6-10-09
On the first flight I sat next to a Ugandan man named Steven. Apparently he is originally from Uganda but now lives in London and visits his home country at least three times a year. He was really kind and very eager to talk to me about Uganda. According to him, Uganda would be the most well-off country in Africa if they had commercial farming. After all, you can grow basically anything and everything there. He also told me that Uganda does not import any food into their country.
Steven also talked about how seeing Uganda on television is not the same as seeing and experiencing it for yourself. He made a good point that not everything in and about the country is bad. Often you do only hear about the bad, but in the past three weeks our group has seen plenty of good. There are good and bad things in every country, but we should not just focus on the bad.
11:44am (ET) It's weird being back in the United States. Of course, I haven't been outside the airport, yet. Coming back here I have a sense of comfort. But I'm not sure that's a good thing. I often feel that way at Spring Arbor, too. I think I need to be more intentional about popping the bubble of comfort in my life. It'll only hold me back. But after seeing Uganda, I'm ready to drop my life of comfort and live in a developing country- if that is God's will. I just want to make sure I am helping people rather than hindering them. Otherwise, living there would be in vain.
2:59pm (ET) "You can't shake the dust of Africa off your feet." This quote is true in more ways than one. First off, the orangish mud of Jinja does not easily wash off your feet. Secondly, the impressions of Africa that you leave with can never be forgotten...
Deb mentioned how Africa is a "gritty" and dirty place. Though there did seem to be quite a bit of dust (this was only the beginning of the dry season), I still feel Uganda is an absolutely beautiful country. And I have pictures to prove it.
20090612
Day #21
6-9-09
Traveling home (random, scattered thoughts)
7:45am (Uganda time) As we were leaving King Fisher Lodge some children waved excitedly at us. It then dawned on me that being here in Uganda we have basically been treated like celebrities by the majority of the children. In addition to this, in comparison to the locals, we are extremely rich. For as long as I can remember I have always said I never want to be either rich or famous. Being here in Uganda, I'm both.
9:27am The mountains are beautiful. These people are blessed to see this every day. Although, it's harder to appreciate things you have day after day. I know I don't appreciate the beauty of the mountains and river back at home as much as my friends did when they came to visit. Why is that?
10:27am One thing I've noticed since my time here is that there are quite a few nice church buildings that probably cost a lot to build. Just like in the U.S., this bothers me. I don't understand why the Body of Christ spends so much money on buildings when there are so many people in need who could be blessed in more tangible ways than through a silly church building. I know in the OT the building of the Tabernacle was a big deal, but we are under a new covenant and I honestly don't think expensive buildings are what Jesus would have liked His disciples to spend their money on. He was much more concerned with the state of people's hearts and meeting their physical needs.
11:50am So... 30km from where we were going to stop for lunch, one of our vehicles overheated. So we are currently sitting in the other van, waiting for Sam and Chizito (our drivers) to get things worked out.
Andrea has a crowd of children around her because she is trying to learn Luganda. It's really cute. We are stopped on the side of the road, in front of a small village. So of course there are many children and they are all adorable. I think some of them are on their lunch break.
Actually, it's kind of a nice surprise, seeing all these beautiful children. Our plans for the day did not include anymore people contact and I was reflecting on how much I was going to miss the children.
2:43pm Not too long ago we passed a couple of skinny dogs and I got to thinking about how in America you see overweight dogs everywhere. But here you will never find one. A matter of fact, we probably have more well fed dogs in the U.S. than Uganda has children. This is so sad...
10:40pm I really have mixed feelings about leaving Uganda and heading home... I really love this country and especially the people of this country, but at the same time, it'll be really nice to see my family- especially since I haven't seen them since Christmas. I think it helps knowing I will be coming back. I'm pretty positive I want to do the Uganda Semester abroad program. That would be really cool. I was also talking to Lisa earlier and then got to thinking how cool it would be to do the "World Race" - traveling the world in 11 months through a missions program. If I do an internship with "Word of Life" next summer (hopefully in India) and then do a semester in Uganda followed by an internship with a ministry within the country over the summer, I could then go home for Christmas and do the "World Race" beginning that January. That would be a whole year and a half of life changing experiences. But I guess I should remember the quote one of the missionaries gave us: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." I guess I just have to continue praying and seeking His will.
So while we were driving from Queen Elizabeth back to Kampala, Chizito pointed out one of the Kings' palaces (apparently there are 5 Kings throughout the land). But on the way to the airport Andrea said Sam had told her how this particular King became King when he was 9 years old! I'm not sure how old he is now, though. But according to Chizito, the Kings are very influential throughout Uganda. Since many people don't like the government, if the President wants to get them to do something, they use the Kings and convince the Kings to demand their wishes of the people. The same request that the government and the King makes is twice as effective coming from one of the Kings. Interesting.
Traveling home (random, scattered thoughts)
7:45am (Uganda time) As we were leaving King Fisher Lodge some children waved excitedly at us. It then dawned on me that being here in Uganda we have basically been treated like celebrities by the majority of the children. In addition to this, in comparison to the locals, we are extremely rich. For as long as I can remember I have always said I never want to be either rich or famous. Being here in Uganda, I'm both.
9:27am The mountains are beautiful. These people are blessed to see this every day. Although, it's harder to appreciate things you have day after day. I know I don't appreciate the beauty of the mountains and river back at home as much as my friends did when they came to visit. Why is that?
10:27am One thing I've noticed since my time here is that there are quite a few nice church buildings that probably cost a lot to build. Just like in the U.S., this bothers me. I don't understand why the Body of Christ spends so much money on buildings when there are so many people in need who could be blessed in more tangible ways than through a silly church building. I know in the OT the building of the Tabernacle was a big deal, but we are under a new covenant and I honestly don't think expensive buildings are what Jesus would have liked His disciples to spend their money on. He was much more concerned with the state of people's hearts and meeting their physical needs.
11:50am So... 30km from where we were going to stop for lunch, one of our vehicles overheated. So we are currently sitting in the other van, waiting for Sam and Chizito (our drivers) to get things worked out.
Andrea has a crowd of children around her because she is trying to learn Luganda. It's really cute. We are stopped on the side of the road, in front of a small village. So of course there are many children and they are all adorable. I think some of them are on their lunch break.
Actually, it's kind of a nice surprise, seeing all these beautiful children. Our plans for the day did not include anymore people contact and I was reflecting on how much I was going to miss the children.
2:43pm Not too long ago we passed a couple of skinny dogs and I got to thinking about how in America you see overweight dogs everywhere. But here you will never find one. A matter of fact, we probably have more well fed dogs in the U.S. than Uganda has children. This is so sad...
10:40pm I really have mixed feelings about leaving Uganda and heading home... I really love this country and especially the people of this country, but at the same time, it'll be really nice to see my family- especially since I haven't seen them since Christmas. I think it helps knowing I will be coming back. I'm pretty positive I want to do the Uganda Semester abroad program. That would be really cool. I was also talking to Lisa earlier and then got to thinking how cool it would be to do the "World Race" - traveling the world in 11 months through a missions program. If I do an internship with "Word of Life" next summer (hopefully in India) and then do a semester in Uganda followed by an internship with a ministry within the country over the summer, I could then go home for Christmas and do the "World Race" beginning that January. That would be a whole year and a half of life changing experiences. But I guess I should remember the quote one of the missionaries gave us: "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." I guess I just have to continue praying and seeking His will.
So while we were driving from Queen Elizabeth back to Kampala, Chizito pointed out one of the Kings' palaces (apparently there are 5 Kings throughout the land). But on the way to the airport Andrea said Sam had told her how this particular King became King when he was 9 years old! I'm not sure how old he is now, though. But according to Chizito, the Kings are very influential throughout Uganda. Since many people don't like the government, if the President wants to get them to do something, they use the Kings and convince the Kings to demand their wishes of the people. The same request that the government and the King makes is twice as effective coming from one of the Kings. Interesting.
Day #20
6-8-09
It's a good thing I have been journaling everyday because otherwise, I would have no idea what the date is. This morning we were up very early and got to see numerous chimps in a nearby gorge. It was really neat. I was in the first group and we were able to witness a baby chimp crying out for its mother. Apparently it wanted to nurse and the mother wasn't nearby. I video taped it, though there wasn't anything to see, you could just hear the baby crying out.
I took a lot of pictures, but I'm not sure how many came out well. The sun was shining through the trees so my camera was having difficulty focusing. But even the blurry ones are okay, since you can make out a few of their faces.
Honestly, after tonight's game drive I will be quite satisfied in the amount and variety of animals we've seen. I'm excited to stand up in the vehicle, though. The wind at my face... I love the smells of the fresh Ugandan air.
Right now I am sitting by the pool under an "umbrella," listening to Andrea play guitar. Most of the group is sitting in the sun... hopefully they don't get sun burnt. I feel as though they want to get tan. It seems so ironic that Mzungus desire to get darker while many Africans desire to get lighter and even go to extremes of bleaching their skin. It's so sad. Why can't we just be satisfied with the way God has made us?
It's a good thing I have been journaling everyday because otherwise, I would have no idea what the date is. This morning we were up very early and got to see numerous chimps in a nearby gorge. It was really neat. I was in the first group and we were able to witness a baby chimp crying out for its mother. Apparently it wanted to nurse and the mother wasn't nearby. I video taped it, though there wasn't anything to see, you could just hear the baby crying out.
