November

November is more than half way gone; the time is passing quickly as we continue to be busy.  While we have not begun construction of a new building, there are enough ‘projects’ and needs around the base to give us practical experience in the construction techniques here.

Modifying an existing building, or remodeling as we would call it at home, sometimes presents more challenges than new construction, but we’ve managed with good results.  The three larger projects we’ve taken on are:  modifying the farm storerooms into a workshop, adding a porch and doorway to one of the buildings, and dividing a small space for better use as a toilet and cleaning closet.  There have been plenty of mistakes, or as I see it opportunities for learning, and so far the end results have been good.  Since the construction is of brick and concrete it’s new to me as well, so I’ve been learning much along with our students.  What I bring is the confidence to willingly ‘take it on’, and we’re beginning to see some of that confidence building in the students also.

We’re in the midst of a heavy rainy season.  Great for growing, especially since it came late and many who rely on growing were very worried, but challenging when doing construction.  Moving materials and tools around through the mud and tall grass, and scheduling the building around the rains can be difficult.  Concrete and mortar are mixed on the ground using the local hoes and shovels, then carried by whatever means to the point of use.  Then we hope for a few hours of drying before it rains again.  Some of our sand has been washed away, and we lost part of the stairs we’d made to a downpour, but these also become opportunities for learning. Much of what I’m trying to teach is planning and preparation and local conditions are part of it.

The students have become a valuable part of the base community, participating in activities and making friends with students and staff from other schools.  There have been some friendly futbol matches with the DTS (gone for outreach now), some are singing with the worship team, and of course we all do our part with work and kitchen duties.  Beth and I are not only the only teaching staff, but also the ‘parents’ to the guys, and the ones who they come to for most of their personal needs as well.  We also find ourselves playing that role to many others on the base as the relationships formed in the last year have grown.  It sometimes puts us into situations we’d not expected, but we knew much of what we’ve come here for were those relationships.

Next month we will be travelling home for time with family and friends for the holidays.  It comes during a break between school terms (plus a few days on either side).  We’re looking forward to that time, and I’ll even try to enjoy the cold weather which I’m no longer used to…

School is in session

They’re here, school has begun, and it’s exciting!

 

We began on September 14^th with eight students.  We had accepted ten of the 14 interviewed, but two didn’t show up because of lack of school fees, which is a constant refrain here.  Saying no to the others was also very difficult, especially as I saw the desperation, theirs, and those who brought them, but I knew this wasn’t the right program for them. 

As I’ve shared before, this isn’t the typical Ugandan vocational school.  I hope to have a lot more practical experience and much less ‘theory’ than is normal here.  Also, by not focusing on one construction discipline, but exposing the students (and staff) to the various trades, I’m hoping to encourage critical thinking and a better understanding of how the trades are interrelated.  Here, if you attend one of the typical (government sanctioned) vocational schools you will be taught one discipline, plumbing for example, and won’t receive any training about the others.  Most schools face a real shortage of resources as well, so practical experience is lacking.  The nearby vocational institute which we visited teaches concrete and bricklaying construction, yet several of its classes meet under a tin roof supported by sticks because there isn’t money to build a structure, and the students practice bricklaying by stacking the few bricks they have using wet sand as mortar, then knocking them down, and repeating.  The school also has an automotive repair program, but no tools, and an electrical program, but no electricity on site…  Of course we are faced with a lack of resources, but we’re moving forward.

Our first week was mostly orientation; getting to know one another, the place, the routine, and etc.  We began the second week, and have continued with teaching on planning, preparation, planning, tools, planning, safety, planning, computer, and planning.  The base schedule and other responsibilities, as well as the things you have to include in a school in Uganda (the tea break) really affect the amount of teaching time, yet we’re making it work.  I’ve also emphasized the need for flexibility, so we can take advantage of opportunities or unanticipated contingencies as they come up.

