Answering the Door of Opportunity

2020 ... wow ... a year that most people would like to forget and can't wait to stick in the history books.  All the undesirable consequences.  The challenges.  The adversity.

However, consider this:  On the surface it is adversity ... but just below the surface is an opportunity.

This year has forced many of us to face things that were below the surface.  Things we may not have dealt with apart from the adversity.  We discovered an opportunity to readjust our priorities.  We discovered we had the opportunity to think outside the box.  We have explored innovations as we have adapted.

Next Generation Ministries was no exception.  The restrictions in Uganda we were forced to honor made our work more challenging.  However, below the surface of those challenges and adversities, we discovered some HUGE OPPORTUNITIES.  I want to share a major one with you in this post.

In spite of the difficulties caused by the government-imposed mandates our effort to change Uganda one person at a time remained.  The threat of starvation immerged as people struggled to get food.  The staff of NGM, under the leadership of her administrator, rose up to meet the challenge.  Ten acres of ground was leased for a year.  Corn, cabbage, tomatoes, and green peppers were planted to help feed the hungry.

Schools were dismissed and classes canceled.  NGM again found new ways to mentor and educate the children.  They traveled to their villages to assess their condition.  They brought them academic challenges to work on as they waited for school to resume.

People continued to have health and medical challenges.  NGM pushed back and found ways to transport patients to clinics and hospitals so they could be diagnosed and treated by doctors.

Though my canceled flights in April and August eliminated my privilege to direct the work of NGM on-site, the work was accomplished.  But not just accomplished.  It was done with due diligence.  It was done professionally.  The staff proved to be more than capable to fulfill their responsibilities without the executive director on the ground.

Which brings me to my HUGE announcement.  The USA Board of Directors had a Zoom meeting with Sylvia on October 23rd.  As a result, the Board unanimously agreed to upgrade Sylvia's responsibility from Administrator to Assistant Director.  This transition will officially take place on January 1, 2021.

Sylvia's function will place less emphasis on supervising the staff employees and volunteers in order for her to connect with short-term missionaries and work on developing strategies for the continuing work of NGM.

The oversight Sylvia gave the staff and the manner in which she carried out her responsibilities revealed that she is a visionary as well as a manager.  This is much more than a job to Sylvia.  She believes she has a calling to work with Next Generation Ministries.

It is my distinct privilege to introduce Sylvia to you as Assistant Director and to solicit your prayers and support as she begins her new role in the coming year.  You may contact Sylvia directly to congratulate her at the office email address:  ngmuganda831@gmail.com