More than grillin'

If "breaking bread" is a part of making disciples, I am thrilled we can do it with shish kabobs. Twenty people converged on our house today, most of them students from John's surveying practicum class, and past class, at Kyambogo.  It was a ton of fun for all of us.

Even more, it brings in that relational element that brings this class beyond just development in an impoverished country. Books on missions theory sometimes allude to the "ministry of reconciliation" from 2 Corinthians, and speak of helping people to reconcile--to make up what's been lost--with creation, with God, with others, and with themselves. So as much as today was about a heap of marinated meat, massive amounts of garlic potatoes, and a game of cornhole, events like this help the class move beyond reconciling these guys to working with God's creation, honing their abilities God's made. It builds passport and makes time to talk, making this even more about discipleship (reconciling them to God and others). 

I am terrible at downloading photos to the blog...so here's an attempt at giving you a snapshot of a great day, doing what we love to do. 

Besides. I never miss a front-row seat watching Ugandans get on a trampoline for the first time.

Patrick Cochrane, here with his lovely wife Joan, is the mastermind behind this class. On one of his many short-term volunteer trips with eMi as a surveyor, Patrick worked with a Ugandan surveyor who sadly knew very little about modern equipment and surveying practice. So Patrick shouldered the significant efforts required to initiate, fund, maintain, and effectively carry out a partnership with a university here. He's located and shipped over  mounds of  surveying equipment to turn students' theory classes into skill--with a side of discipleship.

This student, Repher, showed off some sweet street-dancing moves.

Yep, that's me. Hopin' I won't feel that one tomorrow morning.