Thursday, July 30, 2015

Guest Post from Geoff



Today we have another guest post from a friend who came to visit us in Soroti.  Here in Uganda, they say that if you have guests coming to your house, it is a blessing.  Well, we certainly feel blessed for the visitors God has sent us!  You may have seen Geoff before on the blog when we were living in Texas and also when we visited friends in Tanzania last year.  So, here you have the opportunity to hear a different voice than ours.

By Geoff:
Hello all!

My name is Geoffrey Tam, and I am a friend of Sara and Anthony's from their time at World Hunger Relief, Inc., in Waco, TX. I recently finished a year of volunteering with the organization, the 2Seeds Network, Inc., in Tanzania and could not resist the desire to drop by Soroti to visit the Sytsmas to see what life is like in their shoes (or Chacos) before heading home to the States. Much to my delight and edification, my brief time here in Uganda has afforded me the chance to observe our friends in their element: shifting unproductive paradigms through simple and practical teachings, touching the lives of local people through genuine care and relationship-building, and fluttering around the homestead playing video games and digging around in the garden.

A number of my days in Soroti were spent at a series of trainings compiled by Anthony based on the book When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. If you're not familiar with this book, it is a fantastic resource for churches and individuals in North America focused on the idea of caring for the world's poor and needy in ways that are productive and helpful for both the care-giver and receiver. This resource has been adapted by Anthony into a multi-day training aimed at pastors and other community leaders in Uganda to help them more effectively and comprehensively understand poverty and the best ways to respond to it. Having just come from a year of volunteering in the international development context, I was especially interested in hearing what our Ugandan friends had to say about these issues and to be reminded of God's Word on the subject, as well.


Overall, Sara and Anthony did an amazing job walking the participants through a neat arrangement of lectures, discussions and activities in a way that allowed for full participation and a methodical progression through the subject matter. One of the first ideas to hit me upside the head was the concept of God's kingdom here on Earth and its "already but not yet" quality. While we experience some of the redemption that Jesus has brought to Creation now, we know that all things will not be fully made right until He comes again. When we look at the world, we can clearly see, for example, that while God has provided material blessings for many people, poverty persists. If we apply the already but not yet idea to our understanding of poverty, we can see that, while the church cannot eliminate all poverty, it is also not powerless against it! Brokenness remains in the world, but redemption is also happening now. This idea formed a critical foundation of hope for me in regards to the rest of the material. 



Another interesting tidbit arose from a conversation on the question of what we and our churches could to do to become more centered on Jesus as well as his kingdom, which caused a pastor in my group to pose this thought-nugget to us all: "Uganda is a Christian nation yet we are notorious for our high levels of corruption. I think that as believers we have no roots; we are just shallow. How can we move from a theoretical faith to a practical one?" 


His question made me reflect on two things: 
1. the discussion on faith vs. deeds in James 2 and 
2. advice that I received from a friend in college: "it's easier to act yourself into a feeling than to feel yourself into an action." 

In a way, our friend's question is kind of the crux of the Christian walk: how do we get our faith to translate from our head to our heart to our hands? While I'm currently the odd man out in the Sytsma compound not having attended seminary, I hope it's not too trite to suggest that maybe one way to approach the problem is to reverse the process and to start with the hands. James writes, "show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." Maybe our actions will lead to greater faith just as we expect our faith to lead to greater actions.

I'll just mention one last moment which occurred during an activity on asset-based community development wherein participants were asked to undermine the idea that they had no assets by making lists of all the resources available to them. In response to the question of whether this activity made them feel poor:

"No, I feel that I am somewhere very far," and "[This activity] is re-opening our minds."

While there were many more sentiments expressing equal appreciation for the training and for its facilitators ("the Anthony's" as I've heard they are sometimes called), these were the ones which most resonated with me; I'm sure the Anthony's can fill you in on the rest! 

Betty, Lazarus and Eric present their illustration of community development to the group

On the fifth day, God filled the oceans and the skies with living things; on our fifth day together, however, we had the unique opportunity of conducting a rapid disaster response assessment for World Renew in conjunction with local partners from government and church organizations. The disaster itself was a grisly one, although, despite two deaths, not many people were physically harmed. The short version of the story is that one community attacked another in response to the murder of one of its members, and the result was that many houses were burned, food stores and possessions destroyed or stolen, and more than 500 people affected. In response to its plight, the Sytsmas traveled to the community itself, representing World Renew to work with local government and church officials to assess the situation and begin organizing assistance. (And I was there too!) 