I took a lot of pictures, but I'm not sure how many came out well. The sun was shining through the trees so my camera was having difficulty focusing. But even the blurry ones are okay, since you can make out a few of their faces.
Honestly, after tonight's game drive I will be quite satisfied in the amount and variety of animals we've seen. I'm excited to stand up in the vehicle, though. The wind at my face... I love the smells of the fresh Ugandan air.
Right now I am sitting by the pool under an "umbrella," listening to Andrea play guitar. Most of the group is sitting in the sun... hopefully they don't get sun burnt. I feel as though they want to get tan. It seems so ironic that Mzungus desire to get darker while many Africans desire to get lighter and even go to extremes of bleaching their skin. It's so sad. Why can't we just be satisfied with the way God has made us?
Day #19
6-7-09
Incredible. That is the word that comes to mind when thinking back through all the breath-taking sights of today. The pictures I've taken hardly do it justice. My bedroom for the next two nights is overlooking a vast, beautiful valley with Lake Edward, Lake George, and numerous mountains in the distance. Right now everything is green because the wet season has just ended. However, the dry season is soon approaching and according to the locals, it will all be brown in due time. So I'm thankful we are able to see the green. Though from the pictures I've seen, brown grass would be more faithful to my prior expectations of Africa.
On our way to our boat ride we saw an elephant, water buck, wild pigs, and various birds. It was really quite exciting and I got a lot of good pictures.
Then, on the boat ride we saw hippos, buffalo, an elephant, a small alligator, and again, more birds. It was just really enjoyable to be on a boat and relax. Allowing my hair to be whipped by the wind was so nice. This took place in our safari van, as well, since the top opens up and we were able to peak our heads up out of the vehicle. I cannot explain the joy and excitement of spotting an animal and being able to take its picture. The two highlights were the herd of 11 elephants and the one lioness we were able to observe. I didn't get any good pictures of the lion because my camera batteries decided to die right when the opportunity arose to take a picture.
But overall it was a very fun trip and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I can't believe tomorrow is our final night together as a group... this three weeks has flown by! But it's been absolutely amazing. I'm excited to see my family, but at the same time, I'm going to miss Uganda. I'm almost positive I will be coming back... possibly even to live. I'm still waiting on God for direction, though.
I'm thankful for this time to rest and reflect in the midst of God's creation before heading back to the States. This really is a great way to top off the trip.
Incredible. That is the word that comes to mind when thinking back through all the breath-taking sights of today. The pictures I've taken hardly do it justice. My bedroom for the next two nights is overlooking a vast, beautiful valley with Lake Edward, Lake George, and numerous mountains in the distance. Right now everything is green because the wet season has just ended. However, the dry season is soon approaching and according to the locals, it will all be brown in due time. So I'm thankful we are able to see the green. Though from the pictures I've seen, brown grass would be more faithful to my prior expectations of Africa.
On our way to our boat ride we saw an elephant, water buck, wild pigs, and various birds. It was really quite exciting and I got a lot of good pictures.
Then, on the boat ride we saw hippos, buffalo, an elephant, a small alligator, and again, more birds. It was just really enjoyable to be on a boat and relax. Allowing my hair to be whipped by the wind was so nice. This took place in our safari van, as well, since the top opens up and we were able to peak our heads up out of the vehicle. I cannot explain the joy and excitement of spotting an animal and being able to take its picture. The two highlights were the herd of 11 elephants and the one lioness we were able to observe. I didn't get any good pictures of the lion because my camera batteries decided to die right when the opportunity arose to take a picture.
But overall it was a very fun trip and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I can't believe tomorrow is our final night together as a group... this three weeks has flown by! But it's been absolutely amazing. I'm excited to see my family, but at the same time, I'm going to miss Uganda. I'm almost positive I will be coming back... possibly even to live. I'm still waiting on God for direction, though.
I'm thankful for this time to rest and reflect in the midst of God's creation before heading back to the States. This really is a great way to top off the trip.
Day #18
6-6-09
This morning I spent about an hour or so with a three-year-old named Immanuel. According to his mother, his father had passed away, leaving him an orphan and her a widow.
But the neat thing was, Immanuel's mother was the one who ended up teaching me how to make a basket. It was a lot of fun, but I did poke myself a few times and it took forever just to do one little row. But all the women applauded me and said I did well. Another woman said I was a hard worker.
After attempting this craft, I have so much more appreciation for the women who make these. They are truly incredible. And they weren't even selling them for very much. No wonder they struggle to make a living.
I did end up taking a picture with Rotticia (the widow) and her son Immanuel. I gave her my address and promised to send her the picture if she wrote to me. So far this trip I've given my email to countless people and my address to four individuals. I don't mind giving my contact information to individuals I've talked to and have developed a decent relationship with, but it bothers me when people who merely introduce themselves to me ask to "keep in touch." That happened twice yesterday at the school and I decided to give them the email address I use less often. But according to Deb, one of my trip leaders, they don't even have access to computers, so it's doubtful they'll even contact me; but I wish they weren't so quick to ask for my information. I guess in their culture the fact that my group was at their school visiting was reason enough to "keep in touch."
Later...
Tonight we had a group discussion and much of the group expressed their frustrations of beign asked by the Ugandans for money. I don't think I was asked for money at all... perhaps because I look more poor than other members of the group. But as I listened to their complaints I could not help but feel as though the Ugandans are justified in asking us. After all, the mere fact that we could afford to hop on a plane and cross over seas is proof that we are among the wealthiest people in the world. The average income for a Ugandan family is about $300 a year. This means it would take 13 years for one family to raise the amount of money we've spent on this trip- without spending any on food, education, etc. Considering this fact, I dare not complain about these individuals who are struggling to make it through one more day asking me for money. We may not be "rich" according to American standards, but in comparison to the people we've met in Uganda, we are considered millionaires.
I struggle with the fact that God blesses some with so much and others are given essentially nothing. I feel as though I've always wondered about this. Even as a little girl I remember asking my parents, "Why has God given me so much?" And their reply was, "It was nothing you've done." I cannot help but think of the passage in Luke 12 where Jesus says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (v. 48). I believe we are blessed so we can bless others, not for our own sake and so we can hoard it all. It's so hard because all throughout the gospels Jesus advocates selling everything and giving to the poor, but then again, in Acts chapter 2 the early Church did this only when a brother was in need. Clearly our brothers and sisters in Uganda are in need, so ignoring them would be disobedient. But then again, if all Christians in the U.S. gave away everything they owned, who would provide for all the NGOs working to help the poor? So perhaps God doesn't call all of us to give up everything. Perhaps He calls us to be good stewards, providing for those in need. But I do believe God calls all of us to live simply. The less we spend on ourselves, the more we can give to those who are truly in need.
I am afraid that giving the Ugandans more than the necessities will make them greedy like the majority of Americans. The people from the villages seemed much more content and satisfied with life than the more "wealthy" people of Uganda. Somebody I talked to in the slums explained how the poor within the city of Kampala were much less content than the poor in rural areas because those in the city see how the wealthier live and covet that. Those in the rural areas don't know any better and are therefore content just the way things are. Jesus was not joking when he said money is a root of all evil. I wish we could all share our resources and not be greedy...
This morning I spent about an hour or so with a three-year-old named Immanuel. According to his mother, his father had passed away, leaving him an orphan and her a widow.
But the neat thing was, Immanuel's mother was the one who ended up teaching me how to make a basket. It was a lot of fun, but I did poke myself a few times and it took forever just to do one little row. But all the women applauded me and said I did well. Another woman said I was a hard worker.
After attempting this craft, I have so much more appreciation for the women who make these. They are truly incredible. And they weren't even selling them for very much. No wonder they struggle to make a living.
I did end up taking a picture with Rotticia (the widow) and her son Immanuel. I gave her my address and promised to send her the picture if she wrote to me. So far this trip I've given my email to countless people and my address to four individuals. I don't mind giving my contact information to individuals I've talked to and have developed a decent relationship with, but it bothers me when people who merely introduce themselves to me ask to "keep in touch." That happened twice yesterday at the school and I decided to give them the email address I use less often. But according to Deb, one of my trip leaders, they don't even have access to computers, so it's doubtful they'll even contact me; but I wish they weren't so quick to ask for my information. I guess in their culture the fact that my group was at their school visiting was reason enough to "keep in touch."
Later...
Tonight we had a group discussion and much of the group expressed their frustrations of beign asked by the Ugandans for money. I don't think I was asked for money at all... perhaps because I look more poor than other members of the group. But as I listened to their complaints I could not help but feel as though the Ugandans are justified in asking us. After all, the mere fact that we could afford to hop on a plane and cross over seas is proof that we are among the wealthiest people in the world. The average income for a Ugandan family is about $300 a year. This means it would take 13 years for one family to raise the amount of money we've spent on this trip- without spending any on food, education, etc. Considering this fact, I dare not complain about these individuals who are struggling to make it through one more day asking me for money. We may not be "rich" according to American standards, but in comparison to the people we've met in Uganda, we are considered millionaires.
