Experiencing Africa

I spent the last four weeks in Uganda as an intern with Kibo Group International. A total of 13 of us went on this adventure; 3 from Oklahoma Christian University, 4 from Harding University, 4 of us from Rochester College and then our 2 fearless leaders, Larry and Danny.

Our last Sunday at Jinja Church of Christ

I've been putting off writing this blog because I don't feel as though I have words to adequately describe and explain my journey to Uganda without sharing every big and little thing that we did.

I will do my best to keep this short but thorough.

Kibo Group is a non-profit ministry that works on sustainable development in villages in East Africa.
Kibo has 4 projects that they work on with the villages:

• Water Source
• Community Lead Total Sanitation (CLTS)
• Women's Empowerment 
• Mvule Project 

Before going to Uganda, I knew about the projects Kibo did and I thought they were really cool. But let me tell you, the work Kibo is doing is far far more than giving clean water or planting trees! These are wonderful things and everyone should go check out the work they are doing but the relationships Kibo workers build, the encouragement they give, and the passion, energy and love they put into the work is what makes Kibo Group so special. 

A Mvule tree

One of the stoves we helped build

We went with the Kibo workers the 3 days a week that they went into the villages and it is exhausting. However, because of the passion they have for God and their desire to help His people be all that He has created them to be, they tirelessly drive hours into villages, work with difficult people, share the love of Christ, empower and encourage those they meet. 

Dish drying rack 

Every single one of the Kibo workers got so excited to tell us about what they were working on in a village and tell us about the improvements the village people had made. 

I wish I could do a better job at describing their passion and energy for what they are doing because it really is inspiring! I don't think that I have ever met anyone who is as excited and driven to go to work as the Kibo staff. 

The work they do is so holistic in that they will go to a village for Water Source and it will impact the village in SO many ways. For example, the first village I went to needed their well repaired but before Kibo was going to help them fix it, the villagers had to meet HIC standard. HIC standards are the same as those of CLTS: each household has to have a latrine, bathroom ("shower"), dish drying rack, and a rubbish pit. Along with meeting HIC standards, they had to raise part of the money to repair the well. (Once a well is drilled, the people have to create a savings that everyone contributes to so if it breaks they have money to fix it). 

Here is what this does for the community: 

• Empowers the village people to work for what they want and need
• Improves the health of all
• Fewer sick children--they don't miss school as much 
• Sick people don't contaminate water and get others sick 
• Savings helps them be prepared and not have to "pinch shillings" when something happens
• More money to invest in chickens, goats, cows, and crafts, to sell. 
• Forces village people work together and rely on one another.  
• And so much more!!!

And that is only one project! Isn't that amazing! 

Okay, so that is Kibo and why they are so amazing. 

I could say a lot more about the people there but for now, I will move onto the people of Uganda, in general. 

I love them all and they are the reason I will miss Uganda so incredibly much.

Our host family for our overnight stay

The people of Uganda are kind, SO thoughtful, generous, and the most hospitable people you will ever meet.

An example of their hospitality and thoughtfulness:

Myself and three of the guys from our group were in a village to help build some stoves. After the stoves were built, we sat in on a meeting with the Kibo workers and the village committee members. We could tell the meeting was wrapping up so one of the guys picked up his bag from off the ground and started to dust it off to get ready to go. One of the village men saw this and during the middle of the meeting, he got up and brought a bench over to us to set our bags on so they wouldn't have to be on the ground. 

This is just one example of the constant care they had for us. 

It's impossible to go anywhere without being offered a pop (Stoney is the best!), chai tea, or a TON of food. 

Their thoughtfulness and hospitality never stops... It seems as though it would get exhausting

The generosity they showed us was incredible as well. 

Again, at the first village I went to, they had started making baskets and dying fabric to sell and make some money. They hadn't made very many but what they had was beautiful. As myself and the other intern with me, Sarah, were getting in the car to go home at the end of the day, a few of the women stopped us and the men told us that the women wanted to give us something. They handed us the 2 bowls that they had crafted and a piece of fabric they had dyed! 

To many, this may not seem like an incredible or selfless gift but believe me, it was. 

They had spent a lot of precious time and energy on those crafts and on top of that, the baskets and fabric had been made in order to make money. 

These people had very little in terms of material processions, but what they did have, they joyfully gave it away. Now that is Biblical. 

It reminds me of a song my dad taught me when I was little. 

"Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away

Love is something if you give it away, you'll end up having more

 Love is like a lucky penny, you hold it tight and you won't have many

 But give it away and you'll have plenty

You'll end up having more."

I think that sums up the Ugandan people pretty well. They give all of themselves and all they have for one another and their guests. The simplicity in the way they live casts out the distractions and greed that we in our Western culture have come to see as typical. They simply care for one another. The Basoga people are true examples of sincere love. 

While I was in Uganda, I dwelled in Romans 12:9-21. I feel as though it really encompasses both the Basoga people and what Kibo is doing and teaching.

If you have actually read all the way through my blog post, thank you. I hope it has blessed you in some small way.  I will end my post with words that are not my own, for God's word is much more important. 

         "9Love must be since. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

           14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

          17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. 

         20On the contrary: 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' 

         21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." 

-Romans 12:9-21