CSB

Today CSB students return to campus for a new school year. The first ever without a foreign missionary in charge as headmaster. I'm sure for the folks on the ground it is a time of nervousness, of wondering, "Will the school still be okay?" "Will it still be a good place to send our kids?" I'm sure lots of questions abound for those missionaries left on the ground involved in other ministries. Knowing as these things go, that every ministry is interconnected and that a problem at CSB will eventually (if not within minutes) end up on their doorstep.

But for us, this is a huge milestone. The culmination of work and sweat and tears, of late nights and early mornings, of cross cultural friendships and spectacular mistakes, of the pain of serving amidst hatred and jealousy and corruption, of the joy of empowering young men and women, students and staff, of the daily grind year in and year out of construction and curriculum development, of countless visits to the ministry of education for licensing and registration, of staff interviews and professional development seminars, of weekly chapel talks (9 years worth!), of fundraising and prayerful pleading for protection, of constant football practices, games, tournaments, of being stretched thin emotionally, physically, mentally, relationally....through rebel invasions and evacuations, sickness, grief, pregnancies, separations, riots, Ebola, and the myriad of transition that life lived in Bundibugyo demands.

Yes, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, but the cost was high. An all-consuming decade of our life poured out so that CSB would exist, would grow, would survive without us, without foreign leadership. A reflection of our sincere belief that true change and development will come to Bundibugyo only through the hands of her sons and daughters. Her children knowing far more clearly both what is needed and the culturally appropriate ways to go about affecting that change. Lofty thoughts, I know.

Reminds me of sitting around a table in 1996, as newlyweds, eating pizza and dreaming about starting this school. Paul Leary (friend and former team leader) had asked us to pray, to visit, to consider uprooting our life in North Carolina, and embark on the missionary adventure of a lifetime. We felt "the call", the overwhelming nudge from the Spirit of God to take a leap of faith and follow Him to this tiny remote village whose name we could barely pronounce. To shatter the illusion that we were "in control" and to learn to trust His provision for our needs.

So we celebrate today that calling, that vision dreamed about and sweated into reality. A Christian secondary school changing the lives of the children of Bundibugyo. A Ugandan school led by a Ugandan headmaster, staffed by Ugandan men and women for Ugandan children. A school shining in the darkness. Our gift of service to God, in obedience to His calling and direction. A sacrifice on our part, to be sure, but in the economy of God the cliche proved true... that we gained more than we gave. And both our lives and the school are a testimony to God's overwhelming ability to provide.

So today, we celebrate and rejoice and pray. Hopeful, that this school will empower generations to come for the world's good and for God's Glory.