 Examples of granaries that have been burned in the incident

While it's always tricky to make a partnership between organizations work in light of cultural and other differences, it is something that I really appreciate about how World Renew operates. Instead of instantly jettisoning off a stream of mosquito nets and sacks of grain to the site of the incident, as some NGOs might be tempted to do, the process of working through the already established local networks, while perhaps less efficient and "messier" in the short term, ensures not only that the affected community is served what it truly needs, but also that the local network's presence and its abilities are reinforced and even strengthened. Having the opportunity to see the response team gather together, organize their resources and their plan of action and mobilize to serve the affected community (packing into the Sytsma vehicle like so many smiling, bubbly sardines) was as authentic a development experience as I could have ever hoped to see! While relief is on its way, please remember to keep this community in Kaberamaido in your thoughts and prayers!

Having had the privilege of witnessing Anthony's primary work - the teaching of pastors and church leaders - in action, it was now time for me to tune into what Sara was doing, consulting local organizations working with farmers and to get a little taste of village life! After an hour and a half of bumping and bumbling our way over muddy roads, we found ourselves in one of the villages that works with a World Renew partner on agricultural development. Sara's primary aim recently has been the introduction of certain conservation agriculture principles, primarily soil cover and intercropping maize with well-known green manure cover crops (gm/ccs) such as lablab, jack bean, and velvet bean (otherwise known as mucuna).


Farmers there have implemented a number of demonstration plots, which are observable below, to compare practices such as mulching and applying manure with control treatments and early results have been dramatic. While the recent drought has made conditions harsh for maize in general, it is immediately clear that treatments which included mulch, manure or a combination fared much better than control treatments. Furthermore, when asked whether the demonstration had convinced her to implement the practices on a larger scale, one farmer replied with an emphatic yes, citing her reason as mulching being ultimately less labor intensive than multiple cycles of weeding. For someone like me who has always wondered if farmers could get on board with new agricultural technologies, especially ones that were labor-intensive in the early stages, this was exciting news indeed! 

The foreground represents maize that did not receive mulch or manure. The background shows maize that received both mulch and manure.

It is also evident in the pictures that, while the maize suffered greatly in the water deficient conditions, the gm/ccs were able to establish well almost 100% across the board. This is encouraging as the gm/ccs are ultimately what will improve the soil fertility and structure and set up a better environment for the maize to grow in for future cropping cycles. 


Much like Anthony's model of teaching people who will then go forth and teach others, the farmers that Sara has been working with have operated on a similar principle, with certain "resource leaders" serving as conductors of training, encouragement and support for farmer groups in their area. Overall, I was very impressed and uplifted by what I saw and am hopeful that Sara's agricultural work can continue to reap such fruit!

 Resource Leader Joseph standing amidst a mulched maize demo plot.

Far from being a week stacked with work from cover to cover, my time here has also been marked by great rest and relaxation! Since Sara first mentioned her successful construction of a clay oven, I have been itching to see it in action, and you can bet that we put that thing to work while I was here! Besides the cornucopia of baked goods that we called forth to spew from the mouth of the oven, we also gathered our wits about us long enough to put together a pair of delicious pizzas! 



 
Also, something that you should know about the Sytsmas, if you don't already, is that they are not afraid of sweets. Having come from a year in a secluded rural village in Northeast Tanzania with little access to sugary treats, the profusion of cookies, brownies, and fudge that I experienced here was like a nourishing rain called down by the prophet Elijah on the parched lands of my tummy. 


Besides eating things and making things to eat at later dates, we found time to be active as well (if perhaps only as an excuse to later eat a ton of things for the sake of reconstituting our bodies), and I had a particularly good time getting to know a new member of the family, Caleb, the only Sytsma I am aware of whose love language is chewing.  


Biking to church!



 
In the end, my visit here in Soroti has given me great insight into what it is to live and work in the mission field and to serve people's spiritual and material needs. I have observed the challenges and rewards of partnering with local organizations as well as the importance of teaching teachers. I have seen firsthand the daily struggles and been blessed to witness the joys as well. 






Many thanks to Anthony and Sara for accommodating me, making me feel welcome and for encouraging me as I continue to make my way to God's calling in my life. Hopefully we will be able to spend time together again soon!

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:38

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Teaching about Worship

By Anthony:

Recently I was asked by a PAG pastor in Soroti to teach the church's worship teams about general principles of worship.  Drawing on my notes from seminary and experience as a pastor leading worship, I was able to put something small together.  I ended up teaching it at Soroti PAG main church, as well as our local church that we attend, Pamba PAG.  It was very much appreciated in both places.

One of the fun things was that Sara joined me for the two teaching sessions at our church, Pamba PAG.  At the end of each of the sessions, Sara taught the worship teams a new song.  The first time she taught them, "They will know we are Christians by our love."  And the second time, "Revelation 19" which is the "Hallelujah, Salvation and Glory" song.  The song has 3 different parts that are sung at the same time and it can be quite challenging.  What I found is that in another life Sara could have been a choir director.  She did a great job.  You would not believe how much fun these praise team members had.  They started timidly but by the end they were practically shouting.  Some of them were dancing or marching in place as they sang.  It was so fun.  We didn't get a video of that, but Sara got a video a week later at their choir practice when they tried it out again, much more calmly.


