One Dilemma: Uganda is blessed with mineral resources and fertile land yet 69% live on less than $1/day and 71% of children who enroll in school drop out before finishing elementary school.
Two Opinions: One is that Uganda's problem is internal - misguided leadership and systemic corruption; the other opinion is that the problem is external - ineffective systems left over from British colonialism.
Three Influences: 'Leadership is influence' - Museveni became president in 1986 through a military coup and has used his position to influence policy. 'Leaders are made, not born' - Joseph Kony began his rebellion in 1986 and has lead the Lord's Resistance Army kill and displace hundreds of thousands of Ugandans. 'Credibility is the foundation of leadership' - Nelson Mandela was a visionary leader who worked to create harmony instead of payback and gathered a team of trusted advisors instead of leading as a soverign power.
Four Challenges: Two in the church - Christians (Mulokole) have lost their moral voice because of so many news reports of corruption and deceit, and doctrinally the church has failed. Two in the country - apathy, people have given up (he showed a political cartoon of a near naked and malnurished man feeding a fat politician) and violence, people choose rioting to voice their opinions but it costs the ountry many thousands of dollars to manage each riot.
Five Solutions: 'The leadership crisis in Uganda in reality is a leadership development crisis'
1. Christ-centered value based leadership development
2. Holistic approach to leadership development
3. Practical problem based learning
4. Community outreah for empowerment
5. Global perspective of leadership development
Farming consisted of cutting grass to feed the goats. Colton spent most of the time mastering the art of the machete because he missed the banana farm day on Wednesday.
The late afternoon was one of the most 'African' experience because we partnered with Set Free Life Church to deliver mosquito nets to homes in the bush near the college. We divided into small teams, 2-3 Oaks people with one or two Ugandans to help translate. The group distributed around 150 nets this morning along with instructions about the nets and a message of God's love. Several noted that it was the most meaningful and eye-opening time of the trip. The money used from the Oaks club called Nothing But Nets and the donation from Colton, we purchased 275 life-saving mosquito nets.
The final end to our day was an early birthday celebration for Alec and Nessa. They will both celebrate birthdays in July but our dear friend Joy wanted to honor at least one of our team members with a fun Ugandan custom. You see, when it's somebody's birthday they receive a warm water 'bathday' surprise poured on them. :-)
Tomorrow we leave are friends from African Renewal University and return to the guest house then spend the afternoon at the primary school with the little ones.
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