With Love from Elgin: Banda Slums: Kampala, Uganda

Since I’ve been in Uganda I’ve wanted to visit the slums. You hear about slums all the time in reference to third-world countries. I’ve heard the stories of people who have visited them and knew of their existence here in Uganda. Because schools are on holiday we don’t have many programs planned throughout the week. Yesterday we filled our morning by visiting the Banda slums.

I was nervous about going, mostly because I didn’t know what to expect; however, my prayer was that God would open my eyes to his people, to his children! Little did I realize that we drive by the slums every week… they are right there, in plain sight. What’s ironic is they are right down the road, and right outside of the gate, of the King’s palace or home.

Getting out of the car you are hit with all kinds of sights and smells. There were children half naked, playing in the mud, children in ratty clothing, women working away in the fields below, fires burning trash, and a smell that can only be described as an outdoor bathroom for people and animals. I know that sounds graphic, and thinking of that smell probably grosses you out, but this is reality. After a while, though, you just forget about it.

We quickly split into groups to start our evangelism. David, a volunteer with Empower-A-Child, took me, Amy, and Hayley to visit with a lady who he grew up with in school. She introduced us to 3 of her 4 children and we had the opportunity to try to get to know them better. What I find interesting about the people in Uganda is how serious they always approach conversations with Mzungos. Her second oldest son, Davis, was a beautiful boy. He would speak to the ground when talking to us and we had to ask him after each response to speak louder. It honestly felt hopeless getting anything out of him… but then my natural instincts kicked in and I reached out my arm and tickled him. Seeing his smile gave me hope that he’d be a joyful child .His brother Trevor was the same way when we talked to him, but the longer we spent at the slum the more Trevor spoke, smiled, laughed, and just opened up. At one point he was climbing all over Amy’s back.

Trevor, one of the boys we visited. So beautiful!

Davis, the second oldest boy to the family we visited with!

We helped out around the slum digging up clay for a house and helping make clay pots. The clay pot process was incredible to me. The people took time out of their busy schedules to teach us how to shape, mold, shave, soften and perfect these little clay pots they sell as their source of income. They were so welcoming to teach us what to do that I feel it’s not something I should take for granted. I’m pretty excited that we have personal ministry days because I’d love to go back and make some more… now that I’m an expert.

After this long, excruciating process of molding these stove pots they sell them for 1000 shillings- that’s less than 50 cents! Can you imagine? A clay pot took about 20 minutes for me to put together, but I only did a part of it. They make the clay, mold the bottoms, add the tops, shape the whole thing, and watch them while they dry. Who knows how long the actual process is, but they make 1,000 shillings. I can’t imagine…

Every day in the US I found a reason to complain about the money I made at my 2 jobs. Some people don’t have an education good enough to get them a good, safe job.. like driving a Boda Boda or making clay pots, but their generosity, their joy, their freedom from the world is incomprehensible. I think our whole team has really been challenged by finding joy in the simplicity of life. Jillian spoke in her devotion with us tonight about using the things God has blessed us with to impact the nations for God’s glory and not for our own glory, so I want to leave you with that challenge! Think about your life, praise God for the things you’ve been blessed with, and examine where you can make a change to the way you spend your time, money, energy that will truly glorify the Kingdom of God! As always thanks for reading.

Enjoy more pictures of our experience in the slums! Love love!