Time with The Karamoja

Yes! I finally made it to Uganda! My travels here went remarkably well. I am very blessed and excited about what the year ahead may bring.

For the first several days that I was in Uganda, before moving to my new home in Gulu, I stayed at ECM's headquarters in Gayaza. I will admit that for the first couple of days I felt completely overwhelmed inside. All of the little "luxuries" that I enjoyed in the USA became just a memory. I realized how little communication I would have with my loved ones back home and I began feeling sorry for myself. How was I going to survive here???

However, everything changed for me on my third day in Uganda when I was able to go and visit the people who are benefiting from ECM's Karamajong project in Kampala. The Karamajong are a semi-nomadic cattle raising people who believe that God has assigned all cattle in the world to them. So, they resort to stealing to take their cattle back. This, of course, has caused them many problems. Also, the harsh environment in the north where they come from has has made life even more difficult and has caused many Karamoja to seek refuge in the south. However, they have been ostracized by most of the country because they are seen as backwards and uneducated. So, they are foreced to live in the "slums" and many Kamamoja parents have resorted to selling their children or making them beg on the streets in order to survive.

ECM has started a new project in hopes sharing the love of God with the Karamajong and helping them have a better life. They have selected 10 of the neediest and yet most promising beggar children from the streets to be sponsored. The children are now in boarding school. They are receiving food, housing, and a good education.They still go home for visits on holidays, etc. but they would not be able to keep up with their schooling if they continued living in the slums. The latest report is that the children who have been selected are thriving in their new environment! Their grades are much higher than anticipated and their parents are very happy. ECM would like to help many more children and their parents have asked for more help but there are not enough sponsors right now. If any of you have an interest in helping with this please contact me or ECM at www.ecmafrica.org.

So, as I was saying, I was feeling quite sorry for myself until I saw how the Karamajong were living in the slums of Kampala, the place where they have come for "refuge". I had seen things like this on t.v. but never in "real life". The people are living in tiny one-room shacks, built one against another. We were told that up to 10 families share each shack! Due to lack of space, many of the people are forced to sleep outside at night. They have a very dirty stream running through the slums with only dirty water to drink and wash in. The children have flies all over their bodies. I was there with them for only a couple of hours and was hot and miserable. What would it be like to live there? I thought about that as we drove away. Would I be willing to live among these people in that place? No. At that thought, tears came to my eyes. I am not willing to go and live with them but that is exactly what Jesus did for us. He gave up everything - much more than I would have to give up to live among the Karamajong - in order to come and live among us. He gave up heaven and perfect unity with God the Father. Jesus served us, loved us and lay down His life to save us. Thank-You Lord!

After being among these people my attitude quickly changed. I looked at all the things I still do have and I became thankful. I no longer felt sorry for myself. I started praying for these people to find the grace and help they need to come out of the slums and start a new life. Would you join me in praying for them too?