Archive for March, 2007

Ok, so I’ve been informed that I was missing day 9….. actually, the last post was March 10, day 9 - I just messed up and thought it was day 10. Sorry!

Today I had a total of 5 concerts! It was a BUSY day. 4 packed church services at KPC (Kampala Pentecostal Church) from 7:30am-4pm then the concert began at 5:30pm. The worship at the church was unbelievable, the Ugandans know how to sing!!!

The concert was awesome! The crowd we’re equally as pumped and crazy as last night. It was awesome. I thought the mezzanine floor was going to collapse from the people jumping so high…. it was great!!

I felt so happy that we has such a fantastic night of ministry but sad because this concluded the run of concerts for our trip. The next few days we will spend relaxing and sight-seeing.

This morning I got to sleep in till 8:00am - It was heaven! The rooster crowed and I simply ignored him
At 10:00 we went to the Compassion project in Nsambya where the little boy Jody and I sponsor is from. Our journey there was quite hillarious:

First, we had this new van driver who was in my opinion a bit crazy. It was as if his goal was to hit every pothole as fast as he possibly could, and he took the L-O-N-G way everywhere - despite our best efforts to teach him the quicker routes. I think he thought we had no idea, and pretended he didn’t speak english when we’d tell him where to go. Anyways, I stopped at a market to pick up a soccer ball for my sponsor child and the van waited at a gas station. When I arrived back and loaded in the van he backed out very fast and smashed into the petrol pump. He went to take off when two security guards came up and dragged him out of the car, hit him a few times on the back of the head (commonly known as a ‘come on’) and took him to the owner. After an inspection and a few moments of yelling, they let him go as there was no apparent damage….. but now we had a MAD and CRAZY driver! Oh my!!

Off we went to Compassion, driving at obscene speeds and weaving unnecessarily in and out of traffic. Low and behold the driver passes our turn off. “Driver”
, Jen spoke up, “We needed to turn Right back there”. He ignored her and drove on, she said it again, still no response, Thirdly we all piped in and said “Stop”, “we need to go back there”. He stopped the car and argued with us a little bit, and saying something about the US embassy, then called the boss. His boss told him to go where we said to go. Reluctantly he followed our directions and we arrived in one piece.

Compassion was awesome! We performed an impromptu set for an hour before 320 kids, then had a tour of the building and ate some bananas. I had such a special time hanging out with Edward. He was very shy, but slowly warmed up a little and I got some smiles out of him. I love the work Compassion do, 320 kids have been rescued in this project in Nsambya because of awesome people around the world who give $32 dollars a month. These kids we’re happy, educated, fed, given clothes and hygene products. It was awesome to see the money at work and doing such great things!

The concert tonight at Kyambogo University was unbelievable. The crowd was huge, about 1700-2000 university students turned up to rock. Tonight we had the power and lights problems ironed out and the opening acts we’re awesome! By the time I got on the stage the crowd was Pumped!!! I could have sung ‘Mary had a little Lamb’ and they would’ve gone nuts! I would have to say, they we’re by far the best crowd I’ve ever sung to.

(more…)

I’m going to interrupt my daily blogging of my trip again to tell you about my day today. It was probably one of the scariest days in my life.
Jody and I left early this morning to head to Alabama where I was to sing at a church. I was driving and about 30 minutes into our hour journey I begun feeling ill. I remembered that I had taken my Malaria tablets, that I need to keep taking for a few more weeks, but I only had a few bites of breakfast and an apple, I may not have eaten enough and the pill was setting in. So I asked Jody for some crackers. She handed them to me and I ate a few bites then felt really, really sick. I pulled over and had Jody drive while I let the car seat down and laid out.

Over the next few minutes I tried to eat and drink while my body begun to feel numb and tingly all over, then all of a sudden my hands begun to tighten and tense up. Uncontrolled, my thumb begun to press very hard against my index finger and the rest of my fingers became very rigid. I took deep breaths and tried to relax. Then my arms begun to stiffen at 90 degree angles and I couldn’t move them, about two minutes later my legs had completely stiffened straight. Despite all my best efforts I could not move and by now my body was aching because all my muscles we’re tight and I was having major trouble breathing. I knew something was really wrong. I told Jody to call 911 and tell them to meet us at the church (we we’re about 6 miles away). But, when she tried to call there was no signal on the phone, we we’re in the middle of nowhere. Now I could hardly speak and I managed to squeeze out, “get to the next house, get me on the ground and call for help… fast”. Poor Jody was in panic mode, she shot into a driveway, ran around the passenger door and opened it. My legs we’re so stiff she had to push with all her might on my legs to bend one enough to get it out the door, then the other and she helped me fall gracefully to the floor. Now my body was aching, I was tight and contorted all over and all I could do was think about breathing, and getting as much oxygen as possible. I thought to myself, “I must breathe, or I’ll die!”…….. I focused all my attention on the next breath.

