I have finished reading The Price of Stones by Twesigye Jackson Kaguri and I can now safely say I wholeheartedly recommend this warm and inspiring book based on the author's determination to open the first free school dedicated to HIV/AIDS orphans in Uganda. Each chapter describes the long, difficult, and rewarding road to build the school from conception, to building, to sustaining and beyond to supporting the surrounding community. Twesigye - I'm now on a first name basis with him in my head - retells the story of the faith, and doubt, that led to this amazing school. His faith is not unlike the rest of us. While he has a deep understanding of God's love and his own calling, he worries and doubts just like everybody. Indeed, we see him fret over every dollar. Yet, when someone asks him for help he always responds with a yes then later worries about, prays about it, and sets out to find donations, and ultimately returns with the support time after time.
Part of his ability to successfully raise the needed funds for all the various projects he commits to is his ability to inspire others. I was particularly awed by his influence beginning on page 184 where he recounts a talk he gave at a new Adventist church.
'"Who is my neighbor?" I asked.
I began with the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story from the Book of Luke about an average man who aids a stranger left beaten at the side of the road. Two thousand years ago, Jesus had used this story to challenge the religious establishment of the day. I wanted to impel others to consider their responsibility to the community through a fresh perspective.
"This is a simple and yet most profound parable, " I said, glancing at some of the orphaned children in the room before me. "It can be applied to the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has claimed forty MILLION lives, turned fifteen MILLION wives into widows, and robbed fourteen MILLION children of their parents. The parable challenges us today to ask, "Who is my neighbor?" Is it only the person who lives in the house next to us? Is it only the people who attend our church? Is it only the people we know? What about the complete stranger who lives in the neighboring village? The stranger living in ANOTHER COUNTRY? The stranger living HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD? Are they not our neighbors too?....
"Too often our beliefs do not translate into action," I said. "We are the ones who turn away from those in need."....
"As Christians, there are three things we can do," I said. "We can pray. We can give. We can act. Or we can do all three."...
When Jesus ended his parable of the Good Samaritan, he asked the holy man which of the three men had been a neighbor to the fallen man. The holy man replied that it was the man who had mercy on him. Jesus responded with his most powerful message.
"Go and do likewise."'
Twesigye Jackson Kaguri did the impossible with help from many people living on different continents and ultimately with the guidance of the Lord himself. He built a school, paid teachers, supported individuals, built water systems to supply clean water to the school and the village, provided medical care, fed the hungry, and loved the people he was committed to wholeheartedly.
Our family has but one goal. To bring one child into our loving family. Our goal seems so small compared to what Twisegye accomplished; yet, to that one child it means his whole life. To us, it means completing our family. Who knows how God will call us as we progress on our journey. As The Price of Stones showed, the needs will always be there and the only way to start truly solving the orphan crisis is by Action.
If you would like to support us in bringing our little boy home you, too, can do one of three things. You can pray for us. You can donate to the adoption fund making it possible to pay the necessary expenses in this long journey. And you can act by becoming an advocate for the widow and the orphan. Or, you can do all three. I urge you start with prayer and ask God to help those in their calling and ask Him how you can serve. He will reveal to you a path beyond prayer into Action, I am sure.
