Jason, Becky and John were here these past ten days.
This is easy for you to read, but it’s very hard for me to write because packed in that single sentence is an ocean of emotion and I know that I will fail in properly articulating how powerful their visit was for us. But I must do my best.
Their journey actually started last year, when Jason came over, without much of an agenda, but with a willingness to help. He had a keen interest in the leather program (having taken leather classes as a boy) and brought us a Tippmann Boss, our first large-scale tool for the shop, and single-handedly he revolutionized the program, not just with the Tippmann but with his countless hours of attention to it and his profound advice. Jason is a man of amazing intellect and talent, a true hacker in every sense of the word. He did not shrink from any problem, and spent that last trip learning about us, and helping in immeasurable ways. His trip put wind back in my sails, and I cruised off of his energy and sacrifice for many months.
This year, he brought his wife Becky and good friend (and fellow hacker) John McCarty. We had another team planning on coming in December, but that team was cancelled, through no fault of their own. That was a problem because it meant that we had no easy way of getting much-needed equipment over here. Jason, Becky and John stepped up and agreed to mule whatever we needed. Our list was odd, and included tools, food for our Thanksgiving celebration at the Keep, craft supplies for a project Jen is undertaking, robotics gear and a 3D printer from FIN|ACK, used phones, parts for our InMoov project, and staggeringly, an Inventables xCarve that Jason purchased himself. This represented months and months of donations from the hacker community.. a real team effort to be sure.
He was tagged unfairly with a $2700 baggage penalty while in UAE, and paid for it. This was above and beyond the sacrifices he and his team had already made. The community stepped in again as they always did, and helped us match those fees. I am constantly surprised and overwhelmed by the support of our community. I am not worthy.
The team hit the ground running. Despite severe jet lag and culture shock, they wanted to see and do everything they could. I wasn’t feeling great, beating back malaria and tried my best to match their energy level, but it was hard. Eventually though, they won me over with their enthusiasm and we were granted a rare treat: seeing Uganda and our projects with a fresh pair of eyes.
They did so much that a blog post can simply not suffice. But in the months to come, I’ll be working on the myriad projects that they’ve initiated and touched and through that, they will continue to be here, right alongside us in our hearts and in the very essence of all that is accomplished.
I can’t believe they’re gone. This is probably the worst part of my job: saying goodbye to dear friends who come into our lives, walk alongside us, pick us up and dust us off, inspire and encourage us and remind us that despite all the darkness, there is a strong light shining in Uganda thanks to each and every one of you that has played a part in making this happen.
Thank you, Jason, Becky and John. Thank you for being a torch bearer and for touching so many lives here in Uganda, especially ours. You’ve created an amazing legacy here, and the ripple effects are already astounding as your efforts touch so many lives. I miss you, my friends.
Thank you to all the supporters that made this possible. Words fail to express my true heart for your selflessness and effort.
