A New Job
When we came to Uganda, I (Julie) did not have employment. After a few months of initial adjustment, I began looking for work. I was eager to put my public health skills to use serving in Uganda. I also hoped that my US government experience would make me marketable in a country with many, many USAID and CDC funded projects.
As my slow job search unfolded, I was connected with some people at our church who worked in the slums for an organization called Revelation Life. I visited them and saw several of their health-related programs in action. I was intrigued by the way the organization integrates their Christian faith with very practical development interventions. I was touched to witness the deep relationships they have fostered with families in the slums where they work. I was intrigued by learning the history of the organization and the way it has grown over the years in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When they invited me to volunteer on a grant-writing project, I was delighted to spend my time on something other than cover letters and fumbling my way through networking appointments.
We designed a well-researched respiratory health program with the goal of equipping families to prevent pneumonia in the slums. Pneumonia is currently the biggest killer of children under five in this setting, and there are several basic changes that families can make to reduce their risk. The project we designed was ambitious, but achievable with an infusion of money. We submitted our grant around the Christmas holiday and waited.
As we settled into the New Year, my job search seemed to be hitting endless dead ends. Then Kristy, who leads the Community Health Department at Revelation Life, invited me to take a larger role with the Revelation Life team. She shared about how Revelation Life is in a period of transition and exciting growth. They have a need for more and better data to support work that they do. She asked me to begin a Monitoring and Evaluation program. The program would essentially be mine to build up from scratch.
There were so many things about this potential position which aligned with my passions and skills. I love using data to improve programs. I have a passion to alleviate urban poverty through public health. I want to be part of an organization that integrates a deep commitment to Christian discipleship as well as commitment to serving and identifying with the poor. I really enjoy the culture of the organization and the sense of community I experience there. I have a variety of skills and experiences which would help me in this role, but it would also be a completely new and challenging experience.
There was, however, one major thing about the position which made me resist. Rather than receiving a salary, I would need to fundraise for my living expenses in this role. All of the expatriate staff at Revelation Life rely on support from donors. I have fundraised for jobs in the past, and I know first hand how much it stretches and grows my faith as I witness God provide for my needs through the generosity of others who feel called to support the work. However, it is also a challenging and humbling experience to ask others for financial support.
After several weeks of mulling the idea over in my mind, discussion with Daniel, and prayer, I finally felt a sense of clarity and excitement about this new position. "Ok, I'm in," I emailed Kristy.
Just a few days later, we received word that the respiratory health grant we applied for was awarded. This is a significant achievement for Revelation Life, and we hope it will bring about a major impact in the communities we serve. Coordinating the programs associated with this grant will now make up a significant part of my role, in addition to Monitoring and Evaluation.
I started in my new role at Revelation Life in late March, and it has been busy but wonderful so far. Thank you to those who have read this long post. I promise to share some more specifics about the great work done by Revelation Life in future blog posts. For now, here is a video which sums it up well.
As my slow job search unfolded, I was connected with some people at our church who worked in the slums for an organization called Revelation Life. I visited them and saw several of their health-related programs in action. I was intrigued by the way the organization integrates their Christian faith with very practical development interventions. I was touched to witness the deep relationships they have fostered with families in the slums where they work. I was intrigued by learning the history of the organization and the way it has grown over the years in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When they invited me to volunteer on a grant-writing project, I was delighted to spend my time on something other than cover letters and fumbling my way through networking appointments.
We designed a well-researched respiratory health program with the goal of equipping families to prevent pneumonia in the slums. Pneumonia is currently the biggest killer of children under five in this setting, and there are several basic changes that families can make to reduce their risk. The project we designed was ambitious, but achievable with an infusion of money. We submitted our grant around the Christmas holiday and waited.
As we settled into the New Year, my job search seemed to be hitting endless dead ends. Then Kristy, who leads the Community Health Department at Revelation Life, invited me to take a larger role with the Revelation Life team. She shared about how Revelation Life is in a period of transition and exciting growth. They have a need for more and better data to support work that they do. She asked me to begin a Monitoring and Evaluation program. The program would essentially be mine to build up from scratch.
There were so many things about this potential position which aligned with my passions and skills. I love using data to improve programs. I have a passion to alleviate urban poverty through public health. I want to be part of an organization that integrates a deep commitment to Christian discipleship as well as commitment to serving and identifying with the poor. I really enjoy the culture of the organization and the sense of community I experience there. I have a variety of skills and experiences which would help me in this role, but it would also be a completely new and challenging experience.
There was, however, one major thing about the position which made me resist. Rather than receiving a salary, I would need to fundraise for my living expenses in this role. All of the expatriate staff at Revelation Life rely on support from donors. I have fundraised for jobs in the past, and I know first hand how much it stretches and grows my faith as I witness God provide for my needs through the generosity of others who feel called to support the work. However, it is also a challenging and humbling experience to ask others for financial support.
After several weeks of mulling the idea over in my mind, discussion with Daniel, and prayer, I finally felt a sense of clarity and excitement about this new position. "Ok, I'm in," I emailed Kristy.
Just a few days later, we received word that the respiratory health grant we applied for was awarded. This is a significant achievement for Revelation Life, and we hope it will bring about a major impact in the communities we serve. Coordinating the programs associated with this grant will now make up a significant part of my role, in addition to Monitoring and Evaluation.
I started in my new role at Revelation Life in late March, and it has been busy but wonderful so far. Thank you to those who have read this long post. I promise to share some more specifics about the great work done by Revelation Life in future blog posts. For now, here is a video which sums it up well.
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