People matter everywhere, but in Uganda everyone seems to matter just a little bit more. Community is the number one priority here. Where the West says "I think, therefore I am" Uganda says "I participate, therefore I am". In all aspects of life your fellow man still matters more than your own needs. Your purpose in life is to improve the community as a whole, therefore if you have nothing to contribute, you have no sense of belonging....maybe Uganda has a better picture of the Church than we do.
A man is not considered complete until he has a wife. A marriage is not established until they have a child. When someone dies there is a time of mourning followed by a community wide celebration of the life lived. The entire community raises a child, not just his father and mother. If one store does not have what you need, the owner will personally walk you down to someone else's that has what you are looking for.
When looking for a place to live in the West we are told it's all about 'location, location, location', but here you would be told 'relationship, relationship, relationship'. How does the community show that they care for one another?
These relationships go all across the board. "Bro-mance" is a popular phrase some of the missions students here has labeled Uganda as due to the affection and care shown by the men for the fellow man. It's so encouraging to see individuals take a genuine interest in their fellow man. Even casual acquaintances are more valued. You greet everyone, because everyone matters.
Uganda has some much more to give me than what I could ever offer them.
No comments:
Post a Comment