Having followed the trial of women to the marble and then stone quarry, and thus seen my give the doll to the little girl in the quarry, two girls sheepishly approached me when we returned to the pastor’s home. Could they please have a dolly? How could I resist. The looks of pleasure at receiving the small gift made the giving worthwhile.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Two More Dollies in Moroto
Having followed the trial of women to the marble and then stone quarry, and thus seen my give the doll to the little girl in the quarry, two girls sheepishly approached me when we returned to the pastor’s home. Could they please have a dolly? How could I resist. The looks of pleasure at receiving the small gift made the giving worthwhile.A Dolly in Moroto
Sitting quietly next to her grandmother, this small, dirty child looked up at me with a blank stare. Her grandmother was seated in the hot sun chopping foundations stones into small bits. This jjaja glanced my way and all I could see was the white’ish cataracts covering her eyes. Chopping stones requires one to see the stone, does it not? 
I noticed the stick-legs protruding from under the jjaja’s skirt. I noticed her twisted feet and toes…her gnarly fingers and hands. Such work for an old woman. Not far away were others younger and older, some disabled and some not. Encouraged to try the chore myself, I picked up a nearby rock and pounded hard on a stone…several times. Finally the stone broke in two. I told myself that if I’d used more energy with the first strike it would have broken more easily but the reality of doing that kind of work ALL DAY LONG is that I could scarcely succeed in the same way these women persevere. To any man who says women are weak…I say, take a look at the day in the life of an African woman.
Out of my pack I produced a dolly for the girl with the blank stare. She accepted the gift and pondered it a bit. Blank stare. The jjaja thought she would set the doll aside for the girl while the jjaja continued working but the girl had other ideas. In her quiet way she got that dolly back and hugged her close. What a life for such a young girl. Her mother out searching for wood to carry to town (being paid for the carrying) and her grandmother chopping stones in a quarry. What does life have in store for this little dolly girl?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Natopojo Women’s Group
I’m not sure if it was pressure from the women or the Holy Spirit, but I agreed to help the Natopojo Women’s Group begin their quarry project with two sets of tools. They’d indicated that with one set of tools and four men for a day they could produce four loads of stones and thus 160,000 UGX. Theoretically, they could purchase another set of tools every day until each woman had her own.
Sledge hammer 50,000
Long iron lever 40,000
Spade 10,000
Pick axe 15,000
Pick axe handle 2,500
Chisel 15,000
4 Men (work 1 day) 20,000
Total 152,500 UGX (about $75 USD) per set
After purchasing what was available locally and ordering what needed to be brought from Kampala, we had an honest conversation about how the group would share these limited resources. Actually, I lectured
them a bit about how that first day they received a payment they might be tempted to use the money in many ways. I reminded them that if they made that choice, all the ladies sitting next to them would go hungry. We then talked about how if they used that money to food all the ladies rather than allowing them to sustain themselves as they had in the past for just a few more days they would again deprive the group of future success.
They all seemed to understand, but I will pray that they truly do. I encouraged them to expect me to return and that I also expected to find that each lady had her own set of tools. At the same time, the number of things that can go wrong with this plan are enormous and entirely unknown. Please pray with me that this project does more good than harm.
Slaughtering and Crushing
Even though the Natopojo Women’s Group wasn’t interested in talking about the work they were currently doing and learning how they might make that work more profitable, we did talk about what kind of skills the women have and what resources are available in the area. We talked about developing a business for themselves that doesn’t rely on me or anyone from other unreachable areas to sustain them.
Two ideas came to the minds of this women’s group: slaughtering and quarry work with marble (rather than the simple foundation stones). When trying to understand why they needed to purchase animals to slaughter and not simply offer the service to those who already own animals, I learned that the Muslim men own this craft and that they do it in exchange for small piece of meat. When asked why someone who needed this service would choose them over the Muslim men, the women quickly realized this might not be the best option.
The group agreed that quarry work in marble would be the best option for them. Can you imagine? An old lady’s best option for work is in the marble quarry. After asking at least 12 million questions – some of which anticipated the “but we still need…” after I’ve already provided something – we created a list of materials needed to start the work.
