November 2007
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Can anything good come out of (Africa)? Come and see!
This is a brief progress report on current projects, and a look at a couple of new ones – the Diocesan
Training Centre, and Philistia’s garment business.
CHURCH FARMING PROJECTS
We are close to having an excellent harvest in December, based upon the results so far. With fifteen
projects going and several more ready to start in February, it has been a very busy time. We have
already harvested some beans and maize, and are harvesting onions at Kasangoire Church. In the Big
Field Project (the schoolchildren here in Masindi), we have harvested radishes, beans, carrots, and soon
the cabbages, cucumbers, maize and peanuts. The children and catechists do the field work, but enjoy
it. They especially enjoy eating the results of their hard work.
With the exception of the Big Field, the purpose of these projects has been to help the local churches
generate income for themselves. We have succeeded so far, although there are always bumps in the
road. So many churches want to participate in this “program” that I am unable to keep up. I hired
Richard Muhanguzi, an agricultural extension worker, to help with the work. This has been a great
addition, since he is very skilled at teaching and advising, and is fluent in the local languages and Swahili.
In addition to helping me with the church farms, he is also conducting thirteen kitchen garden training
programs, with much success. In these trainings, a group of women (primarily) who enjoy farming and
growing things in their “gardens” come together to learn new ideas and techniques. This is field training,
and all the participants are expected to practice what they learn at their homes. We conduct the training
at a selected home site, so that everyone can see firsthand what is being taught.
The goals of the kitchen garden programs are several: 1) to increase household income through food
security, or through cash crops which can be sold to pay school fees, or other family needs; 2) to
introduce new crops, tree fruits and animal husbandry; and 3) to introduce food preparation techniques
and sanitation – with some training in nutrition thrown in for good measure. Africa has many wonderful
edible plants which grow wild. Some clever person will figure out how to export these plants to other
parts of the world – just as so many crops crossed from the New World back to Africa, and became
part of the diet – crops such as maize (corn), cassava and tomatoes.
FIRST CLASS OF GRADUATES FROM PHILI’S TAILORING SCHOOL
The pictures speak for themselves. Eleven students graduated in the first class, and they were very
happy, as were their parents. A sewing machine was given away in a raffle, and the girl who won it is
the eldest of five, and had to drop out of school because her father died. She took this training in
tailoring to help support her family. Now she has the knowledge and the machine to meet her goals!
NEW HOME FOR THE DIOCESAN TRAINING CENTRE
I will take over the “management” of this centre in December, as we prepare for the next class of
layreaders in February. The school will be located in an abandoned primary school building
(Kabaleega), and refurbished as funds become available. I already have donations of books, bibles,
clerical vestments and items, and seeds. There are many students who want to enroll. We will have a
small office, a library, a chapel in one of the old classrooms, and a storeroom. The other classrooms will
be used for teaching. The boarding students can stay next door in the college’s dorms. The agriculture
classes will be taught in the five acres immediately adjacent to the school.
BAPTISMS (new life in Christ)
Phili and I attend the local churches regularly (300 members is a small church in this diocese) to
encourage the Christians, take Holy Communion and do baptisms. In most of the parishes, the local
churches only see the priest once or twice a year, and so they go without baptisms and Communion for
many months. It is a real help to the parish priest and the people if I can lead worship from time to time.
There are several parishes here with over 20 churches, but only one priest. Five parishes are vacant (a
big shortage of priests, so a layreader is “acting pastor”).
The Sunday Schools at the small churches are very strong, with lots of singing and dancing. The children
bring something for offering from home. Many people take their offerings in kind, and not in cash. But
this is very biblical, although it seems to have largely died out in the West. On the particular Sunday of
the pictures, I performed 26 baptisms, which is not uncommon. Adults and older children are also
baptized, which is particularly enjoyable.
NTOOMA NURSERY SCHOOL
It is possible to have a nursery school almost anywhere in Africa, it seems. This school, started by the
Ntooma Parish because of the income from its farm project, is very basic, but filled with kids. The
papyrus and grass roof no doubt leaks somewhat in the rain. But it works well to provide shade and
shelter to three classes of nursery children.
MASINDI DISABLED CHILDREN
The Berry family children donated several boxes of nice clothes, which came over on the container. We
distributed them to disabled children here in Masindi, and they were very grateful. Richard is pictured
helping to hand out the clothes. We have learned to make great Kingdom leaps forward with even the
smallest things. These donated clothes may not seem like much to many in the West, but here in Africa,
these are treasured items! So do not be discouraged if you think you have little to offer. The Lord can
take the smallest of things and move mountains with them.
I have finished drafting the new diocesan Constitution and a new constitution for the Diocesan Training
Centre. I hope to have them both accepted at the Diocesan Synod in January, shortly after returning
from the States. I will be in California the month of December, and will attend the San Joaquin Diocesan
Convention, and visit churches and as many friends as possible. Philista will remain here to lecture at
Uganda Christian University on “transformational leadership” for the two weeks following Christmas.
Her garment business is doing extremely well! We have not advertised or marketed at all, and yet she is
taking in orders daily. At present, she has two men sewing full time, with hopes of another by the end of
November. She is doing a lot of custom work with embroidery, wedding garments, and now is taking
on contracts for school uniforms.
Something new is indeed coming out of Africa, and we are both grateful to see the signs of new life and
new growth all around us. We invite you to visit us, and enjoy Ugandan hospitality anytime! The guest
room is usually available, and the food fresh from our compound garden. We pray daily that the current
crises plaguing the Anglican Communion will keep a respectful distance from this place, so that we may
continue the Lord’s work with eagerness, and above all, in His peace. It is true that the fields are ripe
for harvest!
Fr. Jim Short PO Box 4495, Carmel, Ca. 93921, USA 831 624 4523
| EX AFRICA SEMPER ALIQUID NOVI (Out of Africa always something new – Pliny the Elder) |