When Matt and Crystal, two young American Christian missionaries working with Juna Amagara Ministries, decided to build their home in Mbarara, they knew the neighbors were Muslim. They assumed life would be a challenge. They were not disappointed.
Matt worked alongside the Ugandan construction crew laying bricks, hoisting rafters, oiling the wood, roofing the house. All the while, the neighbors peeked at them from around corners, scowling. Matt adopted a yellow dog - the one breed in town, known as the African Retriever. The dog appointed himself security chief for the Children's Home where Matt worked and kept strangers at bay. But when the dog strayed into the neighbors' yards, they would beat him with sticks. When Matt tried to arrange for electricity to be brought to his house, he discovered it was very expensive. He needed to get his neighbors to participate. But they would not.
Matt and Crystal prayed for their neighbors. Crystal gave birth to a baby boy. Prayer fellowships were held for ministry kids in their home. The neighbors stole fruit from the missionaries' garden. During one long dry spell, the neighbors ran out of water. Matt said, "Please, help yourself to the water in my tank. I have plenty. He had caught rain from his roof in a large tank, plenty for bathing, washing and drinking. The neighbors humbly accepted his offer. It has taken more than three years, but the neighbors are coming around. One woman approached Crystal during the day when no one was around... "Tell me about this Jesus of yours," she said. The neighbors have now chipped in on the electricity and on Christmas eve 2008, in an Edison moment, the lights began to glow.
When Matt and Crystal adopted an abandoned infant infected with HIV/AIDS, something one can do only if they have lived in Uganda for more than two years, the neighbors began to go out of their way to interact in a positive way. They no longer stole fruit. They no longer beat the dog. Matt says it's because of the love of Jesus. Crystal says it's because she and Matt clearly aren't going anywhere.
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