Mount Zion, Rainy Crusades and Endless Horizons

The last few weeks have been eventful as we have seen the ministry team battle the rainy season for rights to show the Jesus film outdoors, watched three little boys paddle away on a glass lake into infinity, and cotton clouds cover hilltop churches. I experienced a three orientation on proposal writing in Kampala and a three day disorientation as my body and mind struggled to settle back into an urban groove. Italian Gelato, a speedy internet and paved streets can sometimes be a tough adjustment.

A pastor who received ministry training in his living room with his family

Kids dancing in the rain on a stage during a rain delay at a Jesus film showing

Pastors training attended by over 80 ministers and church leaders
Preaching at a crusade
Hiding out during the rain intermission
3 boys taking a swim in Lake George
Pastor Robert taking notes
Curious little boy in our doorway
Child attending a crusade
HDR of the sunset in Ibanda

Local church where we held a training workshop

You are welcome Mr. Luke and Madam Carol

So this is how we are greeted everywhere we go. For some reason the R in Ruco always becomes an L and the rest is just up to personal preference. Kristi inevitably becomes either Christine or Carol, which I guess Carol works since its her mother's name. I have no problem with this however, since I am often unable to catch their names either. We have been very busy the last few weeks as you can probably notice in our posting drought. We did have an awesome opportunity to go to Queen Elizabeth national park a few weekends ago and it was wonderful.

Goats, Cows, and Pigs Oh My!

Prior to this week I had never caught a chicken, given a cow a vaccination, built a fish pond, or restrained a goat, but after one week with the livestock team here in Kamwenge, I can say that I've done that and much more! It has been exciting and inspiring visiting with the various beneficiaries all over this district. I have heard numerous stories about how a few goats or some chickens have made significant impacts on livelihoods of so many people in the community. The staff here begin by providing a 2 week workshop on how SP's Livestock program functions and then follows with more practical information on how to properly care for the animals. The most motivated and needy individuals are determined. The selected individuals are required to build proper enclosers/pens for the animals using locally available materials. Upon completion of the structures, SP provides the individuals with the animals (either 1 cow, 3 goats, 1 pig or 10 chickens). They continue to monitor the beneficiaries on a weekly basis to ensure that the animals are well taken care of and have received all their immunizations. Within 2-3 years the beneficiaries are required to repay the animals which they were given and those animals are then given to the next beneficiary. The program has proven to be both succesful and sustainable with numerous families testifying to better food security, improved health and more disposable income.

Uganda- Week One

We are safely here in Uganda! Our first few days were spent in the capital Kampala, a bustling city intertwined between 7 green hills. We were given a tour of the office, a overview of the programs currently running in Uganda, and introductions of all the staff. After recouping from jet lag we set off on the 6 hour journey into the Western Region. I cannot even begin to explain the way this other-worldly beauty of landscape mixes so intently with a poverty of vast proportions. It leaves your heart with a simultaneous sense of awe and twinge of pain. Passing village upon village we were greeted with open smiling faces. Faces not confined or defined by circumstances. We spent the rest of our week working alongside the livestock program and more specifically the fish farm projects. SP has assisted 19 families in the planning, building, and maintain of personal fish farms. The project helps to generate income for the families and serves as a protein supplement to their diets. The ponds are poly-culture which means they are stocked with multiple species (tilapia and catfish in this case) and often reach well over a 100ft on each side. As we visited from family to family I was overwhelmed by their stories. Each one sharing uniquely about the immense impact this project has had on their personal lives. One man was eager to tell me how he was finally able to afford a new roof after selling some of his fish at the market.

Sorry for the overload of pictures but this is honestly a fraction of the beauty which has passed through my lens in the last week.