Called on a mission: Ken and Karen Tomchuk
Karen and Ken celebrate with students at Bishop’s Primary School during their three-month mission.
Open Hands
While traveling the United States in our RV, Karen and I felt compelled to take a long-term mission. We met our priest who guided us to talk with the Kellermann Foundation about a possible mission to Uganda. After praying, we made the commitment and arrived in Buhoma four months later on February 20. When we started on this three-month mission, we came without any expectations. We prayed to be open to where God would lead us to use our skills. Many people reminded us that being present was more important than doing anything specific. Our job was to answer God’s call, and then allow the Spirit to lead us.
Life in Bwindi
Our Bwindi guest house was next door to Dr. Scott Kellermann who became our mentor, teaching us the history of KF and how relationships were formed. As we visited most of the settlements and met village elders and other individuals, we learned about their plight, needs and hopes. The Batwa shared their heritage through joyful dance, crafts, and of course, the Batwa Experience cultural hike which gave us a good understanding of life for the Batwa who once lived in the forest before being evicted in 1991.
Our experience in Uganda has been a positive reminder to see individuals first. Of course, that only happens when we decide to get to know the people. We saw people living in poverty, unemployed and needing handouts. We wondered how the successful farmers could share their skills with other Batwa to use the land effectively. Our highlight was seeing progress in the home-building process, including the making of interlocking-bricks at Kitariro settlement, and three homes in different phases. I even attempted to make a brick and fully appreciated the required effort. We saw a significant need to build more interlocking-brick houses.
The Batwa’s best way to independence is education. Visiting with students and headmasters at eight schools was one of our greatest pleasures. Most of the needs require budget assistance and better tracking of individual student progress. Some schools still need essentials like textbooks, electricity, or additional latrines; yet we saw so many happy children excited to be in school. We realized that the US assumption that education is available to everyone is not true.
Spiritual Growth
Our spiritual foundation was core to our mission. I was asked to speak at one of the lively and joyful church services at the hospital. During the week, the Jamisons, an American family who manages the guest house, hosted Bible studies and praise services. Each morning the BDP started with prayer. Patients at the hospital experienced healing through the nurses singing praise songs in the middle of the night. I was blessed by their devotion as well.
Our family and friends at home were very supportive. Together we raised enough funds to provide three interlocking-brick homes with mud-stick kitchens, textbooks for two schools, fabric for school uniforms to be sewn by BDP tailors, and the development of a web-based student database.
At the end of the day, we were reminded that whether we are in the USA or Uganda, people are people. Wherever we walk, a wave or ‘Agandi’ always elicited a response —sometimes a smile, but always a ‘neejay’. Most of the children yelled ‘hello’, making us feel at home and welcome. True change takes time. My change happened when a child came to me, asked for money, and then asked for my watch. Instead, I held his hand and gave him my time, and we walked down the road together.
Uganda has much to offer missionaries and the mission-mind-ed traveler, including its beauty, gorilla sightings, safari wildlife, and the opportunity to be in relationship with the Batwa conservation refugees. It was our honor to serve this amazing community.
By Ken Tomchuk