Journey to the Middle of the World

At 9AM Saturday, all four of us short-term missionaries departed Rafiki, riding with the village director, Mike, en route to a place that, for me, had been only a legend, existing in the deep reservoirs of my imagination. A place so central to humanity that it unites nations and divides the seasons. Yes, that's right. On Saturday, February 14th, 2009, I, Gareth Bridge, stepped foot on a yellow line painted across a highway in southern Uganda. With one small step for man, and a completely irrelevant step for mankind, I crossed into the southern hemisphere.

And then back into the northern. And then the southern. And then the northern again. I had lots of fun with that. The tourist-trap establishment that has been set up at the Uganda equator held our attention for the morning, as we visited each of the many small souvenir huts lining that main road intersecting the world's dividing line. We took our picture in the circular ring standing up right off the road, with the line running through it. We declined, however, to pay 10,000 shillings to watch a water-spinning demonstration in two funnels on either side of the line. We'll just take their word for it. Plus, I read that it's all bogus, that the coriolis effect cannot be observed in such a small quantity of water, and that any variation in water spin direction is based on direction of water flow upon entering the funnel and variations in the surface of the funnel itself. That's the consensus that I've reached, based on my extensive internet research. I apologize if that is incorrect information.

After a harrowing morning of pushy sales-people, it was time for a snack. I ordered a plate of french fries, which took about 45 minutes to prepare. I glanced behind the counter as I placed my order and saw the potatoes lying on a cutting board. At least they were fresh!

Today was church, which meant for us another trip into Kampala. This time we 4 rode with Mike to New City Church, the church he and his wife regularly attend here. Pastor Gerald, who, as a teen, was adopted by an African American Baptist pastor back in San Antonio, preached this morning. He spent 16 years in the states completing his education and has moved back home to Kampala to lead a congregation of his own. He was an incredible preacher, delivering a very convicting and challenging message regarding the decline of the western church and the acceptance of the Christian life as "business as usual". He implored us to live Christ-centered, joyful lives of passion in which we took responsibility for the gifts God has given each of us, as members of the priesthood of all believers. He also challenged the missionaries present (there was a good number of us white "mzungus" in attendance) to work along side the nationals we have come to serve, emphasizing the fact that they are in no way deficient.

After church we enjoyed a feast at the Fang Fang Chinese hotel. It was by far the most authentic Chinese food I have ever had (so I gather). There is quite a sizable oriental population in Kampala, but nowhere near the size of the Indian population. There is actually a program set up by Chinese businessmen in which Chinese girls sign a 2-year commitment to come work at the restaurant as hostesses and waitresses. Some of the businessmen are Christians and are teaching the girls in Bible studies while they are here. Pretty neat.

That's all for now. Back to school tomorrow. God bless.