And we’ve already had some opportunities.  On the second day of class (after orientation week) Beth was talking with another staff member of a different ministry and found out they were helping on a house being built for a woman with cancer.  Beth (who is committed and invaluable to the school) volunteered us to go and help. This was really beneficial, as the house was nowhere near complete, and we were able to perform a lot of work, as well as see the house at a stage which we were already talking about in class.  We were able to go back again on Friday, and get a lot more done.  Much of it is ‘grunt work’, but it’s a reality of the construction methods here, and it’s giving practical hands on experience, and it’s helping to get the house closer to completion.  Also, the students met the woman whose home it is; she is so very appreciative, and it helps to reinforce some of the character principles which are an important part of the school.

It is our hope and goal to build a home, or some other building here on base, which will depend on the leadership to find the resources.  Meanwhile, though, we will probably do more work at the home under construction, as well as modifying the farm storerooms to become a workshop.  Planning for that has already begun, as has some excavation and demolition.  There are also many maintenance and repair projects on the base which could keep us occupied for the entire school year, and could provide practical experience, however that is not our preference.

Of course, besides running the school (which has given me even more appreciation for teachers everywhere) there is much to keep us busy.  There are plenty of challenges still facing us and the rest of the staff.  Relationship is still the primary reason God brought us here, and is much of what we’re doing.  About a month ago one of the staff began facilitating nightly worship, and it has been an important part of the healing and restoration God is bringing to Hopeland.  Please pray for us as we continue in the process.

The word is out

One of the reasons for the long spaces between these posts is that I’ve found it difficult to be positive.  I’m sure that reading previous posts one will sometimes sense a measure of sarcasm and cynicism.  Well, for the last few months I’ve really struggled with some personal attitudes; that cynicism, anger, and frustration among them, and I haven’t been a person God wants me to be, others would like me to be, or even who I want to be.  It’s easy to make excuses, but really that’s all they are, excuses.

 

My main excuse:  Things here haven’t been good, not Uganda, but YWAM Hopeland.  For years sin and mismanagement have been allowed to abide comfortably creating an atmosphere of division, mistrust, fear, and apathy.  The perfect place for a critical cynic like me, right.  But it’s where God sent us, and unfortunately I allowed it to affect me, adding to my already pretty negative persona.  Again, it’s an excuse, not an acceptable reason for my negative attitude, so for that I’m asking your forgiveness.

Regarding the excuse, the sin and mismanagement, some things are changing.  There are still some strongholds to be broken, but there is attention and pressure from within and without, and God is working to restore this place to what He desires it to be.  There is a group of young people here that God is using to change me, and others, and this place.  We need your prayers…

Homes of Hope was active again recently.  I wasn’t nearly as involved this time.  They were able to make one mold locally and produce enough foam blocks (before running out of chemicals) to build the exterior walls of a home.  The inside walls were made from wood.  This time, instead of bringing in an outside team, a group of local pastors was organized to do most of the work, and more importantly, to be a part of the process.  The goal is to have it a locally administered program involving the local community.

"Wow, it's like the Sheraton"

I have completed the bathroom project that has consumed (too) much of my time, and am now focusing on the vocational school which will begin September 14.  We will be sharing a classroom with another program for widows which will start at the same time, and split our time between there and some storerooms on the chicken farm.  Part of the initial phase of the school will be to refurbish those storerooms into classroom and workshop space until more acceptable and permanent spaces are built.

There hasn’t been a young men’s vocational school here for many years, and there are very little records and no curriculum to work with, so it’s like starting from scratch.  Translating my ideas and vision into a useable, teachable format is challenging, as is the business of starting the school.  There are many things about the systems; educational, governmental, etc, which I know nothing about, but which I’m learning.  It also feels to me like we’re doing things at the last minute without enough preparation, and even though for my personality that’s difficult, it seems to be the norm here, and seems to be coming together.

For months various people have come around or called saying something like: “I hear there’s a boy’s vocational school here, when does it start, how many can I send…?”  Generally, lots of interest, affirming the need and desire for vocational training opportunities, so we didn’t feel the need to ‘advertise’, and were cautioned against telling too many, as we might be overwhelmed with applicants.  So we printed 30 applications, made a signup sheet for 60, set up chairs and announced interviews for Monday at 9:00, all for the eight who came (or were brought by their sponsors).  I’m told that’s typical, more will be coming (they have and are), but it again challenges me to be understanding of a culture different than my own.  Of course the biggest hurdles students face are financial; coming up with the money for school fees, or even finding the 1500 schillings (50 cents) for the taxi to get to the interview is prohibitive.  We believe, though, that we will have just the right group of students here when the school begins.  The ones God has planned, not just for them, but for us as well.

