Father's Day at The Sanctuary

The theme of the Prodigal Son ran throughout our various Father’s Day activities in the Jinja area. The story is so easily adaptable for people of all ages and stages of life. These tiny tots were no exception. Each having a coloring page, they’ve become quite practiced about what to do with those pages now, I talked to these tiny orphans about the love of their heavenly Father and that even if they make mistakes they can go to him and say sorry and he’ll love them just the same.

As children are children, though, they were a smidge more interested in the new Candy Land game I brought for them. As usual, the eldest boy, Chris, took charge of setting up and teaching the others about colors and how to play. I even got to practice my Luganda colors a bit. Oh how I love these kids and their caretakers. Such a lovely and very large family.

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Father's Day in Prison

The Father’s Day message delivered in Bugembe Prison was taken from the same Prodigal Son story as delivered at Buwenge Blue. But this time the room full of men came to understand that the selfish, greedy, power-hungry son who thought he knew how to do life better alone than with his dad was forgiven when he returned to his father’s house. Not only was he forgiven but his father came running to welcome him home. I tried to help these guys imagine what that would be like for them.

I asked them to think about the worst thing they’d ever done, maybe that thing is why they are in prison now…maybe not. I asked them to imagine going to tell God they were sorry, they already knew in their heart they were sorry but now they had to go apologize. I wonder if imagining such a thing is very close to actually doing it in this case because God is ever present. Anyhow, I asked these broken men to imagine that before they even arrived at His estate (for certainly God lives on a very large estate), before they even had to get up the courage to speak a word, He came running at them. He came running and wrapped his arms around them and welcomed them home. Not a word spoken but all the love of the Father enveloping them both.

That’s what will happen, a lot like the story of the Prodigal Son. These men could hardly believe such a wonderful reunion could be possible.

But it doesn't end there. Typically one or two women reside in this prison as well. This day...18. 18 prostitutes were jailed the night before in a pretty major sting. Can you imagine telling all these women – most of whom indicated they had no father or had an abusive father – about the love of their heavenly Father and that he loves them so much they can always go home if they’re sorry. Oh ya, that’s what I’M talking about…not a dry eye in the place. Can you imagine that being arrested for prostitution could end up being the highlight of these women’s lives…the point at which they finally realized their Father’s love and take a step toward him? Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to be part of this beautiful moment in their lives.

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Father's Day at Buwenge Blue

Song and dance rang out from Buwenge Blue Primary School on Father’s Day. The children packed the small space in eager anticipation of this new little church gathering. I’d prepared a message about the importance of the role men have in the lives of their children – targeted at the fathers – but a room full of kids called for swift course adjustment. Rather than teaching fathers to express the same love their heavenly Father expresses, I talked to the children about growing up under the love of their heavenly Father. We learned about a love so big that even when we leave him for things like fame and wealth, or when we do stupid things, we can return and be forgiven. Not only can we return, but our Father will come running to us just like in the story of the Prodigal Son. It’s a story we’ve all heard before but such reinforcement in the lives of so many fatherless children is never a wasted word.

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Networking in the Slums

Networking is not surprisingly the means to ministering to so many in the Ntinda area. Mandal and several friends began serving those with HIV/AIDS in very practical ways usually resulting in connecting families to local resources. I was invited to tour this community slum and meet a few of those their organization serves.

  

Nalongo (the Luganda word for “mother of twins”) is HIV positive. Her skin is broken out with itchy rash. Her daughter, Babiryi (the word for “eldest girl twin”), cares for the family during those times when Nalongo isn’t well. Babiryi’s son Henry, the second of two boy twins, is also HIV positive. Mandal and his team identified the following health care and income generation as priorities for this family.

Joyce is HIV positive. Her husband died years ago from HIV/AIDS. Joyce is caring for her five girls who are in day school. The team helped her start a small business making food to eat. Though, I marveled at this “charcoal” made from cassava paste and garbage. The team identified healthcare and income generation as priority needs for this family.

Samuel is HIV positive. His wife died many years ago of AIDS and he is caring for their 5 children. The children are in day school at the favor of that school and when they come home each night, this is what they come home to (see below). The team identified food and clothing as priorities for this family, though I wonder why shelter would not be near the top of that list.

Uganda Cares provides health care for some of the more than 20 families under the team’s watchful eye and a few people in the community supplement food staples and clothing when they can, gifts from slum dwellers aren’t often durable enough. Though entirely unrelated to any business development, I feel a burden for the home of Samuel and his five children. If you would like to help reinforce this tiny structure, probably less than $500 would get a nice start, please click here.

This is the entire Samuel household where he and his five children live.

This door is just behind Samuel in the first picture.
From this spot I took all the rest of the photos.

