Happy 4th of July!

I missed going to the rodeo, barbeques, and firework shows, but I hope that everyone had a wonderful time celebrating at home! It's funny how I felt much more American and proud to be one when I was in africa than all the years that I've been in America combined. I guess I appreciate our freedom and lifestyle so much more now after living under other circumstances around the world. I'm not saying that America is better than Africa, or that I like it more, but I am very grateful for the life that we have in America and feel so blessed to be an American!

Happy 4th!

GULU

Gulu—land of the Invisible Children. If you don’t know anything about the history of Northern Uganda, start studying. It is fascinating and heartbreaking and unbelievable that such a thing could happen. I highly recommend watching the documentary Invisible Children and reading the book Girl Soldier. They will change your life.

Going to Gulu this weekend definitely changed my life. We were able to meet so many people who were affected by the catastrophe up there, to hear their stories, and to see how they are courageously pressing forward in life. Here’s a little summary of the history of Northern Uganda: During the past 20 years, Joseph Kony has been creating a rebel army called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) to overthrow the government of Uganda. He abducted thousands of children from the bush, the rural outskirts of the villages, to serve as soldiers in his army. Rebels would burn down the straw huts of the villagers, steal their food, kill many, then chain the children together and force them to walk for mile carrying the stolen food and goods. Often the children were forced to kill their own family members or neighbors as a brainwashing tactic. Many of the young girls were given to army commanders as wives. Rape plagued the land of Northern Uganda. Abduction and violence were at their worst from 1994-1995. From this time up through 1998, none of the villagers dared to leave their homes. There was no where safe to go. At this time, the government down in Central Uganda was completely ignoring the issue, giving no aid or assistance to the Northerners. It wasn’t until 1999 that the government started creating Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and sending soldiers to protect the people against Kony’s rebel army. This is when the night commuters started, the Invisible Children. Although the IDP camps were set up and the people all relocated to them, they were not much safer than the bush. In fact, they were almost worse. The mud huts of these camps were so close to one another that a fire started on one straw roof could easily jump to another and burn a thousand huts from one match. There were not enough soldiers set guard at the camps to adequately protect the people, and when the rebel army came, the soldiers usually ran away instead of defending the camp. There was no hiding in the camps like one could in the bush. Kony’s army had no trouble spotting them, so children were in even bigger danger of abduction and rape. This is why thousands of children would walk for miles every night into the main town of Gulu where they could sleep safe, or safer, than they could out in their villages and camps. This lasted up until about 2007, more and more people moving into camps that housed anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 people with terrible sanitation and lack of food or income and more and more children commuting each night into the city centers to sleep on the verandas of shops, churches, hospitals, and schools. Finally, in 2006 or 2007 Kony left Uganda and went to the Congo. Since that time, people have been leaving the camps, returning to their villages, and trying to start up the lives that they used to live.

My heart was touched as I walked along the streets where the Invisible Children once walked every night, as I saw remnants of IDP camps that were once the home to thousands of innocent individuals, and as I met personally with people who were child soldiers and survivors of the catastrophe that tore apart their lives. I was so impressed with the hope and courage that the Acholi tribe showed. The IDP camps were now nearly deserted and though the people had suffered so much tragedy and pain, they seemed to be happy. There were many organizations and NGOs in Gulu that offer counseling and skills training to child soldiers and they seem to be doing an excellent job. We visited one that I loved called Living Hope. They focused on restoring dignity to vulnerable women. What a great purpose! They offered such great services to the women there who were very deserving and in great need.

We met a man named James. He was the head teacher of a primary school that we visited. The school was once located in an IDP camp, but in the past few years has been relocated just outside of it. There were about 75 students at his school, but there were no classrooms or desks. They meet under a grass canopy roof and sit on the dirt floor every day at school. It is a government school, and they are in the process of building them a couple classrooms right now, but can you imagine going to school for three years sitting on the dirt floor? I complain about not having air conditioning. I was able to teach a dental hygiene lesson to the students at the school and to give them all tooth brushes. Of the 50 students who were there that ay, only 5 of them owned their own tooth brushes. The rest of them either used tree bark or nothing at all. Wow! That was a wake up call. Something so basic that I totally take for granted.

James told us his story of how he was abducted into the LRA. He was forced to walk for mile carrying heavy loads of food and supplies on his head. He walked until his feet were so swollen he couldn’t walk anymore, but they threatened to kill him if he didn’t keep walking, so he found the strength to get up and keep going. He was with the LRA for 3 months until he escaped during a crossfire. Now he has a beautiful wife and three young children. He is working to build a technical skills school in Gulu for child soldiers who never had the opportunity to go to school. He’s written a proposal for funding to build the school and purchased the land already. I am amazed when I see people like this who have gone through so much suffering themselves and are then able to use their trials to bless the lives of others. If anyone knows how to get sponsors for something like this, or is interested in donating to the cause, let me know.

I could write about Gulu for days, but I’m running out of time. We heard so many heart breaking stories from former child soldiers, but I was inspired by the way in which they were able to carry on with their lives with hope and happiness.

We found a little bakery in town that was amazing! I ate so many croissants, banana bread, carrot bread, and other sweets this weekend. I bet I gained at least 5 pounds. It tasted so good though! Practically homemade! And I miss home baked goods so much!

The bus ride home was long, but I read Hunger Games the whole ride. I've never read so much in one sitting in my whole life. Highly recommend the book! It's like the new Harry Potter!