I struggle with the fact that God blesses some with so much and others are given essentially nothing. I feel as though I've always wondered about this. Even as a little girl I remember asking my parents, "Why has God given me so much?" And their reply was, "It was nothing you've done." I cannot help but think of the passage in Luke 12 where Jesus says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (v. 48). I believe we are blessed so we can bless others, not for our own sake and so we can hoard it all. It's so hard because all throughout the gospels Jesus advocates selling everything and giving to the poor, but then again, in Acts chapter 2 the early Church did this only when a brother was in need. Clearly our brothers and sisters in Uganda are in need, so ignoring them would be disobedient. But then again, if all Christians in the U.S. gave away everything they owned, who would provide for all the NGOs working to help the poor? So perhaps God doesn't call all of us to give up everything. Perhaps He calls us to be good stewards, providing for those in need. But I do believe God calls all of us to live simply. The less we spend on ourselves, the more we can give to those who are truly in need.
I am afraid that giving the Ugandans more than the necessities will make them greedy like the majority of Americans. The people from the villages seemed much more content and satisfied with life than the more "wealthy" people of Uganda. Somebody I talked to in the slums explained how the poor within the city of Kampala were much less content than the poor in rural areas because those in the city see how the wealthier live and covet that. Those in the rural areas don't know any better and are therefore content just the way things are. Jesus was not joking when he said money is a root of all evil. I wish we could all share our resources and not be greedy...
Day #17
6-5-09
It has been a pretty incredible day. If there has been one day in which I've been challenged to remain flexible, it was today. On two occasions I had to wait for Pastor Enoch to come back with his van and bring me to the next destination. We must have waited a good half hour on both occasions. But it wasn't a big deal. I think I'm growing accustomed to the African lifestyle of being extremely laid back. Perhaps when school starts back up it'll all change and I'll go back to my old ways of rushing everywhere, but for the time being, I have been enjoying not having to be in a hurry, constantly.
I think I tasted the worst thing I have ever tasted in my life, today. When we first arrived at the village the women took us into a room and "treated" us to millet juice. Apparently it is a crop grown like rice and is then ground into powder and mixed with water. This beverage is served to all guests within the village who are considered welcome in their home. Pastor Enoch explained that if it wasn't served to you then that means you are not welcome and should never return. Honestly, the taste of this juice was so horrid, you'd think it'd be the other way around. It had a fermented taste to it and though it looked like chocolate milk, it was far from it. I seriously had to force it down, as I did not want to be rude.
After this delightful experience, however, I really enjoyed the time we spent walking from one woman's home to the next. These homes varied as some were made of mud and others cement, but they were all fairly large (in comparison to the homes in Budumbuli and the slums, anyways). It was neat to see how excited the women were to show us their homes; clearly they took pride in the little they owned. It's so amazing how even those homes with dirt floors appeared spotless and there was hardly a trace of trash in their "yards." Many of them were widows and others had polygamous husbands. It seemed all of them lived meagerly, often depending upon the selling of their crops to send their children to school and pay their rent. Apparently many of them even rent the land in which they use to grow crops. This really surprised me, but it appeared to be very common in this particular village.
Most of these women had at least 3-5 children, many of which were in school at the time of our visits. According to Dean (our translator), school is not free at all, despite the government's claims.
Another problem facing these women was the lack of clean water. The closest water source produced only dirty water which leads to diseases if used. To get clean water Dean said they had to travel by foot for miles over a huge hill and then they'd have to pay for it and travel all the way back with it. An older woman explained it is impossible for her to go to such lengths and therefore settles for dirty water. But in the dry seasons, even this is not sufficient. Clearly this is the greatest need of the community, presently. I'd really like to help in the efforts to bring clean water to this area.
It was neat to see the different ways in which "Words of Hope," Pastor Enoch's organization, has impacted the different families. Whether it has been donating seeds, pigs, etc., every last resource has proved to make a world of a difference for these women. Perhaps even these small things are just what they need to get a handle on things.
After the village we went to a secondary school and basically hung out. I played volleyball and net ball. It was fun. I don't feel as though I met anybody in particular whom I would have liked to stay in touch with, but I was okay with that. I guess I've given my email to enough people that it'll be difficult to keep in touch as it is.
It has been a pretty incredible day. If there has been one day in which I've been challenged to remain flexible, it was today. On two occasions I had to wait for Pastor Enoch to come back with his van and bring me to the next destination. We must have waited a good half hour on both occasions. But it wasn't a big deal. I think I'm growing accustomed to the African lifestyle of being extremely laid back. Perhaps when school starts back up it'll all change and I'll go back to my old ways of rushing everywhere, but for the time being, I have been enjoying not having to be in a hurry, constantly.
I think I tasted the worst thing I have ever tasted in my life, today. When we first arrived at the village the women took us into a room and "treated" us to millet juice. Apparently it is a crop grown like rice and is then ground into powder and mixed with water. This beverage is served to all guests within the village who are considered welcome in their home. Pastor Enoch explained that if it wasn't served to you then that means you are not welcome and should never return. Honestly, the taste of this juice was so horrid, you'd think it'd be the other way around. It had a fermented taste to it and though it looked like chocolate milk, it was far from it. I seriously had to force it down, as I did not want to be rude.
After this delightful experience, however, I really enjoyed the time we spent walking from one woman's home to the next. These homes varied as some were made of mud and others cement, but they were all fairly large (in comparison to the homes in Budumbuli and the slums, anyways). It was neat to see how excited the women were to show us their homes; clearly they took pride in the little they owned. It's so amazing how even those homes with dirt floors appeared spotless and there was hardly a trace of trash in their "yards." Many of them were widows and others had polygamous husbands. It seemed all of them lived meagerly, often depending upon the selling of their crops to send their children to school and pay their rent. Apparently many of them even rent the land in which they use to grow crops. This really surprised me, but it appeared to be very common in this particular village.
Most of these women had at least 3-5 children, many of which were in school at the time of our visits. According to Dean (our translator), school is not free at all, despite the government's claims.
Another problem facing these women was the lack of clean water. The closest water source produced only dirty water which leads to diseases if used. To get clean water Dean said they had to travel by foot for miles over a huge hill and then they'd have to pay for it and travel all the way back with it. An older woman explained it is impossible for her to go to such lengths and therefore settles for dirty water. But in the dry seasons, even this is not sufficient. Clearly this is the greatest need of the community, presently. I'd really like to help in the efforts to bring clean water to this area.
It was neat to see the different ways in which "Words of Hope," Pastor Enoch's organization, has impacted the different families. Whether it has been donating seeds, pigs, etc., every last resource has proved to make a world of a difference for these women. Perhaps even these small things are just what they need to get a handle on things.
After the village we went to a secondary school and basically hung out. I played volleyball and net ball. It was fun. I don't feel as though I met anybody in particular whom I would have liked to stay in touch with, but I was okay with that. I guess I've given my email to enough people that it'll be difficult to keep in touch as it is.
Day #16
6-4-09
We are in Mbarara. It's beautiful like Mbale with the hills in the distance. Plus, we saw zebras and impalas (like gazelles). I didn't get a picture of them, but I figured I could get them from somebody on the team.
It's interesting, it seems wherever you go (at least wherever we've been), the little roadside markets all look the same. Even the buildings have similar advertisements and the products are essentially the same.
I kind of noticed this at the African Craft Village since each shop contained essentially the same items, it's just a matter of finding the best deals and knowing exactly what you want. It's so competitive, though. I wonder how some of them can make a living, especially since they probably have to buy all the items to begin with (starting off in debt), they have to rent their little shop, and they have to buy a permit in order to sell items.
I was really impressed with Pastor Enoch's ministries as he described them to us, today. It sounds as though they are really making a difference in the lives of the poor in their town. He described "absolute poverty" to us as those who do not receive the basic necessities in order to survive. In other words, they only have one meal a day, don't have clean drinking water, education, or health care. I don't know if he gave a stat on how many live in absolute poverty but it sounded as though there are quite a few. See, these are the people I long to help. I am afraid to give people too much beyond the necessities because I don't want them to think and act like Americans, but everybody deserves to have the necessities. I'm really curious to see his ministries in action and want to know if his programs truly are effective. If so, they should be duplicated throughout the country.
But before describing all the programs, he asked if anyone knew the definition of absolute poverty. I answered, "making less than a dollar a day." His next statement really shook me up as he stated, "You all read about poverty in books, but these people live in it." It's so true. Even being here in Uganda and observing the poverty is so different from living in it, day in and day out. I think this is why I want to live among the poor (if God so wills it), so I can understand their hardships personally and can actually suffer with them.
We are in Mbarara. It's beautiful like Mbale with the hills in the distance. Plus, we saw zebras and impalas (like gazelles). I didn't get a picture of them, but I figured I could get them from somebody on the team.
It's interesting, it seems wherever you go (at least wherever we've been), the little roadside markets all look the same. Even the buildings have similar advertisements and the products are essentially the same.
I kind of noticed this at the African Craft Village since each shop contained essentially the same items, it's just a matter of finding the best deals and knowing exactly what you want. It's so competitive, though. I wonder how some of them can make a living, especially since they probably have to buy all the items to begin with (starting off in debt), they have to rent their little shop, and they have to buy a permit in order to sell items.
I was really impressed with Pastor Enoch's ministries as he described them to us, today. It sounds as though they are really making a difference in the lives of the poor in their town. He described "absolute poverty" to us as those who do not receive the basic necessities in order to survive. In other words, they only have one meal a day, don't have clean drinking water, education, or health care. I don't know if he gave a stat on how many live in absolute poverty but it sounded as though there are quite a few. See, these are the people I long to help. I am afraid to give people too much beyond the necessities because I don't want them to think and act like Americans, but everybody deserves to have the necessities. I'm really curious to see his ministries in action and want to know if his programs truly are effective. If so, they should be duplicated throughout the country.
