In prison, The Uganda Pepperdine team, The leadership of the Rwanda team
(with our friend Judge John from Seattle) and those helpful work badges.
Too many thoughts and not enough words……
After nearly four years, we are closing our time in Uganda. We arrived back in Seattle a week ago. We come back very tired but grateful for a season of challenge, accomplishment, surprise, delight and deep abiding friendship with people who have indelibly impacted our lives.
Scott started his work in Uganda in 2018. He made many trips volunteering for Pepperdine’s Prison Projects. We made the decision to move to Kampala just before COVID hit. We delayed our departure until Jan. 2021. Scott’s goal was to build on the Pepperdine work started by others and expand into Rwanda and other countries as opportunities arose.
We are pleased to know that the team of Ugandan and Rwandan lawyers has grown under solid national leadership. These amazing people have worked to secure the next steps of justice for literally tens of thousands of people. The work in Rwanda started just two years ago and the numbers of individuals already represented and released from prison is staggering.
Seeds of hope have been planted and its now up to others to water and nurture.
There are so many gifts we have been given in the past four years:
A talented team of East Africans who are committed to bettering the access to justice in their countries (this sentence can in NO WAY capture the hardwork and dedication of these co-workers).
A close-knit community of expatriates who are serving in the NGO (nonprofit) and diplomatic world. The conversations over dinners with folks who have served in the hardest places on earth during wars and famine is always inspiring.
The privilege of investing in future lawyers – we are thrilled to follow along the lives of so many law students who came to serve over the years. We heard from two of them yesterday who just found out they passed the bar exam! We even leave one of those friends in Kampala to follow-up on the Pepperdine work through this next year. LOVE YOU KIRTANA AND SO PROUD OF THE LAWYER YOU ARE!
Scott’s membership at the Uganda Golf Club (right in the center of downtown) provided hours of play with Ugandans and expats alike. Scott would say that his game didn’t improve at all but the friendships made walking the course provided fodder for great stories, lots of laughter and wisdom from business leaders who are shaping the future of Uganda.
A small international church community as well as a few spin-off book and prayer groups helped us go deep with new friends. Meeting weekly with folks for four years builds deep relationships, faithful support and critical accountability.
Watching a talented team of folks working for Young Life on a shoestring budget to bring hope and the message of Jesus to young people across Uganda. These are dedicated, hardworking and inspired servants working tirelessly.
Travel to all corners of the “Pearl of Africa.” We feel spoiled to have seen enough safari animals to grow a bit apathetic, “Yeah, it’s just another elephant!”
·An apartment with a beautiful view of Lake Victoria where we sat and enjoyed the constant 80+ degree weather and spectacular thunder and lightning storms
Things we aren’t likely to miss anytime in the near future:
Potholes and terrible roads.
Brushing our teeth only with bottled water.
Endless police stops’ checking our papers and asking for bribes. We’re pleased to have ended our time in Uganda having NEVER paid one. I will confess here that our "officially made-up" ID badges that Scott had printed (complete with the logo for our partner governmental agency) helped us avoid many obstacles.
The underlying threat of corruption that everyday Ugandans face all the time. We had a very bad landlord who made the last few weeks in our apartment a bit of a shakedown. We are fine but we further recognized how many protections we have that most Ugandans don’t. This also confirmed for us how tenuous the rule of law is when bad people live with impunity and there are no consequences for their behavior.
But even these things we “won’t miss” are more than overshadowed by too many amazing stories to tell and experiences to relish.
As I look back, the greatest gift I have received during our time in Uganda was a big surprise.
This week, Scott and I celebrate 30 years of marriage. My husband has always worked hard and over the years, I’ve listened to Scott’s side of hundreds of phone calls with clients and fellow justice seekers. I knew he was smart and capable and allayed frantic client’s concerns. He offers hope and encouragement to countless people at their darkest moments. He helps friends, family and those he has never met. But in this season, I was able to work WITH Scott. Being in the prisons with him was such an honor for me. People trust him, like him, respect him and work hard for him.
The picture here of Scott laughing with Gerald (the lead guard at one of the prisons we visited the most) was taken in the midst of a very stressful day – but look! There is life. We had worked with Gerald on many occasions. He knew we were for him and there to make him shine that week. I love this picture. It tells the story of how Scott leaves Uganda. His team is shored up, encouraged, empowered and ready to move forward. These are the people who will forge new hope for Uganda and Rwanda and we had the honor of standing with them for a short season.
I LOVED doing this with Scott.
And, I am so grateful that 30 years ago – my friends Kathy Nunan and Gail Grimston told me that Scott was a keeper. They were right, and today, I’m celebrating.
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