For some reason, trips always seem more “real” once I get the plane tickets. Next week I’ll be booking my flight to Uganda, and I’m super excited!
I have been to Uganda once before, in November 2009, so I have an idea of what to expect. Still, the idea of flying for 30+ hours is a bit daunting. There are malaria prescriptions to get, immunizations to update, and itineraries to firm up. Most of all, I need to get prepared mentally.
I’m hoping to be able to access my blog from Kabale. People always ask me what I do when I go overseas, so it would be great to be able to explain it in real time.
The purpose of this trip is to accompany members of a church in California who are developing a long-term relationship with members of a church in Kabale who are doing ministry with people affected by HIV and AIDS. We are trying to forge a cross-cultural, reciprocal relationship, where both the church in Kabale and the church in California will be able to learn from each other. My role in all of this? I’m sort of the church missions coach for the North American church, there to help guide them when we’re there in terms of sound community development and also encourage them to apply what they learn in their own church context. At the same time, I need to work with my organization’s country consultant who is doing the community development work with the church in Uganda, to make sure they do not fall into the dependency mode, and recognize that they have gifts to offer too.
So yeah, it’s kind of hard to explain!
I think this video does a good job of explaining what my organization does and what we’re trying to accomplish. It was made by a group of churches who are applying this whole asset-based community development approach.
Parish Collective from John Harrison on Vimeo.
What in the video resonated with you?
Since I live in California I would like to know what church you are partnering with.
I have not talked to them about blogging about them yet, so for now I should probably just say it’s a church outside Los Angeles. In what part of California do you live? I love the whole state, I have to say.
I lived and worked in Uganda in the 1980s and was there when Museveni came to power. I know Kabale well, it was one of the places we worked. I have to honestly say that of all the countries in the developing world that I worked in, Uganda is my favorite. When I worked there, it was the very beginning of the HIV/AIDS problem and the disease didn’t even have a name. Wish you all the best as you prepare for the journey.
what a small world! I have been to northern Uganda (Gulu and Lira). It will be interesting to see how they compare.
You will find them very different. Kabale can be cool or even cold at certain times. Be sure to take a sweater or sweat shirt and socks, because of the elevation it can gets chilly especially at night and in the morning. That part of Uganda is gorgeous. I lived in Mbarara which you’ll pass on the way to Kabale. Last time I was in Kabale, I couldn’t stop shivering and didn’t have a pair of socks to wear. Wishing you all the best during your time there. Matoki time!
Thank you for the tips! It was very hot when I was in the north.
Very impressive video — nice presentation of the case, indeed. As to the economic impact of small changes, have you talked to Local First? They sought funding for and sponsored a Kent County-based study a couple of years ago that discovered that as small an effort as making one in ten business transactions with a local firm makes a statistically significant impact — there are figures relating to number of jobs created or maintained and the “multiplier” effect of money staying in community as opposed to leaving the area and going to corporate coffers in another state or country. The group had formerly used figures based on a study done several years before, and in another state; it definitely seems to up the believability and realization that “It can happen here” by using local examples.
If you would ever find that this information would relate to anything you do, it seems likely Local First should be able to give you a copy of the study results… http://www.localfirst.com/about/
Very exciting mision — travel safely, accomplish much!