Glimpse
Hey friends and family!
Six months?
Is that even possible?
I’ve already been back in Uganda for just over half a year and contemplating on the events that have taken place since I arrived gives me a headache. I can’t remember everything, but…
Here is a glimpse.
I returned to Uganda (again) six months ago to continue working with Invisible Children. I’m currently the Programs Director, which means I spend a lot of time working alongside an incredible management team in Uganda that decides how best to utilize funding and focus on improving the quality of life for our war affected friends in Uganda. In a nutshell, Invisible Children has three main programs in Uganda to help make this happen - The Visible Child Scholarship Program, Schools for Schools and the Economic Development Initiatives. In fact, we just produced three very cool and informative videos to show the ins and outs of our programs. The blonde guy in the each of the videos is my boss in the US – we both play a key communication liaison role between the Uganda and US offices (Adam in the US and me in Uganda – I’m extremely thankful for him).
Visible Child Scholarship
http://www.youtube.com/user/invisiblechildreninc#p/u/6/3msMYU-L2yA
Mentorship
http://www.youtube.com/user/invisiblechildreninc#p/u/5/6m0XCe9tz6A
Schools for Schools
http://www.youtube.com/user/invisiblechildreninc#p/u/4/Eh8m0lKsN78
Economic Development Initiative
http://www.youtube.com/user/invisiblechildreninc#p/u/3/vsod6MzW1gE
LEGACY
The amount of need in Uganda continues to be great and it will take years to rebuild what’s been lost.
In fact, next year visionaries and leaders from Uganda will be traveling to the US to speak to churches, schools and organizations on behalf of their communities in Uganda. They’ll be asking a lot of the people they come in contact with, but they’ve seen the power of sacrificial love and believe that a lot of small sacrifices can alter the course of their countries history.
FAMILY
My mom, dad and sister-n-law flew thousands of miles to see me, which was one of the best gifts I could ever receive. They got to see everything I’ve been working on for the past four years and it was a rich and fruitful time (for all of us). Visiting Uganda is never easy and it can best be described as an “uncomfortable learning experience”. However, you’ll be blessed more than you could ever expect.
STAR TREK
Our recession is making us look inward and though we’re known by many as a generous and giving nation, please pray that more people will help us. Organizations like Invisible Children wouldn’t exist without the generosity of individuals around the world and I’m grateful to have seen how much change has already taken place in northern Uganda. And it’s only because of people like you.
I look forward to the day when Star Trek technology exists and in the blink of an eye individuals will be able to travel to foreign lands to encounter an uncomfortable learning experience to shake up our comfortable and often times stagnant lives. I’m a strong believer in what God is doing in Uganda and I praise Him for allowing me to show up and be a part of the tangibles taking place.
Thank you for your love and support and I apologies for the amount of time that’s passed since my last update. I’ve been going through a great deal of professional, personal and spiritual change, but God is good…all the time.
SOUL SAFARI
I can’t believe that I almost forgot to mention this.
Three of my close friends and I will be traveling across East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and DR Congo) during a month long Christmas break. Please pray for us and follow our journey on my blog. http://www.jareddwhite.com
The best part of the trip is that we’ll be traveling on…
Dirt bikes.
“I thank God for genuine friends in a foreign land and a family that loves me and supports what I do.”
Nothing but Love [God]
Jared