Future vocational school: Far door for classroom, next two access workshop

classroom

workshop: wall on right will come down to join similar space on the other side

Beth has been in the US since the beginning of the month spending time with family and friends.  I know it’s been refreshing and enjoyable for her, but she’s been sorely missed here.  Her return next week is greatly anticipated…

July update

Okay, it’s been way too long since the last update, and I’m sure I’ll not be able to give accounts of all that’s happened since March (I think that was my last post), but some reporting is in order.  First the excuse:  most of the time I haven’t felt like posting.  Between the schedule we keep, and the things that happen here, I haven’t wanted to post, though it may have been therapeutic…  Here’s some things that have gone on:

Homes of Hope:  I have nearly completely removed myself from the program, and, though not because of that, it is not going well.  There is not enough committed staff, so keeping the program going locally has been fitful.  There is still the insistence on using foam blocks, but it’s rather difficult to manufacture them when the molds were stolen, presumably to be sold as scrap.  (They were manufactured and shipped here at great expense, and each is made of machined cast aluminum with steel hardware, and weigh around 400 lbs.)  There is an ongoing effort to duplicate them locally and produce new blocks, but there are still pre-existing technological challenges, as well as some new ones which have prevented that from happening.  The team which was scheduled to come next month to build the next house has cancelled, citing security concerns…

I have spent much of my time doing a bathroom remodel, effectively building a new one actually.  I have done most of the work myself, and it has been fun to take on some new ways of doing things; learning and occasionally teaching.  Progress has been painstakingly and frustratingly slow, but I think the end is near, maybe even by the end of next week?

Beth continues to be involved personally in many of the lives of other staff members, some of the students, and even with some of the visitors who pass through.  It’s really a gifting, and I know a big part (probably the most important) of why we’re here.  We’ve become aware that most of the staff have very little financial support and struggle to get by.  We’re thankful that they have places to stay and food to eat, but they all struggle to pay staff fees (most can’t), school fees for their children, or for their basic needs.  Most teams and visitors, especially those from ‘the west’, come to Uganda and see poverty and needs in the surrounding communities, and want to ‘do something’ to ‘help’.  They don’t recognize the people who are serving them at the place they are staying have many of those same needs.  Beth has nearly completed interviewing our staff, and is putting together a binder where visitors can go and see what some of the needs are, and help out, if they feel led to do so.  No pressure, just awareness.

In the middle of June the girl’s VTS graduated, then two weeks later the SBS (School of Biblical Studies) graduated.  Meanwhile the DTS (30 people) was away on outreach, and the base was down to a skeleton staff and their families, and was ghostly quiet, and nature was taking over.  But within the last week a team of three families arrived for their outreach, the DTS returned, and a new family of five from Korea has joined the staff.  The place is bustling again, maybe nature can be held at bay.

With the departure of the girl’s VTS (we miss those students, but get updates and occasional visits), we’ve been focusing some on the upcoming boy’s VTS.  So far it’s weekly meetings as well as some personal time spent, but I’m beginning to feel it’s a reality.  We’re shooting for beginning in September, with an initial group of no more than ten students.  After my experiences in building and maintenance, the program will be ‘general construction’.  There is growing interest, and we’ll have to turn away many who want to be students.  The same can’t be said for staff, so far it’s me. 