But before describing all the programs, he asked if anyone knew the definition of absolute poverty. I answered, "making less than a dollar a day." His next statement really shook me up as he stated, "You all read about poverty in books, but these people live in it." It's so true. Even being here in Uganda and observing the poverty is so different from living in it, day in and day out. I think this is why I want to live among the poor (if God so wills it), so I can understand their hardships personally and can actually suffer with them.
Day #15
6-3-09
I really enjoyed our meeting with Vicki (Psychologist) and Kathleen (nurse), two missionaries from the United States and Scotland. Both of them were so knowledgeable and eager to share with us. It was neat to see that both of them were single women in Africa, all alone. I do know of one woman from home who was single and served as a missionary in the Philippines for 20 or so years, but so far this trip we've met three single women serving as missionaries in Uganda. This is encouraging to know I don't have to be married to live in a foreign country if God were to call me to do this. I do love being single. Kathleen admitted it is difficult being single sometimes, but she's able to do so much that she probably wouldn't be able to do if she had gotten married. I think my motto is as follows:
"If I can serve God more fully as a married woman, then I'll get married. But if I can serve Him more fully remaining single, then I will remain single."
As far as the information they presented goes, I learned a lot. Vicki spoke about the war in northern Uganda and had a much different perspective than the minister of youth. She says there are still many people living in the camps and there is no guarantee Joseph Kony won't come back. She also explained how the reason he has not been caught yet could possibly have to do with corruption: the amount of international aid coming into Uganda due to this war. Another example is of soldiers hired to capture Kony yet have acquired land in the north. If they were to capture Kony they would have to give up their land, so they probably have little motivation to capture him.
Vicki also expressed how she believes the war is a spiritual battle. After all, it all began because Kony is a witch doctor and he claims a rock told him to wage war on the government. This is really a frightening thought. But at the same time, our God is greater than any witchcraft. Therfore, we should be praying for the Lord to defeat Joseph Kony and his army.
Kathleen talked mainly about HIV/AIDS. I found myself really fascinated with the information, but at the same time, saddened. Apparently the men in this culture believe the lie that they can not control their sex drives. How sad! It's as though they are animals! But as she explained, if nobody is there to tell them otherwise, then of course they are going to have sex as often as they can with whoever they can. No wonder there are so many women who complain about the men not being faithful. It's so sad.
I feel like it'd be really cool to advocate purity (sexual, but also emotional) among the young women of Uganda. I guess what really needs to take place is for men to stand up and advocate self-control and faithfulness among the rest of the men in the country. In this sense, American and Ugandan culture appear to be quite similar.
One thing Vicki said stuck out in my mind, tonight: "We want to throw our money at things, but God wants us to give our hearts to things." In other words, God wants us to take action and get involved in physically helping those in need rather than simply giving a donation and letting that be the end of it. The more time goes on, the more I'm convinced I want to dedicate my life to getting in the mess of people's lives and doing all I can with Christ in me to help them in any way possible.
Joseph, the young man I spoke with yesterday, asked me what kind of things I've done to help people so far after I told him I wanted to "help people" when I graduate with a sociology degree. I was honestly stunned. I could name a number of organizations I've donated money to and describe short-term mission trips I've been a part of and even talk about going to the homeless shelter weekly... but at that moment I was just stunned and felt everything I'd ever done was insignificant. He then went on to tell me about an organization he had started to donate food and money to those in need. He told me of his big aspirations to change the world.
So... I guess that's motivation to truly start making an impact in the lives of those around me. If I want to spend my life helping people, it only makes sense to start now.
I really enjoyed our meeting with Vicki (Psychologist) and Kathleen (nurse), two missionaries from the United States and Scotland. Both of them were so knowledgeable and eager to share with us. It was neat to see that both of them were single women in Africa, all alone. I do know of one woman from home who was single and served as a missionary in the Philippines for 20 or so years, but so far this trip we've met three single women serving as missionaries in Uganda. This is encouraging to know I don't have to be married to live in a foreign country if God were to call me to do this. I do love being single. Kathleen admitted it is difficult being single sometimes, but she's able to do so much that she probably wouldn't be able to do if she had gotten married. I think my motto is as follows:
"If I can serve God more fully as a married woman, then I'll get married. But if I can serve Him more fully remaining single, then I will remain single."
As far as the information they presented goes, I learned a lot. Vicki spoke about the war in northern Uganda and had a much different perspective than the minister of youth. She says there are still many people living in the camps and there is no guarantee Joseph Kony won't come back. She also explained how the reason he has not been caught yet could possibly have to do with corruption: the amount of international aid coming into Uganda due to this war. Another example is of soldiers hired to capture Kony yet have acquired land in the north. If they were to capture Kony they would have to give up their land, so they probably have little motivation to capture him.
Vicki also expressed how she believes the war is a spiritual battle. After all, it all began because Kony is a witch doctor and he claims a rock told him to wage war on the government. This is really a frightening thought. But at the same time, our God is greater than any witchcraft. Therfore, we should be praying for the Lord to defeat Joseph Kony and his army.
Kathleen talked mainly about HIV/AIDS. I found myself really fascinated with the information, but at the same time, saddened. Apparently the men in this culture believe the lie that they can not control their sex drives. How sad! It's as though they are animals! But as she explained, if nobody is there to tell them otherwise, then of course they are going to have sex as often as they can with whoever they can. No wonder there are so many women who complain about the men not being faithful. It's so sad.
I feel like it'd be really cool to advocate purity (sexual, but also emotional) among the young women of Uganda. I guess what really needs to take place is for men to stand up and advocate self-control and faithfulness among the rest of the men in the country. In this sense, American and Ugandan culture appear to be quite similar.
One thing Vicki said stuck out in my mind, tonight: "We want to throw our money at things, but God wants us to give our hearts to things." In other words, God wants us to take action and get involved in physically helping those in need rather than simply giving a donation and letting that be the end of it. The more time goes on, the more I'm convinced I want to dedicate my life to getting in the mess of people's lives and doing all I can with Christ in me to help them in any way possible.
Joseph, the young man I spoke with yesterday, asked me what kind of things I've done to help people so far after I told him I wanted to "help people" when I graduate with a sociology degree. I was honestly stunned. I could name a number of organizations I've donated money to and describe short-term mission trips I've been a part of and even talk about going to the homeless shelter weekly... but at that moment I was just stunned and felt everything I'd ever done was insignificant. He then went on to tell me about an organization he had started to donate food and money to those in need. He told me of his big aspirations to change the world.
So... I guess that's motivation to truly start making an impact in the lives of those around me. If I want to spend my life helping people, it only makes sense to start now.
20090611
Day #14
6-2-09
Wow. You think you know a culture and then you spend the day on five different school campuses (secondary) and realize there's still yet more to be learned. At each campus, the entire school held an assembly and welcomed us warmly with various "entertainment."
I must admit, I was very surprised/shocked when the first group of entertainers danced seductively to American music. It was only the first of many performances from the students that took me off guard. The dancing and the music screamed MTV and come to find out, that is exactly where they learned how to perform in such a way.
I guess after seeing the simple lifestyles of so many Ugandans, seemingly unaffected by the world's (or Western) definition of beauty and success, I found myself becoming very disappointed at the westernized culture that had seeped onto these high school campuses.
It appears the more educated you are, the more money you have (or vise versa). and the more money you have, the less innocent you are. In other words, the more you are affected by the values of western culture.
It's just so strange because it appears as though the culture found on campuses is so far removed from the culture found in the rural villages. I must admit, I am much more fond of the latter.
But regardless, I did make a lot of new friends today. I think I spent the majority of my time with Irene and Barbara from St. Lawrence University. They are all heading into their third and final years of University (Uganda has a different school system than the U.S.). Irene is studying human resources and Barbara wants to be a business manager. It was sad to have to say goodbye, but hopefully we'll keep in touch since we exchanged email addresses.
With both girls I talked about relationships and they told me how hard it is to find a Ugandan man who will not cheat on them. This really broke my heart- especially since the percentage of Christians in this country is roughly 80%.
But after hearing this, it was no surprise that they each expressed their desire to find a white man. Barbara even told me she wants to date my brother (since he's only a year older than me). When I told her he wouldn't be good for her, he reply was, "we believe love can change a person." I couldn't believe it. Once again I found myself feeling as though I were back in the States. This is exactly the lie so many girls in America believe, too. So sad...
So between the entertainment and the various exchanges I had with the University students, I would say Western culture has and is continuing to creep within the walls of secondary and tertiary schools.
I was also able to talk with a few students from the secondary schools. Another girl named Barbara was about to graduate from her all-girl school and soon enter a University, while Joseph was also aspiring to graduate soon and had great dreams of attending law school and becoming a "world changer." They were both so intelligent and full of questions for me. It's so interesting to observe these students and then compare them to other individuals in Uganda who are the same ages, yet live very differently in villages with children and spouses. I don't think we see such a large contrast in the U.S.
Wow. You think you know a culture and then you spend the day on five different school campuses (secondary) and realize there's still yet more to be learned. At each campus, the entire school held an assembly and welcomed us warmly with various "entertainment."
