Such a wonderful people...

"In the bleak midwinter..." the opening words to my favorite Advent carol, I sit watching the 9th or 10th inch of snow falling. While it's beautiful, I can't help but wonder what my friends in Muko are doing on a day like every other day in Uganda - about 70-75 degrees F and sunny or slightly overcast skies. 

For those of you who have not had the blessing to travel there, it is a gorgeous country. Muko Sub-County is between 6,000 and 6,400 ft elevation (much like Aspen, CO) but it sits just 400 or so km south of the equator. The days are pretty much the same weather all year round. They don't have summer, fall, winter or spring - they have wet seasons and dry seasons. The sun is constant in rising and setting, unlike our sun which moves closer to the horizon in winter. There is a reassurance in the sameness of the weather in Uganda. It was dubbed the Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill.

There are 56 different tribes in Uganda. The people of Muko are Bakiga (pronounced ba chee ga). And their language is Rukiga (roo chee ga), although most Ugandans are fluent in English. 

Muko is a marketplace in Muko Sub County, part of the larger Rubanda District which is known as "one of the highland districts of Uganda, with its topography mainly green, interlocking and heavily cultivated hills with spectacular valleys." One website states that 70% of Ugandans are farmers - Muko might be higher. The farmers in Muko are subsistance farmers primarily growing enough food to feed their families. In the photo above, you can see the terraced plots of land that belong to individual families. Some farmers have to walk long distances from their home just to arrive up the mountain to their plot of land. They are hard-working, dedicated people. They also love to come together for fellowship, praise worship and dance. 

For many people in Muko who have little possessions, they have giving hearts and generosity and love for others. They rely on their hard work and their devotion to God. They have unending faith that all will be well and God will take care of them. We pray for each other between the US and Uganda. 

As I sit far away from my friends in Uganda, I miss them and look forward to the time when I can once again be in their company, share their positive outlooks, celebrate life itself with them, wonder in amazement at their undying faith and just be happy we have so many things in common as humans on this planet. Long live the Ugandans - may your hearts be full and may your harvest be plentiful!


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Comments

  1. Generous TurinaweMarch 4, 2023 at 12:19 AM

    Beautiful places! I like seeing the snow in US as well as Lake Bunyonyi in Muko UG.

    Many thanks to our lovely partners, you have helped us have things happen in our community. A BIG DIFFERENCE HAS BEEN SEEN !!

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