PIGS, PYTHONS, AND OTHER PEOPLE
Masindi-Kitara Diocese
August 2007 newsletter
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, GO DIG.
Are we doing any good here in Masindi?
I’m looking at a very technical report entitled “What Undermines Aid’s Impact on Growth?”, by
Raghuram G. Rajan and Arvind Subramanian (available on the Web). It could be easily dismissed,
except that Rajan was the Chief Economist for the IMF (International Monetary Fund, Washington,
D.C.), and Subramanian is a widely respected economist. The report says essentially that aid to
poor countries has little effect on economic growth, and policies that rely on such claims should be
reexamined. Note also the attached article by Beti Olive Kamya, “Poverty solutions can come from
within us.”
So are we doing any good here at the local level, as we go quietly about our work for the Lord? Are
we doing anything that addresses the serious poverty in this diocese? It seems so, judging by the
response of the Christians and the local community. The second season last year, we began with
two farm projects, which both did well. The first season this year, we had four projects, and are
about to harvest. For the next season, we have eleven farm projects - and another ten want to
start. I am really struggling to keep up!
Phili’s Tailoring School is full now, but a continual struggle. The second class of students is much
better than the first, but everyone wants Phili to provide for them, which is draining emotionally. In
the meantime, she is working to get the garment business off the ground. She has many orders
sitting on the worktable, and has already done some bridal wear and her specialty African shirts.
Her design skills and knowledge never cease to amaze me, and we have amassed quite a decent
library in fashion design and manufacture, which she consults daily. We are looking forward to
having a second man helping her full time in the near future. A picture of one of her African
dresses is attached.
The container from the Stockton Rotarians arrived, and has already brought much joy! I am busily
sorting out all the donations and finding the best homes for them. The picture of the catechists of
our new Diocesan Training School shows them with their new study bibles. These bibles have
already proven their worth, but I am only giving them to those interested enough to attend one of
my classes and learn how to use the many tools properly. That way, we make the best use of this
gift from the Haggai Institute.
Another picture shows schoolchildren from Kabalega Primary School (our neighboring church
school) digging the “big field” with their teachers. They are using hoes donated by Fr. Mark Hall of
St. Anne’s, Stockton. Before this gift, the teachers were unable to get the children or their parents
motivated enough to do gardening as a class project - “no money”, “mom is using the hoe to dig
today”, and so forth. Now there is no excuse, and the children are very happy to be out in the field.
I have given the school two of the three acres, one for growing maize to feed the kids something
for “breakfast” (most of them go to school hungry), and one for growing beans, peanuts, cabbages,
carrots, and other crops in small plots. The last acre will be dug by some of the diocesan staff, so
that they can have a little income before Christmas (they haven’t been paid for seven months now).
This project has already been an encouragement for many of our local christians: and because
the field is on the main highway and very prominent, the whole town of Masindi is talking about it.
The two wheeled tractor picture was taken at the Jinja Agricultural Show, a national show
comparable in importance to the Tulare Ag Show (for those of you who farm). The tractor is
manufactured in Thailand, and is being brought into Uganda by the central government on a trial
basis. Apparently, it is used extensively throughout Southeast Asia already. The whole tractor,
including all the attachments pictured and water pump, costs in the vicinity of $2000, and only uses
3-4 liters of fuel an hour. It can plow an acre in a couple of hours! The potential for savings here is
huge, and two or three of these tractors in our diocese could totally transform my work - especially
with the help of my agricultural extension worker, Richard, and the Bishop’s chaplain, Francis. At
the present time, the three of us are helping each other with the various projects in a very informal
way. My hope is to formalize some working arrangement with these two men so that they can take
charge of project oversight, and free me for other things. We are all in big demand in the diocese,
but that is because the churches understand the value of the farming projects. When all else has
failed in the development sphere, then go dig!
I was asked to preach at daughter Christines’s Catholic boarding school near Kampala. Several
hundred students came to worship, and many of them had to stand outside the hall and look in the
windows. Preaching to young people is such a wonderful opportunity, especially when they are
eager to hear the good news. As Philip Jenkins has said in The New Faces of Christianity,
Today, half the inhabitants of this planet are under twenty-four, and of those, almost
90 percent live in the global South. …Young adults predominate in Southern churches - and
Mosques - and that profile shapes attitudes to faith…..the fire, the openness to ecstasy…the desire
For certainty, for absolute standards; the denial of subtleties and compromises, of shades of gray;
The rejection of hierarchy and experience, the quest for immediate experience and direct access
To the divine; and the need for absolute conviction (p. 27).
To summarize, while we are going about the Lord’s work very quietly, it is reasonable to believe
that we are doing some good, and it should be long lasting. “Ye shall know the tree by its fruits”.
The results are measurable, either in increased church incomes (the farm projects), new knowledge
gained (the catechists and tailoring students), or in spiritual growth (preaching and encouragement
of the Christians).
So let us remain steadfast, as the Letter of James says (the favorite letter of the African churches):
“behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and
you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful”(5.11)
Philista joins me in sending you greetings, and many thanks for all your support and prayers. May
the good Lord bless you for your steadfastness in the midst of all the spiritual turbulence of our
times.
