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Canadian volunteers and local workers assemble the roof of a community center in Uganda.
Photo by Joe Koole.

CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN FIRST UGANDAN SERVICELINK PROJECT
By Sophie Vandenberg

For the first time in its history, ServiceLink sent a group of volunteers to serve and learn in Uganda.

Even though Uganda has experienced civil unrest since the 1980's, the trip was a safe one. Joe Koole, a volunteer from Rehoboth Fellowship CRC of Etobicoke, Ontario, said the volunteers never felt threatened in any way during their stay. He was struck by both the beauty and friendliness of Uganda. "They couldn't do enough for us. They were brothers and sisters in the Lord. It was not them and us. We jelled from the moment we arrived," he said. "Their faith is very evident. Churches were filled to the brim on Sunday," said Koole.

The 10 men and women, who ranged in age from 20 to 67, used wood from Eucalyptus trees to build roof trusses for a community center during the first week. of their stay. "We didn't want to take work from the local people," said Koole. During the second week they visited Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) health, agricultural and literacy projects in that country.

ServiceLink is an agency of the Christian Reformed Church which links volunteers and service opportunities within the denomination's agencies. For more information, log on to www.crcna.org/crsl/index.htm or call 1-800-730-3490 (Canada) or 1800-552-7972 (U.S.).

From The Banner, March 2005.  Used by permission.

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