The 1995 Team Visits Bussi Island 

Members of the 1995 team to Uganda and Rwanda are mentioned in the March 2023 Newsletter and, as with most SOI outreach trips, the group had a fast-paced ministry agenda that featured several stops before leaving for Bussi Island, which was located off the coast of Uganda on Lake Victoria, Weeks earlier Barnabas and some fellow workers, went to the island for a scouting visit and to initiate sports ministry. Their highlight was playing some local island soccer clubs and winning the hearts of the people. When the Bussi Island people heard a team from the U.S. was coming, they were very excited, as no American group had ever visited the island. It would be a special day of celebration. 

 When the time came to gather and board their craft, the vessels that showed up were two homemade narrow, canoe-like boats with small gasoline powered engines, Equipment was carefully loaded, and the team gingerly boarded the boats. Once they got started it appeared a storm was brewing, but it was not headed in their direction. They were also hampered by a sheet of water lilies, and then white caps and large swells started up. Winds also increased, but thankfully, nearly two hours later the boats landed in a small cove of Bussi Island. As the group carefully disembarked, the host welcomed the team and said the outreach needed to take place at a school further inland, instead of at a field by the lake, due to the high winds. 

Now Bussi Island was famous for its sweet pineapples and there was a large plantation near where the group walked the mile or so to the school. The equipment made it difficult to move quickly, but then, the only vehicle on the island arrived to help. The truck was used to haul pineapples and looked old, like something out of the 1930s. The truck held most of the team, but when it approached a hill, it lost power and everyone had to get out and push. The sports day went well, with 250 participants and around 50 people accepted Christ. Included in the group inviting Christ into their lives was a witch doctor who asked Don Brenneman if he, too, could become a follower of Christ. When Don replied "Yes, by all means," the witch doctor asked about his three wives and Don did his best to open the Scriptures to the tearful man. 

Following the program, the team was invited to a local home and had some pineapple, chapatis (a pita-like bread) and a soft drink. Many on the team were unaware of the huge sacrifice the villagers made to 

provide this food--nearly a week's wages. As the day ended, they knew they needed to board the boars before dark. One engine was not functioning properly, so everyone was forced to pile into a single craft. By now the winds had picked up considerably and the swells got so large that water flooded the boat each time they headed into one. The "twelve disciples" began to bail... and pray, thinking about the disciples who were caught in a fierce storm, woke Jesus, and asked Him to save them. The boat’s skipper was experienced, so even as a light rain began to fall and lightning flashed, God answered prayer. Night began to fall, but lights appeared on the horizon, and soon the runway lights at Entebbe airport could be seen. Finally, the group was back safely. A prayer of thanks was given, and the soggy team piled into the waiting van and drove back to Kampala for a much-needed shower and hot dinner.