We are excited to report that each of our Ugandan directors has completed the certification training in their respective fields.
Patrick, who was a certificate nurse when we met him, has just completed his training at the Gulu Institute of Health Sciences as a clinical officer (sort of like a PA in the USA, only autonomous).
Janet was a high school student when she came into our fold, but has just completed her certificate nurse training at the Bweyale School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Prisca, who also came to us as a high school student, has been studying Business Management at Lady Valeria Vocational and Business College in the capital city of Kampala, where she will complete her certification next week. After a two-month internship in Kampala, we hope to put her to work in the clinical offices of our mission ministry.
Each of these three precious Ugandans sits on the board of directors for Tara Maleng Ministries, the local arm of TLC Uganda. Please pray for all our teammates as they seek interim employment until we can put them to work in our ministry clinic.
I have spoken to other missionaries who tell me it is not uncommon to feel this way, but it seems that every plan I make must generate peals of laughter in the Heavenlies, because they certainly end up back at the drawing board here on Earth. As the adage goes: "If you want to hear God laugh tell Him your plans."
I thought it would be a good idea to seek formal recognition for our Ugandan organization as an NGO (non-governmental organization), but every step of progress toward this end has been sacked. Instead, we have been told a better designation for our enterprise is as a CBO, a community based organization. These are indigenous, more community-focused, less temporary, better esteemed by the people, and with a few extra tax breaks. So, we petitioned the local government for recognition as a CBO and they reminded us we have not yet built anything. We were told to get started then alert the authorities to what we are doing. So we are guilty of too much planning and not enough getting started doing the work.
I thought it would be a good idea to apply for work permits, so we can come and go as necessary without renewing $50 90-day tourist visas which do not permit us to work or get local driver licenses. The missionary work permit costs $750 for three years, but guess what it requires -- a valid NGO. When I inquired of Immigration officials how a funding missionary of a CBO could get a work permit, I was directed to the class D Business and Trade work permit which costs $7,500 for three years. Never mind. I will remain a tourist until we get recognized. I am currently not "working" in a traditional sense anyway, managing and directing without a salary, not making or selling anything. When we erect our buildings and I sit in one of them typing this same correspondence, I guess our status will change.
I thought it would be a good idea to formalize our Land Title, something I should be able to do from here. We did what I thought was our "demarcation" of the property. It turns out that what we did was merely plant a few fence posts. "Demarcation" is part of the process done by the local district, after an Environmental Impact Report is done by the District Planning Officer. Since ours is virgin, native land, the whole process is one best handled by a Local, preferably one with legal experience. At least that is what my legal advocate recommended. Granted, surgeons sell surgery, plumbers sell plumbing, and lawyers sell legal services. Still I feel this may be one of those pieces of advice best heeded, especially given my lack of patience with government officials who demand money for soda and lunch at every turn.
So I am turning my attention to grant applications and resource development. We have a great 8-acre piece of land overgrown with brush and fruit trees and cannot build until God sends us someone to buy bricks. Heaven is surely either laughing at me or crying along with me!
Here is what our Freeform board looks like today...