Jody came out running from the house and thought I was dead because I didn’t respond to her calling my name. I could hear her but I could not respond. She stuffed bread in my mouth and I ate as best I could and breathed deep and prayed to God. Then I felt my feet tingle again, and my toes loosened. I said to Jody that my legs we’re getting better, the lady from the house was talking to 911, then in about two minutes I had my legs back but my upper body was still rigid, and I had my mouth control back. I decided I didn’t need an ambulance anymore and that I’d be ok… I kept eating. The lady prayed with me and after a few more minutes I felt ok to stand up and get back into the car- my hands we’re still rigid though. By the time we got to the church I was ok, but my hands we’re shaking.

The church service was awesome!! About 25 people there (small), and we had 9 kids sponsored through Compassion, every family picked up a kid! WOW!!
It was the single most strange and scariest moment of my life, and for Jody. Something was happening to my body, and I had NO control over it. I had taken pills before on an empty stomach and felt sick, but never had something like this happen. It was scary!! We’re it not for those crackers and bread, I may not have been so lucky??? Jody said that last night at the restaurant she went to with her dad she had the urge to pick up the crackers and put them in her bag, so she did. Thank God she did aye!! Its amazing how the Holy Spirit is constantly leading us, guiding us and speaking to us….. If only we’d take more time to listen.

Today’s incident had definitely made me appreciate life more. I feel like I’ve ran a marathon, every muscle in my body feels like its worked out in a major way!
I still don’t know what happened, I will call the dr tomorrow and find out what the heck happened…. and maybe I should stop taking those malaria tablets??? You can guarantee this, I will never take a tablet on an empty stomach again!!!

Today was fun! I had a final band rehearsal with the guys, and it was amazing! I can’t wait to play the concerts which begin tomorrow.

(The restaurant)

(Lunch is about to be served)

After rehearsal we spent some time at the East Africa ICY Conference and worshiped together. At lunch break we all walked behind the church and ate a meal at a “real” African restaurant. I must admit, I was pretty scared, I was having visions of getting to know the toilet very well! And I did not want to get THAT aquainted! We sat down at the tables, ordered our food and ate. It was quite delicious! I wondered if I’d still be thinking the same in an hour or two……
The food stayed down Hallelujah, and no-one got sick, It was a great meal and mighty cheap thanks to our buddy Sam. (about $1.50).

(One of the kids in the remand home)

(Sam worship leading)

After lunch we boarded the van and headed to the remand home. Sam once was an inmate there as a juvenile, but God changed his life and now he goes back every week to preach to these kids and disciple them….. its wonderful to see. We worshiped together, then I did a small concert, we played some games and hung out. It was very moving to hear some of these kids’ stories. Some kids we’re simply orphans on the street and police threw them in the remand home because they didn’t know where else to put them, others had harrowing tales of neglect and abuse which led them to a life of crime. Thank God for men like Sam who volunteers his time to come every week and sow into these kids. Sam has an amazing voice and is a great worship leader.

(Having a great time playing games!)

(Singing for the kids)

After the remand home we went back to the ICY house and had a prayer meeting for the concerts beginning tomorrow and retired for an early night.

(One of the orphans who live in the remand home, he was playing with a tire)

Sorry guys, no post today as its Jody’s big 3-0 - I’m out partying!! See ya tomorrow for more fun in Africa.

(Sam leading worship at the conference)

It was a CRAZY day today, where do I begin??

I had an early start this morning, so I woke up at 6am and walked out to have a cold shower. It was tantalisingly refreshing! After the shower I walked back down the hall and proceeded to the kitchen but stopped just passed my door when I trod in something squishy. That’s strange I thought, I wonder what that was? I don’t remember there being anything squishy outside our door last night. The sun was not up yet so there was no light, I shrugged and figured it must be a baby toy or a wet rag or something and went back into my room.

A few minutes later Colin woke up and headed to the bathroom, he walked back into the room to grab his towel and clothes for a shower when he noticed a puddle of water at the doorway and around his bags. “Oh no” he screamed - he flicked on the light to reveal indeed that his bag was surrounded by water and his books that we’re on the floor was also wet….. and his toothbrush.

