by CHARLIE SCHULER

 Last month we shared some of the highlights of our trip to Uganda. Now we will share some of the touristy things we did on that trip. 

We took several trips into the jungle where the guide carried a 30-06 rifle (in case we somehow “upset” a gorilla or a wild elephant or a lion). We didn’t get very far into the gorilla park before we saw a family of gorillas in the trees. The young ones were having a fun time swinging in trees looking like they were playing tag, but the male gorilla was close by, keeping his eye on everything. I guess the kids got too close to us or they disobeyed daddy in some way, because he let out a roar and swung down near us. We all jumped back, a little scared, and I no longer wondered why the guide had the rifle with him. 

We got to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, and lions. They gave us high-powered binoculars to watch a lion eating a gazelle that he had just ran down. There are so many unbelievable sights unique to Uganda. We got to travel to Murchison Falls National Park. The falls are spectacular and part of the country’s largest wildlife sanctuary. We saw the falls by boat, which gave us the opportunity to see much more wildlife, such as hippos, rhinos, crocodiles and unbelievable bird life.  We even saw the birds that built their nest upside down. When the nest is finished, the female comes by to check it out. If she doesn’t like it, the nest ends up on the ground, and he must start over.  Humm, sounds like some people I know. 

One of the highlights for me was when we went to a very nice resort. These were classier buildings using bamboo and thatch, but this place was noted for its showers. I couldn’t believe it, but I was going to try.  Sure enough, I got warm water on demand. Of course, I kept the man busy filling up the pot over the fire. We also slept under a net every night to reduce the chance of getting malaria. It took a little getting used to, but it worked. No malaria, thank God. 

Then the kids had another idea. They wanted a library in the area, especially for the children. They had been getting books from friends in the States and setting them up on their porch. The children loved them, because books were in short supply, even in the schools. Brent and Donna brought the idea of a library to the King of the local tribe.  He thought it was such a good idea that he gave them a building in the village to house the library. When we got back to the States, we got our church involved in sending books to Uganda as well. The Director of the Uganda National Library was at the Grand Opening and said that this was one of the finest libraries in Uganda and the only functioning children’s library in the whole country. The library project was very successful and is still going today. 

Before we left Uganda, we went to church with the native people, and it was such a wonderful experience. They all wanted a closer look and maybe to touch the unusual visitors of their country. The children there are as happy as any place we have traveled to, and they continue to be grateful for the library Brent and Donna set up in their community. 

Pray for UGANDA!