A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

Arua. If you tried to search that name on “google” five years ago you would be auto corrected and taken to “Aurora” or “Aruba”. Not any more! As a matter of fact this little town tucked in the North Eastern corner of Uganda is becoming a bustling hub of activity. Uganda recently came back into the spotlight when it won its second ever Olympic gold medal. No, that was not the most recent. Um, was it the Joseph Kony 2012 video? No, that was just a celebrity stunt involving Uganda. Yes, the president stood and repented of personal and national sins of the country and dedicated the country to God during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain. (I will blog about that another time) Speaking of which before I digress, are there any blogs on Arua? Yup, actually several. One blogger recounts how he travelled to Arua and dined in an Ethiopian “hole in the wall restaurant” and slept in a bed laid side ways (I’m still trying to figure that out)!

To be honest you have got to hunt hard to find some of these facts and sweat a little more to verify them. So, where do you find out information about this “sleeping giant”? I am glad you asked. Apparently Arua was…

Established on 14th June 1914 at the Heart of Africa, Arua Town (the Ancient Capital of Pan-Africanism) is 64 Km away from the Sudan Border, 39 Km South of Koboko Town, 14 Km East of the Congo Border and about 530 Km from Kampala (Distance according to Gaagaa Coach’s first female driver Kenyan Alice Nyambura). Widely regarded as the Capital of West Nile and a business hub linking Northwestern Uganda to Sudan, Congo and the rest of the world, Arua is home to mainly the Lugbara tribe and other smaller groups like the Madi, Kakwa and Alur.

According to whispers in the grape vine a new project plan is still in the early stages of planning to develop an Eco city in Arua. The Nile Eco-City, which will have residential, commercial, institutional and recreational sectors with 15km road network, electricity, water and sewerage system where septic tanks will not be allowed. A section of the forestland is planned for a zoo and a recreational park with a proposed 40,000 seater capacity stadium to boot.
So who will be travelling to Arua? Good question because Laura has been with the Peace Corps and has been “there and back“. One Danish lady has a blog titled “I’ve left Copenhagen for Uganda”. Scott on the other hand has some handy advice on where to find souvenirs when in Arua. You can also read about one very unusual travel adventure through elephant grass with “Taban”.
However my aim for putting Arua in the spot light this week is because I have an American friend with whom I correspond who is working as a missionary in Arua. He goes to the high ways and by ways and among the outcasts looking for whoever will listen. He lives among the indigenous people with his wife and he is trying to spread the gospel of Christ crucified for sinners. He is starting a Bible believing church together with a pastor training Bible school, further more there are plans (God willing) to start an orphanage for disadvantage children. Recently this was his prayer request. He wanted prayers for:

1. Preaching points for souls to be saved and discipled.
2. Genuine orphans to be found.
3. Teachers, preachers, radio minister, youth minister to volunteer for Jesus and pray about coming to join us in this wonderful ministry.

There sure is a lot of activity in Arua but most of all I see the fields are ready for harvest. Remember Arua in your prayers tonite! Pray that the preaching will awaken some souls.