Details on SHIM in Uganda

I'm just going to copy and paste sections from the manual I received from Shepherd's Heart International Ministry. Feel free to read any of this to get more details about where I will be. 

This is the island I will be living on. Woot woot.

WHO WE ARE

Shepherd’s Heart International Ministry was birthed in the hearts of Karina (Thomas) Smith, Pastor Wafula Robert, and Pastor Mumbya Samson in January, 2007. At the urging of numerous pastors and other leaders, these three faithful servants of God embarked on a journey, not really knowing where they were going, but trusting in the One who was leading them.

Their heart was simply to become an umbrella organization that would provide vision, guidance, training, structure, and assistance for many of the independent ministries that had been started in the Buvuma Islands. Some examples of these included Pastor Samson’s discipleship training ministry, Pastor Robert’s economic development ministry, and Karina’s water purification ministry. Another was the Lingira Living Hope Secondary School, started by the Lingira Deliverance Church.

Almost immediately, Okoro and Olive (Mama & Papa O) joined the team in Family Ministry and hospitality. God also brought Julius Twali, an expert in agriculture who is in charge of agricultural development for SHIM, and assists Pastor Samson and Geoffrey Oryagi (boat pilot and water project mechanic) with the water and sanitation projects. Two other vital members of the Shepherd’s Heart family are our cook Auntie Jennifer and our new accountant, Immaculate.

American SHIM members on the ground include Andy & Keeky (and David), The Peterson family (Discipleship/family ministry), Ruth Howard (Child & Educational Development), and Amanda Taylor (Media Ministry/Women’s Ministry).

WHAT WE DO

There are currently seven branches of SHIM: 

Ø  Discipleship and evangelism—the heart of all we do.

Ø  Educational Development—especially supporting the Lingira Living Hope Secondary School.

Ø  Child Development Program—adding holistic training to the sponsorship of destitute children.

Ø  Economic Development—assisting Pastor Robert with the Buvuma Islands Savings and Credit Cooperation.

Ø  The Lake Victoria Sanitation & Pure Water Project—establishing community-based water purification systems on each island in the Buvuma chain, as well as Community-Led Total Sanitation programs.  

Ø  Family Ministries—providing Biblical, culturally sensitive training in marriage, child rearing, and family relationships.

Ø  Healthcare—SHIM is partnering with YWAM to re-open the Namiti Island health clinic, which provides care and immunizations for numerous islands on the southern end of the Buvuma Island chain.

We are very excited about what God is doing in each of these seven areas. We also look forward to starting a Pastoral training school, and we are constantly looking into how to best address the enormous HIV/AIDS issues among the islands.  

As you prepare to come, please request more information about those areas that most interest you.  If your specialty or interests lie in some other areas outside of these, please also let us know so that we can see if there are other ministries among the islands, or even on the mainland, where you might best be used. For example, Medical:  Not only the Namiti base, but also YWAM Lingira clinic; Orphanages:  SIITA Nest Love Home, Jinja; and many, many others. 

Shepherd’s Heart International Ministry—eight acres just northeast of Kyoya toward Katonga village. The property runs in a rectangle from the hill down to the lake. We are excited about the future development of this property as God matches the necessary resources with the needs of the ministry.  

 

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE ISLANDS

 Some visitors have remarked that mainland Uganda reminds them, development-wise, of America around the 1960’s (sorry, I wasn’t around back then to compare J). Few own cars, jobs are difficult to come by, and higher education is becoming highly valued. Many homes in the cities have TV’s, for example, but in the villages there might be only a few, if any, around which people gather to watch important events—here that is often “football” (soccer) matches.  Radio is still the most common form of mass media.

The islanders themselves say that the islands are about 40 years behind the mainland. The majority of the people on the islands are uneducated and illiterate, even in their native language. While at least a few English words are known by almost all, only the more educated can speak fluently. There is no electricity (except for a few privately owned generators and small solar systems), and “running water” is what you carry on your own two feet. There are no municipal water or sanitation systems, nor is there access to safe drinking water except for a few systems put in by non-government organizations (NGO’s) like Shepherd’s Heart and Youth With A Mission. It is common to step over raw sewage from time to time as one walks through the villages (usually from children, or “run off” from a private outhouse that sits on the surface of the ground). Cooking is also difficult, requiring wood or charcoal. 

Because the islands are so remote and difficult to reach, and because traditionally the local people feared the spirits on the water, the islands became inhabited by a high percentage of criminals and refugees. Many fled from past war zones. Others migrated from Kenya and mainland Uganda seeking livelihood from fishing. On any given island, there are people from several different nationalities and dozens of different tribes/languages. Rarely will you find an adult who is native to the islands. This combination makes for some very difficult hurdles against unity and community within the camps. It also greatly hinders development, as the people do not consider the islands their home.

