Our dinner began with warm sodas, good worship music and a conversation centered around a new book by Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo in which she promotes ending all aid to Africa in the next five years. It was quite a conversation starter. I look forward even more to the school debate which will center around this topic on Friday.

As we gathered around the table an hour later to eat amazing beef cooked up by Asiimwe, I paused my heart in a moment of thankfulness for the incredible leadership team God has placed us within. This year’s experience of co-working with these six strong men and women has been an unforgettable one already. As we dug into our g-nut sauce and cabbage, and continued our conversation about aid to Africa (2 for, 4 strongly against and one quiet voice) we made it more personal. What about aid our school? What about the huge stack of 700 counter books (heavy duty notebooks) which are waiting in the bursar’s office for distribution to or Scholarship Students as part of the fees paid by their sponsors??

We have been asking many, MANY questions recently, so it was awfully nice to be able to ask them in community last night. As we continue to ponder the way forward for Christ School, we ponder what success looks like, what success we’ve had and where we’re likely to attain more success in future. We talk about sustainability and making the school more indigenous. We discuss how to safely bring aid in without creating corruption or damaging the local economy more. We face the hatred of a community that doesn’t like the way CSB has done things and we ask whether that hatred is to be lived with and confronted or whether it has an important message for us to hear.

After dinner we dug into peanut butter chocolate chip cookies (my secret weapon with staff!) and asked our friends to offer us feedback on the ideas that have come up in recent meetings: bringing in a Ugandan headmaster, becoming a government aided school, more comprehensive parental care from the “founding body.” (WHM) It was a long conversation and not a simple one. I think hearts begun to be heard and minds began to open to problems in new ways. I know mine did. Hearing from our African staff, many of whom have worked here for many years across changes in leadership and styles and many of whom have also worked in other church-led schools or government schools was incredibly helpful. For them, I think they have a mixture of satisfaction at their participation in this process and deep fear at the potential losses. Talking about our own need to leave Bundibugyo some day is nervous-making to them. And while they welcome the increased salaries that government aid would give them, they also fear the loss of control and vision that could easily come in too.

Questions, questions . . . And so few answers. We need prayers as a couple, as a leadership team, as partners with team leaders, and as field workers for the mission . . . For unity, collaboration, partnership, and true wisdom. Pray that we would find many other parts of this experience community-building, just as we found our time last night, because God is honored when our processes reflect real love in relationships even when the outcomes aren’t clear. Pray for us to listen well to each person who has wisdom to add and for God to supernaturally guide the way ahead. In the end, this is His school, His community of teachers, students and parents. Despite all our fears, all our doubts, all our unsures; He knows the way ahead.