Day #18

6-6-09

This morning I spent about an hour or so with a three-year-old named Immanuel. According to his mother, his father had passed away, leaving him an orphan and her a widow.
But the neat thing was, Immanuel's mother was the one who ended up teaching me how to make a basket. It was a lot of fun, but I did poke myself a few times and it took forever just to do one little row. But all the women applauded me and said I did well. Another woman said I was a hard worker.
After attempting this craft, I have so much more appreciation for the women who make these. They are truly incredible. And they weren't even selling them for very much. No wonder they struggle to make a living.
I did end up taking a picture with Rotticia (the widow) and her son Immanuel. I gave her my address and promised to send her the picture if she wrote to me. So far this trip I've given my email to countless people and my address to four individuals. I don't mind giving my contact information to individuals I've talked to and have developed a decent relationship with, but it bothers me when people who merely introduce themselves to me ask to "keep in touch." That happened twice yesterday at the school and I decided to give them the email address I use less often. But according to Deb, one of my trip leaders, they don't even have access to computers, so it's doubtful they'll even contact me; but I wish they weren't so quick to ask for my information. I guess in their culture the fact that my group was at their school visiting was reason enough to "keep in touch."


Later...

Tonight we had a group discussion and much of the group expressed their frustrations of beign asked by the Ugandans for money. I don't think I was asked for money at all... perhaps because I look more poor than other members of the group. But as I listened to their complaints I could not help but feel as though the Ugandans are justified in asking us. After all, the mere fact that we could afford to hop on a plane and cross over seas is proof that we are among the wealthiest people in the world. The average income for a Ugandan family is about $300 a year. This means it would take 13 years for one family to raise the amount of money we've spent on this trip- without spending any on food, education, etc. Considering this fact, I dare not complain about these individuals who are struggling to make it through one more day asking me for money. We may not be "rich" according to American standards, but in comparison to the people we've met in Uganda, we are considered millionaires.
I struggle with the fact that God blesses some with so much and others are given essentially nothing. I feel as though I've always wondered about this. Even as a little girl I remember asking my parents, "Why has God given me so much?" And their reply was, "It was nothing you've done." I cannot help but think of the passage in Luke 12 where Jesus says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (v. 48). I believe we are blessed so we can bless others, not for our own sake and so we can hoard it all. It's so hard because all throughout the gospels Jesus advocates selling everything and giving to the poor, but then again, in Acts chapter 2 the early Church did this only when a brother was in need. Clearly our brothers and sisters in Uganda are in need, so ignoring them would be disobedient. But then again, if all Christians in the U.S. gave away everything they owned, who would provide for all the NGOs working to help the poor? So perhaps God doesn't call all of us to give up everything. Perhaps He calls us to be good stewards, providing for those in need. But I do believe God calls all of us to live simply. The less we spend on ourselves, the more we can give to those who are truly in need.
I am afraid that giving the Ugandans more than the necessities will make them greedy like the majority of Americans. The people from the villages seemed much more content and satisfied with life than the more "wealthy" people of Uganda. Somebody I talked to in the slums explained how the poor within the city of Kampala were much less content than the poor in rural areas because those in the city see how the wealthier live and covet that. Those in the rural areas don't know any better and are therefore content just the way things are. Jesus was not joking when he said money is a root of all evil. I wish we could all share our resources and not be greedy...