Dear
Friends,
Even
though it has already been a week since we have returned from our Uganda
Mission Trip, we are still trying to process all that we learned during our
time there. Whether it was business seminars in Bukeka and Kampala, playing
with children at both the Subbi and God Cares Schools, bungee jumping over the
Nile, or riding a safari truck, we could see God’s presence in all that we were
doing. I want to share a few thoughts and offer further insight into our trip.
When Anthony and I were in the initial planning stages of this trip, we were
trying to match the strengths of our team with the needs of the area so that we
could serve the community to the best of our abilities. After brainstorming for
several weeks, we finally decided that teaching business seminars would be the
perfect fit. Though business seminars are not a “typical” service for Uganda,
our research showed that the majority of the Ugandan population is what we
would call small entrepreneurs, and thus business seminars had the potential to
be highly impactful. After the idea was introduced, our team got together and
developed a curriculum that we could implement in the seminars. Some of the
topics within the curriculum included (but were not limited to) teachings on
personal finance, budgeting for your home and business, entrepreneurship,
customer service, pricing, and Christian business ethics. Not only were these
teachings beneficial to the community, but to us as well. It really brought all
that we have learned in college full circle; not only did we have to communicate what
we’ve learned but we also had to teach it. After each seminar,
we would break off into groups so that we could provide advice and answer any
individual questions that the business owners had. The sessions
always left us amazed at how thankful the attendees were for the time we had
invested in them. For most of them, it was their first time hearing these basic
business concepts, so they were beyond appreciative for the knowledge. After
reflecting on both seminars, we are confident that they positively benefitted
both communities.
Secondly,
it became very apparent how much this trip impacted the team members on a
spiritual level. This trip helped create a spiritual bond between those who
participated and opened up our eyes to how Kappa Sigma can be a
kingdom-centered fraternity. While in Uganda we decided that we as a fraternity
are committed to make an impact in Uganda. With 10 kids sponsored currently, we
plan to sponsor at least 10 more this next year through our fraternity philanthropy
events.
Lastly, I
want to tell you all about someone that is very special to our hearts now. His
name is Ronnie Nalera, and he is the founder of Global Hands of Hope, otherwise
known as the Suubi School. The word “suubi” means hope in Lugandan, which is
the perfect adjective for what the school has given the community of Bukeka.
When
Ronnie was a child, someone in the United States sponsored him and his younger
brother through Compassion International. His sponsorship provided food,
clothing, healthcare, and most importantly, education. Ronnie knew that he
wouldn’t have been able to complete his education if it weren’t for the help
that his sponsorship provided him. Because he was so thankful, he worked diligently
through grade school so that he could receive a government scholarship to
attend a four year university. The government only provides college
scholarships to the top 1% of high school students in the country, and Ronnie
received this scholarship. Ronnie graduated from college with the highest
honors while simultaneously playing for the Ugandan national rugby team. He
continued to play for the national team while working as a leader in the
government, combatting social issues like the Kony revolution. Given his
education, he felt called to open Global Hands of Hope in Bukeka, a small rural
village where almost 90% of homes were classified by Ugandan standards as below
the poverty line and Muslim. Since 2009, Global Hands of Hope has 140 students
that receive year round education, medical attention and vaccinations, food, and
a safe place for them to develop their minds and Christian faith. Ronnie’s hope
is that through the Global Hands of Hope program- which places value on
education, religion, and community service- these children will eventually
become leaders of their community. Through our experience with Ronnie, our team
learned that any gift to a genuine organization like Global Hands of Hope,
(whether it is money, food, clothing, time, or knowledge), will multiply itself
tenfold. As Richmond Nalera, Ronnie’s brother said, “… The church is only as
strong as it’s weakest link.” This is why we feel called to empower the men,
women, and children of Uganda. We may live a little more simply, so that they
may simply live.
We were
able to experience these opportunities because you invested in our mission. We
appreciate and thank you for your continual prayers and generous support, and
want to let you know that we hope to take a trip back to Uganda next May. If
you would like to know more information about our trip or would like to support
Global Hands of Hope, please contact me at Bryce_Garoutte@Baylor.edu or
visit http://globalhandsofhope.com/.
Best
regards,
Bryce
Garoutte
