My Uganda wrap up

Download this to see pics as well… march-25-wrap-up-pdf.pdf

 

 

Family and Friends

Well once again I find my self apologizing for being lax in writing this final update.  The last 2 weeks of my trip and the last 3 1/2 weeks back in the states have simply flown by.  Since I’ve been back, my internships have sprung back into action and wedding plans have continued forward.  There will be more on some of those other things later, but I want to be sure to bring some closure to some of my experiences in Africa.

I think where the story left off was with Audrey’s arrival. After being asked every day by my close Ugandan friends when she would arrive, the day finally came for Audrey to join me in Uganda. Annie and Edrin poked, prodded, and pleaded to be able to be at the airport when she arrived, and so they ended up taking me to the happy homecoming. Seeing Audrey again after such time apart was truly so sweet as my heart in the US was joined once again with my heart in Uganda.  

Not wasting any time, we were sure to make the most of Audrey’s two weeks. She arrived on a Friday night and was quickly put to work on Saturday morning as she taught the TAPP women the basic concepts involved in making journals. (If you’re wondering where this came from you can check out bound4freedom.org) She just melted right into the hearts of the Ugandans as her smile and warm heart were very gratefully received. With only minimal sleep and a good dose of culture shock we continued to immerse Audrey into life in Uganda with a church service on Sunday and TAPP home visits, Kupona kids, and bead making on Monday.  We met these two families below who live in the slums in greater Kampala. The huge gap between the rich and poor cause many like these to slip through the cracks and live on what’s left.  The family on the right sleep 8 people in a 9 ft X 6 ft room.  On the left Grace is pictured. She was a young baby that as you can see has the ability to capture you with her eyes. 

Grace’s father is a boda-boda driver who had an accident only a few weeks prior to our visit.  The wreck has left them without their primary source of income.  So many stories happen like Grace’s.

Tuesday We Left for Rwanda

After a 8 hr car ride to the boarder we actually got stuck in no man’s land (in between the Uganda and Rwanda boarders).  The boarders closed before we could get through all the way, so we turned around and went back into Uganda for the night before waking up early the next morning to try once again to get back into Rwanda.  

This time there was only minimal hardship as our drive had ironed out his difficulties the day before. We drove into through the mountains of Rwanda to the city of Kigali, which unbeknown to us was visited the day before by President Bush.  He and Laura have been praised for their African policies and projects!

It actually worked out quite nicely that we arrived when we did, because we were able to exchange money, settle into our hostel, and then trek to the airport to pick up the Children of promise team we were meeting from the states.  Within that group was Linda Mason the associate direct of Children of Promise and her team of two missionaries (to Japan and China), an 80 year old wonder woman and another now dear friend.  They were the main reason we had come to Rwanda… to update the children of promise photos, profiles, and get a sense for just how things are going. Right away Audrey and I found our place as crowd control for hundreds of children who would arrive in an instant as soon as we stopped anywhere.  For three days we threw, played with, “talked with”, and were driven crazy by hundreds of kids who seemed to be having the time of their life.  We absolutely loved playing with the children, but the language barrier, long days of driving, and overwhelming crowds begin to take a toll on us, until finally I ended up patrolling the van keeping the kids a switches length away from the van. Don’t worry I never hit any kid, but more or less played a little game with them as I would walk circle the van trying to catch the children close to the van.  

The Genocide

I’m still amazed when I think of the cultural diversity that exists within each Country in Africa.  Rwanda was no different as the genocide has had obvious effect on its people.  One our three days of traveling we passed over 15 mass graves and were able to visit the genocide museum.  At the genocide museum alone, over 250,000 are buried.  Since that awful occurrence almost 15 years ago there has been an influx of outside aide, which in many cases has created a stigma around us Muzungos.  The effects of the genocide is also visible in the governmental control which is extremely tight on its people who no longer refer to themselves as hutu or tutsi, but only as Rwandan.  There’s no way to give words to such an event as this.  

On the Left

This was our welcome on Sunday morning at a church where were gathered with the people to lift up one name, the one who had brought us all from our own hardship and struggle for life.  What a welcome we had as the children’s choir sung and danced with all that they had.  What a day of rejoicing it was as we danced together, sang together, read together, prayed together, and learned together.  It was obvious that God was there the entire time.  I was also able to speak one last time in Africa, which was such a joy!  

After church the women showed us the projects they had been working on.  They come together to dye cloth and make soap as a way to provide income and community all at the same time.  Really the women in Africa are quite amazing as the think of ingenious ways to provide income for themselves and the broader community, all this while fulfilling their role as mother, wife, and home keeper.  

We had to eventually say enough is enough and take the crew to the airport to catch their respective flights as we hit the road to try to make it back across the boarder into Uganda before it closed.  We made it to the boarder with only 15 minutes to spare on the Rwandan side and then actually got the lights shut off on us while in the Ugandan passport control.  It was close, but we all breathed a great sigh of relief to have come that far.

The journey back to Kampala was long in a sense of time, but also as I thought about the faces and stories we had just left as well as the faces I would soon leave as my time in Africa was drawing to a close.  Audrey got one more chance to lead a workshop about journaling and then spent one day shopping before heading to the airport that night.  It was almost surreal pulling out of the Stevenson’s compound that evening as I knew the part of my heart I had come back to get was actually remaining there.  

On the way back to the States Audrey and I were blessed greatly with tickets that placed us in the bulkhead for both of our 8 hr flights back.  We spend $22 dollars at McDonalds in Amsterdam for breakfast, but was also able to get some much needed rest in 2 lounge chairs that sat next to each other.  Audrey’s roommate Ray was a glorious sight to see as the reality of being back in the states was sinking in slowly.  

Homecoming or going

My time back in the states has been quite the adjustment as I have faced a more personal culture shock than my last time back.  Last time my culture shock was in large part characterized with an anger about the waste that we abound in.  How we have so much while need so little.  It just didn’t seem right. (still doesn’t)  However this time, since I’ve been back I’ve asked myself time and time again where my home truly is?  

More than anything else I miss the people.  Their smiles, will to live, genuineness, hard work, true joy… oh the list just goes on and on as the faces continually pass through my mind’s eye.  What does the future hold for Audrey and I?  You know I’m not exactly sure.  I would like to say that some day Audrey and I will return to that place of adventure and life, but I also know adventure and life stare us in the face here.  Africa will always be a part of our life together.  Will we end up there for a longer period?  Only God knows… and for now I leave it at that.