September 2009
BLACK MAN – PLOWING PRIEST
Greetings from Masindi and from our shamba (garden) at Kijenga, just east of Masindi town. The
pictures are meant to give you a feel for the incredible beauty of this area, and of our shamba.
Several decades ago, the whole of Masindi area, including our shamba, was one huge forest, with
mahogany, teak, musizi, and all the other “exotic” woods that are found in the Tropics. Today,
thanks to indiscriminate logging and other abuses, the forests have been drastically reduced in
size, or driven back into “preserves”, where squatters still try to invade and take what they can find.
This is not a unique story, but in Uganda, it is all the more sad because of the unusual beauty of
the place. For example, Uganda has over 1000 species of birds, more than any other country.
On our shamba, there are still hundreds of beautiful birds, many of them bright fluorescent
oranges, reds and yellows. Beautiful butterflies are everywhere. We have monkeys, dik diks, and
other wild animals. But all these creatures prefer big trees and peace and quiet.
The loggers of the big trees came first. Then came the charcoal burners, for the smaller trees and
bushes. And finally came the invasion of lantana camera, a “bush” that is grown in North America
for ornamental purposes, but in Africa takes over everything as a weed and squeezes out
everything growing under it. We have spent months clearing lantana, and still have a long way to
go. When the bush is cleared, then the beautiful vistas open up once again, as can be seen from
the pictures.
SHAMBA
The work continues, as they say here. My foreman now calls me “black man”. I guess I have finally
“arrived” in Africa, when people can no longer tell the difference. We have planted maize for seed,
under a contract with Victoria Seeds in Kampala. We are also planting okra, tomatoes, green
peppers and fruit trees. The tractor opened the land, and then we hired the local villagers for
various tasks – clearing, planting, weeding, harvesting, and guarding. This is village living, make
no mistake. The villagers pass through the shamba to fetch water in their jerry cans – from the
same pond that the cows and all the other animals drink from. I intend to put a well in, which can be
used by the locals to get clean water.
For our local folks, this is definitely their situation!
Kijenga also has no electricity, with none in sight. The little health clinic one kilometer away uses
paraffin lamps for lighting. The staff is good, but their resources are very limited. For shopping, we
go to the trading center (see picture of our local Walmart).
Transport is foot and bicycle, and once in a while a boda boda (motorcycle). Life is very simple
here – washambani (we are villagers).
My plans for next year are to focus our efforts intensively in the Kijenga area and use it as a
demonstration for what can be done with decent planning and local intervention. Outputs are low in
Africa, and there is a great deal of apathy and lethargy among many workers. Unemployment in
Uganda is very high and getting worse yearly.
The youth are especially unemployed, which is a recipe for serious troubles in the future.
One might ask – what does any of this have to do with ministry? I am reminded of the last story that
Jesus told before his death, where he reminded his listeners – “I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me ………. Truly, I
say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”(Mt 25.31f)
The Church of today has become fascinated with territorial administration and other dead end
issues: I am fascinated with Jesus and His gospel. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the
sick, visit prisoners, and so forth. Maybe this is village gospel, but I think it is close to the heart of
our Lord. The ministry of presence and caring can have a transforming effect upon a poor
community.
PLOWING PRIEST
The demands upon the tractor during this last plowing season were unending. We plowed from
sunrise into the dark of night, seven days a week. We are still plowing, although everyone else has
stopped. The four wheel drive has been a real blessing, although the poor tractor has been stuck
a few times now (the last time by yours truly in a wetland). In the process of getting to 1100 hours
on the tractor’s hour meter, I have changed all the plow discs, plow hubs, the cross arm, the
hydraulic pump, trumpet housing, many fuses, and filters. Opening land is not for sissies, as my
father would say. But once opened, then the churches and Christians can continue to take
advantage of the initial hard work. In the process of plowing 1100 hours, I have met a whole lot of
wonderful people, and many of them are good friends now – as well as customers for Phili’s tailor-
made clothes.
Thanks to all of you who have supported the agricultural programs over the last few years! It has
been a blessing to many in Masindi district.
SAN JOAQUIN DIOCESAN CONVENTION
I will be attending this convention on October 23rd, and then spending a few weeks in Carmel with
my mother, who had a bad fall, but is now at home healing well. It will be a pleasure to visit with old
friends and supporters again.
Philista and I send you our thanks for continuing to support us in ministry in this very special part of
God’s world. May His peace be with you.
-Father Jim
Greetings from Masindi and from our shamba (garden) at Kijenga, just east of Masindi town. The
pictures are meant to give you a feel for the incredible beauty of this area, and of our shamba.
