LauraR
Cathlete
Well, at least it's sleepy for me. Hope the rest of you are energized and doing exciting workouts.
DS has started Augmentin, Mommy Great Dane is nursing 9 puppies, and I’m bleary-eyed and exhausted. TG today is a rest day! I think a nap is in store this afternoon!
Karen—With all your doggie woes, I wish I could just mail one of mine to you! I currently have 10 Great Danes. Oh my!
OK, to avoid further haranguing from Wendy, here is my long-awaited African post.
We’ve been in Uganda for 10 years. At this point, the reason we’re staying is that DH has been named Director of Development for a new university that is being built here. One of the keys to moving Africa out of the third world is having capable, ethical workers in all sectors of public life. Finding folks who are BOTH capable AND ethical is a real challenge. Our mission with the university is to train folks who are able to serve and build their country with both their hearts and their skills.
Currently, the population of Uganda completely outstrips the number of universities that they have. Schools routinely turn away 50% of their applicants. So this is a real need. In addition, 75% of the population is age 20 and under. This is because of the short life-expectancy, in addition to the ravages of AIDS and of cruel dictators in the 70s and 80s. So, we have a huge youth population, limited numbers of older mentors, and not enough schools. Something obviously needs to be done. So, that is our dream—to step in and help to fill that hole.
It’s really an exciting vision. Many days it seems totally overwhelming. But the impact that it could have is incredible.
Now, I said that’s why we’re staying. But that wasn’t yet part of the picture when we moved here 10 years ago. When we came, it was to join a “typical mission organization that was working here. We are Christians, and so we began with the simple plan of working with churches, church leaders, and the women of the community. But from there the mission has grown. Our team now coordinates a children’s home in Kenya with 40 kids, a branch of an AIDS orphans sponsorship program that, in our area, supports 60 kids, and a mission effort in war-torn Southern Sudan that, in addition to a Bible school also runs a dental/eye clinic and a nursery school. We coordinate a 400-student Bible school and help mentor 300 churches in the outlying villages. Every year, through the work of an American 501(c)(3) we help to distribute about 1500 pairs of free glasses. And we have served as the distribution point for hundreds of goats in projects similar to the Heifer Project (one goat is given to one person in the community, and when it has kids, they are given to other members of the community, etc. etc.)
(Pauses to catch breath.)
Obviously, a work this size takes a large amount of man-power, and no one of us is actively involved in every project. Currently there are 6 of us who are sort of the “board,” and we have 5 to 10 other Americans working with us at any given time. We also have a staff of about 50 East Africans who carry the bulk of the day-to-day work load.
So, that’s what we’re doing and why we’re here. The past 10 years have been great, but if it weren’t for the university project, we would probably be turning things over and moving back to the States. But we have a new vision, and it is exciting. It looks like an opportunity to affect lasting change, and in a way that is close to our hearts. (DH and I both have masters’ degrees and have long been interested in completing our Ph.Ds and teaching college.)
So, there’s my long-winded answer, Cathy, Posh, and Wendy.More than you wanted to know, I’m sure. But since (literally) our whole lives are devoted to what we’re doing here, it’s hard to talk about it without passion.
OK, after all that, I’ll have to come back for personals. Hope you’re all having a great weekend.
DS has started Augmentin, Mommy Great Dane is nursing 9 puppies, and I’m bleary-eyed and exhausted. TG today is a rest day! I think a nap is in store this afternoon!
Karen—With all your doggie woes, I wish I could just mail one of mine to you! I currently have 10 Great Danes. Oh my!
OK, to avoid further haranguing from Wendy, here is my long-awaited African post.
We’ve been in Uganda for 10 years. At this point, the reason we’re staying is that DH has been named Director of Development for a new university that is being built here. One of the keys to moving Africa out of the third world is having capable, ethical workers in all sectors of public life. Finding folks who are BOTH capable AND ethical is a real challenge. Our mission with the university is to train folks who are able to serve and build their country with both their hearts and their skills.
Currently, the population of Uganda completely outstrips the number of universities that they have. Schools routinely turn away 50% of their applicants. So this is a real need. In addition, 75% of the population is age 20 and under. This is because of the short life-expectancy, in addition to the ravages of AIDS and of cruel dictators in the 70s and 80s. So, we have a huge youth population, limited numbers of older mentors, and not enough schools. Something obviously needs to be done. So, that is our dream—to step in and help to fill that hole.
It’s really an exciting vision. Many days it seems totally overwhelming. But the impact that it could have is incredible.
Now, I said that’s why we’re staying. But that wasn’t yet part of the picture when we moved here 10 years ago. When we came, it was to join a “typical mission organization that was working here. We are Christians, and so we began with the simple plan of working with churches, church leaders, and the women of the community. But from there the mission has grown. Our team now coordinates a children’s home in Kenya with 40 kids, a branch of an AIDS orphans sponsorship program that, in our area, supports 60 kids, and a mission effort in war-torn Southern Sudan that, in addition to a Bible school also runs a dental/eye clinic and a nursery school. We coordinate a 400-student Bible school and help mentor 300 churches in the outlying villages. Every year, through the work of an American 501(c)(3) we help to distribute about 1500 pairs of free glasses. And we have served as the distribution point for hundreds of goats in projects similar to the Heifer Project (one goat is given to one person in the community, and when it has kids, they are given to other members of the community, etc. etc.)
(Pauses to catch breath.)
Obviously, a work this size takes a large amount of man-power, and no one of us is actively involved in every project. Currently there are 6 of us who are sort of the “board,” and we have 5 to 10 other Americans working with us at any given time. We also have a staff of about 50 East Africans who carry the bulk of the day-to-day work load.
So, that’s what we’re doing and why we’re here. The past 10 years have been great, but if it weren’t for the university project, we would probably be turning things over and moving back to the States. But we have a new vision, and it is exciting. It looks like an opportunity to affect lasting change, and in a way that is close to our hearts. (DH and I both have masters’ degrees and have long been interested in completing our Ph.Ds and teaching college.)
So, there’s my long-winded answer, Cathy, Posh, and Wendy.
More than you wanted to know, I’m sure. But since (literally) our whole lives are devoted to what we’re doing here, it’s hard to talk about it without passion.OK, after all that, I’ll have to come back for personals. Hope you’re all having a great weekend.
