Mt. Meru University

Greetings everyone! I suppose it is about time I let you know what’s been happening here in Uganda.

At the beginning of March, I went on the long awaited project trip to Arusha, Tanzania. From the office came Chad, Liz, Zach, Heather, and Lexi. We met up with five volunteers from the States: Richal, Glen, Willie, Stew, and Jess. I learned so much from all of them; I am very grateful to have shared this time with them. Throughout the trip there was hard work, little sleep, companionship, fun, and some frustrations…all factors contributing to an incredible experience.

The ministry, Mt. Meru University, is growing, and they are planning for more students, classrooms, administration…just about everything. Their vision is amazing, not just to construct buildings and create an efficient campus, but to impact their students, as well as the community around them, for Christ.

We were treated as most honored guests at the university, supplying us with anything and everything we needed. I have seen the amazing hospitality of the African’s in Uganda, but I am still impressed every time I experience it.

The first day we attended morning chapel along with students and faculty, where we were introduced as the ‘dream painters’ for the expansion of the campus and university. We toured the campus with staff members, who explained as they walked, ‘This is where the hostels will be’, or ‘Here you will see the mountain in the background as you walk to the academic center’. We surveyed, designed, and planned for eight days, and then presented our suggestions and drawings to the staff.

At the end of every eMi trip, there is a closing activity with time to relax, reflect on the past few days, and have some fun! We went on safari through National Park and Lake Manyara International Park.

Ngorongoro Crater was the first day. I was in awe of the caldera’s beauty; thunderheads rolling in from five different directions, and wildlife everywhere. We saw Cape buffalo, zebras, hyenas, warthogs, and quite a few lion prides. We also encountered hippopotamus, hundreds of flamingos, ostrich, and we were extremely lucky to see two black rhinos!

Lake Manyara was home to baboons, blue monkeys, zebra, giraffe, and elephant, all in close proximity to the vehicle.

The University had come up with questions when we were away at safari, so we had one more meeting before our plane left for Uganda.

It felt good coming ‘home’ from Tanzania, coming back to something familiar here in Kampala. I recovered from the trip, and have started to process how, exactly, it has impacted me. Back at the office, we are now creating a report for the ministry, including written recommendations, construction phasing, and drawings. This will be completed by the end of May. I am currently working on drawings for the new Library for the University, which I designed while in Tanzania.

Thank-you all for continuing to pray for me and eMi!

This past week we started another project, Living Revival Baptist Church. On the way there, a little girl walking home from school came up to Liz and I and held my hand. I said ‘hello’, and she said ‘hello’ back, but nothing else. We just walked hand-in-hand for a good half mile before our turn off. It was so precious! Later, a few more children ran up to us on the road to say hello and hold our hands. I thought, I wish I had been a teacher!

At the site, the pastor told us his short term vision was a facility to accommodate 500 to 1000 people on a very small site. Long term, he plans to purchase the neighboring land and have a church able to seat 5000 people. The church currently has 20 members, but he says this is the number he has been praying for. Liz and I had to ask, when do you try and tell the client to be reasonable, and when do you say nothing is impossible for God? This unleashed a tangled mess of philosophical questions on our walk back. Shouldn’t you use money to feed people instead of spending it on a building? Is it Gods will that this building should be built? Why would God ask someone to build this when the money can go towards feeding other people? The list goes on…

This Friday, we had a girl night with the interns and staff, dressed up, fixed hair, did nails, went out to eat, watched a sappy movie, and ate dessert. It was great fun!

On Saturday, Liz, Heather, Zach, Christoph, and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Entebbe, along Lake Victoria. During our exploration of the park, I threw a rock in the lake (a silly goal of mine), we saw a monkey taking a nap in a tree, and also a snake on a vine we were trying to swing on. That caused a lot of screaming among the ladies, and then laughter when we figured out it was dead. The rest of the afternoon we spent relaxing at a pool.

The internet was down Thursday-Sunday, due to a bill eMi forgot to pay because the internet company forgot to send it to us! Then, Saturday, the power went off, and has not come back on since. (The office is running on a generator right now)

On Sunday, I will be going to Tanzania with Chad, Liz, Heather, and Zach, as well as volunteers from the states on a project trip. We will be there until March 16.

The project is for Mt. Meru Theological University in Arusha. They are expanding their campus, and we will be designing new housing units, administration offices, and an amphitheatre. I ask that you would pray for our team as we are all traveling, some further than others. Pleas pray for team unity as we work together to solve the design problems, present to the client, and grow closer to the Lord together.

This week was very busy! Sunday Liz, Heather, and I attended Janet Strike's church, Amazing Grace. It was a very 'Ugandan' service, with incredible (and loud!) singing and lots of dancing! The sermon was given in English, with a Lugandan translator, but every once in a while the pastor would switch, and we would have to listen to the translator! It was a bit confusing at times.

After church, we were invited to eat lunch with Mama Eunice and Mama Matthew, some of Janet's friends. (If you have a child, you are referred to with their name.) We were served a huge plate of rice and a bottle of Coca-Cola. I couldn't finish the rice, and I was worried about offending them, but saw that Janet hadn't finished hers either, so I figured it must be okay....but I still wonder....

Monday, Janet, Liz, and I went on a site visit in Northern Kampala. Oasis Uganda is a British ministry that runs Bambejja, a program dedicated to helping vulnerable and destitute girls living in slum areas. They provide shelter, meals, vocational classes, HIV/AIDS awareness, and of course, the Hope of Jesus Christ in their lives. Bambejja means 'princess' in Lugandan.

The rest of the week has been filled with designing a large pavilion for them, as well as redesigning some existing buildings on site. Currently the preliminary drawings are done, and tomorrow I will work on a rendering of the pavilion in good ol' Sketch-Up.

Settling In

Wednesday was a rough day, no one had much sleep, but we are slowly adjusting to the time change. I'm basically moved into my room, although there are still some things in my suitcases.

Right now we are getting to know the staff through lunches and dinners together, and listening to each of their testimonies. The staff includes some from the States, as well as some locals. We are also starting to figure out Kampala, or at least the parts closest to us. There was a scavenger hunt Friday, which led us throughout town. It was interesting, as we started out in a crowded market setting to 'buy a useful item', and ending up in a mall with lots of muzungus (white people) to find out the 'price of a movie ticket. It was great fun!

Today we had the chance to go white water rafting on the Nile River. It was a day long trip, Our raft tipped a couple times, which was terrifying, but fun at the same time. I found I enjoyed just floating along and marveling over the beautiful scenery. I've never had such an experience!

Orientation Week

I just finished a week of orientation with Engineering Ministries in Colorado Springs to prepare for the next six months! I met the three other interns heading to Uganda with me, as well as others going to India, Costa Rica, Canada, and some serving in Colorado. It was an amazing week, building relationships, worshiping the Lord together, encouraging one another, and just having fun! I fly out for Uganda via London on Monday, and should arrive early Wednesday morning.