The Splendor of Green

When I think of Uganda and the tremendous beauty it represents, I think first of the spirit of the people, and second of the green. I am so anxious to get back to the green of Uganda. I feel swallowed up once again by the green of our culture the greed, money, materialism, the cynicism. This weekend was an opportunity to see the good in my world, the generosity of my community, and the possibilities for the work we do to have signifigant impact on people across the world.

I pray every day to be more humble, and not let this work be about me. It is so easy in the culture we live in to get caught up in the attention from press, the pats on the back, it can never be about that, even though we need to engage in these things. The reality is sharing who we are and what we do is a vital part of spreading the word and inviting others to participate. Niteo must always be inclusive, accountable and intentional about remaining focused. This is not about elevating ourselves and receiving praise and accolades, but rather it is an opportunity to share the story of others who have no voice in the world.

The truth is Africa has done more for me than I will ever do for it, and I am so anxious to see our July team experience that for themselves this summer. My hope for Niteo is that we will never lose sight of why we started this organizaton. I pray that we will always, always stay focused on the work. In just 10 days my eyes will once again be able to take in the lush green, a hue only found in Uganda, and my wish is that each time I see it I will never take it for granted, because it represents the beauty of Africa, the generosity of my own community, and the hope for us all.

Donna