Milton ran to the hardware store to get prices for those items. For 100,000 UGX (about $50 USD) we could purchase the five tools needed to start working in the quarry. For 20,000 UGX (about $10 USD) we could pay four men to do the physical work in the quarry for one day. Can you imagine chopping marble all day for 5,000 UGX (about $2.50)?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Exploiting the Karamajong
In working through the mindset about workshops and skill straining, I sensed that the Karamajong are hardened. I felt disappointed that they had this pattern of expectation and that if someone didn’t follow that pattern they had no use for them. By questioning the women in depth, I got a glimpse of why they might feel this way.
The Karamajong are National Geographic-like. They live in mud huts, wear wraps, carry sticks, and seem somewhat primitive (for lack of a better word). This kind of life is interesting to people in more developed countries and as a result many groups establish non-government organizations here. Those groups take photos, tell stories, write proposals, and get lots of money to help infuse the region with skills, materials, and food. Then, those same NGOs use the money for themselves and not for the Karamajong…or so it seems to the people who live here. The Karamajong are exploited for the money they bring in. Alternatively, as with the soap-making NGO, skills training is delivered but that training is not sustainable when the NGO leaves.
Even Ugandans exploit the Karamajong. They travel this far distance to purchase stones from their quarries, and because they know how desperate the people of Karamoja are they pay well below any standard of living. They know the Karamajong will accept the tiny amount of money they’re offered simply because they haven’t eaten all day…nor has the grandchild seated next to the jjaja who pounded stones all day. The choice? No sale and no food or sell below market price and eat today only to return to the same problem tomorrow.
Sad. I wish I could fix the world for these people and all the people who are exploited. I wish I were just that big and at the same time am thankful I’m not.
Creative Futures in Moroto
The Karamajong people living in Moroto are so distant from the city center that their way of life is significantly independent of outside influence – including education and development. Yet some NGOs manage to establish themselves in the region and have even created something of an expectation on the part of the Karamajong.
For example, one NGO came to teach the women to make liquid soap. They gave the women supplies to begin working and reselling the soap and provided some ongoing assistance with transportation of chemicals that cannot be found in the area. Sounds perfect, right? What the people here fail to associate with this approach is that when this NGO leaves (and they are planning to leave soon) they leave the women without a way to sustain themselves in the future. The cost for chemicals and transportation exceeds the amount of money for which the soap sells. The NGO taught a great skill but not a skill that can sustain life independent of the NGO. According to the leaders I met with, and based on my observation of the resources in the region, this approach is common. Even so, these ladies still expected me to follow this pattern.
I told the leaders I’d come to help them realize the variety of assets they have within themselves as well as the assets they have in Karamoja (which are exceedingly limited) so that they could be self-reliant and not suffer when NGOs leave. I hoped to teach them how to think critically and creatively about existing assets and possibly to find some new ways of working together as a result. For those who have businesses or skills, I came to teach them how to make those businesses more profitable. The response…follow the pattern. People were not interested in learning how to think differently or to know how to make their current businesses more profitable. They just wanted to eat that day.
While the leaders discouraged holding the workshop, my introduction to the Natopojo Women’s Group revealed the absolute necessity for the workshop and the leaders soon realized the same thing. Without realizing it, the topics were addressed in an informal manner while all the women were seated under the tree in front of the pastor’s house. I love how God rearranged my mind to meet these women where they were. While the content they truly needed was only partially delivered, the door was opened for a way of working together in the future.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Riding the Bus to Moroto
Sopping wet. Those are the words that best describe the first seat I chose on the Gateway bus. Somebody peed or somebody left the window open. I choose to believe the latter. The sun began warming the passengers and the window failed to budge. I moved to the other side. We turned a corner and I was in the sun again.
Stop. Stop. Stop. Jinja is the first main stop for the Gateway bus, the place where I boarded. Next was Mbale where I picked up some very yummy looking vegetables in anticipation of the hotel having no food. Next was Soroti where I bought…guess…yep, banana bread. Next was Matany where I usually disembark but this time I just waved in the direction of the family I know (who was not at home) and continued on to the end destination, Moroto.
People get on and off at major and minor stops along the way. Sometimes they just get off to pee in a bush. Yes, stop the whole bus for one guy. I looked up to see the back of a familiar hat and for a split second thought I’d found Max on the bus.
One lady was managing her sleepy son, a big television box, a big speaker box, a small DVD player box, a blanket, and a bag full of something I know not what…and her purse. I looked down to find g-nut sauce (the general look and consistency of baby poo, luckily not the same aroma) sliding toward my feet and the many items of this lovely woman. We all rode in disgust for a few more stops but when we reached Katakwi, a very kind older woman boarded. She produced a paraffin bag from nowhere and scooped up as much of the g-nut sauce as she could manage. How sweet.
