By Linda H. Bassert

(Last of three parts –  returning to the United States)

At the Friday graduation, we were treated as VIPs, seated in a special tent in the center of a u-shaped set of canvas tents, around a central grassy area.  Security was tight, but the band was playing, leading the students in graduation gowns into the area, and joy was in the air.  

The Vice Chancellor spoke to the students graduating: “We train UCU students to be change makers, to be problem solvers, leaders who will make a difference.  UCU graduates have good work ethics, show up and have good relations with others at work. Employers say, there is something different about you. They expect more from you. The world is looking for people who can give hope.  Be different, be bold, be Hope.  Do not leave God behind.  Go with God.”

Then the main speaker at graduation, Graham Yoko, Chief Executive Officer – Accelerated Education Enterprises, added these wise comments:  

• From Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Discovering your purpose in life is not a once-off event – it is a journey.  The world needs your light.  
• From Matthew 5:14, You are the light of the world. This is your identity. And light, by its very nature, must shine.  The catch:  Shining in a world which often rejects or distorts the truth isn’t easy.  My charge to you:  Don’t back down, don’t hide your light. The darker the world becomes, the more essential your light will be.  Your light isn’t about you.  It’s about reflecting God’s Light in you. Trust that the One who called you is faithful to lead you.  

He then spoke on Leadership: The world often defines leadership by power, position, or influence.  But as followers of Christ, we are called to servant leadership.  He referred to John 13:15.  As you rise in your careers and as God blesses you with influence, remember your role is to serve, with humility, love, and with the heart of Christ.  I challenge you to go MAD:  go and Make A Difference!

The graduation then moved to degrees being conferred.  Each student with a graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) was presented individually, with their families coming up to the front with them.  

The students with bachelor’s degrees came up in groups by their program (Logistics, Lawyers, Social Workers, etc.), but each name was read out individually before degrees were conferred on all of them, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by the Chancellor, who is the Archbishop of Uganda. As they exited the field and the next group stepped up, fun tunes were played, including a song “Finally,” which caused many students to break out in dance as they left with their degrees conferred.   

Those with “diplomas” (comparable to associate degrees) did not have their names read out, though their names were in the printed programs.  

After graduation, we were invited to have lunch in the Library courtyard, with other VIPs.  

That night we had a group meeting to reflect on our experience. I have to say that we certainly saw brokenness and suffering in Uganda; but we also saw tremendous entrepreneurial energy; love of pattern, color and artistic expression. Throughout our stay, we witnessed deep faith; and UCU’s deep resolution and commitment to solve problems. UCU Partners plays an active role in this effort.  

I felt personally challenged and inspired by the faith we saw and experienced.  Could I respond with that same depth of faith in the same circumstances?  That question brought me to tears at one point, and Mark assured me that grief was a valid response to some of what we had seen.  I’m still seeking that answer, but for me, in part, the answer lies in expanding our personal commitment. We likely will be UCU student sponsors again in the future, after Daniel graduates.         

Our trip’s last adventure was a journey to Murchison Falls National Park, with Dorothee and without Mark. The road into the park was lined with troops of baboons, nonchalantly hanging out on the asphalt and the grassy shoulder.  We stopped at the falls, one of the largest on the Nile, and learned it is the most powerful waterfall in the world. Before it was named in the 1860’s Murchison Falls, for a British explorer, it was called Kabalega Falls, named for the king of this land, the Bunyoro Kingdom.  

There was a viewing spot where we disembarked from our glider, but most of us also trudged up a well-maintained path, where steps were only rocks and roots.  This led to a closer view of the falls. You would probably assume that there would be a mist blowing your way from the Falls; instead, it was like being sprayed with a hose by the plunging waters – all of us were thoroughly drenched as we climbed back aboard the bus, and happy our lodge was not much farther. 

The Paraa Safari Lodge had lovely deluxe accommodations, comfortable beds with ceiling mounted mosquito netting, TVs in the rooms, and the nicest bathrooms of any of our stay.  The buffet offerings were also the most extensive. Our room had a view of the Nile. Nearby, however, was a sign warning you that wild animals were near, and that was the reason we were here.   

In the morning at dawn and before breakfast, we piled into several jeeps, with roofs and open sides, and headed out into the park to see the wildlife.  The park is the largest in Uganda, with 76  major species of animals.  Our guide shared a great deal of information about different species as we were en route.  An elephant in the distance, silhouetted against the dawn, was the first animal we spied.  Other animals seen that morning included herds of Cape Buffalo; towers of giraffes; parliaments of Ugandan Kob, the national animal and a kind of antelope; smaller Oribi (the smallest antelope), Jackson’s Hartebeest, Waterbuck, and two of what our guide said were jaguars. 

