Uganda: day 8

We've been here for a week and I don't even know where to begin in regards to explaining my experiences here. Uganda is so many things all at once: beautiful, green, kind, needy, littered, corrupt. There are so many things that could be done for this incredible country, but we're here for a mere two weeks and we're Muzungus, so really we can hardly make an impact.

"Muzungu" is the Lugandan term for a rich white person. After talking with Hope, Sam and Millie's son, it seems that "muzungu" can be used for anyone who is lighter skinned than the dark chocolate Ugandans. "Muzungu" is actually a very affectionate term, though it seems strange to us Americans that a word referring to a different race could have positive connotations instead of negative!

Our group of nine students and two professors is staying at the Eunice Guest House at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono, Uganda. Our days have been emotionally exhausting, but we always meet in the evening to share reflections, a short devotional and pray. I've really enjoyed getting to know the rest of the group and hearing their perspectives on the day.

Earlier this week Gary, Dr. Jipping and I traveled to Kingsway Christian High School in the small village of Kituuza. Millie Erema is the director of the school and teaches Greek and Biblical Literature at UCU. Her husband Sam teaches at Kingsway and serves as a pastor. Two of their six children spent time with us this week: Hope and Faith. Hope is in his first year at university, studying to become a doctor, while Faith is nearly finished with high school and hopes to study law. The four of them have been an incredible blessing on our lives and we hope to continue contact with them in the future.

In Kingsway we set up eight computers for the students to use and taught them very basic lessons in using a computer. By Tuesday we were able to move on to word processing and even a bit of spreadsheets. Unfortunately due to our schedule, we could only spend three days in Kingsway to teach the students. Sam and Millie were obviously disappointed, but we have other obligations to people who are in need. I pray that Kingsway's needs for a computer teacher and continued education are met.

For the rest of the week we plan to join the medical students in the Mukono Clinic, teaching the staff how to use the computer we brought for them and helping out where we can. Currently the medical students are staying late at the clinic in hopes of seeing twins delivered - certainly an exciting prospect for future nurses and doctors. :)

Our evening reflection time has been incredibly helpful for processing the day and thinking about all the problems we'd like to solve! We all realize that no, we cannot "save Africa" in one fell swoop of our two weeks' time here, but we do hope that somehow our time here can be productive. Dr. DeVisser keeps reminding us that God has a plan for Africa, but He is not on our timeline. It's very difficult for all of us to see the incredible need at Kingsway and the clinic and not know how to help. Each of us would give money until our bank accounts were dry if it would make an impact, but we've realized that it's going to take more than money to create change. The Ugandan people themselves must initiate for any real change to occur.

I apologize for the long, random post - there's a lot on my mind and it's difficult to organize and write it! Feel free to comment with questions if I haven't explained things properly. Thank you for your prayers; if I've learned anything in the past week, it's that prayer is the most powerful tool for change.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"
Jeremiah 29:11