I must admit, I was very surprised/shocked when the first group of entertainers danced seductively to American music. It was only the first of many performances from the students that took me off guard. The dancing and the music screamed MTV and come to find out, that is exactly where they learned how to perform in such a way.
I guess after seeing the simple lifestyles of so many Ugandans, seemingly unaffected by the world's (or Western) definition of beauty and success, I found myself becoming very disappointed at the westernized culture that had seeped onto these high school campuses.
It appears the more educated you are, the more money you have (or vise versa). and the more money you have, the less innocent you are. In other words, the more you are affected by the values of western culture.
It's just so strange because it appears as though the culture found on campuses is so far removed from the culture found in the rural villages. I must admit, I am much more fond of the latter.
But regardless, I did make a lot of new friends today. I think I spent the majority of my time with Irene and Barbara from St. Lawrence University. They are all heading into their third and final years of University (Uganda has a different school system than the U.S.). Irene is studying human resources and Barbara wants to be a business manager. It was sad to have to say goodbye, but hopefully we'll keep in touch since we exchanged email addresses.
With both girls I talked about relationships and they told me how hard it is to find a Ugandan man who will not cheat on them. This really broke my heart- especially since the percentage of Christians in this country is roughly 80%.
But after hearing this, it was no surprise that they each expressed their desire to find a white man. Barbara even told me she wants to date my brother (since he's only a year older than me). When I told her he wouldn't be good for her, he reply was, "we believe love can change a person." I couldn't believe it. Once again I found myself feeling as though I were back in the States. This is exactly the lie so many girls in America believe, too. So sad...
So between the entertainment and the various exchanges I had with the University students, I would say Western culture has and is continuing to creep within the walls of secondary and tertiary schools.
I was also able to talk with a few students from the secondary schools. Another girl named Barbara was about to graduate from her all-girl school and soon enter a University, while Joseph was also aspiring to graduate soon and had great dreams of attending law school and becoming a "world changer." They were both so intelligent and full of questions for me. It's so interesting to observe these students and then compare them to other individuals in Uganda who are the same ages, yet live very differently in villages with children and spouses. I don't think we see such a large contrast in the U.S.
Day #13
6-1-09
Perhaps it is because I have seen and learned so much about the health issues facing Uganda, but I was a little unsatisfied with the responses the minister of health gave our group when we met with him. I know the needs are great and they are probably doing the best they can, but it seems as though so much more can and should be done. What really made me uneasy was the priorities of the government in regards to the order of budget importance. Apparently work/transportation is receiving most the money (or at least the largest chunk) in order to fix the roads. While it is obvious the roads are in need of work (there are pot holes everywhere!), should this be given priority over education and health?? the next largest budget was education. While education is extremely important, if the people are not healthy, it won't matter if they are educated or not. If I were in charge, I would do the budgets in the exact opposite order. But I'm not, so there's not much I can do about that.
One thing I noticed about all the Ugandan speakers was they are very big on introductions. By the third meeting we had today, I felt myself say, "here we go again... another introduction." It didn't necessarily bother me, but Ugandans do seem to be long winded, soft spoken, and very deliberate (slow). As I talked about in a former class assignment, I like it when people get to the point and don't waste time. But being in this culture has helped me to relax and not push myself so much.
I had to laugh last night when the comedian told the story about a Ugandan fisherman who did not see the point of becoming more efficient in catching fish to make more money. After all, he was already taking the day off because he had caught enough fish for that one day and had no need for any more fish. When he put it in those terms, I myself began to wonder why it is Americans push themselves to make so much money.
Perhaps it is because I have seen and learned so much about the health issues facing Uganda, but I was a little unsatisfied with the responses the minister of health gave our group when we met with him. I know the needs are great and they are probably doing the best they can, but it seems as though so much more can and should be done. What really made me uneasy was the priorities of the government in regards to the order of budget importance. Apparently work/transportation is receiving most the money (or at least the largest chunk) in order to fix the roads. While it is obvious the roads are in need of work (there are pot holes everywhere!), should this be given priority over education and health?? the next largest budget was education. While education is extremely important, if the people are not healthy, it won't matter if they are educated or not. If I were in charge, I would do the budgets in the exact opposite order. But I'm not, so there's not much I can do about that.
One thing I noticed about all the Ugandan speakers was they are very big on introductions. By the third meeting we had today, I felt myself say, "here we go again... another introduction." It didn't necessarily bother me, but Ugandans do seem to be long winded, soft spoken, and very deliberate (slow). As I talked about in a former class assignment, I like it when people get to the point and don't waste time. But being in this culture has helped me to relax and not push myself so much.
I had to laugh last night when the comedian told the story about a Ugandan fisherman who did not see the point of becoming more efficient in catching fish to make more money. After all, he was already taking the day off because he had caught enough fish for that one day and had no need for any more fish. When he put it in those terms, I myself began to wonder why it is Americans push themselves to make so much money.
Day #12
5-31-09
Tonight we saw and heard an amazing performance of African traditional music and dance. I've seen something similar at a theater in Vermont, but being in Uganda made it all the more authentic.
Since the costumes and some of the dance moves were awkward at times (especially since I sat in the very front row), my favorite part was the music. The drums were especially impressive. It amazes me at how much work they must have put into this show. He did say they trained three years before their first performance. Crazy... I wonder how long they have been doing this and if they do the same thing every time. So much to remember!
I have decided Africans are extremely talented. I love how dancing seems to come so naturally to them. I'm really thankful we got to experience this part of their culture. I'd love to learn how to dance or even play the drums like an African, someday. So neat.
When the "comedian" was joking about God painting us and running out of paint when he got to Ashley, it was a really good reminder of not only how unique God made each one of us, but the fact that Jesus most definitely was not white (since he was born in Bethlehem and his parents were Jews). It's interesting how all our pictures of him are white.
Similarly, yesterday at "Dwelling Places" I noticed a picture one of the children had colored with crayons. The picture was of a Disney princess and prince and the child had colored them brown. At first this surprised me because in my mind they are clearly supposed to be white. But then I put myself in the child's shoes and it hit me- of course he/she would color them brown, why wouldn't he/she?
It's just so interesting how we all perceive things differently as we come from different races, nationalities, cultures, etc. I think I want to study more closely the variety of people groups and cultures when school starts back up. It's truly fascinating.
Tonight we saw and heard an amazing performance of African traditional music and dance. I've seen something similar at a theater in Vermont, but being in Uganda made it all the more authentic.
Since the costumes and some of the dance moves were awkward at times (especially since I sat in the very front row), my favorite part was the music. The drums were especially impressive. It amazes me at how much work they must have put into this show. He did say they trained three years before their first performance. Crazy... I wonder how long they have been doing this and if they do the same thing every time. So much to remember!
I have decided Africans are extremely talented. I love how dancing seems to come so naturally to them. I'm really thankful we got to experience this part of their culture. I'd love to learn how to dance or even play the drums like an African, someday. So neat.
When the "comedian" was joking about God painting us and running out of paint when he got to Ashley, it was a really good reminder of not only how unique God made each one of us, but the fact that Jesus most definitely was not white (since he was born in Bethlehem and his parents were Jews). It's interesting how all our pictures of him are white.
Similarly, yesterday at "Dwelling Places" I noticed a picture one of the children had colored with crayons. The picture was of a Disney princess and prince and the child had colored them brown. At first this surprised me because in my mind they are clearly supposed to be white. But then I put myself in the child's shoes and it hit me- of course he/she would color them brown, why wouldn't he/she?
It's just so interesting how we all perceive things differently as we come from different races, nationalities, cultures, etc. I think I want to study more closely the variety of people groups and cultures when school starts back up. It's truly fascinating.
Day #11
5-30-09
This morning I found myself choking back tears as I listened to Kristin talk about the horrendous conditions many of these children had been rescued from. Kristin is a missionary from the United States who works with an organization called "Dwelling Places," an alternative to an orphanage. She explained how many street children are loaded in the backs of trucks and then dropped off in a forest where a juvenile prison is located. They are forced to sleep and stay in dark, damp rooms and eat prison food. As she described this to me I was just shocked and so filled with sorrow for these children. How can they live in such conditions? But then again, the government is so poor and there are so many children without families that this seems to be the best option. But even so, Kristin was telling us how talented and innovative her children are... surely these street children can survive in the city and live in better conditions than that of the juvenile prison.
Knowing a few children had been rescued and were now within the safe walls of Dwelling Places makes me feel a little better, but there are so many more who are still stuck.
At the pizza place I talked a little with Kristin and she said something that stuck in my mind. Talking about calling and future vocations she just told a small group of us to go as far as we can in the most daring and needy areas. And then she said, "When you become comfortable, that is when you stop moving forward and stop growing." She explained how if you can't handle a particular ministry you can always leave, but there are people who just settle when they are capable of so much more, all on account of wanting to be comfortable. I plan to keep this in mind as I continue to seek God's will for my life.
This morning I found myself choking back tears as I listened to Kristin talk about the horrendous conditions many of these children had been rescued from. Kristin is a missionary from the United States who works with an organization called "Dwelling Places," an alternative to an orphanage. She explained how many street children are loaded in the backs of trucks and then dropped off in a forest where a juvenile prison is located. They are forced to sleep and stay in dark, damp rooms and eat prison food. As she described this to me I was just shocked and so filled with sorrow for these children. How can they live in such conditions? But then again, the government is so poor and there are so many children without families that this seems to be the best option. But even so, Kristin was telling us how talented and innovative her children are... surely these street children can survive in the city and live in better conditions than that of the juvenile prison.