Masindi-Kitara Diocese
August 2007 newsletter
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, GO DIG.
Are we doing any good here in Masindi?
I’m looking at a very technical report entitled “What Undermines Aid’s Impact on Growth?”, by
Raghuram G. Rajan and Arvind Subramanian (available on the Web). It could be easily dismissed,
except that Rajan was the Chief Economist for the IMF (International Monetary Fund, Washington,
D.C.), and Subramanian is a widely respected economist. The report says essentially that aid to
poor countries has little effect on economic growth, and policies that rely on such claims should be
reexamined. Note also the attached article by Beti Olive Kamya, “Poverty solutions can come from
within us.”
So are we doing any good here at the local level, as we go quietly about our work for the Lord? Are
we doing anything that addresses the serious poverty in this diocese? It seems so, judging by the
response of the Christians and the local community. The second season last year, we began with
two farm projects, which both did well. The first season this year, we had four projects, and are
about to harvest. For the next season, we have eleven farm projects - and another ten want to
start. I am really struggling to keep up!
Phili’s Tailoring School is full now, but a continual struggle. The second class of students is much
better than the first, but everyone wants Phili to provide for them, which is draining emotionally. In
the meantime, she is working to get the garment business off the ground. She has many orders
sitting on the worktable, and has already done some bridal wear and her specialty African shirts.
Her design skills and knowledge never cease to amaze me, and we have amassed quite a decent
library in fashion design and manufacture, which she consults daily. We are looking forward to
having a second man helping her full time in the near future. A picture of one of her African
dresses is attached.
The container from the Stockton Rotarians arrived, and has already brought much joy! I am busily
sorting out all the donations and finding the best homes for them. The picture of the catechists of
our new Diocesan Training School shows them with their new study bibles. These bibles have
already proven their worth, but I am only giving them to those interested enough to attend one of
my classes and learn how to use the many tools properly. That way, we make the best use of this
gift from the Haggai Institute.
Another picture shows schoolchildren from Kabalega Primary School (our neighboring church
school) digging the “big field” with their teachers. They are using hoes donated by Fr. Mark Hall of
St. Anne’s, Stockton. Before this gift, the teachers were unable to get the children or their parents
motivated enough to do gardening as a class project - “no money”, “mom is using the hoe to dig
today”, and so forth. Now there is no excuse, and the children are very happy to be out in the field.
I have given the school two of the three acres, one for growing maize to feed the kids something
for “breakfast” (most of them go to school hungry), and one for growing beans, peanuts, cabbages,
carrots, and other crops in small plots. The last acre will be dug by some of the diocesan staff, so
that they can have a little income before Christmas (they haven’t been paid for seven months now).
This project has already been an encouragement for many of our local christians: and because
the field is on the main highway and very prominent, the whole town of Masindi is talking about it.
The two wheeled tractor picture was taken at the Jinja Agricultural Show, a national show
comparable in importance to the Tulare Ag Show (for those of you who farm). The tractor is
manufactured in Thailand, and is being brought into Uganda by the central government on a trial
basis. Apparently, it is used extensively throughout Southeast Asia already. The whole tractor,
including all the attachments pictured and water pump, costs in the vicinity of $2000, and only uses
3-4 liters of fuel an hour. It can plow an acre in a couple of hours! The potential for savings here is
huge, and two or three of these tractors in our diocese could totally transform my work - especially
with the help of my agricultural extension worker, Richard, and the Bishop’s chaplain, Francis. At
the present time, the three of us are helping each other with the various projects in a very informal
way. My hope is to formalize some working arrangement with these two men so that they can take
charge of project oversight, and free me for other things. We are all in big demand in the diocese,
but that is because the churches understand the value of the farming projects. When all else has
failed in the development sphere, then go dig!
I was asked to preach at daughter Christines’s Catholic boarding school near Kampala. Several
hundred students came to worship, and many of them had to stand outside the hall and look in the
windows. Preaching to young people is such a wonderful opportunity, especially when they are
eager to hear the good news. As Philip Jenkins has said in The New Faces of Christianity,
Today, half the inhabitants of this planet are under twenty-four, and of those, almost
90 percent live in the global South. …Young adults predominate in Southern churches - and
Mosques - and that profile shapes attitudes to faith…..the fire, the openness to ecstasy…the desire
For certainty, for absolute standards; the denial of subtleties and compromises, of shades of gray;
The rejection of hierarchy and experience, the quest for immediate experience and direct access
To the divine; and the need for absolute conviction (p. 27).
To summarize, while we are going about the Lord’s work very quietly, it is reasonable to believe
that we are doing some good, and it should be long lasting. “Ye shall know the tree by its fruits”.
The results are measurable, either in increased church incomes (the farm projects), new knowledge
gained (the catechists and tailoring students), or in spiritual growth (preaching and encouragement
of the Christians).
So let us remain steadfast, as the Letter of James says (the favorite letter of the African churches):
“behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and
you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful”(5.11)
Philista joins me in sending you greetings, and many thanks for all your support and prayers. May
the good Lord bless you for your steadfastness in the midst of all the spiritual turbulence of our
times.
August 2007
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