After exactly 24 hours of traveling (left Denver 12:00pm 2/5 arrived Uganda 12pm (denver time) 2/6; 10pm Uganda time) I made it to Uganda along with 21 other Off the Mat travelers. It was no surprise to me that my name was written in black marker on the "bags that didn't arrive" sign next to baggage claim. I just had to laugh when I saw this; as it only makes sense considering our bags didn't arrive with us when we traveled to Kenya 2 years ago. A part of me was still hopeful so I walked over to baggage claim and saw my blue suitcase with purple ribbon slowly traveling along the conveyer belt. So, the sign was only partly correct...my personal bag arrived, but the duffle bag of donations did not....although it should arrive this evening along with the luggage of 2 other fellow companions who were in similar situations, except none of their bags arrived.
After a short night's rest (had some trouble sleeping considering slept so much on the planes) our first full day began. After breakfast we listened to 2 members of the Invisible Children organization passionately speak about the war in Northern Uganda and the abduction of children forced into child soldiers, all under the control of one sick man. I highly encourage you to watch the short documentary, Invisible Children as it will provide you huge insight into what Norther Uganda has endured since the 1980's. Three young, naive film makers from CA are responsible for making this horrific affair into a now, huge, beneficial NGO. It's relieving to hear all that that Invisible Children has done to benefit the children and families of Northern Uganda and that there has been no existence of the Lord's Resistance Army in Norther Uganda for the past 3 years. Invisible Children has a satellite office in Denver who I plan on contacting when I return.
We listened to the heart-breaking, sad, scary, stories of members of the Acholi tribe who moved to Kampala from the north after the war broke out. Afterwards we had the fortunate opporunity to visit the Acholi Quarters (slums) to distribute food and other donated items. We were each given 2 families who we were to visit with in their homes and grace them with various items. I was given a family with 3 children (8, 5 and 3 y.o) and another family with 19 children. Before we departed we all searched through many, many suitcases full of donated items that as a collective group we brought with us, for appropriate items to give each family(on a side note...it was absolutely mind blowing how many suitcases we all managed to bring filled with children's clothing, school supplies, toys, toothbrushes, toothpaste, items for the birthing center, and the list can go on and on and on).
We were greeted with a beautiful tribal song and then matched up with our families. I had no idea what to truly expect from this experience......here I am walking with a 25 y.o. mother of 3, whose husband was killed by the rebels in the north, through a maze of "houses"; smiled, stared at, waved to, stared at....by neighbors along the way....left on my own to return to the original meeting spot I would have had no idea how to get back...did the thought "hmm...if I was "taken" into of these hundreds of homes would they be able to find me?"....yes, the thought went through my mind, but of course that did not happen.
I felt extremely inferior and almost silly sitting in the one chair in her humble home (almost the size of the small, small spare bedroom at home) with a bags of clothing, books, and food for her family. Her neighbor came over to translate English for me which made the situation a little more comfortable....although the look of a smile can sometimes say it all.
Yes, it did feel "good" to give her children these items as they sat on the floor anxiously looking at me, but I felt foolish because here I am, one that has "so much" at home and here I am giving so little in my eyes. I know what we gave today meant a lot to them and they were so appreciative but it doesn't come close to how much it meant to me when she placed one of her handrolled beaded necklaces around my neck. I just hope I expressed that enough to her.
After 10 minutes I was taken to the second family's home: 2 small shacks - one with 2beds and floor space for 19 children and the other a "sitting room" with mom's, who is HIV+ (contracted it from her son's open wounds who had AIDS) bedroom in the back. It was unclear, but the 19 children were her kids, grandchildren and sibling's children. I was invited into their home and all of the children (babies to young adults) crowded around as I distributed them all toothbrushes, toothpaste, books....the panic that momentarily went through me when I thought I miscounted the toothbrushes was moments aways from bringing me to tears.....but the numbers all worked out. Again, the placement of one of her handrolled beaded necklaces around my neck was so humbling.....here I am on this journey to help, supply, educate, build for those in need....but what I know I am receiving and will receive is a life changing journey and experience.