Knowing a few children had been rescued and were now within the safe walls of Dwelling Places makes me feel a little better, but there are so many more who are still stuck.
At the pizza place I talked a little with Kristin and she said something that stuck in my mind. Talking about calling and future vocations she just told a small group of us to go as far as we can in the most daring and needy areas. And then she said, "When you become comfortable, that is when you stop moving forward and stop growing." She explained how if you can't handle a particular ministry you can always leave, but there are people who just settle when they are capable of so much more, all on account of wanting to be comfortable. I plan to keep this in mind as I continue to seek God's will for my life.
Day #10
5-29-09
Today I was able to observe an urban slum in Kampala. Just as I suspected, it looked horrendous. Like Budumbuli, most water sources were not free and the majority of individuals were renting their "homes," if you can even call them that. Not only this, but many of them had to pay to use a toilet! It just seems so wrong to me that these people (who are in horrible conditions to begin with) have to pay for basic human rights such as water and toilet facilities. Maybe this is something I can bring before a government official if we end up meeting with somebody.
After walking through a slum with Alex as our guide, a few of us asked Sam why different people react differently to us walking through their neighborhoods. He said some people are probably embarrassed with us seeing their living conditions and therefore, don't necessarily want us there. Others, however, are very excited at the sight of our presence (mainly children). I wonder why that is.
In the mall where we ate lunch there were so many Mzungus (the African word for "foreigners" or "white people")! I don't know why, but it bothered me. Perhaps it was because I knew most of them were Americans and obviously possessed a lot more than 75% of Uganda's population (just an estimate). I don't know why there were all here- perhaps they came for similar reasons as us or are even on a mission trip. But it just bothers me to see rich Americans in a third world country. In my Modern Social Problems class, Prof. Norwood had us watch a movie about tourism in Jamaica and it just put things in perspective. While tourists are "living it up," the locals are struggling daily just to survive. The same is true of Uganda, too, I'm sure. I guess for this reason I felt a little funny about staying on Mt. Elgon in Mbale. It would be interesting to know what the locals feel about this particular issue.
I'm glad we consider ourselves sojourners (temporary residents) rather than tourists, but I wonder if the people of Uganda see us as such, too. Sometimes when walking in our large group it's hard not to feel like a tourist- especially with all our cameras and such. But then again, we've seen and experienced so much that tourists would essentially run from and avoid. So in that sense, we are definitely not tourists.
Today I was able to observe an urban slum in Kampala. Just as I suspected, it looked horrendous. Like Budumbuli, most water sources were not free and the majority of individuals were renting their "homes," if you can even call them that. Not only this, but many of them had to pay to use a toilet! It just seems so wrong to me that these people (who are in horrible conditions to begin with) have to pay for basic human rights such as water and toilet facilities. Maybe this is something I can bring before a government official if we end up meeting with somebody.
After walking through a slum with Alex as our guide, a few of us asked Sam why different people react differently to us walking through their neighborhoods. He said some people are probably embarrassed with us seeing their living conditions and therefore, don't necessarily want us there. Others, however, are very excited at the sight of our presence (mainly children). I wonder why that is.
In the mall where we ate lunch there were so many Mzungus (the African word for "foreigners" or "white people")! I don't know why, but it bothered me. Perhaps it was because I knew most of them were Americans and obviously possessed a lot more than 75% of Uganda's population (just an estimate). I don't know why there were all here- perhaps they came for similar reasons as us or are even on a mission trip. But it just bothers me to see rich Americans in a third world country. In my Modern Social Problems class, Prof. Norwood had us watch a movie about tourism in Jamaica and it just put things in perspective. While tourists are "living it up," the locals are struggling daily just to survive. The same is true of Uganda, too, I'm sure. I guess for this reason I felt a little funny about staying on Mt. Elgon in Mbale. It would be interesting to know what the locals feel about this particular issue.
I'm glad we consider ourselves sojourners (temporary residents) rather than tourists, but I wonder if the people of Uganda see us as such, too. Sometimes when walking in our large group it's hard not to feel like a tourist- especially with all our cameras and such. But then again, we've seen and experienced so much that tourists would essentially run from and avoid. So in that sense, we are definitely not tourists.
Day #9
5-28-09
Once again, we are back in Kampala (Uganda's capital city). At first the sight of the city disheartened me (especially after the beauty of Mt. Elgon), but then God changed my perspective. He reminded me of how many people live in Kampala and the deep spiritual and physical needs of these people. While the majority of Uganda's population live in the rural areas, a large chunk reside in the cities, as well.
As we were driving, I noticed a large amount of individuals either sleeping on cardboard boxes or just simply lining the fence along an old rail road track. Clearly they were homeless. I must admit, this took me for surprise at first. When I had asked Nathan, Helen and Patrick's son, if he thought there were a lot of people without shelter, he said he thought most had somewhere to stay. Of course, this was in the rural areas where it might be easier to get a hold of resources to build a home. But usually in cities you need money to rent or buy a house and to get money you need a job. Just like in the states, without a job, you are homeless. However, I am not sure that the government in Uganda supports people like our government does with welfare and food stamps.
And then you also have those who live in slums. From the sounds of it, these are absolutely horrible places to live as there is no sewage, no clean water, and many diseases. Sam told me there are probably about 5 or 6 major slums in Kampala alone. It's just so sad to think about how people live. And the contrast... even in different parts of the city! How can this be?
On various occasions throughout this trip I have felt a sense of hopelessness toward the state of poverty in this country. However, I know places like Budumbuli and Kampala's slums are not beyond help. Anything is possible with God and the Bible is living proof that He can change circumstances through the faith of only one individual. Good can always come from the glaring "messes" around us. That's the beauty of our Lord.
Once again, we are back in Kampala (Uganda's capital city). At first the sight of the city disheartened me (especially after the beauty of Mt. Elgon), but then God changed my perspective. He reminded me of how many people live in Kampala and the deep spiritual and physical needs of these people. While the majority of Uganda's population live in the rural areas, a large chunk reside in the cities, as well.
As we were driving, I noticed a large amount of individuals either sleeping on cardboard boxes or just simply lining the fence along an old rail road track. Clearly they were homeless. I must admit, this took me for surprise at first. When I had asked Nathan, Helen and Patrick's son, if he thought there were a lot of people without shelter, he said he thought most had somewhere to stay. Of course, this was in the rural areas where it might be easier to get a hold of resources to build a home. But usually in cities you need money to rent or buy a house and to get money you need a job. Just like in the states, without a job, you are homeless. However, I am not sure that the government in Uganda supports people like our government does with welfare and food stamps.
And then you also have those who live in slums. From the sounds of it, these are absolutely horrible places to live as there is no sewage, no clean water, and many diseases. Sam told me there are probably about 5 or 6 major slums in Kampala alone. It's just so sad to think about how people live. And the contrast... even in different parts of the city! How can this be?
On various occasions throughout this trip I have felt a sense of hopelessness toward the state of poverty in this country. However, I know places like Budumbuli and Kampala's slums are not beyond help. Anything is possible with God and the Bible is living proof that He can change circumstances through the faith of only one individual. Good can always come from the glaring "messes" around us. That's the beauty of our Lord.
Day #8
5-27-09
On the way to the clinic today I observed a father hugging his child. This is noteworthy because we have heard and seen so many facts about Ugandan men that are negative. It was encouraging to see a father showing his son affection. Not to sound stereotypical or pessimistic, but perhaps there is hope for Ugandan men, yet. (Obviously since Kate found Peter and we've met quite a few good Christian men on our trip).
I got to see Scovia again! I found out she is 14 years old and has six siblings, just like me. I find it interesting that the two girls I've befriended have been 16 (Esther) and now 14, when I have just turned 20 years old. But the more I think about it, it makes sense. After all, all the women my age are married with at least one or two children. Of course I am going to relate more to 14-16 year olds. It just breaks my heart to observe how difficult life is for the Ugandan woman. Helen, Dr. Patrick's wife, explained to our group how she believes this could change if only women received a good education. Both Ester and Scovia are on the right track since they are both currently in secondary school. I gave both of them my address, so hopefully I can keep in contact with them and perhaps even encourage them to go against the grain of their culture. I did tell Scovia to stay away from sex until she was married and she heartily agreed. I just don't want my friends to experience the difficulties most every other Ugandan woman has- they deserve so much more.
On the way to the clinic today I observed a father hugging his child. This is noteworthy because we have heard and seen so many facts about Ugandan men that are negative. It was encouraging to see a father showing his son affection. Not to sound stereotypical or pessimistic, but perhaps there is hope for Ugandan men, yet. (Obviously since Kate found Peter and we've met quite a few good Christian men on our trip).
I got to see Scovia again! I found out she is 14 years old and has six siblings, just like me. I find it interesting that the two girls I've befriended have been 16 (Esther) and now 14, when I have just turned 20 years old. But the more I think about it, it makes sense. After all, all the women my age are married with at least one or two children. Of course I am going to relate more to 14-16 year olds. It just breaks my heart to observe how difficult life is for the Ugandan woman. Helen, Dr. Patrick's wife, explained to our group how she believes this could change if only women received a good education. Both Ester and Scovia are on the right track since they are both currently in secondary school. I gave both of them my address, so hopefully I can keep in contact with them and perhaps even encourage them to go against the grain of their culture. I did tell Scovia to stay away from sex until she was married and she heartily agreed. I just don't want my friends to experience the difficulties most every other Ugandan woman has- they deserve so much more.
