"Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done."
This year marks ICMI's 20th successful year of providing development education and training at the post secondary level in Uganda. Since its inception over 1500 health workers have successfully graduated from the programme with a Diploma or a Degree. Even more amazing is the fact that ICMI has always proceeded on faith that the Lord would see us through. He has made it possible for ICMI to accomplish things which one might normally consider to be impossible. The Lord’s great faithfulness together with the ongoing faithfulness of ICMI members and supporters has enabled ICMI to do much more than we could have possibly hoped or imagined. Who would have believed that ICMI’s vision to create a post secondary programme for training health administrators in Uganda, without the benefit of government financial support, could become a reality. But the ICMI programme has succeeded over the past 20 years and continues to go from strength to strength.
In 1993 ICMI enrolled 20 students in the programme. In 2009 there are 150 students enrolled in the programme. In 1989 we occupied the 3rd floor at the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau. Today, classes are held in ICMI’s beautiful new building on the campus of the Uganda Christian University at Mukono. Again, everyone can be proud of what ICMI has accomplished in order to carry out the Lord’s work in Uganda.
The number of volunteers applying to go to Uganda with ICMI has increased significantly. In 1989 we were 3 volunteers. In 2008-2009, 12 people volunteered to work with ICMI in Uganda.
Canadian volunteers who went to Uganda in 2008-2009 include: Professors Michael and Anita Hadley, Dr. Martin and Mary Jane Spray and Justin Mui, a student from UVIC. Rev. Ralph Blackman and Marlena Tureski volunteered to teach courses in January 2009. Loraine Spencer Garry and Dr. Carl Garry also travelled to Uganda in January 2009 to teach. Three students from UVIC, Julia Hassler, Bethany McMullen and Brett Baumann, also volunteered to work with ICMI in Uganda during June, July and August of 2009. They taught in the ICMI computer lab and worked at Mulago Hospital, a 2000 bed referral hospital in Kampala.
Anita and Michael Hadley have volunteered to teach a Humanities course in January 2010. The Hadleys' will be accompanied by their granddaughter, Madison, who plans to go to university in September. This will be the Hadley’s 4th visit to Uganda with ICMI.
What a joy it is to know so many faithful people are prepared to help with the work of ICMI in Uganda. God has given ICMI the gift of teaching and we need to share this gift with people less fortunate than we are.
ICMI has a new initiative that I want to tell you about. To help reduce the cost for volunteers who want to come to Uganda, ICMI is planning to build a small three bedroom house to accommodate them. We are also hoping to build a small house for Dr. Edward Mukooza, ICMI Uganda’s Principal, who has to travel three hours to and from work. The Uganda Christian University (UCU) has generously agreed to provide ICMI with land for the house(s). Please pray that the Lord will make it possible for us to build accommodation for our volunteers. We will need to raise an additional $75,000 in order to complete both houses.
In summary, please join with us in celebrating ICMI's 20th Anniversary in Uganda. The Lord has blessed the work of ICMI in Africa and I pray that He will continue to rain His blessings upon each of you, today and in the days ahead.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Carl Garry
Principal ICMI Canada