I just can't even begin to express how happy the smiles on the children's faces all over the Acholi Quarters are...tons of children of all ages running everywhere...so happy to see you...reaching out their hands to your hands.....pulling at your arm to look at their pictures on your camera......and just holding your hands as you walk down their dirt roads.....there are no words to express how happy this makes my heart feel.
After a short night's rest (had some trouble sleeping considering slept so much on the planes) our first full day began. After breakfast we listened to 2 members of the Invisible Children organization passionately speak about the war in Northern Uganda and the abduction of children forced into child soldiers, all under the control of one sick man. I highly encourage you to watch the short documentary, Invisible Children as it will provide you huge insight into what Norther Uganda has endured since the 1980's. Three young, naive film makers from CA are responsible for making this horrific affair into a now, huge, beneficial NGO. It's relieving to hear all that that Invisible Children has done to benefit the children and families of Northern Uganda and that there has been no existence of the Lord's Resistance Army in Norther Uganda for the past 3 years. Invisible Children has a satellite office in Denver who I plan on contacting when I return.
We listened to the heart-breaking, sad, scary, stories of members of the Acholi tribe who moved to Kampala from the north after the war broke out. Afterwards we had the fortunate opporunity to visit the Acholi Quarters (slums) to distribute food and other donated items. We were each given 2 families who we were to visit with in their homes and grace them with various items. I was given a family with 3 children (8, 5 and 3 y.o) and another family with 19 children. Before we departed we all searched through many, many suitcases full of donated items that as a collective group we brought with us, for appropriate items to give each family(on a side note...it was absolutely mind blowing how many suitcases we all managed to bring filled with children's clothing, school supplies, toys, toothbrushes, toothpaste, items for the birthing center, and the list can go on and on and on).
We were greeted with a beautiful tribal song and then matched up with our families. I had no idea what to truly expect from this experience......here I am walking with a 25 y.o. mother of 3, whose husband was killed by the rebels in the north, through a maze of "houses"; smiled, stared at, waved to, stared at....by neighbors along the way....left on my own to return to the original meeting spot I would have had no idea how to get back...did the thought "hmm...if I was "taken" into of these hundreds of homes would they be able to find me?"....yes, the thought went through my mind, but of course that did not happen.
I felt extremely inferior and almost silly sitting in the one chair in her humble home (almost the size of the small, small spare bedroom at home) with a bags of clothing, books, and food for her family. Her neighbor came over to translate English for me which made the situation a little more comfortable....although the look of a smile can sometimes say it all.
Yes, it did feel "good" to give her children these items as they sat on the floor anxiously looking at me, but I felt foolish because here I am, one that has "so much" at home and here I am giving so little in my eyes. I know what we gave today meant a lot to them and they were so appreciative but it doesn't come close to how much it meant to me when she placed one of her handrolled beaded necklaces around my neck. I just hope I expressed that enough to her.
After 10 minutes I was taken to the second family's home: 2 small shacks - one with 2beds and floor space for 19 children and the other a "sitting room" with mom's, who is HIV+ (contracted it from her son's open wounds who had AIDS) bedroom in the back. It was unclear, but the 19 children were her kids, grandchildren and sibling's children. I was invited into their home and all of the children (babies to young adults) crowded around as I distributed them all toothbrushes, toothpaste, books....the panic that momentarily went through me when I thought I miscounted the toothbrushes was moments aways from bringing me to tears.....but the numbers all worked out. Again, the placement of one of her handrolled beaded necklaces around my neck was so humbling.....here I am on this journey to help, supply, educate, build for those in need....but what I know I am receiving and will receive is a life changing journey and experience.
I just can't even begin to express how happy the smiles on the children's faces all over the Acholi Quarters are...tons of children of all ages running everywhere...so happy to see you...reaching out their hands to your hands.....pulling at your arm to look at their pictures on your camera......and just holding your hands as you walk down their dirt roads.....there are no words to express how happy this makes my heart feel.
I'm crying...what an amazing day.
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