An elderly man joined the bus shortly after the lady left and did the same thing. He scooped and swiped and scraped to get as much of that sauce off the floor as possible. How nice of them both. Then someone brought a shovel of sand to cover and absorb the sauce. No longer worrying about the slime getting all over my shoes I glanced outside at the hawkers pestering the passengers. The nice older man who cleaned up a couple bags of the sauce had used his hands and was now…licking them clean.
A few passengers speculated about what happened (or would happen) to the rest of the sauce he and the old lady scraped up. Dinner? Resale? Can you even imagine a life so bad that you would scrape up spilled food off the floor of a bus where dirty shoes and bare feet so recently tread?
Friday, August 26, 2011
John's Vision for Bugembe Prisoners
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| John, his wife Monica, and some of their many children. |
Returning to the car, John continued to express his amazement at the hope I gave him for these prisoners – he is the one who chose the word hope. I tried to help him see that God put this vision in his heart and that he is the one reawakening something in John. John realizes this truth but I think he felt like something unique happened that maybe wouldn’t have happened if I’d not been here to encourage and guide him.
Thank you to all my supporters for allowing me to be the catalyst for John and so many others.
John talked about his long term vision for these prisoners. He talked excitedly of having a small plot of land where those who are exiting prison and had no trade to support themselves could begin brick-making. They would have work for a short time or a long time, depending on what was needed and perhaps one man would be the paid leader.
This brick making could lead to brick laying and other building-related skills so that they eventually built classrooms and apartments for themselves. What a beautiful vision for these prisoners. For a small amount – something less than $5,000 USD two to four acres of land could be purchased nearby. So close in the minds of Americans yet so far for Africans. Please pray with me that this door would be opened for John and that his vision for these prisoners would be accomplished.
I believe that God is indeed doing something special here. There’s just something about this group. I don’t know what it is but there’s something. I love those moments and I love the anticipation of knowing God is planning some wonderful surprise!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A Tailor and A Cobra
Did you know that those little elves that repair and shine your shoes while you sleep are called cobras? To begin their skills development training in the Bugembe Prison, I supplied a small fund. John ran out to purchase all that was needed to begin cobra training – polish, brushes, needles, thread and more. He also purchased materials for the tailor to begin teaching as well – paper bags for beginners, thread, needles, oil and such for maintaining the machine, and more.
We lugged this giant bag of potentially dangerous supplies into the O/C’s office and made arrangements to launch the program on Sunday. We were allowed to bring the goods to the prisoners only to show them that we are serious about helping them learn or improve skills.
We called forward the tailor and cobra and both men had grins from ear to ear. One man, the tailor, was particularly smiley. Perhaps I noticed his dimples. The men were immeasurably happy and thanked us profusely for believing in them. Another man said that if he had this short list of supplies he would teach brick laying. All the skilled tradesmen joined in with their short lists.
Finally, one man very humbly said that he was gone the day we distributed Bibles and please may he have a Bible too. Two others spoke up in agreement. I just happened to have two boxes of Bibles in the boot (trunk). Yea God! I am so excited about this huge provision of Bibles and what a blessing they have been to the people in Uganda.
As we left the building, I looked once more for that flat rainbow that caught my attention as I’d entered. I’d never seen a flat rainbow before. I’m sure there is some important and significant meaning in that beautiful sight just before entering. I know we were all doing something pleasing to God.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Bibles in Buwenge
The church/classroom doorway fills with curious little faces. Who is the mzungu in our far-away village? One week we blew bubbles during break time. Another week we blew up balloons. This week I gave the pocket size New Testament Bibles to these children. We read a few verses about hope and then they ran off with their new treasures. Hmm, what will we do next week?
Bubble Exercise
Six volunteers stood unsteadily at the front of the Buwenge Entrepreneurship classroom. “What would this mzungu ask us to do?” they wondered. This week’s study was about managing operations and to illustrate process mapping for efficiency we did a little exercise.
- One person held a yellow container of bubbles.
- One person held the bubble wand.
- One person blew bubbles from the wand.
- One person held the makeshift ruler next to the bubbles (no easy task).
- One person called out the size of the bubble.
- One person recorded that size on the blackboard.
