Out of Africa – Brother business

Day 4, June 7, 2024

There were so many aspects to this mission trip to Uganda with Amy For Africa that highlight reels from what happened were sure to be abundant.

Seeing the AFA Christian Academy with my own eyes was important. But here is another one that has been equally big: Having my brother, Tim, serving the two weeks with me. I have written about him before so most of you know how I feel about him. In short, he’s my hero on this earth – and I mean it.

We are different in a lot of ways and that can be unusual for brothers who grew up under the same roof. He is three years older than me, didn’t play youth sports and had nothing to do with sports, listened to some funky music growing up and played in the band. He was an introvert and looked for ways to fit into the world. Although playing tuba in the high school band, Tim was a drummer (even playing for the great Coco the Clown). Meanwhile, I played sports, watched sports, listened to sports and eventually wrote about sports.

Our father bought us A2000 baseball gloves from Ben Williamson at the ages of maybe 12 and 9. I wore mine out to where there was a hole in the leather. I’m not sure Tim used his. Ever. I looked years for it hoping to find this unused A2000 and call it my own, but never found it.

Before this trip, the only other time I can remember being on a trip with Tim was when mom and dad put us on a train in downtown Ashland and sent us to an aunt and uncle in Louisville for the week. I was a little fella so I’m sure I was clinging to my big brother all that week. He has always been important, even once showing me a Christmas haul early that morning but making sure I did not tell mom and dad that the whole Santa thing was phony. I kept our secret for a few years.

And for good measure, we also don’t look alike. At all.

We do have some similarities and they are important: Both of us married above our paygrade. Way above. Tim lost his precious wife, Pam, in 2017 to brain cancer. I’ve never seen anybody hurt like he did over that loss, but God has taken good care of him. I have been away from my wife, Beth, longer on this trip than since my last visit to Uganda in 2017. We have been inseparable companions over that seven years because of my working from home. We honestly love that life, too. I have missed her a ton!

Our most important brotherly trait? We are both born again believers who love the Lord passionately.

I asked Tim about going with me to Uganda last fall and he quickly agreed even though he had three or four mission trips out of the country scheduled. And it has been epic for us. We have been closer the last 10 years or so than anytime in our lives, calling each other often and leaning on each other when it was needed. My brother can do anything. Amy Compston knows that too. She has him preaching or speaking on 13 days of our trip. Ride the horse if you have one.

On Friday, he was the speaker for the AFACA chapel service that included 400 excited children. When I say excited, I mean EXCITED! After some praise and worship that was out of this world with the children singing at the top of their lungs while bouncing and dancing in place to the rhythm of their flamboyant leader. The whole room was busting with praise to music and the beating of the African drums. Tim had eyeballed the drums the day before, even telling the worship leader he had one like his.

Tim walked over to the corner where three boys were pounding on the drums and asked one if he could step in and play (remember, he was a drummer). He kept the rhythm going in true African fashion as the children shrieked with joy. Then he stopped and walked over to his chair, grabbed his Bible and spoke to the children with calm assurance. He asked them how many of them thought he was 100 years old? A few raised their hands. But then he delivered a gospel message on their level about taking the right or wrong path in life.

He’s such a good pastor and a friend to so many. His wise counsel has been instrumental here on several occasions to others already. On Saturday, we are both scheduled to speak at a dedication of the field where the AFA high school will be built – me as the president of AFA and Tim as the one who gives the dedication sermon. That’s after we visit the place called “The Ghetto” and feed hungry children – after Tim presents a gospel message.

I have the best Big Brother and we are having the best time ever. He continues to build hero points in my book. And I think Clarence and Peggy would be proud of how their boys turned out.