Day #7
5-26-09
We saw the effects of poverty up close and personal, today during the medical clinic. It was such a blessing to see the grateful faces of mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and children. While most Americans would have been grumpy and impatient with the disorganization and long lines, these people were so grateful to wait hours, simply to see a doctor.
Though I know the reasoning behind this is the fact they don't have a medical clinic nearby, I just love how grateful the people of Uganda are. Though they have no choice but to be simple, I desire to have that simplicity in my own life.
Somebody mentioned at Kate's house how nobody in Budumbuli had mirrors. I have a feeling this is quite common among people in villages. Even up here in Mbale, we have no mirrors. It's so freeing! I feel this is a part of the Ugandan's simple lifestyle. I wish so badly the American culture would adopt this.
I guess the most amazing thing about this is Ugandans are beautiful. And I think that has a lot to do with their hearts. As I passed out mosquito nets today, I looked into their eyes and saw such genuine love and gratefulness. I don't want to generalize, but I feel as though I would not so much as even been given eye contact from most Americans.
Another thing I noticed today about the women and children we met was how accepting they are of those who are different from them. Toward the end I was standing off to the side, observing those playing frisbee and futbol, and a few mothers and their children sort of approached me. Only one of them spoke decent English- Scovia- but I felt as though I had an entire conversation through her. One of the women wanted to know if I'd give her my hair and they all laughed as she pretended to "wear" my braid. Then, when the music began, they asked me to dance and Scovia showed me how to move my hips the "African way." It was just a lot of fun. In those moments I remember thinking to myself, "huh... I wonder if these women would accept me if I were to live among them." I feel as though many people from other cultures would not be quite as accepting as Ugandan culture appears to be. And who knows, perhaps it would be quite different if I were to live among them. It most certainly wouldn't be easy, that's for sure.
We saw the effects of poverty up close and personal, today during the medical clinic. It was such a blessing to see the grateful faces of mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, and children. While most Americans would have been grumpy and impatient with the disorganization and long lines, these people were so grateful to wait hours, simply to see a doctor.
Though I know the reasoning behind this is the fact they don't have a medical clinic nearby, I just love how grateful the people of Uganda are. Though they have no choice but to be simple, I desire to have that simplicity in my own life.
Somebody mentioned at Kate's house how nobody in Budumbuli had mirrors. I have a feeling this is quite common among people in villages. Even up here in Mbale, we have no mirrors. It's so freeing! I feel this is a part of the Ugandan's simple lifestyle. I wish so badly the American culture would adopt this.
I guess the most amazing thing about this is Ugandans are beautiful. And I think that has a lot to do with their hearts. As I passed out mosquito nets today, I looked into their eyes and saw such genuine love and gratefulness. I don't want to generalize, but I feel as though I would not so much as even been given eye contact from most Americans.
Another thing I noticed today about the women and children we met was how accepting they are of those who are different from them. Toward the end I was standing off to the side, observing those playing frisbee and futbol, and a few mothers and their children sort of approached me. Only one of them spoke decent English- Scovia- but I felt as though I had an entire conversation through her. One of the women wanted to know if I'd give her my hair and they all laughed as she pretended to "wear" my braid. Then, when the music began, they asked me to dance and Scovia showed me how to move my hips the "African way." It was just a lot of fun. In those moments I remember thinking to myself, "huh... I wonder if these women would accept me if I were to live among them." I feel as though many people from other cultures would not be quite as accepting as Ugandan culture appears to be. And who knows, perhaps it would be quite different if I were to live among them. It most certainly wouldn't be easy, that's for sure.
Day #6
5-25-09
I am at a loss for words as I sit on the side of a mountain with a beautiful waterfall in view.
Earlier, as we ate our "lunch" (at 4:00pm), Ugandan children lined the fence, observing us. I feel strange after coming from Budumbuli, but at the same time, I feel this will be a good opportunity to enjoy God's creation. It's such a great reminder of how majestic our God is.
But even more so, if we can be in such awe of plants, rocks, water, and trees, how much more so should we marvel over God's creation of people? We are made in the very image of God himself! Each and every individual has been knit and formed by the Lord in our mothers' wombs (Psalm 139).
There is a quote along the lines of, "They look at the stars, trees and glaciers in wonder, but they pass by themselves without ever wondering." I would say (since we were created in God's image and put in charge of everything else the Lord had created) that we are God's most cherished works. So why do we so casually look at those around us and even treat individuals poorly?
I am at a loss for words as I sit on the side of a mountain with a beautiful waterfall in view.
Earlier, as we ate our "lunch" (at 4:00pm), Ugandan children lined the fence, observing us. I feel strange after coming from Budumbuli, but at the same time, I feel this will be a good opportunity to enjoy God's creation. It's such a great reminder of how majestic our God is.
But even more so, if we can be in such awe of plants, rocks, water, and trees, how much more so should we marvel over God's creation of people? We are made in the very image of God himself! Each and every individual has been knit and formed by the Lord in our mothers' wombs (Psalm 139).
There is a quote along the lines of, "They look at the stars, trees and glaciers in wonder, but they pass by themselves without ever wondering." I would say (since we were created in God's image and put in charge of everything else the Lord had created) that we are God's most cherished works. So why do we so casually look at those around us and even treat individuals poorly?
Day #5
5-24-09
Today's church service was a really unique experience. It never ceases to amaze me how much joy the Ugandans possess. Just as Brian, one of our trip leaders, talked about early in the service, clearly joy is not dependent upon circumstances. If so, the people of Uganda would be the last to possess such a fruit of the Spirit.
I feel as though their worship was so genuine. One of the main singers had just recently lost her mother and had never had a Father figure in her life, yet she appeared to have so much faith in and love for God. It reminded me of some lyrics from the popular worship song, "Blessed be Your Name":
"You give and take away... my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name."
I cannot imagine losing my mother, but as Luke 14:26 says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters- yes, even his own life- he cannot be my disciple." I must love God more than my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, even myself. This means praising God both when He blesses me and when He seemingly takes blessings away. What a life lesson!
Today's church service was a really unique experience. It never ceases to amaze me how much joy the Ugandans possess. Just as Brian, one of our trip leaders, talked about early in the service, clearly joy is not dependent upon circumstances. If so, the people of Uganda would be the last to possess such a fruit of the Spirit.
I feel as though their worship was so genuine. One of the main singers had just recently lost her mother and had never had a Father figure in her life, yet she appeared to have so much faith in and love for God. It reminded me of some lyrics from the popular worship song, "Blessed be Your Name":
"You give and take away... my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name."
I cannot imagine losing my mother, but as Luke 14:26 says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters- yes, even his own life- he cannot be my disciple." I must love God more than my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, even myself. This means praising God both when He blesses me and when He seemingly takes blessings away. What a life lesson!
Day #4
5-23-09
The family I stayed with had six children: Esther (16), Mary (12), Gerald, Bridgett (7), Pias, and Johanna (2). Only four of them were Mama Jennifer's biological children and Bridgett and Johanna were orphans whom the family was taking care of.
Seeing a Ugandan family and home up close and personal was an absolutely amazing experience. Though my family appeared to be a little more well off than the surrounding families, their poverty was very evident. It just causes me to ask a lot of questions. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that some own so much while others (like those in Budumbuli) have so little.
Perhaps even more surprising is the way in which they stretch their resources and get by with the small amount they do possess. I want so badly to live simply like them, without the needless list of items Americans have claimed to be "necessities."
This past year I have been wrestling with what it means to minister to the poor. Does it mean living among them and essentially being one of them, or does it mean giving freely of the resources entrusted to us by God (blessed to be a blessing)? These are not easy questions and I don't expect to find the answers on this trip, but it's just something I will continue to think and pray about.
I do know, however, my heart has grown for those in need- specifically children. I just don't know how I can help them.
The family I stayed with had six children: Esther (16), Mary (12), Gerald, Bridgett (7), Pias, and Johanna (2). Only four of them were Mama Jennifer's biological children and Bridgett and Johanna were orphans whom the family was taking care of.
Seeing a Ugandan family and home up close and personal was an absolutely amazing experience. Though my family appeared to be a little more well off than the surrounding families, their poverty was very evident. It just causes me to ask a lot of questions. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that some own so much while others (like those in Budumbuli) have so little.
Perhaps even more surprising is the way in which they stretch their resources and get by with the small amount they do possess. I want so badly to live simply like them, without the needless list of items Americans have claimed to be "necessities."
This past year I have been wrestling with what it means to minister to the poor. Does it mean living among them and essentially being one of them, or does it mean giving freely of the resources entrusted to us by God (blessed to be a blessing)? These are not easy questions and I don't expect to find the answers on this trip, but it's just something I will continue to think and pray about.
I do know, however, my heart has grown for those in need- specifically children. I just don't know how I can help them.
Day #3
5-22-09
Though I am exhausted, I had so much fun in the Budumbuli village. The four girls I spent most of my time with were Sharon, Anna, Annette, and Margaret. I think they had at least one parent alive and caring for them, but when I asked how many siblings they had, each of them said they had at least 4-6. This should not have shocked me because it was consistent with my research for my mini lecture, but I just could not get over how all of these children could be provided for in such circumstances as theirs.