After the woman holding the ruler was totally exhausted, the group had recorded about eight bubble sizes in one minute. We talked about what worked, what didn’t work, and what they wanted to change. In essence, they made a few tweaks but felt the operation was fairly efficient. Okay, let’s do it again with the improvements you suggested. Again, chaos.
Finally an observer commented that only one person was needed to hold the bubbles, the wand, and blow and that the process would be much easier if so many people weren’t crowded up front. Two people lost their jobs that day. More suggestions for efficiency were made and the now three-person group repeated the exercise with triple the results. Watching the light bulbs go on is the highlight for any teacher.
Each team worked on diagramming processes specific to their projects and then looked for efficiencies within those processes. One person commented that they started to recognize how being very detailed in their descriptions actually helped them see things they’d never acknowledged before. This group has been amazing in their eagerness to learn and apply what they’ve learned. Such dedication from this unique business model for a community-driven organization with a passion for helping orphans.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sewing Machine for Konoweka
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| Thomas my Kampala boda man is in the center. The old man was the barrow pusher. Notice the background details. |
“Drive up over the curb behind the bank,” Lobu said. Um, is that legal? I did as he directed. Thomas, my Kampala boda man, came to help (not with the driving over the curb part). Lobu stayed with the car while Thomas and I went to pick up the two sewing machines you purchased for the Konoweka ladies. I kept wondering how exactly we’d get Thomas, me, two sewing machines, and two stands on the boda but…what do I know.
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| The ladies all worked hard to learn to sew by hand before using the machine. I'm so proud of them. |
When I purchased the machines a few days before, I paid close attention to my surroundings. All the buildings are designed the same and in a row one after another. This building, though, had fans on the main level, bikes on the lower level, and when I looked up from the lower level I saw a red balcony out the entrance. Little did I realize that every place has fans on the main level. We found the shop and the shop lady gave me the machines purchased a few days before. I worried she would try to give me different machines or to say I never purchased any machines. She was very nice though and she didn’t try to cheat me…thanks to friends in high places.
Thomas made an executive decision to use a wheelbarrow guy to get the machines and stands from one of the busiest streets in Kampala, through Nakasero market, and to the car parked behind the bank (still busy streets). Up two flights of steps we trudged (okay, they wouldn’t let me carry anything so I guess I didn’t really trudge) and loaded up the wheelbarrow. Thomas is the guy in the red shirt.
The poor wheelbarrow guy had to fight to get enough space to move through the crowd with the wide load. Thomas started at the head of the line to help make way but then some guys started jeering at the mzungu so he moved behind and grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. I have a feeling Lobu told him to guard me with his life. I chuckled…maybe it’s better I not tell these two how often I come to Kampala alone.
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| About half the women who participate where here that day. These usually reserved ladies were SOOOOO excited! |
Loaded into the car, I headed to Banda to meet with the Konoweka ladies for Bible study. They showed off their hand-sewn garments made of cement bags and were so excited about all they’d learned. I told them how proud I was of them for finding a way to pay the tailor to teach them and that I knew they had what it took to participate in their own growth and learning. The ladies beamed. When I told them I had machines in the car they nearly lept for joy. They continued expressing their love and appreciation for your generous gift and can’t wait to learn to use the machine so they can make you a special gift.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
School of Ministry Entrepreneurship Course
Ministry school graduates in Uganda – really anyone working in ministry here – are often responsible for supporting themselves financially. Occasionally an out-of-country church provides support but having that support is not a guarantee. As a result these folks must also have one or more income-generating jobs. With a 40+ percent unemployment rate, self-employment is often the only option.
Ministry school provides pastoral and ministry training, as you’d expect. The school focuses on what it does best – ministry. Graduates – both professional and lay ministers – have no way to financially support themselves and have no teaching or skills in business.
A four-week Entrepreneurship course at the School of Ministry began with about 12 students from the school and a few community members. Much like the work with TTATCC, these students began thinking about what kind of income-generating work they could begin. One person had a non-traditional work goal, which was refreshing. Others had ideas that mirrored much of what Uganda is already doing. I challenged the students to think about finding some work that isn’t commonly done here but is still needed or to differentiate their work in some way so that customers come to them instead of the mass of competition.
Homework assignments included finalizing the strategic framework we began in class and putting the first two sections of their business plans together. By the end of the course, each participant will have a fully developed business plan to help guide their decision-making efforts and to submit to possible startup investors. They’re already asking for teaching in other subjects so I look forward to the doors God will open for them as they expand their knowledge about business in Uganda.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Changing a Mindset
The Konoweka ladies have been waiting a long time to receive their sewing machines. Why? These women seemed to have reached a point where they believed all good things should simply be handed to them. I’ve spent the last few months teaching about God’s abundance and that money is not the commodity used in His economy.