Several decades ago, the whole of Masindi area, including our shamba, was one huge forest, with
mahogany, teak, musizi, and all the other “exotic” woods that are found in the Tropics. Today,
thanks to indiscriminate logging and other abuses, the forests have been drastically reduced in
size, or driven back into “preserves”, where squatters still try to invade and take what they can find.
This is not a unique story, but in Uganda, it is all the more sad because of the unusual beauty of
the place. For example, Uganda has over 1000 species of birds, more than any other country.
On our shamba, there are still hundreds of beautiful birds, many of them bright fluorescent
oranges, reds and yellows. Beautiful butterflies are everywhere. We have monkeys, dik diks, and
other wild animals. But all these creatures prefer big trees and peace and quiet.
The loggers of the big trees came first. Then came the charcoal burners, for the smaller trees and
bushes. And finally came the invasion of lantana camera, a “bush” that is grown in North America
for ornamental purposes, but in Africa takes over everything as a weed and squeezes out
everything growing under it. We have spent months clearing lantana, and still have a long way to
go. When the bush is cleared, then the beautiful vistas open up once again, as can be seen from
the pictures.
SHAMBA
The work continues, as they say here. My foreman now calls me “black man”. I guess I have finally
“arrived” in Africa, when people can no longer tell the difference. We have planted maize for seed,
under a contract with Victoria Seeds in Kampala. We are also planting okra, tomatoes, green
peppers and fruit trees. The tractor opened the land, and then we hired the local villagers for
various tasks – clearing, planting, weeding, harvesting, and guarding. This is village living, make
no mistake. The villagers pass through the shamba to fetch water in their jerry cans – from the
same pond that the cows and all the other animals drink from. I intend to put a well in, which can be
used by the locals to get clean water.
- “More than 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are without access to clean drinking
water. … In rural Africa, 74 percent of the population doesn’t have access to safe water and
sanitation.”
- -Clarice Odhiambo, of Coco-Cola Co. in
- Africa Rising, p.193
For our local folks, this is definitely their situation!
Kijenga also has no electricity, with none in sight. The little health clinic one kilometer away uses
paraffin lamps for lighting. The staff is good, but their resources are very limited. For shopping, we
go to the trading center (see picture of our local Walmart).
Transport is foot and bicycle, and once in a while a boda boda (motorcycle). Life is very simple
here – washambani (we are villagers).
My plans for next year are to focus our efforts intensively in the Kijenga area and use it as a
demonstration for what can be done with decent planning and local intervention. Outputs are low in
Africa, and there is a great deal of apathy and lethargy among many workers. Unemployment in
Uganda is very high and getting worse yearly.
The youth are especially unemployed, which is a recipe for serious troubles in the future.
One might ask – what does any of this have to do with ministry? I am reminded of the last story that
Jesus told before his death, where he reminded his listeners – “I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me ………. Truly, I
say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”(Mt 25.31f)
The Church of today has become fascinated with territorial administration and other dead end
issues: I am fascinated with Jesus and His gospel. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the
sick, visit prisoners, and so forth. Maybe this is village gospel, but I think it is close to the heart of
our Lord. The ministry of presence and caring can have a transforming effect upon a poor
community.
PLOWING PRIEST
The demands upon the tractor during this last plowing season were unending. We plowed from
sunrise into the dark of night, seven days a week. We are still plowing, although everyone else has
stopped. The four wheel drive has been a real blessing, although the poor tractor has been stuck
a few times now (the last time by yours truly in a wetland). In the process of getting to 1100 hours
on the tractor’s hour meter, I have changed all the plow discs, plow hubs, the cross arm, the
hydraulic pump, trumpet housing, many fuses, and filters. Opening land is not for sissies, as my
father would say. But once opened, then the churches and Christians can continue to take
advantage of the initial hard work. In the process of plowing 1100 hours, I have met a whole lot of
wonderful people, and many of them are good friends now – as well as customers for Phili’s tailor-
made clothes.
- “There is an urgent social need as well as an economic imperative to improve African
agriculture. Even though 60 percent of Africans are directly engaged in agriculture, a third of
the population is malnourished. …In 2003 Africa’s crop production was the lowest in the
world, at 1.7 tons per hectare, compared with 4 tons globally.”
- -Vijay Mahajan, Africa Rising, p.l20
Thanks to all of you who have supported the agricultural programs over the last few years! It has
been a blessing to many in Masindi district.
SAN JOAQUIN DIOCESAN CONVENTION
I will be attending this convention on October 23rd, and then spending a few weeks in Carmel with
my mother, who had a bad fall, but is now at home healing well. It will be a pleasure to visit with old
friends and supporters again.
Philista and I send you our thanks for continuing to support us in ministry in this very special part of
God’s world. May His peace be with you.
-Father Jim
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