Rainy season has pretty much come to an end.  For me it was very interesting to see the cycles of insects during over different periods.  There were days of different flying ants (termites), various crawling bugs, flying bugs, a week of millipedes, then later centipedes.  And the soldier ants, also known as ‘no pants ants’.  You’d wake up one morning and there would be a new column of thousands stretched in lines over several yards.  The columns would last a few days, literally carving out paths through the mud and grass, then abruptly disappear.  Then a new column(s) would appear somewhere else.  The reason for the name ‘no pants ants’ is that if you stepped or paused on or near a column you would have dozens of them from head to toe in and out of your clothes biting fiercely.  People will strip off their clothes to remove the ants.  Beth had the experience one early morning in the kitchen as she was going to help prepare breakfast, and I think everyone can report being bitten on several occasions.  There were a few times where I found myself rescuing some small children as they stood screaming amongst a swarm.

In May we went to visit a YWAM base near Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with a boy’s carpentry vocational school, and a successfully operating clinic.  We took the opportunity to travel by ferry to the island of Zanzibar for a few days rest and leisure.  It’s a beautiful place, and we enjoyed nice accommodations and good food, and hope to return someday.  We also had the opportunity to treat one of our staff to his first plane ride, and a much needed break from his duties here. 

Kailey was able to visit us for the first two weeks of June, and we all enjoyed her time here.  Because of the limited staff and our obligations, we weren’t able to get away as much as we would have liked, but being together is what was important, and we were able to visit Musana and go to town a few times.   From here she went to Paris for a few days to be with her friend, Lauren, then home. 

Beth will also be going home next month.  She’ll be spending time with family and friends, and someone named Lucy.  (Okay she’s family, too, but it’s different.)  I’ll (mostly, hopefully) be preparing for the upcoming VTS, and doing other things, but will be there in spirit, and via Skype.

Much more has happened, and continues to happen.  Please remember us in your prayers.

Zanzibar

guests of honor at girl's VTS graduation

the ants go marching...

Kailey time...

the cobra killed in our neighbor's house

How's the weather?

When we were home in Colorado I paid too much attention to the weather.  The weather forecasts actually, and the discussions about weather.  I also had the ‘news’ playing on the TV and radio enough to be reminded of how much of the broadcasts are dedicated to weather.  And I allowed myself to be influenced by them, making and changing plans based on the forecasts of cold and snow.  I was again frustrated by how much time and energy we spend on something we really have no control over, and why do we (I) allow it to be the topic of so much of our (my) conversation?  Well it’s not just in the US, it’s here as well.  When we returned it was the beginning of the ‘rainy season’.  But it wasn’t raining.  So many of the conversations were about, or included the need for rain. Even on the drive from the airport; our driver was very soft spoken and hard to understand so we didn’t talk much, but when we did it was about rain.  It also influences the behavior here; preparation for planting, what to plant, where to plant, when to plant, as well as how to navigate the roads.  Well I’m happy to report the rains have (mostly) come, planting is occurring, and navigating is interesting.

a rainy season garden

It’s been relatively quiet since we’ve been back.  There’s not a lot happening with Homes of Hope, the next building team isn’t scheduled to come until August.  Also, I’ve made it known I don’t want to be as heavily involved, so I think that will be respected, but for now I’ll be part of the planning and logistics until roles are more defined.  Which is the reason for weekly meetings which happen on Mondays: except when they don’t, because some or all of those scheduled to be there don’t show up; as was the case last week.  The next order of business is to get feedback at an all staff meeting (Wednesdays), and maybe get a clearer idea of the way forward for Homes of Hope at Hopeland.  We’ve also begun weekly meetings (Tuesdays) to work on establishing the Men’s Vocational School which is where my heart is.  It’s been said that YWAM may stand for youth with a meeting; which may be based in reality, but if it results in action that’s okay.

 

