Surprised by Hope Blog: January 2014

Monday, January 20, 2014

Pull the Net

Seated on several benches outside a small church in Buwenge town, more than 15 pastors waited for my arrival. These pastors formally organized themselves under the name Pull the Net for the purpose of improving entrepreneurial opportunities in their churches and communities. They invited me to meet with them and talk about how we might work together. My sense that God has led me to focus more on development for pastors was reinforced by this invitation and by this great group of leaders. All we need to do now is plan the dates and the event. Please pray that pastors from far and wide would come for the ministry teaching and that every one of them would see God moving in this neat group of leaders.

The whole building is painted w Airtel branding.
Inside you'll find office equipment ready for use.

A stationary shop made sense for Pastor Fred and his wife, given her desire to work and her secretarial skills. A small gift from outside and the Surprised by Hope entrepreneurship teaching enabled them to easily identify this as the proper financial investment. They’ve started with some bigger equipment and will add inventor as income is generated. Please pray with us that this inventory will come quickly and that Pastor Fred and his wife would have the wisdom and knowledge needed to make this s

hop a success.

They’ve Moved! I couldn’t stand the idea that all these little kiddo’s were now sheltered and loved somewhere I didn’t know. So, I made the trip to find them happy and healthy in their new home just up the road from the old home. So thankful for “Uncle” who loves these kids so purely. The number of children living here continues to grow…how can you say “sorry I already have six children with no parents, I just can’t take one more”? And so, money is tight but the Lord is good and continues to use you and others to provide for them. Thank you!

The temporary structure must be maintained and added to
for those students beginning school Jan 20
at least until the new structure is complete.

With God’s help, Shared Hope for Orphans is building their permanent school structure using the assets they have along with a few income generating projects. A few short years ago I was privileged to work with the team to improve focus and develop long- and short-term goals as well as teach entrepreneurship skills. They’re realizing the benefit of that planning as they see attendance increase in their temporary school structure. The added school fee income educates and feeds orphans from the Jinja area. They’re also realizing the benefit of that planning and teaching in seeing their permanent school structure become a reality.

The new structure is currently three classrooms and is in a beautiful location.

In August, I was privileged to have been invited to pray over the land that was donated for the purpose of constructing a permanent school structure for Light Academy, a branch of Shared Hope for Orphans. I’m proud to show you the progress they’ve made in building since that time. There’s still a long way to go, so please pray with us that the creative ideas needed to generate the income will flow and that God’s favor would continue to rest upon these leaders.

Stockings are for More than Feet

Stockings have always been my favorite part of Christmas and apparently I’m not alone. My aunt and her family love stocking gifts too. But this year they decided to sacrifice their own stockings and bless my neighbor kiddos with “stockings” instead. For a few precious minutes I got to remember the Christmas of my youth…you know…the grabbing, crying, and hitting.

Look at Sheffar's eyes! So big!

Oh the fun.

Even Sheeba knew she was getting something fun.

Maama Farida has as much fun as the kids.

Sheffar is ready to brush her teeth.
After eating the bouncy ball she probably needs to.

Stoic kids but thankful none the less.
Tiny baby is on maama's back. She got a stocking too.

The rest of the stockings will be distributed when the kids return from the village where they spend off-school holidays.

Don't Fence Me In

As I recline on my living room sofa pondering the events of the day, a pair of brown eyes shaded by a ball cap peek into my kitchen window. Several pairs of eyes pass by that window – and my front door and every other window on two sides of my house – every hour. Back and forth between the water source and the construction project, they’re hauling two very heavy jerry cans full of water each time they pass. It seems the distance and weight requires several resting breaks for even the strongest arms and my kitchen window happens to be the spot…for everyone.

Land planning is pretty much nonexistent in more rural areas of Uganda, which means pretty much anything goes. Walking through someone’s compound is perfectly acceptable even if there is a road by which to pass…which there isn’t. And so every day these construction helpers along with scads of random adults, children, and animals pass within three feet of my front door on their way to who knows where. Some of the bolder even step up onto the veranda and cup their hands around their eyes to peek inside my door…only to find me staring back at them (at least when I’m home…I don’t know who stares back at them when I’m not home).

When the house was originally built, I was urged to build a fence…and I absolutely refused. Fences are typically intended for security purposes and I just didn’t want to keep friends and neighbors out. (Note the friends and neighbors part.) Then I agreed to at least receive a quote for building a fence, and quickly added cost to my list of reasons to avoid a fence.

Once the heavy traffic patterns were evident, I began pondering the idea of a fence, however distasteful, and realized how very American I was in thinking that it was so rude for people to trespass. The number of times a stranger…or even someone I know…passed through my yard in Ada could be counted on one finger. And yet, I’m not in America anymore now am I. As I began reflecting and observing I realized it’s perfectly acceptable to pass through anyone’s plot for any reason at any time. Well…maybe that’s not true, but it happens all the time without any noticeable consequence.

Now that I can count more than 25-50 unknown people and animals passing within three feet of two sides of my house every day…I’m thinking more about creative solutions to redirect these passersby without making me untouchable, violating cultural norms, putting a social barrier between me and neighbors, or costing an arm and a leg.

I’m thinking a half-height chain link (eventually covered in flowers, likely to be eaten by the goats) on three sides…just enough to redirect passersby to alternate routes and not become a giant eyesore in the hood. Now if I could just keep the neighbors from hitching their cows and goats thereby effectively removing the posts from their cement hideaways.

Mountain of Glory Church in Ganda

The church lit up as community members had their “ah-ha” moments during the teaching about creative and critical thinking. Laughter filled the church as we practiced problem solving skills with an amusing exercise. It’s not easy to get the culturally quiet, reserved crowd to make noise unless specifically praising the Lord…but we did it.

Bishop Joseph Kilifi graduated from Bible School in a Briefcase in Malindi about three years ago. He invited Surprised by Hope to deliver the first two of four in the Entrepreneurship series workshops as a precursor to delivering the other two workshops in early 2014. More than 30 people attended every day of the workshops.

These are only the ladies wearing a kanga for my FB cover photo.
Apparently I am "American" height.

Sometimes at the beginning of the workshop I see lots of blank looks and wonder if people understand the teaching, the examples, and the questions. But as time progresses they light up. They connect the dots. They have their “ah-ha” moments. As a teacher there’s not much better…except, when you ask at the end of the teaching what they learned and they say they learned that they are created in the image of God or that God will equip them to work for his Kingdom. Such comments send me soaring. I praise God for his work in these hearts and minds.

50 Christmas Dollies in Marikebuni

Take a look at the adorable kids who received dollies for Christmas. Pr Ephantus and a few adult leaders were so helpful in organizing the children to receive dollies and have their pictures taken. The children were even well behaved, no grabbing or pushing. A little more like...what's going on here. Thank you for the opportunity to love these kids on your behalf.