I guess the event that I cannot forget and my mind keeps going back to is a conversation I had with Margaret. After telling me about how her father had passed away, she looked up at me with her big brown eyes and asked, "what kind of problems do you have in America?" I was really taken off guard by her question and for a moment, I said nothing but instead, stared at the ground, pondering. For the life of me, I could not think of a single problem. Now I know we are not to compare ourselves, but at that moment, the little "problems" I complain daily about were nothing, as I looked around at the poverty-stricken village. Though I did not want to give her the impression that America is perfect, all I could manage to say way, "Nothing that would apply to you." Then, as she took my hand, she sweetly stated, "I want to go to America with you." I smiled, but my heart felt sad.
The rest of my time in the village my mind replayed this conversation over and over. How can I have so much and Margaret have so little? An even better question, how can the people in America be so rich and own so much yet be so miserable, while the children of Budumbuli have so little and yet have so much joy? I feel as though these children are better off than American children (in a sense they are not "ruined" by wealth), yet many of them do not have the necessities of food, water, health care, proper clothing, and education. Education especially appeared to be lacking among the children in this village. There were so many kids! Though about 70 of them purposely stayed back from school to play with us (they are a part of Kate's program), the other 100+ were of school age and yet did not attend. This was probably on account of the cost. Though there have been claims by the government that primary school is free in Uganda, children still need to pay for their own school supplies, books, food, and uniforms. Therefore, many of them cannot afford to go. How can this situation be improved?
Though I am exhausted, I had so much fun in the Budumbuli village. The four girls I spent most of my time with were Sharon, Anna, Annette, and Margaret. I think they had at least one parent alive and caring for them, but when I asked how many siblings they had, each of them said they had at least 4-6. This should not have shocked me because it was consistent with my research for my mini lecture, but I just could not get over how all of these children could be provided for in such circumstances as theirs.
I guess the event that I cannot forget and my mind keeps going back to is a conversation I had with Margaret. After telling me about how her father had passed away, she looked up at me with her big brown eyes and asked, "what kind of problems do you have in America?" I was really taken off guard by her question and for a moment, I said nothing but instead, stared at the ground, pondering. For the life of me, I could not think of a single problem. Now I know we are not to compare ourselves, but at that moment, the little "problems" I complain daily about were nothing, as I looked around at the poverty-stricken village. Though I did not want to give her the impression that America is perfect, all I could manage to say way, "Nothing that would apply to you." Then, as she took my hand, she sweetly stated, "I want to go to America with you." I smiled, but my heart felt sad.
The rest of my time in the village my mind replayed this conversation over and over. How can I have so much and Margaret have so little? An even better question, how can the people in America be so rich and own so much yet be so miserable, while the children of Budumbuli have so little and yet have so much joy? I feel as though these children are better off than American children (in a sense they are not "ruined" by wealth), yet many of them do not have the necessities of food, water, health care, proper clothing, and education. Education especially appeared to be lacking among the children in this village. There were so many kids! Though about 70 of them purposely stayed back from school to play with us (they are a part of Kate's program), the other 100+ were of school age and yet did not attend. This was probably on account of the cost. Though there have been claims by the government that primary school is free in Uganda, children still need to pay for their own school supplies, books, food, and uniforms. Therefore, many of them cannot afford to go. How can this situation be improved?
Day #2
5-21-09
Today at the Amani Baby Cottage I cried at one point. I spent the entire morning playing and cuddling with the 10-24 month old babies. After about the first two hours we moved into another room and the "Mamas" (staff) got little toy balls out for them to play with. The little girl I had been holding- Josephine- began to cry when I put her down, so I picked her back up. However, one of the Mamas scolded me and told me she should not be held right now since they were playing. So of course when I put Josephine back down, she began to cry again. At this point I too felt tears coming. I think it was at this point that I grasped the truth about why these children were in this orphanage. They had no mother or father... no consistency in receiving affection and finding comfort or love. Studying marriage and family this past semester (Soc250), I learned about the negative affects that take place in children without fathers, but how much worse off must these orphans be? My heart was just broken right then and there. I slowly walked out of the room to a hallway for a few minutes before I gained composure, again. I guess what really set it off was the fact that all Josephine wanted was somebody to hold her and find reassurance that she was loved, and yet just as she had been abandoned by her parents, she felt as though I too was abandoning her. It killed me inside to hear her wailing and I just so badly wanted to hold her close and tell her how beautiful she was and how much I loved her.
Each child is so precious and unique. It was a such a great reminder of how miraculous God's gift of life is. I so long for His best for each one.
Today at the Amani Baby Cottage I cried at one point. I spent the entire morning playing and cuddling with the 10-24 month old babies. After about the first two hours we moved into another room and the "Mamas" (staff) got little toy balls out for them to play with. The little girl I had been holding- Josephine- began to cry when I put her down, so I picked her back up. However, one of the Mamas scolded me and told me she should not be held right now since they were playing. So of course when I put Josephine back down, she began to cry again. At this point I too felt tears coming. I think it was at this point that I grasped the truth about why these children were in this orphanage. They had no mother or father... no consistency in receiving affection and finding comfort or love. Studying marriage and family this past semester (Soc250), I learned about the negative affects that take place in children without fathers, but how much worse off must these orphans be? My heart was just broken right then and there. I slowly walked out of the room to a hallway for a few minutes before I gained composure, again. I guess what really set it off was the fact that all Josephine wanted was somebody to hold her and find reassurance that she was loved, and yet just as she had been abandoned by her parents, she felt as though I too was abandoning her. It killed me inside to hear her wailing and I just so badly wanted to hold her close and tell her how beautiful she was and how much I loved her.
Each child is so precious and unique. It was a such a great reminder of how miraculous God's gift of life is. I so long for His best for each one.
Later on Day #1
After spending some time in a mall in Kampala (exchanging money and looking around), we drove to Jinja. It is different from Kampala and the Arise Africa guest house is much more peaceful than the first. I am really looking forward to our stay here. According to Deb, many students have a hard time leaving Jinja. That's what happened to Kate (the graduate from Spring Arbor who is now living with her Ugandan husband in Jinja).
Not too long ago we all rode on the back of boda bodas (small motorcycle-type bikes). It was funny observing Kate as she bargained with the drivers on how much we'd pay them. I'm not sure I could be strong like that... I'm stubborn with people I am comfortable with, but I feel like I would cave in a situation like that. But the ride was a lot of fun. I was a little nervous, so I clung on tight to the seat back and to Ashley, one of my group members. I've always said I'd never ride a motorcycle, but that was pretty close to one. We survived and I think I'm looking forward to doing it again.
Listening to Kate talk tonight makes me all the more excited about the rest of our trip. Not only that, but the ministry she has started sounds exactly like the type of ministry I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I am drawn to children who are poor and oppressed and her ministry focuses on reaching the "neediest of the needy." I would love to come back and help with this...
Not too long ago we all rode on the back of boda bodas (small motorcycle-type bikes). It was funny observing Kate as she bargained with the drivers on how much we'd pay them. I'm not sure I could be strong like that... I'm stubborn with people I am comfortable with, but I feel like I would cave in a situation like that. But the ride was a lot of fun. I was a little nervous, so I clung on tight to the seat back and to Ashley, one of my group members. I've always said I'd never ride a motorcycle, but that was pretty close to one. We survived and I think I'm looking forward to doing it again.
Listening to Kate talk tonight makes me all the more excited about the rest of our trip. Not only that, but the ministry she has started sounds exactly like the type of ministry I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. I am drawn to children who are poor and oppressed and her ministry focuses on reaching the "neediest of the needy." I would love to come back and help with this...
Day #1
5-20-09
We made it! We arrived in Entebbe last night, met Sam and Moses (our guide and driver), and drove to Kampala for the night.
I was struggling to keep my eyes open on our drive to our guest house, but I sat behind Sam and learned a lot of interesting facts about the country.
I got to experience sleeping under a mosquito net for the first time. I must admit, I was a little paranoid of getting bit in the middle of the night. I woke up at about 2 am, though I had to stop and think about what time it was because my watch is still set on Eastern time (I can't figure out how to change it).
This morning we got to see much of Kampala that was hidden in the dark last night. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but Uganda is very different from how I imagined it to be. But the people are beautiful and so kind. The children I've seen, especially, are so precious. I cannot wait to visit the orphanage, tomorrow. I think it will both fill my heart with joy and sorrow, knowing these children have lost their parents, but seeing them smile.
We made it! We arrived in Entebbe last night, met Sam and Moses (our guide and driver), and drove to Kampala for the night.
I was struggling to keep my eyes open on our drive to our guest house, but I sat behind Sam and learned a lot of interesting facts about the country.
I got to experience sleeping under a mosquito net for the first time. I must admit, I was a little paranoid of getting bit in the middle of the night. I woke up at about 2 am, though I had to stop and think about what time it was because my watch is still set on Eastern time (I can't figure out how to change it).
This morning we got to see much of Kampala that was hidden in the dark last night. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but Uganda is very different from how I imagined it to be. But the people are beautiful and so kind. The children I've seen, especially, are so precious. I cannot wait to visit the orphanage, tomorrow. I think it will both fill my heart with joy and sorrow, knowing these children have lost their parents, but seeing them smile.
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