Much has happened in the Christ School kitchen over the last several months. Weary of conflicts, poor quality, inadequate quantities and ever-burgeoning prices we finally let our former kitchen manager go at the end of 2nd term. Though we are a community that seeks to find imperfect people and continue building and growing them into what God desires for their lives, sometimes we find that the best solution for everyone is a change. I can say with certainty that we gave as much as we could in possible chances for redemption and that our hearts were and are committed to this person’s true growth and greater knowledge of the reality of the gospel in her life.

We rehired two new people who will share this enormous and hugely important job: Wilson who is in charge of menu planning, budgeting, buying and inventory and Kastoli who supervises meal productions for 400 daily using those supplies. We have also let several troublesome side-taking kitchen workers go. So far the team has worked beautifully together, though we are cooking for a reduced load these days as 2/3 of our students are home on break. We are hopeful, though realistic, that this could mean a significant improvement not only in our daily lives but in the lives of everyone on campus.

Sadly, trouble still follows. On Friday night, Wilson, carrying money to buy food in the Saturday market was held at machete point in his house while his money was stolen. Tied up so tightly that we could still see the marks the next day, his neck was cut as they held the “ponga” (as machetes are innocently called here; most often used for farming) there and threatened him with death if he didn’t tell them where the money was hidden. Brave Wilson kept silence as they searched his house but they later figured out his trick and found the money in his pants pocket where he had hidden it for safe-keeping during his sleep. Cutting the pocket out of his pants with the machete (and leaving another small wound) they took almost 1 million shillings and left.

And so we learn more of life here. Keep no discernable habits where money is concerned; protect all who handle what you own. Here in Bundibugyo people think we are rich because we spend money on what they consider ” extras” for students; good food and other supplies. It’s a kind of a violent socialism in this society. The poor feel free to take from the rich. And so, perhaps, do we all as we deem God inadequate or unfair when He, who owns all, refuses to give us all we ask. “There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and the other is to desire less.” – G.K. Chesterton

So we pray that these thieves find “enough” and that God continues his imaginative and generous redistributions in our lives so that our students would feel his care through feeding and the community too would feel our and His love not only for a few but for many.