During the teaching we assured them that they don't need to sing American songs, that it is good to sing songs from their own culture, language, and style of music.  It is actually an issue that some Ugandans are wanting to only sing newer American songs and abandon the Ateso songs.  So we made sure they realized we were only teaching them new songs for fun and for appreciating what we can learn from the way other cultures worship.

Do I sacrifice?

By Anthony:

Mark 10:28-31

Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Oftentimes when talking to our supporters from churches back in the USA, people tell me that they appreciate the sacrifice we have made to live and work in Uganda.  They imagine our lifestyle and the things we might have to go without.  Many of them are probably thinking of these words of Jesus.  Whenever people tell me this, it always surprises me a little bit.  The reason is that I really don’t feel like I sacrifice that much in my life.  Upon further reflection, I have decided that living a sacrificial life is going to look different for different people.  One person’s sacrifice is another person’s joy, and vice versa.  God has made us all different, and we enjoy different things.   God is wise.  With this setup, we can appreciate our own situations while admiring what others are doing for God’s Kingdom.

I admit I do feel like I am sacrificing a little bit when I think about my poor internet connection, frequent power outages, and most of all being away from my family and my nieces and nephews.  However, looking at the rest of my life, I honestly have everything I need and want.  I have a huge house to live in, with a nice yard, honest Christian people working for us, fun animals, as much food to eat as I ever could want, clean water to drink, a toilet I can sit on and toilet paper, a computer which I can use for internet, movies, and games, a comfortable bed with a mosquito net with no holes in it, medical care, insurance, a savings account, a vehicle, and plenty of free time for resting.  In addition, I have fulfilling meaningful work to do that I enjoy very much.  I have wonderful family and friends back home who love me.  I have amazing generous supporters and churches back in the US and Canada who allow us to live here and encourage us regularly.  I have so many passionate caring Ugandan friends I get to work with.  I have a committed beautiful talented serving wife who is a great partner in ministry.  And I have a God who loves me, despite my sins, and the hope of eternal life on God’s perfect New Creation which is to come.

So as you can see, I enjoy life, and really feel like I have it easy compared to everyone else.  (There are other missionaries who sacrifice a hundred times more than me; check out the doctor in this video about the continuing genocide in Sudan).  When I might be tempted to complain about the fundraising work we have to do, I am reminded to be thankful that I never ever have to worry about not having enough money to meet my needs, while many of my friends here live week to week, not knowing if they will have enough money to keep sending their children to school.  When I look at my Ugandan coworkers, I can see them sacrificing much more than me.  Pastors serve expecting practically nothing in return.  They are volunteers.  And when I feel like I’m sacrificing because of frequent power outages, it’s humbling to remember that most people in Uganda, and many of my friends, do not have power at all.  When I feel like complaining about slow internet, I remember that most people here do not have internet.  When I complain about no running water, I remember that most people here bathe every day with only a basin of borehole water, don’t have clean water to drink, and use a pit latrine instead of a toilet.  Yet these same people also love to tell me, “you have sacrificed so much to join us here in Uganda!”  And I tell them, “no, it is you who is sacrificing!”

But it’s not only Ugandans.  I look at the situations of people back home, and I feel like people back home are sacrificing.  For example, I look at my parents and Sara's parents who have had to let their children go halfway around the world.  I look at people back in the US who have worked at jobs they don't enjoy for decades, but they've worked hard and honestly with a good attitude.  And then they use their hard earned money to support people like me.  Not everyone gets their dream job, as I have been given.

When I look at any of your lives back home, I think my life is easy.  You can think about simple funny things like the fact that I don’t ever have to shovel snow or scrape off my vehicle or how I can buy about 10 avocados for a dollar.  Or you can look at the hard realities that many of you face:  difficult or busy jobs, work that might not be fulfilling, high living prices, recurring health problems, strained family relationships, or struggles with children drifting away from God or into sin.  Lately I’ve even been struck by how much easier it is to live in Uganda where I don’t have to face the frighteningly fast-paced changing of technology and all the need for learning and ethical questions that it is bringing to you back home.

Anyway I think you can get the point.  To some of you, it looks like I am sacrificing to live this life.  But to me, I think you are the ones back home sacrificing, and your sacrifice is my gain as you faithfully support our work here.  I wanted to write this post to make this clear to all of you.  Because whenever someone tells me I’ve really sacrificed, I almost feel guilty or like a fraud.  Because my life is easy!  My life fits well with the words of Jesus I posted above.  I have left home and family, but God has provided me with more homes and family and friends, so I am doubly, triply, and even hundred times more blessed. 