The last week Beth and I were pretty sick, and for Beth a trip to the hospital was in order as she became very dehydrated.  (First we had to navigate the road from the base which was ‘suffering’ from the first rains, and required maneuvering around a mired bus.) There are many ‘clinics’ and several ‘hospitals’ to choose from; we chose the brand new Nile International Hospital.  It is run by Turkish doctors, is very modern and boasts four floors with an elevator, and several departments including; L&D, radiology (with a CT scanner), emergency, a surgery theatre, pharmacy, and even a cafeteria.  We’re still in Africa, but it really was impressive.  I think most clinics use a dart board to diagnose (“You don’t need stitches, you have malaria.”), but I’m pretty sure this place uses a modern Wheel of Tropical Diseases which they spin to get their diagnoses.  Actually the consulting physician suspected Typhoid which was ‘confirmed’ by the blood and stool samples taken and analyzed in the lab.  Beth then spent several hours in an ER bed receiving IV fluids and medicine, after which we were sent home with a round of antibiotic and two additional meds.  The total cost for the doctor’s consultation, lab work, in patient care with IV fluids and meds, and prescriptions from the pharmacy was 75,000 Ugs, about $23.  (At that rate we can afford to drop our health insurance, right?) Though we’re pretty sure we didn’t have Typhoid, we do suspect a water or food borne illness, as several others here have had similar symptoms.  We hope we won’t be needing medical services again, but should the need arise we would return to that hospital to take another chance on the Wheel of Tropical Diseases.

Missionaries

Used t’be I coont even spell it, now I are one!

As a child, up to the age of about 13, I attended Catholic church and Catechism with my mother and brothers and sisters, and I remember hearing a lot about missionaries.  I was also raised in California, and the fourth grade curriculum included California history which was full of information about Father Juanipero Serra who established missions along the California coast.  (We got to build sugar cube models of some of those missions, and even took a field trip to visit one.)  I’m sure it was in that context that I formed my perceptions about what a missionary is.  I had, and still have, to some extent, this vision of priests and nuns going into unchurched native cultures and converting the population.  That was accompanied by then ‘civilizing’ that population; meaning forcing them to give up their native beliefs and practices, put on clothes, adopt western ways, and be ‘Christian’.  My early days in the evangelical Christian community did little to change my perception of what a missionary is, except now in my mind a missionary didn’t wear frocks and collars or a habit, but rather they were a conservatively dressed white family who were civilizing the natives.  Because of this perception, for most of my life I’ve struggled with the term ‘missionary’.  Yet now, as it comes up in conversation, we refer to ourselves (and others do, as well) as ‘missionaries’.  Not because we feel like we’re missionaries in what our traditional perception of what that means, but really because it’s easier.  Rather than try to explain why we are in Africa and what we’re doing, it’s easier to say ‘we’re missionaries’.

But aren’t we all missionaries?  Whether it’s actively or passively, we’re all representing someone or something we believe in.  And by our words and actions we demonstrate our allegiances.  You won’t find the word ‘missionary’ in the Bible, but you can find ‘ambassador’.  It’s actually the word I prefer for what we’re doing here, Beth and I are ambassadors of what we believe in.  As Christians, we’re all certainly called to be Christ’s ambassadors, wherever we’re at.  For some it means ‘going out on the mission field’, the way we’ve been taught to believe (like going to Uganda or some other foreign place, wow), but I believe your mission field is wherever you’re at.  I know that what we’re doing here is what we are supposed to do, but it’s no more important than what anyone who is following Christ is doing.  It’s easy and tempting to say ‘I’m a missionary in Africa’ (maybe even impressive to some), but really we’re only doing what we know we are supposed to do.

Sometimes we hear how what we’re doing must be ‘so difficult; missionaries, in Africa!’  I probably haven’t done much to dispel that, but it’s just not true.  First, when you’re doing what you’re supposed to, God is not going to let it be too difficult.  That said, life here (for us) is not difficult anyway. Often frustrating, inconvenient at times, even mystifying sometimes (“really?”…), but overall pretty simple.  Uganda, and Jinja in particular, is easy.  Jinja is home to hundreds of missionary and humanitarian organizations, which means a large western presence, which results in a cottage industry catering to the westerners.  Restaurants, supermarkets, recreation, tours, and etc, are all available. And while Beth and I try to integrate ourselves with the local population, we certainly take advantage of those things.  On the YWAM base itself we have all the comforts of home. (They’re just not very comfortable, or well done. Actually what I’m hoping to change as part of my ‘calling’.)  What we’re doing is not for everyone, but it is for us, and it’s not hard.

