Full of Surprises

Dr. Allen and his two sponsored children, Patience and Owen at Divine Grace.

My first trip to the continent of Africa took me to Uganda, a country full of surprises. The density of Kampala, with its 8.5 million people was alive with people going in every direction in trucks, cars, and all those motorcycles. The flowing hills were covered in a wide variety of structures. The deterioration of living conditions became quite visible after learning of the impact that the rainy season has each year. The lower one lives on the hillsides in Kampala the more difficult life becomes in a land full of challenge.

I was fortunate to travel with the Peter, Phoebe, and Phillip Sozi, leaders of Divine Care Ministries to serve the people of Uganda. Each day took us to multiple churches and villages, with wonderfully warm receptions. We had the great joy of being in-country during Holy Week, which seemed to elevate meaning and purpose of being with these amazingly resilient people.

The rugged nature of Uganda and its ever-changing typology was only equaled by the industrious character of the Ugandan people, who worked the land, making use of everything it offered from crop farming and the animals they raise. It was marvelous to see the innovative methods of transporting goods — food, manufactured items, and people. Both humorous and humbling to witness. And one cannot get a fill of the colors of the garments worn by Ugandans — a delight for the eye.

One cannot go to Uganda and not experience the variations in landscape, its cities, and the culture of generosity and hope within its people, in the midst of challenges difficult to imagine from a Western perspective. So many things still to be done. So many possibilities with support from us who have more than we need. The two schools I visited — Divine Hope Primary School in the small community of Jjogo in the Mokono District of Kampala, and Divine Care Ministries’ second school, Divine Grace Primary School in Namabasa, Mbale district in the Rakai District of Uganda.

The highlight of my trip in March 2024 was in meeting the two children my wife and I have sponsored as part our support of Divine Care Ministries. It filled me with compassion — ‘the willingness to experience another’s pain’. This journey gave me a much deeper awareness of what Dr. Rick Rogers and the Sozi family of Uganda have accomplished to date, with the financial support of so many. God willing, I will see them again in my return to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

-Dr. Allen Beck (Sponsor of DCM)

Do you want to help support and give hope to a child in Uganda? You could even meet them in person like Dr. Allen did! Click the button below to sponsor a child for only $2 a day.