A 90 degree turn from the doorway and this is the ceiling.

Pivot to the left.

Pivot to the right.

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Service Delivery Philosophy

Underprivileged. Underprivileged East Africans. The Surprised by Hope vision statement indicates that we’ll deliver biblically-based business training and education to underprivileged East Africans. One might wonder if the term underprivileged describes the entire majority world (developing countries). I suppose from an American viewpoint, being underprivileged just might. But the discerning eye will recognize being underprivileged as relative to the general population.

Still…the overwhelming majority of the East African population is indeed underprivileged. These people lack access to education, communication, transportation, health care, clean water, or even lack of access to a trading center. These are just a few of the common marks of the underprivileged. Though, it seems a majority of those living in urban areas tend also to define themselves as underprivileged as an expression of their mindset. A mindset we strive to overcome with teaching about God’s central character.

Even among the truly underprivileged, experience has revealed a few key factors that help ensure the success of the delivered content. It’s important to understand the filter through which we operate as we interact with nationals – saying no is never easy but having a clear target is essential. It’s also important that supporters understand how exactly we decide who we will serve and who we will refer to other sources.

The first criterion is that the group desire biblically based business training, training that does not result in any kind of distribution of funds. Common practice for many foreign ministries is to give nationals money for transportation, food, and lodging in order that they come to some central location for training. Those who offer such rewards often find their participants come only for that money or the free trip into town. Surprised by Hope, however, does not provide money for any reason. Instead, we travel to where the people are. Our mobility allows entire villages to participate in training rather than only select leaders.

 The second criterion is that the recipient group somehow has a ministry or charity focus. We do provide an analysis and feedback report to those who strictly operate businesses and request such, but our main target for delivering services is those who operate ministries or charities focused on developing larger communities of people.

The third criterion is that there be potential for ongoing relationship. Relationship is essential to the success of any service delivery as it offers the building of trust that leads to open doors to hear about the love of Jesus as well as course correction, encouragement, and sustainability. Going into any community to teach just one time, and never returning, does not allow the fruit to mature and therefore we strive only to go where we can observe and encourage development over time.

The fourth criterion is that there is a clear and motivated leader. We cannot be in every community we serve all the time. This leader needs to pick up where we leave off and continue to encourage and champion the ongoing application of the teachings in his or her group. No clear and motivated leader will ensure the death of every good thing sown. Further, underprivileged people often see the service provider as their savior and yet our true Savior has equipped us to do every good work and therefore, relying on Surprised by Hope for any semblance of success is misguided.

The fifth criterion is that the group served must take partial financial responsibility for our work together. For example, when we travel far we ask that they provide lodging and food for us. Usually this means staying with the pastor and his family and sharing the food the family eats. Leaders and participants do not pay for training and so sharing in this way ensure their seriousness in our investment. Now, I do tend to bring my own water and other essentials (toilet paper) so as not to be an overwhelming burden, but not so much that there isn’t some small sacrifice on the part of the community.

The final criterion is that the group is somehow referred to us by a leader already known and respected by Surprised by Hope. This criterion was implemented as a result of a high demand that could never be met and the need to discern which groups are authentic and serious and which maintain a secret hope to simply gain financial support.

God has given us a very clear picture of what he wants us to do and these are just a few of the ways he’s revealed as enabling us to identify those he wants us to serve.

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Teacher's Plan

That bright orange tarp lays spread in the shade of the unfinished room as the Life in Africa ladies continue gathering for tailoring lessons. Each had a seam ripper in hand and I chuckled as I thought about how the seam ripper is my best friend too. Each visit reveals a greater degree of learning and proficiency, but the last few visits had me start wondering…would they finish learning before the scheduled close of the teaching?

The teacher and I keep close contact and she continued to affirm that everything was on track. I could see that she was teaching them well just based on my own knowledge of sewing best practices, and so I never worried. Yet somehow learning 15 dress patterns rather than moving to the next clothing item dominated their time.

As is not uncommon here, those earning a salary wish to extend that earning potential for as long as possible. So, when they get to a point just before usefulness (just before you could stop and feel like at least the ladies got this far and those skills will be useful) they stretch things out a bit so as to force the sponsor to continue or lose everything. It’s a manipulation I’m quite familiar with and guarded against, but somehow still lost. I learn so much every time we sponsor skills training but still feel that I’ve not yet mastered the best practice and have yet to find anyone else who has.

We met together – the teacher, Charlie, and I – to create a work plan that will bring the teaching to a close by the end of July. The plan included the teacher adding more time and the ladies getting serious about finishing. The ladies, too, want to extend the only highlight of their day…social time with other ladies. Now is the time where I get serious too. It’s time to deliver the business and ministry that will help these women transition from being students to being wage earners. Pray that we would all find that sweet spot God has prepared for us using our skills and talents.

