6/4/09 – KAMPALA TO MBARARA, UGANDA

*Habitat for Humanity International...now in Uganda. What does this program look like here? How do you get involved?

So, we’re driving today, which seemingly leaves me with little to discuss. I enjoyed watching scenery – the beauty of Uganda. The bumps were an adventure to say the least. Much more intense than the potholes (I am amused that drivers are more apt to swerve for manholes than children or goats). Developing infrastructure in a developing country is key, if not huge, in making strides towards progress if that is what they want. So that could be an important observation although I can’t say the bumps were un-amusing. Also, I appreciated the dynamic of “religion” this morning. Proof the body of Christ is not limited to a border, a country, a denomination, or even (necessarily) a “Christian” label. The man who prayed for us this morning was not a white evangelical Christian but an African Believing Catholic. His love of Christ was both evident and meaningful. It was bonding, bridging. A good reminder that we can’t allow those sort of divisions when we are called to partner in the work of the gospel especially as we endeavor towards of couple of days that appear to be little if not ministry. Jesus is the ultimate glue that binds us all together. In sees ridiculous while in the states and especially outside that we have so many denominations. They have them in Uganda, but they are little but a name. No one says “I am Methodist!” They say “I am born again!” That’s what matters after all. People just want to know that we love Jesus. It’s actually given us a level of acceptance in a few situations. One guy we met in the slums I think was a little stand-offish and very defensive until he looked directly at one of us and said “Do you proclaim the message of the good news of Jesus Christ?” When one of us said “yes”, his whole demeanor changed. We were welcome in the slum because we proclaimed and lived for a message which stated we were not out to harm or to exploit. Travel, infrastructure, Jesus. Meh. I choose Jesus.