I debated about being the “controller” of those gifts and felt like the Spirit was showing me how to draw out their own initiative and determination before simply handing over this gift. So, the weeks went on and we continued to strive for cooperation rather than one-sided giving. The ladies were charged with finding a teacher – their one and only contribution to the project. At first they poo-pooed and said give us the machines and then we’ll find a teacher. I asked them how long they’ve known me and whether or not they have seen me do what I say I’m going to do. With an affirmative response they reluctantly began the search for a teacher. I hate to say this, but they dragged their feet and whined a little along the way. So much like the rest of humanity.
Eventually we had a frank conversation. Look – God created you in his image. You can learn. You are smart women. You have what it takes to succeed. Ultimately, it’s your choice. You can choose to do nothing and get nothing for your efforts or you can choose to work and search for that teacher and be blessed. But…YOU choose. You cannot say, “That mzungu didn’t help us.” You cannot say, “God has forgotten about us.” Nedda (No). It’s your choice!
Guess what! Annie – the lady who has been working alongside me – and Pastor Jessica interviewed three teachers during the week I was gone and made the first arrangements for lessons. Please pray that this teacher is good – I have not seen her work or her character – and that the ladies would remain committed to this project. Finally, pray that God would open new doors with crazy creative ideas that Uganda has never seen before such that all the existing artisans want to learn from them. Amen!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bubbles and Balloons
Life is a serious game for children in East Africa. I see a six-year-old child with a baby wrapped on her back. I watch a girl of five doing her laundry in a basin filled with murky water. I walk by a four-year-old child straining under the weight of two water containers…I can’t help but carry her burden. On one hand, I see these children modeling the behaviors of their mother. They’re learning how to live life in their country and to survive. On the other hand, I wonder if these children have time for joy. The answer must be yes, right?
I hear the voices of screaming children wherever I go. Most of the time the screams are gleeful…on occasion I send one child running home in fear. I watch children pushing a round upright tire down a hill using a y-shaped stick. I watch children pushing empty plastic bottles around on the ground using a long stick inserted through the opening of the bottle. I see children pulling one another on jerry cans cut in half with a banana leaf rope tied to the handle…like a sled or skateboard.
Bubbles and balloons are simple fun for children, they’re new. Bubbles continue to render children motionless in wonder. I’ve yet to find a group of children who knew enough to chase after and pop those tiny bubbles without being told. They have fun. For a few minutes in their busy day, these children get a reprieve.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Prisoners Do Have Skills
We greeted the O/C (still don’t know what those initials stand for) and described the vision John and I worked on together for developing a self-sustaining training program. The O/C was thrilled, and then he asked me for a computer so his workers don’t have to walk to town to create the required government reports. If I had a shilling, a single shilling for every request…
Gathered in the tiny chapel, the prisoners began shouting out their trade skills once they caught on to the vision. They didn’t even wait for us to ask. They just started shouting (in very quiet Luganda): carpenter, cobra (shoeshine), and on the list went. Then someone shouted tailor. John almost jumped up in the air when he heard that…he was shocked. God is so good. I just knew someone was there and that what John was feeling was a bit of hopelessness…why bother asking. Our work together has been giving him new ideas and new passion for teaching trades to these people and it’s been giving me blessing beyond imagine. To see these people excited and hopeful about training and skill development…yea God!
As we exited the doors of that cement building, John lifted a fist in triumph! He is so excited about his revelation today. He said, “That was quite a surprise!” We’ll work together to create a program and then launch that program during next week’s visit. The program will include a variety of different skill development activities and the prisoners will choose their area of interest.
On the way home (to Robert’s house) from the prison, I challenged John to think about developing a formal vision and mission statement along with long- and short-term goals just like what we did with Ibanda. He asked me to think about what that would be and bring some ideas next week… “Oh, no you don’t,” I thought and said, “This is your project, John and I know you will be the best person to create and fulfill that vision.” He began feeling a bit scared that it would not succeed but I have every confidence that this project is God-designed and that he will make a big difference for these people.
