Riddle: If Christians build churches and Buddhists build temples, what do Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Societies build?

Okay, the punchline is a bit UU (as in, it’s four paragraphs), but I SWEAR TO YOU on all major and minor UU deities that it is worth it*.

Shortly after this group began in 2015, the pranksters who created it took a break from shenanigans for a very important cause--joining in the public outcry campaign for the release of UU Minister and political prisoner Rev Fulgence Ndagijimana.

When Fulgence was forced to flee as a refugee, he was torn from his entire community. In Canada, he founded Flaming Chalice International to support those he was forced to leave behind. Every year, we host a fundraiser for them…. And UUHS-ers donate generously. We are not just about memes and puns, people. WE HELP SAVE AND REBUILD LIVES. This is a true good news story…

Except…

All this good stuff that Fulgence and UUHS have created together, over the years? Fulgence has put in untold hours, year after year, for free… For projects he would never see with his own eyes--and some things ARE NOT THE SAME ON ZOOM.

In his words… “For years, I didn’t even let myself think of the possibility of visiting home.” And then, a regime change coupled with his Canadian Citizenship opened a window…

“I thought, if they kill me, then they kill me” he told me. When I asked him about this photo, he said “I know the name of every woman in that circle. I was so thrilled to see their projects, and everything the people have done. Sitting there that day, I was so happy.”

What did the UUs build in Gitega, Burundi? A Community Centre. Gardens, a store, a barber shop… Which is as good as a church.

Actually, we believe it’s WAY BETTER.

This holiday season, we would love your help in growing this project. Support can look like a donation, or doing some of your holiday shopping from the UUHS store (all profits go to this work).

We're running our fundraiser through Facebook**, but their algorithm knows that outrage and fear spread best online, so getting our fundraiser in front of people is always a struggle. I would love your help in doing what we do best—insisting on using social media OUR WAY. For connection and joy.

And this moment, in this photo… You don’t get much more connection and joy than this. Fulgence has been working for yearstowards this moment. And this group has worked alongside him. Thank you for all you’ve done, year after year. And all you continue to do.

Let’s make sure this story gets heard: follow the fundraiser on Facebook; comment there; share. I'll be telling more stories about our relationship with Flaming Chalice over there. Donate/shop if you can - check out some ideas for shopping, below.

Let’s make sure this work continues.

*Note re major and minor deities. It is not clear exactly what those deities are, but I look forward to your suggestions over in the group comments, which will a) boost the algorithm points, and b) be fun.

** We know that not everyone's on Facebook! You can also donate directly to Flaming Chalice International, here: flaminginternational.org/donate

This holiday season, we would love your support, which can look like a donation, or doing some of your holiday shopping from the UUHS store (all profits go to this work, year round).