the revolution of Christmas.
With the sounds of tropical birds and monkeys constantly outside my office, and temperatures well in the 80s or 90s, only the Ugandan Christmas music on the radio downstairs reminds me that we are, in fact, halfway through the “most wonderful time of the year.” This is my third Christmas season I’ve experienced Uganda in four years, which is actually quite surreal to think about. As much as I love it here, I can’t wait to get a glimpse of snowfall and temperatures well below freezing.
All is well, all is well
Angels and men rejoice
For tonight darkness fell
Into the dawn of love’s light
This feels like an appropriate time to sum up my thoughts regarding the chaos and beauty that was contained in the year 2016. Through the many adventures, challenges, and victories big and small, God has been so incredibly faithful in sustaining my life and work here. Although Uganda is a paradise in so many ways, living 8,000 miles from home is not without its challenges. Homesickness, cultural barriers, constantly changing friendship and work dynamics, all these can become burdensome and require a high level of patience and flexibility. But through it all, I am constantly reminded that living here is ultimately an incredible blessing.
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
In October, I was able to travel once more to Pajule, in Northern Uganda, with my soul sister Lindsey (aka Scout/Nakawooya/#Lagum). We celebrated the 31 Akola members who graduated from their first year of Akola Academy, which was a party to remember!
A month later, all of the Akola staff and members traveled to our vocational center in Nabukosi, Eastern Uganda, to celebrate nearly 200 members who graduated from their second year of the program. The highlight of that day included performing a choreographed dance routine with the Empowerment Officers to the Nigerian gospel song “I Know Who I Am.” Seeing the joy and strength in the women’s eyes as they reveled in the knowledge of their true identity as powerful daughters of God was absolutely incredible.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn
Since then, I have been busy finalizing the curriculum for Akola Academy 2017, which will be primarily focused on how members can become “agents of transformation” by facilitating social change in their local communities! Practical development skills such as livestock rearing, sustainable agriculture, house construction, and land ownership will also be included to encourage members to attain their personal development goals. I have been piecing together this curriculum for many months now, thanks to the inspiration from many other social change orgs and activists (particularly my friends Phil and Suzan with Solidarity Uganda). God always seems to bring the right ideas at the right time, and it is truly humbling that He would choose me to be a key puzzle piece in the big picture of his kingdom work.
Oh come, desire of nations bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid thou our sad divisions cease
And be thyself our king of peace
But, as fulfilling as my work is, I am always sobered by the fact that no “program” or “intervention” will ever be enough to fix the brokenness of this world and its systems. As a budding development professional, it is exciting to get into the “cutting edge” research, crunch data, and overuse buzzwords such as “capacity building”, “empowerment” and “sustainable development”. After all, there’s a reason I am in this field, and I am passionate about doing what I do with excellence. However, I must always keep in mind that I am here precisely because there are such extremely dehumanizing situations in the world that necessitate this work.
So, how do I walk the narrow path of hope for a better future, while also sitting in the midst of a very broken reality? How do I protect my heart from burdens that are not mine to bear, while also bearing witness to God’s ever-present love and power precisely when people need it the most? These are questions I will never stop asking myself until the kingdom come.
All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace!
Good will henceforth from God to man:
begin and never cease!
So, as I prepare to venture stateside for a few weeks of much-needed rest with family and friends, I am attempting to take time to be still and remember. Remember the God who carries me, who carries all of us on this beautiful life-giving planet surrounded by infinite space. The great Lover of humanity who chose to reveal himself as a poor refugee in an oppressive empire. The King of an upside-down kingdom that overcame the principalities and powers of the world through radical, self-giving love.
This is the revolution of Christmas.