Prisoners Have No Skills
Carpenter John, so named because…he is a carpenter…has been chaplain at Bugembe Prison for more than 10 years. He watches minimum security prisoners leave and return, leave and return, thus repeating their cycle of crime in large part because of poverty. Carpenter John said the reason these prisoners keep returning is primarily because they have no skills. He wants to bring in a tailor to teach people how to sew on the machine he purchased for them a while ago. He wants the people to have some skill or trade, something simple, so they can earn some little money for themselves when they are released and ultimately stay out of the system.
Something about the thinking that “prisoners have no skills” stuck with me. I’ve been teaching that we’re created in God’s image and if that is true then we must have skills because he has gifted them to us. Sometimes we automatically assume things about people who end up in prison…so I challenged John about this thinking. I challenged him to see everyone has having some skill, perhaps not formal training but everyone has some gift that can be useful in society. I suggested that we find out what those skills are and then create a program whereby the prisoners with more advanced skills can teach the others.
John is a bit fearful about starting a program of training and then having the trainer be released and having nothing to show for the work. I challenged John to see the training as small bites. Even if something like tailoring cannot be taught in entirety, teach those interested how to sew with a needle and thread, how the sewing machine works, and how to make a straight stitch. Each of these topics could be done independently and would add value to the lives of learners even if they only got one of these topics before they left.
I love to create scenarios where Ugandans take the lead and don’t look to mzungus to fix everything. John is responsible for this project in the prison and the prisoners are responsible for their teaching and learning.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Holistic Health Uganda
Preventative health care training for communities around Uganda is the heart’s desire for a couple working in the medical field. They want to start a small ministry-type business but were unsure how to begin. Once Carpenter John and I met and he heard about Surprised by Hope: An East African Community Development Ministry he realized that I might be able to help.
Our first meeting was in Ibanda’s home where Ibanda shared his vision for this ministry. Our next meeting was at the same place but Ibanda completed some homework assignments I’d given him…to develop a vision and mission statement. Once presented I did my usual asking of a million questions to tease out more meaning.
By the time we were done, Ibanda was excited about having statements and a company name that reflect what he was trying to describe and what they hoped to do in the community. We’re planning to meet again and begin developing the CBO documentation required for formally registering in Uganda.
After our first visit to Bugembe Prison and to Ibanda’s home, I said to John…why doesn’t Ibanda begin some small preventative healthcare training in the prison. He can train the prisoners to train others and thus earn some small income. The light bulb went off for John…why hadn’t he thought of that before. I love making connections for people. Sometimes the new girl asks just the right questions to help shift perspectives and offer new views so that the stuck become unstuck. I love love love my work.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Namulesa Film Ministry
Following the business teaching, which was originally intended to be specifically for women but ended up being for the whole community, we watched NOOMA She. While the message of the film was well received, something did seem lacking.
In retrospect, the effort seemed mismatched with the immediate forerunner of the Creative Futures workshop. No one anticipated the difficult transition or the possible confusion of focus. Perhaps I am the only one sensing a disconnect, perhaps not. I believe I was so focused on delivering the workshop content that I gave less effort and focus to properly delivering the film ministry. Believe it or not, much mental energy goes into both efforts and it’s not easy to keep the details for two entirely different ministry approaches in mind. Perhaps I could have connected the workshop and the film ministry in some way that would make the delivery of two different topics seem less choppy.
Whatever the case, the response to the film was favorable and I learned a few things about what it means to do two different types of ministry sequentially.
Namulesa Methodist Church
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| Half the participants left by the time we all posed for this photo. Still, I never seem to quite blend in. |
Robert arranged for a business workshop for women at one of the Methodist churches nearby. Namulesa is the name of the small town on the way toward Buwenge, where Alone and TTATCC is located. We pulled into the yard of this small building to a warm greeting from just over 20 people.
Using the Creative Futures material delivered in Paidha, the group proceeded to realize they had many business and personal assets suitable for generating new business ideas. The part they seemed to struggle with was combining those ideas or seeing connections between them and among each other. For example, they struggled to understand how bead-making, knitting, and tailoring might be related and thus result in a new business idea where three ladies could work together toward success. We spent much time on this content until they were all confident about generating these ideas themselves. The goal is that they can continue this type of brainstorming in my absence…not to create a dependence on me.
Once they had some ideas for new business opportunities we created long-term goals and short-term objectives. The exercise we use to learn how to make the short-term objectives measurable and specific seems always to work well. The group learns from their mistakes and is able to demonstrate their understanding through examples. We tie everything together to be sure the participants can see how to start by creating an idea and end by creating the short-term objectives needed to achieve those goals and use real life examples along the way.
