Uganda
by Steve Evers
We asked ITMI partner, Muhindo Kawede to help us go into a slum, Katooga, so we could take a few photos showing what life is like in much of Uganda.
Kawede connected with Francis. Francis is a volunteer that has been to one of the International School of Missions' Portable Bible Schools and who lives in Katooga.
We just wanted to take a few photos, give a few "sweets" and not cause a scene. But Francis had other plans.
He wanted us to gather at the church and speak to the children.
It was great! The kids sang songs, Kawede, Kent and I told Bible stories and Francis had them answer details from the stories in order to get one of the small, sweet biscuits we brought.
Outside the structure where the slum church meets.
Francis and Steve telling the story of David.
Steve dramatized the story for the kids.
Then, taught them to pray.
As Francis gave us a walking tour of the slum, we were quite impressed with his interactions with the community and the church there.
One little girl of 9 yrs old, pretty much latched on to my arm and walked connected to me for the whole walking tour around the community.
They are so happy we've come to their community.
And they just want to be loved
...and to connect.
Nap time in the slum.
Homes in this slum are at-risk of flooding due to nearby Lake Victoria.
Cooking and laundry in the slum.
I never want to just "take" anything - even photos. I always want to give something back. I had my small battery powered photo printer in my backpack and had printed a few photos for some adults.
Although she seemed a little embarrassed to do so, she gently asked me to "give her photo."
Then, I stepped in some swampy, gooey mud...or ??? It covered my shoe.
There is open sewage everywhere.
This sweet 9-year-old girl, without asking, tried to clean my shoe off with some 8" grass leaves. When she couldn't get it sufficiently clean, she disappeared.
In a few minutes, she returned with some kind of small piece of rag and finished wiping the muck off my shoe.
This is pretty unusual here in Africa. Most times, Americans have trained the Africans that we are their saviors and that has misled them into believing it, and on many levels, seeking what we can give them...not what we can do for each other.
This little girl from a mosquito-infested, sewer riddled low, low slum knew in her heart that she wanted to serve for the sake of serving.
Well, I told her I deeply appreciated what she did and that I was going to do something nice for her and give her a picture of herself. She was thrilled.
She continued walking with me through the narrow passageways, over the makeshift bridges and through the standing water from the Lake Victoria's overflow and heavy rains. Both her arms wrapped around my arm, and she clutched her small picture of us in one hand.
As we walked, she quietly dropped her head and said, "I love you".
And it just about choked me up.
She was thrilled when I gave her a photo of us.
We all can learn from this little girl who was not focused on her needs, was not focused on being a victim, not wanting to be given something.
She saw a need and she did what she could to fix it. I hope that is a lesson I will carry with me for a very long time.
Steve Evers
has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics, (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI's Director, Steve served on the Board of Directors for 4 years. Steve lives in Arizona with his wife, Darlene.