Red clay fills the gaps between tree branches that form the
structure called Juliette’s home. The hot sun bakes that clay until it cracks
and eventually returns to the earth. She and her two young daughters stay in
this home, both of whom were too fearful of the muzungu to appear in the photo.
Juliette uses a modified bicycle/wheelchair to navigate the hard clay earth.
She is just one of many individuals Christ Fellowship International and Pastor
Moses cares for. I was introduced to Juliette and asked for advice about how
best to help her without creating dependencies.
Pastor Moses quickly caught on to applying what he learned
in the workshops to offering Juliette aid. What skills does Juliette have?
(tailoring) What can Juliette and her girls contribute to society as a way of
“earning” gifts of food from the church? (sweeping, setting up chairs before
service) How can the church assist Juliette in setting up a small business or
working for someone in a small way so that she is actually earning what she is
given (tailoring, grinding maze, storefront attendant). I look forward to
seeing how Juliette’s life and the lives of those in the church are changed
because of the way they see God in work.
Can you guess what this is? New Hope Nursery & Primary
School operates in this “building” and its leader is a member of Christ Fellowship
International church in Kamuli. During our lunch break, Pastor Moses showed me
to this building and we met with the school director to discuss some advice on
how to grow and develop the school. I’m constantly impressed by the big dreams
people have for their children. So many people – Americans – wouldn’t even
bother starting something if this was all they had. Instead passionate families
come together to do at least SOMEthing for their children. Focus tends to be
the main feedback offered in such situations as when spread too thin it’s hard
to do everything well. An hour or so later, we returned to the church with a
director who was energized about how to develop the school using the little
resources he has. I look forward to seeing of any of the advice offered comes
to fruition and actually impacts the school in a positive way.