Stephanie Effken

    Though seemingly two different worlds, Seward and Uganda, Africa, have a local connection in their Catholic Christian ministries, both with a desire to educate and reach people with the message of the church.
     The Rev. Michael Nsubuga is visiting Seward from Uganda, a country in eastern Africa. Uganda is a developing country where farming is the primary job and the people are "materialistically poor," according to Father Michael.
     Since his arrival in Seward on April 10, Father Michael has been visiting with friends in Seward, assisting in masses at St. Vincent de Paul and helping to raise awareness of the mission and ministry in Uganda.
     His responsibility within the Catholic Church of Uganda is priests' welfare, including projects, finances and the general wellbeing of 107 priests in the area.
     "I make sure they have a good working relationship and they are working together," Father Michael said.
     This is Father Michael's eighth time in America and fourth time in Seward. He said Seward has grown more each time he visits, as has St. Vincent de Paul.
     "I am touched by the compassion and vitality of the church," he said. "Especially the growing school. The school is the future church."
     He has also enjoyed sharing the message of Uganda as a growing and developing third-world county as well as the message of its growing Christianity. As Christians in the midst of a nation infiltrated by political warfare, Father Michael said the Catholic Church is showing the love of Christ as best it can.
     "Their minds are so far you feel like you can't reach them," he said.
     Minds of many Africans are distracted and traumatized by war. Children are leaving their homes to live in refugee camps where young boys and girls are having unprotected sex, contributing to the rapid spread of HIV.
     "War is more than war," he said.
     Though the church in Uganda is trying to what it can, Father Michael said, there is still a long way to go.
     He hopes the stories of his country will help promote a specific message he wants to relay to people here in America–"to appreciate their nation."
     On his first visit to Seward, he could not call home because home had no electricity.
     "You can survive without electricity," Father Michael said smiling.
     Even attaining a driver's license is difficult in Uganda, he said. Most people cannot afford it. And even if people are fortunate enough to have a license and a car, many roads are not suitable to drive on.
     "People here have never seen war," he said. "They know it in another county. People (in Uganda) fight in their homes and villages. Many people have died."
     Father Michael noted the beautiful structures in America and said it's his hope and prayer that the faith of the nation will be as beautiful as its structures.
     Until his time in Seward is over, on Friday, May 30, he said he continues to look forward to serving the church in Seward.
     He has found his trip to be uplifting and hopes to continue educating people about Christianity in Uganda. Many people in Seward have been supportive and helpful of Uganda's Christian ministry, Father Michael said, and he has learned much from the ministry here in Seward.