We must conceive of ourselves as part of one community. We must support that one humanity through our own spiritually-based community, and not put our own community ahead of that one humanity. If we want a better world for our grandchildren, we must act now. We can’t continue to just “regret, regret, regret.” Change will come from education, not meditation. A sense of wholeness is a necessity. We must move from “I” to “We.”
—THE DALAI LAMA
The Need
Kampala Uganda is filled with children who are trying to survive on the streets. They come from places of poverty, homes ravaged by HIV, and communities displaced by war and disaster. For them there are no effective social services. Kampala has about 10,000 homeless children who are truly the “least of these.” |
The Amahoro Response In 1999 Amahoro Community Development Initiative was founded by Caleb Rukundo a former street child himself. The Amahoro vision is to establish a family of young people who will commit themselves to Christian values and by doing so transform their own lives, communities and the nation of Uganda with the love of God. Since its inception, Amahoro has served over 500 children! |
Amahoro pursues its vision by… • Rescuing homeless, destitute children trapped on the streets of Kampala. • Providing loving children homes that give children a sense of family and meet the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. • Instilling a commitment to Christian values, and teaching orphans to bind together in their love of God and each other. • Helping orphans develop a sense of direction and purpose to life. • Enabling and inspiring orphans with practical means of earning a living to support themselves and others. • Mobilizing this next generation to serve their community by caring for the physical and spiritual needs of widows, orphans and the poor. |
Come for a visit
On our pilgrimage into Uganda there are no AAA maps with the route highlighted in yellow, no fancy brochures. There are plenty of other resources that are designed for tourists with the way clearly marked out. This is a journey for pilgrims.
The difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is that the pilgrim seeks, while the tourist wants to have an already established point of view confirmed. For the tourist, the place is secondary. It could be New Orleans or New Dehli, Scotland or the Sahara. The name reveals the motive. The tourist tours, from tourn, 'a turn and a circling of something' — not a penetration, little chance for transformation. The tourist is primarily concerned with her or his experience of the place and the people — not the place itself, not the people themselves. After the journey a tourist circles home, possibly refreshed, but with little lasting insight or change.
This Journey is intended to be disruptive. There will be moments of pure joy and laughter as well as times where tears flow. There will be lots of questions and overflowing gratitude. The Journey is designed to penetrate the pilgrim's ordinary way of living to open the possibility of transformation. Whereas a tourist is satisfied by adding one more experience to life, a pilgrim is intentionally on a quest (with lots of questions) for transformation. A tourist gets pampered and tanned, while a pilgrim sparkles with curiosity, spirit and open mind and heart. A pilgrim is open to the sacredness of all people and places and is grateful, while a tourist is often preoccupied and unaware. A pilgrim longs to be in the present moment, growing in the capacities of suspending judgements and relaxing constricting emotions.
Of course we are both tourist and pilgrim without even being aware of it. Rarely do we take the opportunity to make our life a pilgrimage.
Those on the African Pilgrimage will return to the context of their lives changed and bearing many gifts for their community.
Terry and Caleb are Allies and guides for your journey. We will help you tend to the the landscape of the heart—the mind and emotions, synopses and spirit that can be oriented toward that future that is on the move—toward the present.
The difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is that the pilgrim seeks, while the tourist wants to have an already established point of view confirmed. For the tourist, the place is secondary. It could be New Orleans or New Dehli, Scotland or the Sahara. The name reveals the motive. The tourist tours, from tourn, 'a turn and a circling of something' — not a penetration, little chance for transformation. The tourist is primarily concerned with her or his experience of the place and the people — not the place itself, not the people themselves. After the journey a tourist circles home, possibly refreshed, but with little lasting insight or change.
This Journey is intended to be disruptive. There will be moments of pure joy and laughter as well as times where tears flow. There will be lots of questions and overflowing gratitude. The Journey is designed to penetrate the pilgrim's ordinary way of living to open the possibility of transformation. Whereas a tourist is satisfied by adding one more experience to life, a pilgrim is intentionally on a quest (with lots of questions) for transformation. A tourist gets pampered and tanned, while a pilgrim sparkles with curiosity, spirit and open mind and heart. A pilgrim is open to the sacredness of all people and places and is grateful, while a tourist is often preoccupied and unaware. A pilgrim longs to be in the present moment, growing in the capacities of suspending judgements and relaxing constricting emotions.
Of course we are both tourist and pilgrim without even being aware of it. Rarely do we take the opportunity to make our life a pilgrimage.
Those on the African Pilgrimage will return to the context of their lives changed and bearing many gifts for their community.
Terry and Caleb are Allies and guides for your journey. We will help you tend to the the landscape of the heart—the mind and emotions, synopses and spirit that can be oriented toward that future that is on the move—toward the present.
Want to join us on an adventure of a lifetime
and fall in love with Africa and her children?
Contact us for more information.
Short term group trips are available to support active Amahoro projects.
Popular service activities include:
• Volunteering in slum feeding program
• Providing biblical discipleship for the children (VBS format)
• Medical and dental clinics
• Leadership development training for Amahoro staff
• Practical, hands on projects to support building or agricultural initiatives
More information is available directly from Caleb or from several of his US based partners.
and fall in love with Africa and her children?
Contact us for more information.
Short term group trips are available to support active Amahoro projects.
Popular service activities include:
• Volunteering in slum feeding program
• Providing biblical discipleship for the children (VBS format)
• Medical and dental clinics
• Leadership development training for Amahoro staff
• Practical, hands on projects to support building or agricultural initiatives
More information is available directly from Caleb or from several of his US based partners.
Caleb Rukundo +256 772 629 448 caleb76ug@gmail.com
|
Amahoro Children’s Initiative
PO Box 780061 Wichita, KS 67278 |
Bob Keasler
Board Trustee Tulsa, Oklahoma 918,625.0591 keasrl@sbcglobal.net |
Jason Turner
Volunteer Fort Smith, Arkansas 940.224.6977 jasont@arcb.com |
Chris Olsen
Volunteer Chicago, Illinois 630.701.0817 cjo1316@gmail.com |
Terry Chapman
Lanoka Harbor, NJ 609.276.0997 terrychapman@me.com |