God has allowed me to do exactly what I want to do, and all my needs are met.  Whatever family events or excitements or entertainment I miss out on in this life, (and there will of course be some things and it will be hard), God will more than make up for those things in the New Creation, our eternal life.  I look forward to that day with joy and expectation.  In the meantime, I hope this meditation will encourage you, and myself, to follow other people’s examples, that we will all learn to sacrifice more than we have been doing for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

More Conservation Agriculture

By Sara:

I am continuing to visit the places where our partner organizations are working on conservation agriculture projects, to see what they are doing and how the work is progressing.  Part of my work is to do these visits and give advice and instruction and encouragement.

Here is one example of a field that was half mulched and half not mulched.  You can clearly see how the mulch suppressed the weeds.


This is the youngest resource person in the communities, Justine.  She has been trying several different conservation agriculture practices: mulching, intercropping, and using green manure/cover crops (gm/ccs) by putting small plots of each practice next to the other so she can compare them.


I really love to see the ways that these creative farmers are experimenting with conservation agriculture in their own gardens!

Bread Baking Training

By Sara:

Lately, I had the opportunity to have a few ladies who are serious about baking come over and learn how to bake bread using the clay oven that I have at home.  I started the fire and made a little bread dough before they came so we could get started right away, but they did everything else once they arrived.  It was a very interactive learning experience!


We made pita bread, some buns (which you can see below):


 Mixed together a basic yeast dough to make loaves of bread:


And a non-yeast bread: Irish soda bread:


Everyone had a lot of fun and enjoyed tasting the things that their hands had made!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Skillet Baking

By Sara:

I recently had some women come over to learn how to bake breads on a skillet ("stove top" baking).  We made plain biscuits, scones, and sweet potato biscuits.


Like I've shared before, most people do not own an oven, so they are somewhat limited in what kinds of breads they can make.  But, they still enjoy eating bread.  So, this was an opportunity to learn how to bake some breads that people don't usually have here, using the resources that they do have.



Everyone had fun and especially enjoyed the final step of the baking process - tasting what we had made!


Conservation Agriculture in Progress

By Sara:

I was recently out visiting the places where our Ugandan partner organizations are doing their agricultural programs to see what the farmers are doing "in the field".  Here are a few pictures and stories so you can also see what is happening.

In Kaberamaido, one farmer has just planted mucuna and lablab, two green manure/cover crops (gm/ccs), with his maize.  Mucuna, especially, is a very fast-growing vine, so it cannot be planted until the maize is relatively large, otherwise it will tear down the maize plants.  But these two gm/ccs will help to improve the soil in this farmer's garden and will add nutrients back that were lost to the maize plants.


 We also visited a lady who is very proud of her giant tomato plants.


She attributes their growth to the mulch and the jackbean (shown below), another gm/cc, which she put around the tomato plants.


Then, in Amuria, farmers are planting mucuna and jackbean alone to improve their soil so that they can plant another crop there next season and get better yield due to the better quality soil.


There are also some demonstrations started where the lead farmers are comparing mulched and un-mulched maize and beans.


Some farmers are also intercropping maize and beans (specifically rice bean, in the case below) to help improve the soil and keep the soil under the maize cooler and more moist.


By far the best garden we saw, though, was in Katakwi.  Salome went home from the KIDO conservation agriculture training and immediately planted a demonstration garden at home, comparing mulched and un-mulched maize and beans.  You can see her standing in the part that was mulched in the photo below.


And then the difference between the mulched (on your left) and un-mulched (on your right) sections of the garden.


The lead farmers, like Salome, trained groups of other farmers on what they had learned about conservation agriculture.  But some of their neighbors saw what was going on and are trying it themselves, without even being taught!  In the picture below, you can see a garden where a farmer who was not in one of the participating groups is trying a comparison of mulch and no mulch in a section of garden.


Here are some of the lead farmers who are training and encouraging their groups in conservation agriculture:


Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Women in Office Discussion

By Sara:

Last year, Anthony started a pastors discussion group in Soroti with some of the Pentecostal church pastors.  One of the topics that they wanted to discuss was about having women as leaders and pastors in the church.  Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) in Uganda has women pastors and deacons, and one woman bishop, but no women who are reverends.  So the pastors wanted to discuss the Bible passages that talk about this subject.

Anthony printed out the Christian Reformed Church's report from study committees about the different Bible passages regarding women in church leadership and the comments from both sides of the issue on those passages.  The pastor of the main church in town gave copies to different pastors and church leaders and we got together for a discussion (and by we, I mean I went too because they also had women's leaders present).





Even in three hours, we only got through the introduction of the topic and a discussion of the pertinent passages in Genesis.  So, we met again a few weeks later to continue the conversation.  We hope that, whatever their view, those who participated went away with a better understanding, biblically, as to why they hold to that view.