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Award Ceremony

Bright colorful dresses cover every lady and sharp suits with short fat ties cover every man. Being clean and well dressed is so important the people of Uganda and ceremonies tend to bring out their very best. Look closely, though, and you will see frayed collars and hems, tiny holes, or missing buttons. On second thought, don’t look too closely. Somehow my heart is a bit sad when I know these people are bringing out their very best and that their very best is worn and tattered. In the grand scheme of things, missing buttons mean very little, but still…

What ceremony would be complete without closing remarks? As I pondered my personal observations over the past four days, a theme seemed to come to the forefront…service. The people I tended to notice most were those who were trying hardest to blend into the background. The men who registered and tracked participants quietly in the back of the room. The women who set out and restacked chairs before and after the workshop. They worked so tirelessly and without a hint of recognition. I admired these people and their ability to have such humble hearts and doubted my own ability to do the same. These are the people I recognized with my closing remarks.

Pastor Amos, though, wouldn’t let me return to my seat without some trick up his sleeve. Several of the participants prepared gifts for me. There’s something about receiving a gift when people already have so little…it’s incredibly humbling. One man gave me a pestle and mortar along with a few wooden utensils handmade from his “assets” (following the teaching about asset-based development) found on his land. He said he’d never thought of such a thing as having the potential to earn money for him until participating in this workshop. Another man gave me seashells from Lake Albert near his home. Another gave just enough shillings to buy a drink on my long journey home.

Emma Survivor, a woman with whom a beautiful relationship was born, gave me a traditional dress. Sent into a small room to change, the dress fit me perfectly. I mean perfectly. How ever did she do that? I came out dancing and twirling and smiling a broad smile. What a lovely and needed gift. But the gift that somehow touched me the most…one man handed me a thin plastic bag with four little carrots the size of my fingers. His very best gift was four little carrots.

Oh Jesus, thank you for the unsurpassable blessing I receive when doing that which you have called me.

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18 Girly Dresses for Nebbi from Lamont CRC

Colorful straw mats covered the dusty earth where the bare footed women gathered with their babies. Our chore was not so much to find women with babies, but more to keep the word from spreading like wildfire. Any time a gift is given, people will come…en mass. Today, though, the women’s ministry leader hand selected women whose children were close to the size of the dresses available and she did so in just the right number.

Early Friday morning the women spread themselves on their mats and patiently waited to see why they were invited to come. The gathering gave me a ministry opportunity to remind these hard-working maamas that God created women just as he created men, in his image (Genesis 1:27). And that God has qualities typically thought of as feminine – compassionate, loving, gentle – just like they do. The message: women are just as valuable as men. We also talked about the responsibility women have in raising their children, and because it’s primarily the women’s role to do so in this culture, they had the added responsibility to raise their children to know and love their Creator. We prayed together, and we laughed together.

These girlies were horrified of me. Look at their Domino hug.

Guessing the right size dress wasn’t always easy but the maamas were willing to trade until they found the dress of the best fit. But here’s the crazy thing. I had two sets of matching dresses…and there were two sets of twins who were exactly the right size. I had two baby sized dresses left over and wondered what happened. No, the women’s ministry leader said, two women are very pregnant and couldn’t come…those dresses are for their babies. I love the confirmation that you’re doing the right thing when weird little things like twins and unborn babies fit the gift exactly…18 dresses.

This group of mothers sent their greetings and appreciation to the children of Lamont CRC. And I send a thank you to the girls of Lamont CRC. Your efforts allowed me to minister in Nebbi, without you I would not have been able to go there. And thank you most of all for giving me the gift of snuggling babies and ministering to maamas, and for giving these maamas the gift of love and dresses for their girlies.

May God bless you!

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Business Disciplines Conference

Pastor Elders Blessing the Gathering

“If you build it, they will come.” This line from the movie Field of Dreams resonated through my mind as I reflected on Pastor Amos’ comment that when he organizes a conference people really come…and they come with high expectations. I thought it might be a bit haughty of him to say such a thing, but instead what I found was a man who worked and worked HARD to be sure they all came. As a matter of fact he missed so much of the morning ministry time because he was busy preparing the conference and being sure every small need was met.

The more I heard about these previous conferences from the pastors who attended the morning leadership meetings the more intimidated I became. How could I possibly measure up to those high standards? My old performance-driven self began to rise up and quake. And the people came…and they came. Every day of the four-day workshop included more than…MORE than 133 people. I know this because only those who attended all four days would receive a certificate and I signed 133 certificates.

