Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 22, 1993 TAG: 9307220543
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"When I told them I was an 18-year-old high school student, that really grabbed them, and they were very attentive, with no whispering or note passing."
He began by sharing his high school experiences at Lord Botetourt and the Governor's School, then told of his plans to attend Liberty University and perhaps transfer to another college to take electrical engineering.
He talked about playing basketball for four years and football for three and participating in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The rest of his speech was about Jesus and his instructions to his disciples to become fishers of men.
This mission experience, sponsored by Rainbow Forest Baptist Church, was an effort to share the gospel and begin a partnership with African Christians. Steve Witt, associate pastor at Rainbow Forest, explained how the idea originated:
"George Piwang, a young man from Uganda who is currently pursuing a doctorate at Duke University, visited our church several years ago while he was a student at Liberty University. He shared the needs of his people and his vision of returning to help them. Our church wanted to help, too."
Rainbow Forest gave Piwang some financial support. They planned the mission project to learn more about the needs of Ugandan Christians and explore other ways to help.
Witt organized the trip and was to be its leader. But he became ill and had to return to the United States shortly after arrival in Uganda. The other three - Lange, Allan Malina from Rainbow Forest and Perry Lundy from Hollins Road Baptist - completed the 10-day mission.
Lange's first flight began with frustration. A cancellation delayed departure three hours, resulting in missed connections, a hurried bus ride from Gatwick to Heathrow in London, and arrival at last in Entebbe. After a long drive, the group reached Kampala, the capital of Uganda, where they would stay for a week.
"Our guest house [church-owned] was comfortable," Lange said. "It was equipped with running water and electricity - most of the time."
He was amazed at the contrast between American and Ugandan TV newscasts, noting how much information was given about Christian activities.
"Martyr's Day," a big holiday during their visit, received a lot of coverage. They also watched interviews with school board members who wanted to get more about "Christ and the cross" into the schoolroom.
Christianity was introduced in Uganda by English missionaries, and English as well as Swahili is spoken by the people. Lange said the worship service they attended at one of Kampala's largest churches was conducted in English. The church holds three services on Sunday, and 2,000 attend each.
Mosques, one of them on the Makerere University campus, give evidence of a growing Muslim movement in Uganda as in other parts of Africa, said Lange.
"The Muslims actively seek to convert the people, enticing them with offers of $5,000 loans," Lange said.
During their week's stay in the city, the three Roanoke Valley residents handed out religious tracts and stickers on the streets. They were amazed at the eagerness with which the people swarmed about them, stopping to read the information thoroughly on the spot.
The last few days of the African visit were spent in the village of Pakwach, a six-hour drive from Kampala. This village of mud huts with thatched roofs is the home of George Piwang. They stayed with Piwang's brother, Henry Arombi, bishop of the Nebbi Diocese.
"When we arrived, we were welcomed in a meeting with the traditional chief and elders of the village," Lange said. "We sat on three nice cushioned chairs in the center of a circle, while the chief presented us with gifts: a walking cane to give us authority in the village and animals to symbolize our positions according to age."
Lundy, oldest of the three, received a lion, king of the beasts; Malina, a leopard, since a young adult should be aggressive. Lange, the youngest, was given a fish, beautifully handcarved with scales darkened by charring.
"I thought this was particularly appropriate," he said. "I had been studying the verses in Mark's gospel where Jesus said his disciples would be fishers of men and planned to use it in my talk at the school."
In the villages, they spoke in churches and schools. Outside the cities in Uganda, there are no telephones, electricity or running water. They ate familiar foods - a lot of fish, chicken, beef and cooked vegetables. (They were advised to avoid all fresh fruits and vegetables. Well water was boiled for safety.)
They tried two unusual African dishes, neither of which made a favorable impression on Lange. "Matoki," a dish made from unripened bananas, had the texture of creamed potatoes. A millet loaf, resembling a meatloaf, was "chewy and rubbery."
One night an African youth took a lantern outside and collected the white flying ants that swarmed around it. These were heated in a pot until they dried out and then eaten.
"They are supposed to be a sweet treat, but I didn't try them to see," Lange said.
Ugandans are proud of their country and took their visitors to Jenji, where the Nile River begins. They also saw the big waterfalls on Lake Victoria.
One expectation was not met - they didn't see any animals. All wild animals are kept in a game reserve with the Nile as a barrier, Lange said.
Lange returned with many souvenirs, in addition to the walking stick and the wooden fish. Their driver gave him a native tunic and hat. He bought gifts for his family - a handwoven basket-style purse for his little sister; a wooden automobile for a younger brother; and a slender, artfully decorated vase for his mother. All the pieces were handcrafted.
In Uganda one American dollar is equal to 1,200 shillings. A soda costs 500 shillings. Pastors and teachers earn the equivalent of $2 a month, and bishops, $5.
"But some things are less expensive than in America," Lange said. "I found that two basketball goals cost about the same as one in America."
Lange said he is interested in returning to Uganda to organize a sports ministry, where he would teach the children sports while ministering the gospel.
He said there are many opportunities, and he definitely wants to go back - but not next week.
by CNB