IY 2010 Year in Review

IY 2010 about to hand over the baton to IY 2011

In December, we celebrated our fifth Investment Year handover- when IY 2010, passed the IY “Baton” on to our sixth New Hope Uganda Investment Year class, IY 2011!

Who could have imagined what God would do through and in the Investment Year program? At the beginning, next to no one believed the Investment Year would work- the students thought we were wasting their time and ruining their academic careers, many staff thought this crazy venture required far too much input and was doomed to fail, and many relatives weren’t willing for their children to be “guinea pigs” to the crazy bazungu’s new idea and took their children out of our program. It was grueling at the beginning, but praise Him for His grace! Now, five years later, the fruit and the results of this program speak for themselves. And we say, thank you, Lord Jesus, for what YOU alone have done!

Here is the “IY 2010 Year in Review” –

Reading:
– Each of our 17 IY students read through the entire Bible and read a minimum of 8 books (many read more)! (Together, they read a total of192 books, not including the Bible-which means 192 book reports were turned in as well!)

Internships at the various New Hope Uganda sites:
– in accounts, construction, community relations, remedial tutoring, guest house, primary school, secondary school, Early Adulthood, special needs program, childcare/extension, and the clinic

Internships outside New Hope:
– worked with street kids and refugees in Mbarara; worked with special needs children in Guludene and Mengo;

Zziwa Godfrey and Geoffrey Kanakulya with lawyer, Lisa Regn

 worked in a babies home and in a malnutrition rehabilitation center in Entebbe, a Christian school in Kampala, the clinic of one of Uganda’s leading doctors, and in the Kiwoko hospital laboratory, out-patients department, and electrical department

Other accomplishments and activities:
– served as interpreters for American lawyers at a remand home in Kampala
– started a coffee business and took over the running of and purchasing for the Kasana Children’s Centre gift shop
– business etiquette training and a business dinner
– The 8 boys helped run 2 camps for former street boys at Musana Camps
– Each IY either ran their own small businesses or made investments in various things to help with the costs of their further education

Each 2010 IY received training in:
– Personal financial management (through completing the 10-week Crown Financial course)
– Authority of Scripture
– Biblical exegesis and hermeneutics
– World view
– Courtship, Marriage, and family,
– What is salvation?- debates and biblical reasoning/discussion
– Church history/chronology of Scripture
– Entropy and stewardship
– Business etiquette and skills
– Public speaking
– Basic computer skills
– Basic photography

Unique to this year:

Uncle Jonnes giving Nazziwa Harriet her IY certificate of completion

– This was our first year to have a reading list- we joke that each year gets harder and harder… Now that we know what they’re capable of, next year’s students will be required to read a minimum of 13 books and the Bible!
– We went to Kampala for a “Know Your Capital Day”- a day learning their way around the big city
– Girls’ week- a time of discipleship and fun and “mother-daughter” time with IY girls and the IY women staff members
– We spent time in “listening prayer” each morning we were together- learning to listen to God’s “still small voice” through His Spirit and His Word
– This was the first IY group to keep up with Bible reading throughout the year!
– We wrapped up the year with a Father Heart Retreat at Musana Camps

In closing
As I looked over what God had done and what each of our IY’s had accomplished this year, my heart was full. But, more than the accomplishments and training was how the Lord knit our hearts together with the students this year. As I close, let me share with you a little message I read to our 17 at their handover ceremony…

“From Alice’s giggle, excuses, and teachable spirit, to Sekamate’s quiet smile and observing eye; from Namata’s gullibility and mother’s heart to Julie’s speed-talking and laughter; from Mwine who always has something funny to add, to Mbazira with his deep thoughts and gentle care for the weak; from Kana’s big smile and “soft English” to Nakku’s voracious reading and servanthood; from Zziwa’s deep voice and quick wit to Emmarine’s quiet humor and quick answers; from Kakuba’s “talking to bees” and caring about people to Viola’s growing openness; from Nazziwa’s kind heart and willingness to serve to Angelight’s ability to be beautiful and get dirty at the same time, from Kazuga’s heart after God and Serwadda’s humor to Scovia’s free smile and athletic abilities — IY 2010, you have captured my heart! You’ve been added to the list of “my special ones” and you will always have a place in my heart. Thank you for letting me in to your lives. Thank you for the enthusiasm with which you started and finished this year. Thank you for opening your hearts to me and the other staff and allowing us to rejoice with you and weep with you. I can hardly wait to see what your Father God has in store for your futures, and I will be eternally grateful for the immense privilege of getting to invest even something small into your lives. Class of IY 2010, I love you!”

 
For more information on the Investment Year program, go to
Jennie’s Jungle Book

Contribute to the IY Development Fund (funds to be used for new Kampala hostel to house our sons and daughters during internships there)