When asked what they’d learned, various participants said the following:
· I learned to work together with others who have products that go together.
· I learned to make goals for my business.
· I learned that I need to use critical thinking to find new ways to do business.
The church pastor wrapped up the teaching by inviting me to return with the next lesson to which the group offered a resounding applause. “Make Namulesa your home,” he said.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Three Dollies in Bugembe Prison
When distributing the Bibles in the prison courtyard, I noticed the women had their babies/children with them…girls. Before leaving the prison I asked a female guard whether or not those children would be allowed to have a dolly. An affirmative response meant that I could return on film day with the gifts. This time the dollies weren’t prisoners, they were ministers.
I had brought four dollies to Jinja and expected two for Buwenge and two for Bugembe. Only one was delivered in Buwenge and…huh…exactly three dollies remained for exactly three girlies in the prison.
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| Active and happy to have a new friend with her. |
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| This girl was content to simply sit quietly with her momma. |
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| The little one in red boldly approached and helped herself to a dolly. I wasn't sure if she was a boy or girl until...well...you know. She was by far the most animated of the three children. Adorable. |
Monday, August 8, 2011
Film Ministry in Bugembe Prison
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| Chapel |
I offered a preview of NOOMA Rain and NOOMA Luggage to Robert and John before heading to visit the OC (something like the warden) so that they could be well equipped to advocate for the showing of films in the prison. Robert said, “I’ve never seen anything like this!” and both men were insistent that the films were relevant and valuable specifically for this audience.
John went to the prison in advance of our arrival to get buy-in from the OC. He scrutinized John about the effort even though the two have known one another for 10 years. When I appeared with John and Robert, the OC welcomed the idea of showing films and didn’t stipulate an advance preview. Being mzungu has many challenges, but there are at least a few benefits as well.
The chapel was a small room with drawings and sayings sketched all over the walls. When we returned the next day an electrician prisoner aided in setting up the a line to the one power outlet. More than six extensions were strung together to reach into the chapel. A chair and a drum served as the table for the projector and a bed blanket served as a screen. All the electrical elements needed for the program worked perfectly.
We watched Rain and then John explained the metaphor to the audience. They were very participative, which signals that John has been a good teacher for them. We prayed for change in the hearts of the people there. Luggage, though, was the film that seemed really to make a difference. The prisoners indicated that before watching the film they were obsessed with thinking about how best to get revenge on those who they believed were responsible for their incarceration. After the film more than three-quarters of the prisoners said they felt compelled to forgive those people and to also ask forgiveness of those they’d wronged. PRAISE GOD!
Bibles in Bugembe Prison
Let me help you with your luggage, Robert said. When he opened the boot I saw the two boxes of Bibles sent by the church in South Carolina and asked if he had use of Bibles in Bugembe. Robert paused and looked at me… Bugembe Prison houses just under 100 prisoners at any given time and Carpenter John is the chaplain there. My friend Robert introduced me to Carpenter John and mentioned the Bibles. John paused… Robert went on to explain that earlier this week he asked John to price Bibles for the prisoners and found that the cost was out of their budget. Yea to God for having sent these Bibles at just the right time!
When we stepped through the front door of the prison building I saw an open gate separating the prisoners from the front reception hall (a small room about 6’ x 8’). The gate was like those used to close off businesses in the mall but this one opened from the side instead of sliding down from the top. This gate looked as though a truck tried to drive through it and stood wide open. At the floor I saw a woman crouched on one side and a man crouched on the other. Robert informed me that a wife was visiting her husband. No private visitation rooms…just squatting there with an open gate between you and all the world listening in.
A small group of prisoners filed out and headed to the courthouse just across the yard. I observed that the traffic police on Entebbe Road are more well armed than the prison guards (who seemed not to be armed at all). Following a brief discussion with the OC (something like the warden), John, Robert, and I passed by the sleeping quarters and stepped into the courtyard where the prisoners were gathered all dressed in yellow. I couldn’t help but sense the resemblance to Alcatraz.
I’ve never done prison ministry before. Do I shake their hands? Do I stay far away? Ignorant but convicted that God loves these men and women and that under grace they deserve to be treated with respect, I began shaking the hand and offering a warm greeting to each individual. Formal introductions were made and a worship song with accompanying drums rang out. I love worship in Africa, even in the prison!
