Life in the dormitory

Before I get into my day today, there are a couple of things I forgot to mention in my last post after visiting Kacungwa.  They just kind of slipped out of my brain after being so late at night and all…

When we were leaving the village of Kacungwa and visiting the future site of the Kacungwa Medical Clinic, we saw the grandmother of my sponsored daughter working in her stand by the side of the road.  I met her last year when I went and visited Gorret, but she has since moved to the trading center near the village and Gorret is boarding at a house near the school (no longer living with her mother, but has improved her grades to the point where she is preparing to advance from Primary to Secondary school).

Anyway, Gorret’s mother works in a stand on the side of the road selling cups of porridge to people for a very small amount.  She earns less than $2/day, though when business is booming, she can earn double that.  Below is a picture of me with her and also a shot of her roadside stand.

Also, we did have a bit of an incident with a mob of children breaking down a fence near the project office in Kacungwa.  I was working with Yoram on some computer things and we heard this great commotion outside.  When I looked, all I could see was Lloyd with a mob of children around him and a fence pole laying on the ground.  What started this was Lloyds great love for children and their desire to be near him.  Below is one of my favorite pictures of Lloyd so far this trip.

 

OK…now on to more current events.

First, I want to echo Lloyd’s sentiments in thanking God for helping us to survive a very interesting trip into Kampala yesterday (was that just yesterday?).  The taxis packed with people and the “taxi centre” were bad enough, but then when we learned that our “friends” Richard and Jonah were going to take us on boda-boda rides, we weren’t too sure we really wanted to be here any more.  However, we did survive the boda-boda rides and then were dropped off in what can only be described as chaos.  Lloyd and I stuck out like sore thumbs as we walked through the throng of people hawking goods at the bus/taxi/demolition-derby station.  I have never seen such madness in my life!  Unfortunately we didn’t have our cameras, but those moments of trying to keep track of our Ugandan friend in the sea of humanity after surviving the terror of the boda was something neither of us will EVER forget.

As I learned last year, plans here must remain fluid.  This morning, Lloyd and I parted company so he could return to Ggaba to perform some work at ARM headquarters while I stayed behind at Africa Renewal University.  For both of these organizations, we are basically conducting an assessment of their technology systems, determining what their future needs and strategic direction as organizations.  From that, we can help draw up a plan that they can then use to move ahead with technology solutions to meet their ministry objectives.  The desire is not to do this FOR, but rather WITH the Ugandan people.

Africa Renewal University just recently received its accreditation as a University in Uganda and is able to provide Bachelor degree programs .  Prior to this, it was known as Ggaba Bible Institute, then later Africa Renewal Christian College.  The president of the university is Jeff Atherstone.  Jeff served on the staff at Cornerstone Church under Pastor Francis Chan.  Jeff has been in Uganda serving for almost 7 years now with his wife and 2 children.  Talking with Jeff for just a short time will reveal a couple of things:  1) Jeff is passionate about what he does; 2) he is innovative and forward thinking.  Looking around the campus revealed some projects that are truly unique in Uganda.

For example, Jeff has introduced the largest rabbit farm in the country.  While it is comprised of only 2 small buildings, the college is able to raise more meat than they could get from a cow on 1/10th of the land and a fraction of the cost. There is a long list of innovative ideas in agriculture, solar power, rainwater collection and other things that just look out of place here in Uganda – but that is the way Jeff wants it.  You will also find composting bins used to enrich the soil used to grow food to feed the students who board at the University and also recycling bins for plastic and other materials.

But that none of this is the core of what is important here.  Remember that we just came from several days in the villages where the poorest of the poor live.  The children that break our heart when we see them sick, hungry, in need of clothing and just needing some of the love of Jesus through us.  But as I was in the chapel service yesterday, what I saw were college students who are well fed, clothed, well spoken, polite, funny, worshipful – not at all like the children we’ve just left.  As I stood looking over (literally) the students as we stood in worship of our Lord, it struck me that these are the young men and women who are going to change Uganda – taking a Christian education into business, social work, pastoring and all aspects of Ugandan life.

We hear a lot about developing the next generations of leaders – but these are the young people who ARE that generation.  To overcome the corruption, hopelessness and generations of want in Uganda, it will take these young people completing their programs here at ARU and heading out into Uganda to restore hope and lay a foundation for the future in Jesus Christ.  It was one of those moments that God blessed me to see.

I have been working with two VERY talented young technical people – Jonah and Bruce (aka Google).  They are working under very difficult circumstances, are keeping the entire university running as well as being instructors in the IT programs and trying to have a life as well.  Our hope is to enable them to move even further ahead to establish a center for technology excellence at Africa Renewal University.

Please pray for all of the young people here as well as the staff and the future vision for the university.  God is going to do great things for the people who pass through the doors here!

Wanting to end on a slightly lighter note, below are a couple of pictures.  The one on the left was my supper tonight, which consisted of spaghetti noodles and beans (prepared by a WONDERFUL young lady named Peace who stayed late to make sure I ate) and the one on the right is my bed, escape from mosquitoes and the place the last few blogs have been written.

Thank you for your prayers, support and for joining us on our adventure for God!

Dave