Our guide pointed out a lioness sleeping in a tree some distance away.  We had previously been told that if we were near a lion, it was important to be extremely quiet – no screaming, no getting out of the jeep, no sudden movements, “because lions like white meat,” our guide suggested with a wink.  Evidently, however, a lioness will sleep for two or three days after eating.  

Our jeep stopped, along with others, and after the Park Ranger gave approval, all of our jeeps were allowed to drive right up under the tree.  We were in the first jeep, and as it parked for us to see her, I realized that if she were inclined to leap out of the tree, she could easily land in my lap!  But she only partially opened one eye, closed it again, and kept sleeping.  

We later saw a large hippo; four majestic crested cranes, the national bird; a large osprey; a family of Warthogs; many more antelope and giraffes, and in the distance, a herd of elephants.   Finally, farther away, we spied an elephant mother and two baby elephants. 

Returning to the Safari Lodge for breakfast, we had a bit of time to rest before heading out again in the afternoon, to take a 3-hour boat tour on the Nile.  Here we saw many pods of hippos, and learned that Paraa, in the local language, means “land of the Hippo.” We saw gorgeous fish eagles, cattle egrets, flocks of bee eaters and other birds, plus one crocodile.  An amazing day! 

The next morning after breakfast we loaded our gear back on our glider to return to the Conference Center.  We had box lunches on the bus, from the Safari Lodge, ironically labelled “Enjoy your Spoils.”  We had Morning Prayer on the bus, and afterwards there was a lot of quiet conversation or napping by tired tourists – or were we pilgrims?   A brief stop at a fruit market had our bus mobbed by vendors.  Two of our group wanted to purchase Jackfruit, which they were able to do.  Our driver bought pineapples, and Dorothee purchased mangoes.  Everyone else stayed on the bus.        

That evening after Evening Prayer, Mark Bartels rejoined us, sharing information on the Uganda Studies program for students from other countries to come to UCU.  Then he shared thoughts on behalf of UCU Partners, starting with the question, “How do you help the Ugandans who are helping their own people and country?”  

We had already been exposed to many of the current priorities of UCU, such as the need for a Medical building on the main campus, the need for more computer and IT equipment, and a request from the Church Relations Committee for UCU Partners to sponsor two persons for a diploma (associates degree) from one of the dioceses with the fewest resources.  

Mark then moved on to the question, “How does UCU Partners discern what to spend money on?”    

One of the areas, which has proven most effective, is using funds to help students who have run out of funds, and just need a small amount paid in order to graduate.  Another UCU Partners effort coordinates equipment needs with those who can donate and will be arranging for containers of donated medical equipment in the near future. 

The third question Mark raised was, “Why Help?”  

Our group discussed this with him.  One reason is Impact:  the dollars we give to UCU will have greater impact than those same dollars elsewhere.  Another offered –“Because I’m a Christian, and that’s what Jesus said to do.”  

At the same time, Mark reminded us that giving out of guilt is not sustainable.  A better reason to give is a response to God’s work in our life – gratefulness – and a response to God’s work in the world. While there are all kinds of examples of people toiling for God with no fruit, don’t take for granted God’s call.  He concluded by encouraging us to take some time to process the trip.  

The next morning, a number of us took advantage of one more trip to shop for souvenirs or gifts, before we departed for the airport in the afternoon.  I still look at the small carved turtle and carved frog I purchased, along with a Ugandan basket, a patchwork apron of Ugandan fabrics, and the two paintings we had previously purchased, and feel the connection to the artistic spirit of Uganda. Purchasing art wasn’t the reason we went, but it certainly was one part of the trip which I found personally enriching, along with my photos of other paintings, sculpture and colors which we saw.  

Sometimes you make a difference just by showing up.  Going to Uganda changed me. I look at the world a little differently, and certainly look at my own priorities for spending money differently.  I still am absorbing the impact of the trip in my life.  Our student Daniel is similarly still affected by our coming to see him.   

If you are still reading this lengthy account of our trip, thank you for coming along on our journey. I hope you too take the opportunity to visit Uganda and see firsthand the focused and effective work Uganda Christian University is doing, and the impact of its graduates. I hope some of you will sponsor a student, and experience the joys and blessings we have found in doing so.  Thanks be to God, that we took the opportunity to go when it presented itself.

(TOMORROW: Learn more about Daniel)

+++

To support  Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go to  www.ugandapartners.org  and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at  m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

Also, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.