“Water” I said, “that’s strange? I didn’t hear it rain last night”. We begun to discuss what it could be and Colin walked out the door to find where the puddle began when I heard a very shocked and somber “Oh no!!!” “What” I exclaimed. He began to describe the pile of turd that lay just outside our bedroom door. In disbelief I ran to see for myself. Yes, sure enough a mountain of turd lay heaped up like the pyramids of Giza…… with an ever slight toe print wedged in the side. “Oh my……” I wailed. “That’s what I trod in earlier!!!” Colin and I begun to laugh in pitty of ourselves as we put two and two together and realized that the puddle of water wasn’t water………. it was pee!! Who could of done this? The kids? An animal?? It was way too big to be human and I’ve never seen a dog do one this big…… I guessed and elephant.

As we lamented the mornings mishaps, we chuckled and realized the score was now 2-2… Even Steven.

We had a new van driver this morning who thought his entire mission was to drive over EVERY hole in the dirt road at fast speeds….. I think we rode the whole way in “crash/brace” position.

As we always say, ‘bad rehearsal- great show!’ I hoped that would be true of this day! Things could only get better.

The East African conference begun today. Youth workers from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda joined together in worship, teaching and fellowship. It was great to meet so many champions of the faith and hear their stories….. we would spark many great friendships over the next few days with these guys.

(My posters like this we’re all around town.)

Our school today canceled on us, so we spent some time at the Internet cafe after band rehearsals.

We ended the day with a very late BBQ dinner…… at 11:30pm - but it was ooooh so delicious!! Then Colin and I went back to the house we we’re staying at to retire for the night. Before we hit the sac though, Colin asks me if I wanted a ‘Jelly Baby’ (a soft candy like a gummy bear), Sure….. I haven’t had a Jelly Baby since being in Australia. I dig into the pack and grab a couple and down them, I reach back for one more when out of the bag jumps a massive cockroach. Ahhhhh!!! Gross!! I just ate two of them….. Colin laughs hysterically and I toss the half eaten Jelly Baby to the trash. Colin 3 - Lucas 2

Btw - it was a dog that left the present outside our door.

(Downtown Kampala at 9:00am - by 2pm its bumper-to-bumper)

This morning I was up awake at 3:30 am because I had mozzies under my mozzie net. I tried to find them and plug the holes with kneenex tissues. Then I tried to get back to sleep but my room buddy was snoring like a freight train! I switched on the light and wrote in my journal and read.

At 6:00 I got out of bead and headed for a cold shower. Over the past week I have come to love these showers because the cold chill really wakes you up in an instant! I had completely lathered up when all of a sudden the water stopped…… Oh NO!!!! What will I do with all this soap lather?? The water came back on a minute later is a tiny trickle. I laughed then proceeded to use the trickle of water to clean myself off….. yes, it took quite a while. Kampala is known for its random water and power outages, people are used to it there and carry on as if nothing ever happened. You learn to adjust very quickly.

This morning the band and I rehearse again. It was another stellar practice, we are all feeling good about the concerts.

After peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, a quick email check from the internet cafe, the team and I head to Lubiri School for their Lunch Time group. We arrive to a room with about 60 kids engaged in worship. When we got up to perform the room was packed with about 170 kids with more trying to see through the windows and doors. We had a blast with these kids….. boy do they know how to worship!!!

The afternoon was again filled with a TV interview for a youth program and another radio interview. I love that here in Uganda these folks love my song “Take Me Home”. Its my favorite song off the album, but here in the US and Australia, Christian radio didn’t know what to do with the song…. It wasn’t quite “Christian” enough for airplay- Whatever that means?? Anyways, it was great to hear that song all over Ugandan radio.

We chilled out tonight at the ICY house and watched a little bit of ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Tomorrow the guys arrive from Kenya and Tanzania for the East Africa Youth Conference with ICY.

Today I met the band. Justin (Drums) and Forrest (guitar) came with me from the US, but we put together the rest of the band from within Kampala. Actually, thanks to KPC Church, they allowed me to use one of their church bands who are on staff there.

I turned up to the first rehearsal not sure what to expect. Would these guys know my songs? Would they be ready to play? Will they even turn up on time? It is Africa of course. Will our styles gel together on the stage to make a great show? I didn’t even know what musicians we had???? Forrest, Justin and I had rehearsed a full set in-case the band we’re shocking, we knew either way, we’d be ok, we we’re prepared for anything.

So we turn up to the rehearsal room with we’re welcomed with all the band ready at their instruments. Percussion x2, electric guitar, bass guitar and keyboards. They had a small pa system set up and ready to go…… wow! I was already impressed. We greeted one another and introduced ourselves. I asked Graeme (on Keys) what songs they knew and were ready to begin. He said with a smile on his face “all of them, where do you want to begin?” I grinned and said…. “From the top”.

