Still here..

I know.  I've been quiet.  But I'm still here!  So I'm going to attempt a significant update here - both personal and work-related..

Kaberamaido

We went back to Kaberamaido last month to officially get things rolling on the agriculture trainings for the widows and Arrow Boys there.  We had an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signing ceremony, and it was pretty exciting for me to see the things we’ve talked about for so long put on paper and to take steps toward implementing those ideas.  The two groups are also very excited and anxious to begin, but we haven’t yet been able to begin the trainings due to drought in the region.  

Please pray for rain.  Drought and famine have been pretty severe in some parts of Uganda, and the local news reported a while back that at least 40 people have died of starvation in areas hit worst by the drought.  The rains have begun to fall again here; please pray against flooding, but that this land would receive the right amount of rain.

Kapchorwa/Greek 

I also traveled back to Greek last month to do more net distributions and to see the progress on the multi-purpose community center we’re helping to build there.  Construction is coming along well on this center that will serve as a hall for community meetings, church services, education opportunities, etc, and we hope for it to be completed in the next month or so.  For a couple photos and to read more, click here.

Sudanese Guys

I was excited to have the opportunity to go to Kenya a couple weeks ago and meet the four Sudanese guys we sponsor in school there.  The others are here in Uganda, and I’ve gotten to spend a good bit of time with them, but this was my first time to see Taban, Al Jehli, Mubarak and Jacob.  I was primarily there to interview and photograph them for a book project that I really hope I’m able to do.  We want to make a sort of coffee table book telling the guys’ history as former child soldiers in the civil war in Sudan who met Jade and Shelah in a demobilization camp and ended up being taken out to Kenya (then Uganda for the others) to go to school.  The book would serve not only to tell the stories, but sales of the book would also go toward paying their school fees.  Their stories are pretty fascinating, and I’m looking forward to interviewing the rest of the guys while they’re home now with Jade and Shelah on school holiday.

DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo)

We’re working with a local Christian ministry to implement a school sponsorship program for children in Eastern DRC, which has been plagued by terrible fighting.  One of the pastors has just met with us to show us photos and give us background about the nearly 20 students that they’ve identified to be sponsored.  They should start school over the next month, then once things are rolling I hope to travel there in October or November.  We also hope to have a seminar during that time for pastors, health workers and community leaders to receive training to counsel victims of rape, former child combatants, and people suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  

Me

I have been back in Kampala for two whole consecutive weeks now, which seems like the longest I've been here in months!  I've been busy in the office getting lots of materials designed and ready for Refuge & Hope's fundraiser in Alabama next month.  (If you're around the area, you should come out!)  I've also been blessed by my friends here - both the ones I've made here in Uganda and friends who have come to visit over the past couple months.  God's timing is perfect; even the day that my friends that lived here with me left Uganda, a friend arrived to visit, and I had people here visiting constantly until my roommates were back.  Now we're anticipating the new group of interns at eMi (where I live) to arrive on Wednesday.

Alrighty then.  I think that'll do for now.  Thank you for being faithful to read, pray and encourage me.  I WILL post again soon, I promise!