Everyone was so serious about capturing all the information.

I tend to use the adult teaching methods – small groups, practical applications – and wondered how such a thing would ever work with this very large group…but it did. Based on the needs described by the organizer, we identified useful workshop and ministry topics for the sessions and they generally tended to center around biblically-based business disciplines. These workshops were no different. They were designed to start changing the way people think and lead toward a viable business idea that could be implemented right now today. Not only do people come away with viable business ideas, they come away with the ability to have the idea generating and development meetings themselves, after I’ve gone. Sustainable, reproducible, actionable.

Fewer than half the participants. A group shot of 133 was tough.

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Vision for Rural Pastors

Eighteen leaders smooshed into the sitting room of Pastor Amos’ guest house in Nyaravur, West Nile. These men are all members of Vision for Rural Pastors, a ministry started by Pr Amos that focuses on equipping rural pastors for ministry…and it doesn’t get much more rural than this. Four days together gave us the opportunity to get beyond the formalities of our new relationship and penetrate the hearts of these men.

 

Sometimes we forget that pastors are people too. They have weaknesses, strongholds, and fears just like everyone else. Our morning ministry time was designed to address a new topic each day that eventually led us all to being better able to be servant leaders. God showed up. He helped us remove strongholds, overcome unforgiveness, tame our tongues, and prepared our hearts for humble service.

Our times of prayer together each day were unmatched. Guarded hearts slowly received healing, broken relationships were restored, and prophetic prayers for each pastor reached the ears of our Creator. Once again, I wondered, of what value can I be amid such distinguished men? All I had to do was show up and then get out of the way and allow the Spirit to do the rest. It’s an amazing dynamic really, supernatural. All I had to do was show up…

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Teaching and Ministry in Barrio, Lira

About 35 people anxiously awaited the return of Surprised by Hope for a series of four workshops about biblically-based entrepreneurship. Our last visit together included a much larger group but the cost of such an event was prohibitive to the organizer and so the smaller, more manageable group gathered inside Victory Christian Center.

I love using The Art and Science of Thinking curriculum as a means to reinforce the truth that these people are made in the image of God and that as such they can use their minds to think creatively and critically to find ways to overcome their poverty mentality. This simple message rekindles the hope which seems to be a key ingredient in motivating people to apply themselves to some kind of work.

Though I must admit my knees shake a bit when I look down the main street and see such emptiness. Please pray with me that God reveals exactly the right messages and opportunities in a place so seemingly desolate.

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Pastor's Coffee Plants

Tiny two-branch coffee trees line a small section of land near the only water source in Barrio. Using the proposal writing skills learned in our first workshop together, Pastor Patrick was able to partner with the Ugandan government to plant and grow coffee trees. Once those trees get to a specific size, the government will purchase them from him and renew the contract.

Sometimes it takes a while – Uganda is still running on its own time – but I love seeing the fruit so generously poured out over the people who take seriously the teaching received by Surprised by Hope and their responsibility in the “Divine-human cooperation” equation.

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Victory Nursery & Primary School

Red clay bricks made from the dirt in this very compound sit one upon the other to form this semi-finished school building which is used to house three classes of nursery school children. A year and a half ago I showed you a picture of this unfinished school building (unfortunately that photo was among one single batch somehow lost...sniffle) and told you it’d taken that long to get the construction to the half way mark. Based on a lesson from our first visit to Barrio, Lira, Pastor Patrick strove for providing a quality Christian education and as a result has quite a demand for seats (though the children actually sit on the ground). Finally, the three-room school is complete and the teachers are educating about 60 children under its shade.

However, without the primary level school classrooms, parents are reluctant to start their children given that they’ll not be able to continue in the school as they pass each grade. A grand graduation ceremony is planned in November during which Pastor Patrick is praying for heightened awareness as well as gifts that will help with constructing the additional rooms needed to grow the children and the school.

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Lango Bibles for Lira

The Bible Society of Uganda offers Bibles in dozens of the 50+ languages spoken here. Somehow I expected them to be fully stocked and was disappointed when only 18 Bibles in Lango were available and when I couldn’t find any in Alur without ordering them. Apparently I should have ordered them about six months ago to be sure they arrived in time for traveling to Lira and Nebbi.

Thank you to Paul who coordinated the Bible project and Beaverdam Baptist Church who gave selflessly so that people in Uganda who don’t even earn the cost of a Bible in a month’s time can have access to the Word of God for themselves.

The lady in this photo testified that she loaned her Bible to someone whose house subsequently burned down along with her Bible. She was unbelievably grateful for the way God restored his Word into her hands (she really was very happy, it's customary not to smile in photos).

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