I just arrived in Chicago today to pick up a very special person from the O’Hare. As I stood at the arrival gate peering through the crowds of newly processed international visitors and returning domestics, I was overcome with a simultaneous rush of anxiety and thankfulness. You see, I was picking up a young woman from Uganda, Sara Kawessa, and the two of us are going on a bit of an adventure. Restoring Eden is sending us on a speaking tour across the states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, “The Ankle Deep in Reality” speaking tour to be precise. Sara and I will spend the next 16 days visiting Christian campuses, congregations, small groups, and homes sharing Sara’s experience with climate change in Uganda. I’m sure my anxiety is easy to understand. 16 days on the road in any situation is going to make me shiver with fears of “what if…”. But the thankfulness I felt can only be described as in direct reaction to the blessings that our ministry has received in Sara’s presence.
Sara’s perspective on climate change is unique for a number of reasons. First, she’s from Uganda. A region rarely covered by climate change journalism here in the United States, a region in which most Americans have little knowledge of, myself included. The existence of climate change is often referred to as a debated topic here in America. I’ve always attributed for this fact because of the political spin the issue receives in conjuncture with the fact that the majority of our nations populace lives in communities designed to escape the natural world’s diverse rhythms of weather, growing seasons, and geography. But Sara comes from a place where such rhythms have a direct effect on her communities’ water supply, harvests, and political decisions. I pray that as she shares her story to our audiences these next few weeks, people are able to attain a glimpse into climate change’s effects on the lifestyle of people who depend on such natural rhythms. Such a creation dependant lifestyle, which we here in America often forget, is shared by the majority of the Earth’s inhabitants.
Secondly, Sara’s perspective on climate change is unique in that she witnesses the effects of climate change on some of the most impoverished and disenfranchised people in the world. The exact same people our Lord has send us out to feed, to heal, and care for. I pray her words will cut through all the political spin that climate change has received these past decades and portray climate change for what it is, a social injustice caused by our apathetic disregard towards our responsibilities as stewards of God’s creation. It’s not that I expect Sara to convert climate change deniers; climate change will always be a debate to a certain degree since it is a scientific issue. What I hope and pray for, is that her story allows people to see that stewardship is one of the most powerful tools we have in serving the gospel.
Third, and perhaps my favorite, is the fact that Sara is our sister in Christ. Sara’s story can be viewed in many ways as a ministry. She represents a Christianity outside our American Christianity, and thus different in appearance, yet akin in practice. I pray that as she shares her story, the holy spirit may speak through her unique voice to reach individuals scorned or untrusting in what they’ve seen in Christianity.
I’ve listed out our itinerary for the next few weeks below. If you see that we’ll be in your area, please shoot me an email and I’ll get you’re the specifics, or set you up with the local organizers. I’m so thankful for this opportunity and this blessing! Come if you can!
I’m always scared when I have to navigate my way around Chicago. It’s not the size, or the geography, or anything like that; but anytime I try to arrive in a predetermined location at a specific time, anything but that occurs. Well, thankfully, I got to the airport just a half hour late.
