Uganda: Retracing Steps

I have just started reading a book called ‘Missionaries in Action’. I recently spent some time on the Sunshine Coast – and dropped into the Koorong in Mooloolaba. I find Koorong a little dangerous (for my bank account at least), and no matter how many times I drop in there - always seem to find a book that stands out. But I remember a wise person telling me one day past, never to feel guilty about spending money on a good book…a good book. So, I have taken this on board, and find my library gradually filling with books that mean something to me, my walk with God and my walk in this thing we call life. I find retreat in beautiful books. This time, I found this book called Missionaries in Action. I have only read 5 chapters, but can already recommend it as it is a book filled with short testimonies of missionaries on the front line. From young short termers, to those who have been in the field for 18+ years. The stories are beautiful, true, raw and impacting.

It took me back to Uganda.

I haven’t written a great deal of my time in Uganda on this blog, or anywhere really. Not because I don’t have anything to say, but perhaps I haven’t known exactly how to put it into words. But I know that I need to. My experience, of almost 4 months in Uganda (including some time in Tanzania) and 1 1/2 months in the UK – was nothing but forever life changing. We hear it said, almost stereotypically – but there is no other way to really say it. My life was and is forever changed. To the point of right now, not knowing exactly what to do with the gift of this experience, and where my place now is. How can I now – return to Australia and begin life again – having witnessed, held, touched, heard, laughed and cried in this beautiful country filled with desperation, yet faithful action and vibrancy? When I have seen firsthand the sufferings, and hardships of those who are every bit as valuable as any individual born into a western world – yet who are not given the same opportunities, under a corrupt government and devastating poverty? If not given the opportunity – how can the cycle be broken? With this experience etched on my heart, what now is my life? Faith without action is dead. Knowledge, experience, wisdom – without putting it in action is useless. Isn’t it? These are all questions that I have on my heart.

On the 10 March, 2010 I boarded a flight destined for Entebbe Airport, Uganda, Africa (that is via….a few stopovers). After a 28 hour journey, will one have jetlag when arriving in Africa? Most probably. But in confidence I can say, the adrenaline compensation (and a couple of strong spicy African teas...) work wonders until the sleep, happens to catch up. This was my second time to the beautiful country – the first in 2008 where I stayed for only 2 weeks as a short termer. This was with a wonderful organisation called ‘Empower-A-Child’ – (check their website: http://www.empower-a-child.org/ ). I was really encouraged during that time, and it was in these seemingly short two weeks that God gently prompted my heart for more. This time, I returned to the young and rapidly growing mission in Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM) ( www.kyampisi.org ). KCM is a registered not for profit organisation whose aim is to give vulnerable children physical, emotional and spiritual springboards which will enable them to live lives that are full, productive and positive (quote taken directly from their website if you were curious;)). This is achieved by a whole bunch of projects, one of the biggest being Kyampisi Childcare Centre, a primary school in the remote village of Kyampisi. Here, free and accessible education is provided to children in and around the village of Kyampisi, who may otherwise never have the opportunity for education. Essentials such as a simple breakfast and lunch (these, may be there only meal for the day), clothing, enclosed shoes, school supplies, essential medicines, Spiritual education and mentorship are provided through the school and become wonderful opportunities for volunteers and staff to be evidence of God’s love and concern for these young lives and their families. Right now there is (equivalent of) Kindy to Grade 2. The hope is for every year the children advance in their schooling, another class will be added. While I was with KCM, I had the opportunity to be involved with teaching in the school – and while I have very limited ability to speak Luganda (the local language), I was able to teach basic English and during exam week, helped to supervise the many enthusiastic (and gorgeously cheeky) children through a few gruelling days of exams. It’s amazing how fast you pick up on specific Lugandan words – such as ‘bambi Tula!’ (please sit) and 'genda bambi’ (go please) (ha, well at least I hope that is what it means. My Luganda, already is becoming scratchy) – they came in handy when the cheeky children who had finished their exams and allowed out of the classroom – kept returning and peeking through the doors, with smiles and laughter – hoping I would get up to chase them away (and most probably laugh hysterically when I attempted to speak to them in Luganda!). It was a wonderful experience. And through this....I have developed an even greater respect for travellers to Australia who don't have English as their first language. When they attempt to put 2 or 3 words together, and we have to work out what they are trying to say – wow, I understand now…..(not what they’re trying to say!, but what they’re going through).

