By Monty Siekerman
Bob Gould and his wife Abby (formerly Abby Epley) head to Uganda on June 4 to help build a school and share The Gospel as part of their mission work with their local church, Crossroads Church of God located on State Route 309 west of Ada.
The team will also include Ada residents Christian and Kayla Breedlove and Anna Yoakam among the seven people going this year.
Bob says most of the people on the islands of Lake Victoria live in mud huts without electricity or running water.
He has gone to the African nation six times to help build churches and schools. The nation is roughly 85% Christian and 12% Muslim.
The schools they build are one-room schoolhouses made of mud brick with metal roofs. Oftentimes there can be as many as 100 children in a small school building.
Traditionally (due to finances) one child in a family is selected to go to school, who then returns home to teach his siblings. It is not uncommon for families have as many as seven children.
Why do the Goulds do this? "We bring back far more than we give in life experiences and friendships," he said. "I am a champion for the underdog; but we both feel that we have been called by God to go and spread The Gospel."
Not only will the group help build a school this year, taking many of the school supplies with them, but also they will pack a number of soccer balls donated by Wilson's. Presently, the kids there wrap banana leaves into balls to play soccer.
The group also takes flip flops, because many Ugandans they minister to have no shoes, as well as pillow case dresses for the young girls.
Bob explains that although the people are poor (living on less than $300 a year), they can often have access to fresh fruit off the tree, fish, rice and beans.
Bob, who is the street superintendent for the Village of Ada, and Abby were married in this poor but idyllic place in 2011 during a month long missions trip.
The flight to Uganda is 17-19 hours depending on the route. Once they get to the shores of Lake Victoria, it's a five hour boat ride to Lolwe Island where they were wed four years ago and where they began their missions work in 2009.
The group will return home on June 19.
PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS:
Children of Kikondo Village with brand new Wilson soccer ball.
Bob and Abby's wedding photo on Lolwe Island, June 5, 2011.
Boat ride on Lake Victoria to Lolwe Island.
Walking the bush to next village.
