Walt Disney was once quoted saying, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” We wholeheartedly agree. A standard mission trip with two nonprofit organizations in June quickly turned into the opportunity of a lifetime. No, not the “opportunity of a lifetime” sleazy car salesmen kind of way, but rather the “opportunity of a lifetime” orchestrated entirely by God to change an entire country. Rather than bearing witness to some of the greatest problems of the modern world and becoming overwhelmed, we quickly discovered God had clearly lit the way to a solution through a destined partnership between The Nameless Project and Switchboard Missions. After meeting with over 40 government officials and the Governor of the Northern Uganda province and being offered full governmental support, there was really no option but to proceed. The project is called The Tuli Initiative, and through it we plan to provide complete mind-body-spirit rehabilitation to war-torn villages. This is no small endeavor, as we have committed to being a long-term presence in this country for years to come. We have hired a Ugandan native named Walter Ogwang to serve as a full-time representative and presence for The Tuli Initiative.
I can tell you stories from the people we met that would probably make you cry. I could go into detail about the 25-year war that has rampaged their lives and ripped loved ones out of their arms. I could recall the bullets still embedded in their skin or the desperation in their eyes when they pleaded for our assistance. It would indeed make you stop and think, but we as Americans are pros at busying our minds to avoid harsh realities, so you would soon forget what you read. To be honest, I’m weary of writing stories with orchestra-themed background music meant to tug at your heart strings. We’ve come to realize that no matter how hard we work and how badly we want change, it is impossible to do alone. Thank goodness we are all but alone. Every single molecule of this project, from a chance meeting in a coffee shop to this very moment, has been entirely God-breathed and orchestrated. He has already begun to assemble an All-Star team of the perfect combination of people born to make a difference. It’s not our job to tug on your heart strings or pressure you to help, as I assure you God has been laying bigger things on your heart long before you read this blog. Our job is the same as yours- to do what we were called to do. You are out there right now reading this-born in America with every single resource possible at your disposal. What are you doing with that? You were born with a specific and unique set of talents and gifts to be fitted perfectly within your calling. Over the next several weeks, we are going to further explain the vision behind The Tuli Initiative through a series of blogs. We want to fully describe that which God has laid on our hearts to anyone who wants to listen. God will make it abundantly clear to those who are supposed to join in this effort. Not everyone is made for this, we know that, so to those whose passions are elsewhere we pray you keep searching until you find what you were made for. Because changing the world…it’s not optional. And believe me- it really is fun to do the impossible, because all things are possible with God.
