March 2, 2012
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Bible program
WWCS USA has a program where schools in the USA are approached about buying bibles for schools in areas of need, in our case, Uganda. So just a few weeks back, we were told that this has happened for a project that we are working with in Kasawo, Edusabu Junior School. There was money raised to purchase 103 bibles! Believe it or not, that is not the only good news in this blog entry!
We were tasked with the responsibility of finding and buying the bibles here in Uganda. Man! That is no light task these days. Apparently, according to the Bible Society in Uganda, there is a bible shortage in Uganda. For English bibles, there is roughly a two week wait (for 103 bibles). For Luganda bibles, there is an estimated 2 MONTH wait! Thankfully, English is the first written language taught at elementary schools. So the latter did not scare us as much as it could. However, having to "wait" two weeks did not sound fun either. So we did some shopping... if anyone knows us well, that is what we are good at... finding a deal! After some searching, we found a missionary that has bibles shipped to Uganda for sale to fund her ministry. She had lots of bibles! Not only that, but with the money we expected to pay for 103 bibles, we were able to buy 200 bibles! Not just that, that woman felt "lead" to give us an extra 8 bibles, but she could not explain why. So now we have 208 bibles!
So for the past two days we have been driving around with 208 bibles in our back seat. I know, catch your breath, we were actually able to drive for two days without a breakdown. That alone is a miracle! Anyway, on the reverse side of that miracle, I have become a traffic police target. For some reason I have been stopped twice in the past two days. That is twice as many times as I have been stopped in the past year. The plan when getting stopped by TP is that they will look for one minor issue with the vehicle and claim you are driving illegally. Sure enough, they both found something stupid to claim I needed to get a traffic violation ticket... or the implied bribe. So I gave in... I paid a bribe! Each time I get stopped, I bicker and tease, argue and laugh. But each time, our transaction ends with a bribe. I have to give each of the officers a bible before they will allow me to leave. How about that?!? I get to minister to folks who would otherwise want a "good weekend." So now I have 204 bibles, but there are 4 traffic police officers who are now equipped with something other than a ticket!
Also, today we were able to pick up our first building materials for the Pallisa clinic. I bought 90+ pieces of glass and 10 window frames (louvers) to pre-manufacture windows for construction. Doing so, we easily saved $700! The most expensive materials for construction are those that require manufacturing: doors and windows. So my buddy and I, are planning to get those things made before we leave, on March 19. Not to mention that we are going to pre-make gusset plates for the trusses. This is a practice not commonly adopted in Uganda. Ugandans usually make trusses that are a huge waste of timber. I am not sure how much we are saving with this, but it is going to be a good measure as being good stewards. Add that with the fact that the community has made their own bricks, and there is likely a two thousand dollar cost savings with these three things! We are acting as examples in a ministry where money is often thrown around "willy nilly." I am proud already and we have not even started building!
However, like I said, I am leaving on March 19. I am going east about 5 hours with a crew of 5 other men. We will join a team of up to 15. Our plan is to spend two weeks working our tails off. It will likely be really wet, then really hot, and really wet again. We will be eating a step up from John the Baptist. Except he was lucky enough to get honey! Just kidding, we will be eating a corn starch porridge and beans for each meal. But we will be glorifying God with praise, worship, and love! I am so thankful and excited to be doing this. Please pray for our preparations. Please pray for our traveling mercies. And please pray for Liz and the kids as I am gone for so long.
Chad Neeley
Volunteer Construction Coordinator - WWCS USA/Uganda