Almost the entire economy of the Buvuma Islands is built around the fishing industry. On Lingira Island, most of the fishing is for Mukeni, a small, Smelt-like fish. The men go out at night in their two-to-five-man wooden canoes and net the fish. During the day, the women spread the fish out in the sun to dry and prepare for shipment. Unfortunately, the fish are growing increasingly scarce. The average working man on the islands might make $2 per day.

Lake Victoria is full of bacteria harmful to humans and is unfit for drinking or even bathing—although it is used for both by the local people, causing a plethora of skin diseases, parasites, and gastrointestinal illnesses. As an added burden, HIV/AIDS has wreaked havoc and death upon many. Adult infection estimates run well over 50%. The only medical access on the islands consists of a few scattered clinics that provide first-aid and basic medicines (when they are available).

 Lingira is one of 52 islands in the Buvuma Island Chain in Lake Victoria, and is located near the equator. As a result, the temperature is hot all year long, although the high elevation (over 3,50 feet) and the lake itself provide some moderation and often a cool breeze in the afternoon. Rainy seasons are from March-May and Sept-Nov. The temperature remains fairly constant. 

Lingira Island is approximately five miles in circumference, and boasts three small villages: Lingira (pronounced with a short “g”, emphasis on 2^nd syllable), Kyoya (pronounced Choi’yah) and Katonga (emphasis on the long “o”). The total population of the island is less than three thousand. Almost all live in the crowded villages in round, grass-thatched, mud huts about fifteen feet in diameter. A few live in rectangular mud homes with metal roofs. Much of the clothing is from America or Europe. Women wear long dresses.

The friends you meet may invite you into their homes. Hosting a visitor is considered a great honor. When they do, they will certainly feed you something, as this is a sign of hospitality, a revered virtue in this culture. Even a “quick” (nothing is ever quick here) visit will require sodas or tea and some rolls or biscuits. They will likely spend more on your food (even for a snack, if it includes sodas) than they will spend for their whole family in a day. It is humbling, but to refuse would be a terrible offense. They may also give you the only chair(s) in the home, while they sit on the floor or stand. Again, to refuse would be offensive.

CHURCH ON THE ISLANDS

(adapted from UMVIM manual)

 Step into a church on the islands and you will be greeted with lively and joyful music and a warm welcome.  The welcome includes hearty handshakes and hugs. The children often sit on reed mats in the front of the congregation.  Men and women sit (when they sit) on backless benches.  The typical service begins with much singing.  The Ugandans love to sing, and their music is characterized by repetitive lines, vocal harmonies, and the beat of drums.  Native stringed instruments are used in some churches.  The people frequently dance as they sing.  There is sometimes a mix of the western hymns and choruses with African songs of praise. Usually there will be songs sung in as many as three or even four different languages during the course of the service (Luganda, Swahili, and English being most common). Many times the children and youth sing and dance in special numbers. 

Guests and church officials are given lengthy, proper greetings, acknowledging their titles and positions, and guests are expected to bring greetings from the home churches where they are from. It is meaningful, as it always has been, for those enduring suffering to know that they have brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are remembering them and praying for them. That they are connected to something or someone outside. 

Members of the congregation are anxious to share their testimonies and tell what God is doing in their lives.  Prayers are focused on lifting the name of God and giving thanks for his goodness.  Receiving the offering is a time of celebration as the people come forward, sometimes singing and even dancing to bring their gifts to the table. 

The people are hungry to hear the word of God proclaimed in preaching and teaching.  Guests, both clergy and laity, are expected to share a word of God with the people.  If you attend a Ugandan church, come prepared to offer a message!  Declining the invitation to share is not acceptable.  The typical Ugandan preacher is dynamic and “full of fire” for the Lord, and that spirit is communicated in the sermon.  The clock is not a factor in Ugandan worship.  Services begin when the people gather and end when the teachings, no matter how many, are finished.  Worship can go on for hours and the people are respectful and attentive throughout the service.  The atmosphere in the Ugandan church is relaxed and flexible, but they usually follow a general order. 

As many do not own Bibles, the hallmark of the Ugandan Believers is worship and prayer. Most churches on the islands have at least one day a week for “Morning Glory” and “Evening Glory”- early morning and evening praise and worship services, and many also participate in “Overnights”- monthly all-night prayer and worship services.  As you come, come expecting to find people who love God deeply and live in close communion with God. Their worship and faith will inspire you.