I taught my "When Helping Hurts" training again recently in Katakwi. It went really well as it has in the other places. There were about 30-35 attendees. Since I have shared much about this training before, I'll just show you some pictures and a few testimonies.
One question in the manual asks whether they have ever given financially to help support a development organization doing good work in Uganda. So far in every training the answer has been "no." When the manual asks "why not?", the usual answer is that "we have nothing to give." But one group probed deeper during their discussion. They thought about whether they would give if they did have money. They decided their answer would still be "no." This woke them up to thinking about how they really felt towards the poor and how they want to now have a different, more caring attitude.
The coordinator for this training was Robert, a student of ours from four years ago. At the end of the training he shared a testimony about his relationship with us. He remembers that when we left the Bible college four years ago to go back to the US, we sold some of our theology books. We had announced this to our classes and told the prices. Robert said that they left the class and talked together and said: "how hard these missionaries are! Why don't they just give them to us for free?" Handouts were their usual experience with missionaries. But now Robert understands why we did not give them for free and appreciates that we did not!
We talked about different types of poverty and how a broken relationship with other people or with God's creation, can contribute towards material poverty. At the end, one lady shared about how the training made her really want to take care of her animals differently. Before, she wouldn't mind if an animal went hungry all day without grazing. But now that she knows that God cares about her animals and that she is a steward of them, she wants to take better care of them and show compassion.
This same lady also shared that personal conflicts are a large problem in their community. People who are saved still have land disputes and divisions in the church. She wants to go home focusing on reconciliation and making peace between people.
I did the exercise again where they are to draw "community development." It's always a funny activity, but also powerful. Their drawings were powerful because they have drawn a community developing itself, not being developed by organizations. And the development for them is not huge buildings, or fancy cars, but instead enough water for the community, food to eat, a hospital, animals and plants living well, and churches filled with people praising God. Their drawn communities are simple compared to what communities in the US look like, but they look like a place where I wouldn't mind living.
We talked about different types of poverty and how a broken relationship with other people or with God's creation, can contribute towards material poverty. At the end, one lady shared about how the training made her really want to take care of her animals differently. Before, she wouldn't mind if an animal went hungry all day without grazing. But now that she knows that God cares about her animals and that she is a steward of them, she wants to take better care of them and show compassion.
This same lady also shared that personal conflicts are a large problem in their community. People who are saved still have land disputes and divisions in the church. She wants to go home focusing on reconciliation and making peace between people.
I did the exercise again where they are to draw "community development." It's always a funny activity, but also powerful. Their drawings were powerful because they have drawn a community developing itself, not being developed by organizations. And the development for them is not huge buildings, or fancy cars, but instead enough water for the community, food to eat, a hospital, animals and plants living well, and churches filled with people praising God. Their drawn communities are simple compared to what communities in the US look like, but they look like a place where I wouldn't mind living.
Testimonies:
"I have also got knowledge on how to change the minds of those people who think that they are poor yet it's easy to get something to do."
"Now I am also going out to educate the church and the community at large on what I have learnt."
"I want to appreciate and honor God for giving you the heart of love to the people of Katakwi, because of the knowledge and skills that you have taught us. And I am going to use it for the rest of my life and my community."
"I have also learnt about poverty, what is poverty, types of poverty, and how to fight poverty."
"In this teaching I have learnt that I must use the resources well that God has given me."
I love to read your posts. I see lives being changed and God using you both to teach everyday, practical Christian principles. May God continue to bless you and use you. How wonderful that you can be here for the wedding. We pray for safe travels back to your Ugandan home.
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