What Do Our Missionaries Need?

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At first, I was going to write a post called "What Does Uganda Need?" I changed my mind, though, because it is presumptuous to pretend that I can really answer that kind of question. The Jinja team is constantly talking about it, and they are always struggling for answers..
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For instance, many Ugandans (especially in the cities and towns) will say, "Eh, we are poor . . . that is our problem." Indeed, statistics say that Uganda's per capita income is about $100, a skimpy number by any standard. Such numbers do not tell the actual story, however, because the country isn't tied to a monetary system. In the villages, especially, people live in close-knit communities and they rarely go hungry or homeless. Moreover, they measure their wealth in goats, cows, chickens, and land . . . to say that Ugandans only earn $100/year is like saying that very few Americans will ever own a goat. The information is true, but it is not particularly useful.

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The picture is complicated, especially for visitors like me.

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So . . . I posed a different question for Mark, Ben and Spencer: what do you need from people back home? What can the Rochester congregation be doing, to help your work succeed?

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First of all, I need to pause and commend these guys, along with their families. They are really, really good at the things they do! They are deep thinkers and they are humble servants . . . they are constantly seeking new ways to get things done, and they are always willing to contemplate new directions. The Rochester congregation deserves to be proud of its connection with these people.

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After deeply and humbly contemplating my question, they basically agreed about one central need. You might have expected them to ask for more money, but they did not . . . in fact, they are trying to limit the flow of American dollars, because they ultimately want their ministry to be inspired, directed, and sponsored by Ugandans. On a personal level, there is an obvious need to maintain their monetary support, but that was not their biggest concern. They would also welcome financial assistance with a project that drills water wells . . . but there was something else that topped their list.

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Above all else, they want people to come and visit them, and they want their supporting congregations to sponsor those kinds of visits. They want us to be partners with them, and they want our insights. They want us to see what they are doing, so we can genuinely understand it. They want the Ugandan churches to spend time with us, and to know that we are more than sources of money. They want to be associated with people who will bring them peanut butter, cheese, and Dr. Pepper.

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Seriously, I think it comes down to tangible things like that.

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And so, we are particularly happy that we could visit with the Jinja team, and with the people whose lives they are touching. And . . . we want you to know how much they appreciate the support that you gave to us. Let's continue to do this kind of thing!