I talked about John 1:1 and how Jesus was the Word and that Jesus could be found in the Word. I talked of 1 Peter 1:3 and that Jesus is the living Hope and that the Word is alive for us today. I then talked about 2 Timothy 3:16 and that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching. After setting up the Bible gift-giving and before distributing, I told the story of these Bibles and that each one had significance to the giver, that prayers for these men and women as receivers were sent along with these Bibles. In the end, Robert and John commented “well-done.” I don’t know if that’s true but I do know that I felt a stirring in my Spirit after that visit. Wow!
I didn’t have enough Bibles for everyone but I asked John if any of the Muslim people asked for and received Bibles when I handed them out. He replied that they did. Yea again. What a wonderful opportunity to water the seeds already planted by Carpenter John.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
A Dolly in Buwenge
This young dolly fell asleep in her momma’s arms. Just laying all floppy like, I thought getting a quick snap with the sleepy dolly facing out would be adorable. Momma, on the other hand, felt obligated to wake and fully clothe her baby in readiness for her photo. Rats!
Fully awake and crabby now, this tiny one was nothing more than hungry when she saw the dolly. Into her mouth went the hair and the arms and any other piece possible. I realize this girl is a bit smaller than the usual dolly recipient, but the picture would have been so cute as originally envisioned.
None the less, our short interaction led to a semi-formal introduction. Get this. Her mother says, “Her name is Kisakye.” Gulp! What? God is way too cool. I realize names like Patience, Joy, Grace, Peace, and the like are more common here but still…
Entrepreneurship in Buwenge
Twenty of the brightest minds gathered for the first Entrepreneurship course ever held in Buwenge, Uganda. Our session involved evaluating whether or not TTATCC has a viable business concept, and starting to plan for the business’ success. Along with developing a number of successful business concepts that individuals may opt to implement, we spent much time evaluating the company description and the management team.
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| Alone helps facilitate the assigning of groups, while Alex looks on. |
What do you think of when you hear the organization name The Teachers Association to Cater to Children? I personally think of a group of teachers gathering to share best practices, make curriculum decisions, and learn new skills together. This interpretation is far from reality. Group members responded that they’d always felt they had to defend the name because people pressed them about the misalignment between the name and the activities. Once we talked about the need for alignment and meaning, they said they suddenly felt free to make a change rather than to defend a name that no longer worked.
Before getting to the name, however, we evaluated the vision and mission. I asked dozens of questions to help pull out meaning and chose clarifying words. The group responded with enthusiasm and something akin to an “ah-ha” moment. The leader expressed the sentiment that this in-depth evaluation with specific focus on the importance and meaning of every word was one of the most clarifying and valuable activities the group has done together.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Aunt Robina's Honey Bees
Better understanding the honey harvesting process enables us to work toward a plan for raising funds to equip these Ssese Island ladies to produce the best honey in the country. Unfortunately, the only way to learn the harvesting process, according to Aunt Robina, is to…suit up.
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| Hand packed and sealed. |
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| You should see my stripidy socks. Aunt Robina had to help me into my suit. |
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| Vickie gets some help from Aunt Robina too. |
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| Brave Aunt Robina. |
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| I'm not sure how this ends up in a jar but Aunt Robina was very happy. |
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| Vickie and I fought over the dung smoker, the bees were psyching us out. |
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| The smile was only for the camera. Those bees were freaky! |
After finishing with the honey, Aunt Robina directed Vickie and me to a dark area. The theory was that she’d dung smoke the bees and they’d leave us and fly toward the light. In practice, this usually works for her. Today, the bees would not leave us. Aunt Robina suggested we walk home and then take our suits off. Surely the bees would leave by then. What this meant was walking through the center of Kalangala Island to Julius’ house IN OUR BEE SUITS. Yes, we looked like astronauts…or aliens. No, the bees didn’t leave easily. We swatted and shewed until we thought they were gone. The good news is that we escaped with some fresh honey still in the comb.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Ssese Island Photos
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| My grandsons' jammie bottoms on much older children. Cute! |
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| Big belly baby means he's not getting enough of the right nutrients in his diet. |
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| Two story wood house, very unusual here. |
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| Sleepy boy perched between two logs. |
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| The jajjas gave me matts as a gift for the last visit. Yes, I am sunburned. |
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| Vickie and I relax at Mirembe Resort Hotel beach after the long walk. The water here is soooo warm. |
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