3A Blog — uganda

Change! That’s what I dreamt of when I first visited Uganda. On my second trip to Uganda, in the small village of Mbulamuti, I spotted this mud hut. It’s the standard mud-hut-with-grass-roof that litters the landscape of Africa. But I instantly fell in love with the word ‘Change’ that someone had spray painted on the side. What a beautiful reminder! Together, we can change the world! -Joe

In a world so wrought with injustice and sin, there is little more beautiful than love. Perhaps that’s why I find this photo so touching and heartbreaking at the same time. We see a young girl caring for her infant sibling while mom tries to barely scratch out a living. She lovingly snuggles her sibling, yet, with love, our hearts break, wanting to find a way to help. -Joe

I absolutely love the joy in this photo! This was taken in a tiny village called Mbulamuti. It’s just outside of Jinja, Uganda. This photo captures everything I love about Uganda. The mud hut and yellow jerry can in the background speak to what little these people have. But, the smiles on their faces speak to the joy they have. They are so thankful for what they do have. Looking at this photo reminds me of how blessed I am, as well as how much I can learn from them. -Joe

What would our world be without water? What would your life be like without it? The reality is, you life simply wouldn’t be without water. Yet every day, hundreds of millions of people struggle to find water, or settle for unsafe water. The boys in the picture above are actually going to drink that water. This reality is simply unacceptable. We must work to change the world. To change their reality. To give everyone an opportunity for a healthy life and an education. -Joe

My first real exposure to the poor came on my first visit to Uganda in 2010. I never realized there were millions of people around the globe that still relied on only what they could grow for food. That had no money for clothes. That lived without water, without sanitation, and without an education. This realization stirred a deep aching in my heart to help those in need. -Joe