August 5, 2012
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Extended stay
So recently I sent out our newsletter and it explained that we have decided on extending our stay here in Uganda. I promised to give some explanation, details of why we made the decision the way we did... so here goes:
The block machine... the machine has still not left the Jersey port. So if it comes as I estimate, it won't hit Uganda until October. If you knew Ugandans and their utter lack of technical ability (no offense, technology has not been a part of their culture as long as ours), you would realize that 3-4 months of training and supervision is not enough to feel comfortable leaving a $30,000 investment into the ministry. So I really need to teach some individuals and assess whether or not they can do it for the long haul. This gift has put perspective on so many things. I am comfortable saying that the only two building materials that will be available for construction in the next year will be concrete blocks (crazy expensive) and earth blocks. So there is a niche and a resource that won't limit the work of the ministry. All of this is because the Ugandan people have no idea about resource management, so they have cut a ton of their forests down. Regardless, it is personally important to me to have it able to run in my absence.
Schooling... we realized a few months back that home schooling is not really an option anymore. Grace's subject matter is too vital for amateurs (i.e. learning to read). We do not want to permanently damage our kids anymore than what we already have (seriously!). That, and it has just been so stressful and easy to just say that "it can wait until tomorrow." So if the kids go to school here, they need to stay until June. But now we have to pray heavily that the school will accept the measly amounts of money that we think we can raise (less than half their regular tuition). And then they have to accept the children into the proper grade. Because apparently Lydia's grade is already full and there is a waiting list. So a position has to open before we are even sure they can go.
Project... I have a big project going out in a village called Kayango (also called Bugiri in some conversations). It is a school/orphan community. I am going out there tomorrow to start the fence, phase I. But the next phase is a elementary school and ten orphan homes. That should last until March, easily, assuming the money is there. Phase III is a high school (actually two, because of the Ugandan education system) and 8 more orphan homes. Phase IV is teacher housing. So this project could easily last until July... of 2014! I don't want to leave these guys hanging. They are the ones who are funding the shipping costs of the machine. And I am really excited to do a project that has money and focus. This project also has probability of teams coming to work on it. So I am very hopeful, thankful, and determined to get this project as far as possible before we head home.
Teams... we heard through the grape vine that a team is thinking about coming here. Liz's sister, Amy, has come here already. Now her church is interested in the country and wants to send their youth group here next summer. They were thinking July. Personally, I have a big problem leaving without having done what we came here to do, namely lead a team. They may not want to do what we have to do, but helping set it all up would be the least we could do. Hence the likely mid to late July departure.
So now the sucky thing... life is expensive! We need money for school (amount TBD), for the extra time here, and for more expensive of plane tickets. Oh man I am a little worried (ok really a lot!). But we did all of this (coming to Uganda) in faith, not thinking that it would be done by ourselves. So we had to use the same ideology in this decision. If the Lord wants us to stay, He will provide! So please prayerfully consider helping us with this. Please pray that we are able to see this to the end.
Chad Neeley
Volunteer Construction Coordinator - WWCS USA/Uganda
