How did a carpenter and a dental hygienist end up as headmasters of a Ugandan primary school? We ask ourselves this question almost every day. It is so funny to think about our lives just a year ago. We were frantically trying to get all of our loose ends tied up to make this year possible. Anyone who has ever moved out of country and had to get rid of a lot of “stuff” will testify that those few months leading up to the big move are insane. And the needles…ah yes, the needles, so many and for so many different doomsday scenarios. I swear, with all my inoculations, I feel like I could swim in a mosquito infested bog and dine on rusty nails with little or no effect. 

 

I recall many conversations with many friends before our departure. Many wished to know why we were moving to Africa and what would we be doing…exactly. The why for us was easy, so many children with no one looking out for them. One night as I lay awake in bed, I recall picturing hundreds of precious children and hurting women praying to Jesus for help. The thought occurred to me, was Jesus supposed to physically come back and feed these kids and clothe them? Was he supposed to put on a carpenter's apron and physically fix leaky roofs? How were these prayers supposed to be answered? It had become obvious. We had the opportunity to be the very hands of God and be a part of their answer to prayer. Now, exactly how would we do this? What organization were we affiliating ourselves with? What would our day to day look like? We didn’t have a clue and couldn’t give a straight answer. Maybe some building, maybe some dental, most likely spending time with the kids we were already helping. This probably drove a lot of you nuts not knowing the exact details but we really took a wait and see attitude. How can you presume to know what your plans will be in a culture that you don’t yet understand? To be honest, we just wanted to get here and dive right in wherever it was needed. This brings us to this update’s topic: Why A School?

 

Both Karen and I are not really school people. I can recall my youth at any fireworks display. My favourite pyrotechnic was of course, the Burning Schoolhouse. If you are not familiar with the Burning Schoolhouse, it was a cheesy little box that kind of looked like an 18^th century one room schoolhouse that you lit on fire.   You would then fantasize that it was your actual school burning and that Monday would be a free day at home. I know there is a lot of teachers reading this so be honest, I was doing it for everyone because you would have had a free day too!

 

Well, 8 months later, after renovating, building, distributing, feeding, clothing and shoeing (it’s a word); we realize that all of our programs were made possible because of the school. Without the school, how would two Canadians be able to meet over two hundred families and assist them with basic needs? How could we give medical attention in a controlled environment and track their conditions daily? How could we follow their wellbeing and safety as crises arise from floods, heavy rain, crooked landlords and government evictions? The school has become a central hub from which all of our programs such as our micro loan repayment program can run. The school keeps us connected to the poor, daily. 

 

Does running a school drive us crazy? Absolutely. Not only am I loosing what little hair I have left, but, the little hair I have left is turning grey. The verse in the Bible that says “he has every hair on my head numbered” is becoming less impressive. Both Karen and I know that we are exactly where were should be, doing what we should be doing, obeying the teachings of Jesus, with our own creativity. To be completely running a school at this point, is truly surprising. I guess all of those needles we had to get to come here have altered my mind. Almost like what happened to Peter Parker when he got the spider bite and changed into Spiderman. It’s like that, but no tights. The needles must have changed me from a mild mannered carpenter into a crime fighting, defender of the poor, superhero known to the Ugandan children as “The Headmaster”. Cape optional.  Please click on the youtube link to see moving day at the school.