Which is why, as of yesterday, we are back in Uganda.  After a great visit ‘home’ we’re back to a much quieter base than when we left.  The VTS girls are gone on holiday before going to their internships, the performing arts DTS is away on outreach, and there are no visiting teams.  On Monday we’ll get back into our routines (or maybe start new ones), but the weekend is for getting over jet lag, and reconnecting.

Thanks for all who made our visit home special.  It was great spending time with the family and friends we were able to, and apologies to those we missed.  The generous hospitality and sharing of time and resources we received is greatly appreciated.  The perks of being missionaries…

Suffering through another missionary meal  (At one of the restaurants we frequent in town) while playing peek-a-boo with a child at another table.

January

It’s already February.  Time flies when you’re having fun, or at least when you’re staying busy, which we have been.  Homes of Hope still consumes the majority of my time, and Beth continues to be involved in many of the happenings on and around the base.  By using a standard of ‘at the end of the day, point to what you have accomplished’ our productivity sometimes might be considered low, but sometimes the work we do can’t be measured in tangible units.  There are many things which impede ‘work’ here, and as someone who values work and productivity, it can be extremely frustrating.  But hopefully I can learn from them, use them as teaching opportunities, exercise patience, and sometimes help to change them, if appropriate. 

There was a DTS team here at the beginning of January from Tijuana (YWAM Baja/San Diego), the home base of Homes of Hope, who were here to ‘build’ the home for which we had prepared the foundation.  In my opinion, things didn’t go well.  ‘We’ didn’t have all of the materials and tools needed, there wasn’t reliable transportation, and things got rushed.  But at the end of their allotted eight days of building time the walls were up and (mostly) plastered and painted, part of the roof was on, a door and shutters were hung (so they could get their pictures) and they prepared to leave with the feeling of a job well done.  Some of the team leader’s last words as they gathered for the pictures and ‘presentation ceremony’ were: “Don’t worry, they’ll finish tomorrow” pointing to me and the two ‘students’ I’ve been working with.  ‘Tomorrow’ was nearly four weeks ago and we’re getting close to finishing.  And ‘finished’ is another relative term.  We hope to be to the point where the family can move in to the home in the next few days, and I suppose that’s what we’re calling finished.

This whole project has certainly given me plenty to think about.  It’s the subject of many discussions, especially between Beth and me.  There are many philosophical considerations, and of course the practical implications.  I’m not going to try to spell all of those things out here, but here are a few:  Is it ‘right’ to give a home to someone?  Should there be conditions?  What is the impact within their community?  What technologies and materials should be used?  Should it be done by outsiders?  What about follow up?  I know a lot of people participate in ‘short term’ mission trips, often for building projects (I have), these are things I think should be discussed as part of the preparation for those trips.  I’m still trying to sort out many of these things myself, meanwhile there are more teams scheduled to come to build more homes (of hope).

Meanwhile we get involved with other things.  Beth has gone with visiting teams as they go to minister at different places.  She also went one weekend to Soroti, about four hours away on a bus, where she visited Amachek; a home for children with AIDS and other serious diseases whose families can’t care for them.  This week she went to a village clinic primarily providing pre and post natal care to women.  Beth also spends a lot of time with the girls who are here for vocational training.  There are ten of them, mostly from difficult backgrounds, and they really value the ‘family’ time Beth and others spend with them.  We really enjoy getting to know them and being a part of their lives as well.

Next week we’ll be going home for a few weeks visit.  I’m not looking forward to Colorado’s weather, but of course we’re excited to see family and friends.  No offense to anyone else, but Lucy sits at the top of the list of those we’ll spend time with.  I think I’ll even be able to work on our taxes with her around…

We’ve already purchased our return flights (really affordable, this time), and I’m already anticipating our time back here.  I feel like we’re leaving many things undone, and I have plenty of ideas about things I want to do when we get back.  In spite of the many frustrations, this is where we belong for now, so even though we look forward to the break, it won’t be too difficult coming back.  We’ve got a growing shopping list of things to bring back as well.  Things we want to have for our ‘home sweet home’ away from ‘home sweet home’.

The 'finished' home the team left...

...with much left to do.  

With some of the VTS chefs