Sudan, others from unreached people groups far from Gulu. Five coordinators tried to manage details, but handling things like finances for transportation, accommodations, and food became another challenge. Needs were abundant, but God provided.

One unforgettable moment in Gulu was when I took a run out into the surrounding bush country late one afternoon. It was so fun greeting the many people along the small dirt paths and roads, crossing streams, viewing the beautiful landscape, eventually returning to the home where I was staying. I had so much fun that I suggested my buddy Jeremy join me and I could show him the path I ran on. We took off, and by now an hour into my run, I was ready to be done, so turned around and headed home. I showed him the turns (left turn at the guys making mud bricks, right turn at the path with square house on left. However, he missed the second turn, and thus began his adventure. He wandered far around the remote paths, and an hour later, I was forming search parties and sending people on motorcycles to find him.A mzungu (white person) wandering around in rural Uganda is a bit unusual, so the community quickly got involved. It got dark, and although he is a fireman and very capable, I was getting worried. But God wasn’t worried, and guided Jeremy (eventually) back to our home. For the rest of the trip, I was much more careful with my buddy.

Due to recent bombings and threats, we avoided public places and public transportation methods, but traveling through the African bush, across the Nile River, past the local wildlife, was an amazing experience for Jeremy. Check out this video –>

In Iganga, the network was a bit smaller, and the group seemed to catch Pathways principles more quickly. Ladies cooked for us on open fires (common in Africa), and the passion on the part of the group to pass training principles on to other preachers and pastors ignited a fire in the hearts of all.

One of the participants in Iganga was Joseph Masaba. Here is a brief testimony about him.

Joshua Masaba is a leader of 56 churches in the Bugiri region of Uganda. He is 64 years old, and is passionate about receiving training and passing training on to all those in his sphere of influence. He first contacted me a few years ago by finding me through our website (belzglobal.com). I connected him with Charles Magumba (Iganga main coordinator), who lives not far from him. Joshua continued to pray for Pathways to come to his area, and in God’s time and way, we have finally launched the first workshop. Joshua is fully engaged as a participant, a coordinator, and a master trainer of other pastors. In fact, he brought three of the leaders in his network with him to the training. His passion for the Word and for Pathways training is deeply encouraging.

One of the other challenges was keeping up with all the covid related requirements. Testing a certain number of hours before departure from US, again upon arrival in Uganda, masks required throughout travel, a policy change two days before our return requiring a covid test one calendar day before return to US, etc. All tests are expensive, and can be difficult to find. Visa requirements, jet lag, long teaching days, preaching in multiple churches… by the time I got home, I was one exhausted heap. However, Jeremy and I managed to exercise each day in the African heat, and even had a number of youngins who joined us at various times.

A team of six pastors including Jeremy, mostly from the Pacific Northwest, whom I have trained in our Pathways principles, will now take over these two workshops. Although I will continue to coach them, the group will do an excellent job moving Ugandan pastors forward in their handling of the Word, and this will free me to pour into other locations.

Pressing on by God’s grace, Eric