Children in need are the main focus of KCM – and this becomes a project in itself. For a child in dire circumstances, whether that be through abuse, illness or another cause – I witnessed KCM do everything they could to protect that child, and if possible better their circumstances. An example of this include 2 young girls from Kyampisi village who were reported to KCM as having been abused – and the abusers were thought to be in the extended family. KCM worked alongside the police to investigate the cases, and provided temporary accommodation for the girls at the volunteer house, until it was deemed they could safely return. One of the girls did not go back to the village, but through the gift of sponsorship and KCM funding, she was enrolled in boarding school and is now safe, and getting essential education. The girls were also taken to the city to be tested (or in the process of being) for HIV and other illnesses - as these are high risk in such circumstances.

Another little girl, who attends Kyampisi Childcare Centre, was found to have severely infected feet from jiggers, or harvest mites. These little insects are similar to fleas – but they do not only bite, but burrow into the skin where they sit and grow and become embedded. The area becomes painful, and if not removed quickly – the jigger multiplies causing a large area of the foot to become infected. (Sorry if your tummy is turning right now). They can be simply prevented by wearing enclosed shoes, but the majority of children and adults in the villages - where harvest mites are rampant – cannot afford even one pair of flip flop sandals, let alone a pair of enclosed shoes. So sadly, they live with the constant battle against jiggers. I experienced the ‘jigger’ on more than one occasion. Before I was aware of them, or perhaps before I took them seriously – I would visit the village in flip flops – I began to get a very sore and swollen toe – only to be told it was a jigger! And the only way to remove it was with a safety pin and gritted teeth….. It was impossible to count the number of jiggers in this little girl's feet. She could hardly walk. She was taken in and the process of cleaning her wounds and removing jiggers began and continued over many days. With no pain relief available – she sat stoically, tear by tear falling quietly down her face. She was put on a course of antibiotics to help clear the infection, and as time passed, it was wonderful to see her able to start running, playing and smiling again.

At the heart of KCM, is a desire to bring change. The faith is evident, as is the action – my heart is challenged over and over. Injustice needs to be confronted, or it never has cause to stop. While in Uganda – a team including around 4 international volunteers (1, a professional video editor from the UK) shot a DVD for a campaign seeking to bring an end to the horrific reality of Child Sacrifice. Child sacrifice was not something that I really thought about before going to Uganda – it’s not as though it didn’t seem important to me, only that I had never been, or at least, very rarely been exposed to it. Yet, child sacrifice is a daily reality in countries such as Uganda. Children, seen as precious and pure – are kidnapped and sacrificed to witchdoctors in the hope of gaining wealth, curing ill health or gaining blessings. Certain body parts have different meanings – so every sacrifice is brutal and specific. When we filmed the DVD, we met and interviewed people from a wide range of backgrounds – parents who had lost a child (or children) to sacrifice - parents whose child miraculously survived (you would understand why I say miraculously if you met these children and the scars that are left on their body's and hearts), to police officers, politicians and church leaders at the forefront of the fight against this increasing crime. It was confronting. The graphic stories we heard, the broken faces we looked upon and the anguished lives we glanced into – perhaps, I wasn’t fully prepared for – but was thankful to witness. I can never go back to naivety – because I have seen. Sometimes, I am cut to know what to do with this….. The campaign was launched in the UK at a conference called ‘Newwine’. KCM, in partnership with the UK based charity Jubilee Campaign, had a site in the exhibition hall where the DVD was playing, and information was available for those who wanted to know more. We were readily available to answer questions as they were asked. The reactions were varied, one of the most common was a heart wrenched stare at the moving images on the TV as the DVD played, followed by a question: 'Does that still happen?' Yes, it sadly does. We also had a petition that is to be presented to the Ugandan government with the hope of having legislation changed to protect vulnerable children.

The campaign continues this year, and if you would like to sign the petition, you can. There is an online version on the Jubilee Campaign website: http://www.jubileecampaign.co.uk/petition

or you can download and print a copy, get your friends to sign and send it back to KCM or the Jubilee Campaign here: http://www.kyampisi.org/Documents/New_Wine_Petition.pdf Deadline for the petition is 1 August 2011.

The thought of child sacrifice can be overwhelming. How can we really do anything to stop such a thing that has been going on for generations? It is overwhelming, as it is huge. But we serve a greater God who sees. While we are limited – He is limitless. We have the voices and ability to stand. While we can, we should and wait with fervent expectation, change.