After the first song, I was extatic. These guys we’re brilliant!! They knew the songs, played them just like the CD, if not better! These upcoming concerts will be amazing! We jammed out about 5 songs then said goodbye for the afternoon. We will meet up again tomorrow for another rehearsal.

Colin and I darted off to a press conference and radio interview while the rest of the team went to a school to perform. They did dramas, shared testimonies and sang some songs.

The Press Conference:

All of the cities major newspapers and radio stations turned up for the press conference. Colin and I sat at the front of the crowd to answer their questions which were fielded by Jennifer Jenkins, a California native who has been in Kampala working with ICY for about 5 months, she used to script the Oscars! Anyways, things we’re going very well, the qns we’re good, the answers even better Colin had been threatening to get even with me over the live TV prank I pulled on him last night, so I was mentally ready for any unexpected assault. As we neared the end of the conference, all was well and I sensed Colin was very focused and probably would not choose this opportunity to get me back, so I let my guard down a little. The call came out, “Final question” said Jen. A lone hand raised from the crowd and a young man stood up, he was a representative from Kampala’s largest newspaper ‘New Vision”. Thats when the question came….. the question that Colin said vindicated him, a question with ’shock and awe’ factor. The young man said, “Mr. Parry, In Uganda when men wear earrings it means that they are homosexual, why do you wear earrings?” -Silence- I saw the snigger begin to emerge from Colin’s lips as his eyes gleamed and turned to me in laughter. “Let me defer this one to Lucas” Colin managed to slip out amid chuckles…… I was dumbfounded, shocked and had to grab my bearings…. I immediately saw newspaper headlines flash before my eyes “homo Aussie plays in Kampala”, “Gay singer crashes Kampala”…. ahhhhhhhh!!!! I stammered and begun to answer the question with “Firstly, let me say……I’m married and I have a kid, I am NOT a homosexual”, then I had to explain that in the US and Australia, its ok for guys to wear earrings with no attached meaning, its just an artistic expression and well accepted. It was hillarious, after the press conference we laughed for ages and needless to say Colin believed that the Lord had vindicated him.

It was true….. I guess?!?!, Colin 1- Lucas 1

Today was a BUSY day.

We woke up very early to head to Kyambogo University Church to play at all three services beginning at 8am. We turned up slightly late to the first service and had no time to tune the guitars and sound check. So imagine our surprise when just after the worship the leader announces me on stage….. ahhhhhh - There was a frantic panic on my face as I scrambled to get my things and head to the stage. I forget exactly what I said, but I managed to squeeze out a few jokes and introduction as I tuned my guitar in record time. Second and third service went MUCH smoother
After church we we’re invited for snacks and tea back at one of the church members house. So we went as honored guests for a brief recess along with the church leaders. ‘Tea’ is a big thing over in Uganda because the nation was colonized by the British.

We then packed 17 people into our small van and headed to home for lunch and a briefing meeting on what the rest of the week would look like. It was a fun meeting and all the team we’re pumped! We ate rice, beef and matoki.

From there we went out to watch a cultural show at Ndere. It was a great way to kick off our first full-day in Kampala. The show consisted of African Drums, dancing, traditional clay pot balancing (on womens heads) and plenty of funny jokes by our overly-extroverted MC.

From the cultural show we headed to the TV station for a ‘live’ interview. Colin and I were due to be on the air at 10:30pm discussing the concerts and itinerary for the week. We get there and find out that Edwin (the host) also wanted to talk about parenthood and have listeners call in with questions. Ok, I thought……. I’ve only 5 months experience in parenthood, not sure how much advice I can give, but Colin has two daughters and I’m sure can offer great wisdom.

Before we went ‘live’, my team and I we’re joking about how I should do something funny on live TV. Things like, holding my hands out in front of me, fingers touching each other in the professor poise, or avoiding eye contact with the host, or deliberately calling Colin a different name when addressing him. Well, I wish I could say that I ignored these evil suggestions and was sensible, but……. how could I NOT do something funny.

The interview was going along swimmingly, the callers we’re asking good questions and we were giving great answers. The final caller comes through and asks a question about parenthood aimed at me……. Knowing our time was almost up, I said “I think I will defer this great question to ‘Bollin’” - He let out a soft chuckle as he recognized what I had just done and I fought very hard to retain composure as I was still in frame. Colin answers the qn, the show wraps up and as soon as the red light went off we burst into laughter. He was mad that he didn’t have the time left in the show to get me back, but vowed to avenge. I walked back down to the rest of my team welcomed with cheers and hysterical laughter, they had seen it all LIVE on TV!

Lucas 1 - Colin 0