Luweero, Kampala (another weekend travel)

Hmm, Luweero was an overall good experience. It was much more mellow than many of the previous experiences, but full of interesting information. For a couple of our planned sessions we had meetings with a bishop for the area as well as a priest who works a lot with HIV individuals. The area we were in had a high percentage of 13% of all its inhabitants infected where as the rest of the country is relatively low around 7%. It was very touching to hear about how he brings hope to those who would appear to have none lying on their deathbeds. He told a story about a boy who was 4 years of age who was on his deathbed wondering why he had HIV since he did nothing to deserve it. How do you answer a question like that in a way that is just? However some people are tired of hearing about HIV in Africa due to its major publicity. However I am here in Africa and it is very relevant at the moment. The priest asked the boy what he would like to have before he “sleeps” and all he asked for was a sweet. Just a piece of candy. ..Any how it was moving to hear about how he connects and builds relationships with these people that society discriminates and rejects knowing they will just die off. Anyway something more bright for ya ☺ We visited a memorial in Luweero. This is the city where the current president of Uganda fought his garilla war for power. He started with just 27 men, raided a military compound for weapons, and eventually built up his campaign to take over power in the capitol city. The memorial was small but it was a grave full of skulls that we were able to observe as the man unlocked its heave door and lifted it up. Very interesting and erie to here about how the horrible past leader Amin murdered innocent civilians, children, women, and men in cold blood for no reason other than it was the area where the gorilla war was being fought. The site we visited had almost 3,000 skulls buried in it and there were 15 more just like it around the area. That weekend consisted of learning about these aspects in the area. Ofcourse we had our usual foods, and tea time everday! Bless you all!

Mt. Man

Kachorwa was amazing! Talk about living in the mountains. The area was beautiful and I had a great view from my home that stretched out over the plains. The mountain was very green and always had a cool breeze. It almost felt like summers back in Cadillac, Mi. During my state I was did not have any schoolwork to do so it was all about enjoying my time. I hiked all over the mountain. I hiked up and down to rock faces and caves. The first cave was the largest and we were followed by a drunk man who loved Americans I believe. The last weekend we hiked to Sipi Falls, which was amazing! I thought I was going to live in a mud house, like most of the other students did, but instead I stayed in a nicer home. I was very ok with that. You should look at my photos to get a glimpse of my living conditions and the surrounding area….One moment that was insane….I experienced killer bees! My dad and I were on our way back from the banana plantation when I could hear a cow screaming (if you could imagine such a thing). I finally asked my dad why is the cow screaming and he had a one word response…Bees…I am like BEEES! I really hate bees and have all the more reason to now. When we arrived near the back of our home I had full view of our neighbors cow that was completely covered in bees. I could hear them from a far distance away. It was devastating to see as it was steaked down and could not run away. It was rolling over the ground trying to get the bees off and eventually collapsed. Before it collapsed I did what any American would do.. I went to go fetch my camera to get it on tape, but soon as I stepped outside from the house a bee attacked me. I did not get stung the entire time, but for the next few hours one two or three bees would be flying around the house attacking people. So I stayed indoors until they were all gone. My dad saved the cow for the night by spraying this fuel on it while he covered himself with a blanket. He did not get stung either thankfully…probably since the cow had all the stingers in it. The cow grew very week and the next day they slaughtered it because it could not regain strength. Next subject…I now have my connections for coffee beans. Kapchowra produces some of the finest coffee beans due to its great soil and climate. I have connections with some sweet farmers for when I open up my coffee shop some day. I could even start my own farm here on the Mt. My dad said I could build a house on his land for free and he has much land to plant many coffee trees…Possibilities…Any how..anohter interesting thing was this lady gave me a unboiled egg as a gift. She also kept calling me mommy. People like to be nice to gets usually by offering tea and bread, but I was just passing by and she wanted to give me an egg..I ate it the next morning during breakfast. Also during the week I helped in feeding the cows and digging up sweet potatoes with my younger brothers. That was fun. The stars were amazing every night! And one night I watched as a storm was over the plains and not on the mountain. It was really unique. It is amazing to experience the nature here in Kapchowra. The pattern of the stars, the behaviors animals and insects, the growth of the plants. All of these are such complex processes and systems that truly can’t not be explained through scientific evolution. All knowledge its Gods knowledge and we will truly never know how big the universe is and how everything actually came to be unless we humble ourselves to believing in something greater than what “man “ can prove. If we put our faith in man, we will surely be let down. However what man does find through science only shows even more how much greater God is by discovering His wisdom on how He has created things. Thank you science for that…scientists…don’t take the all the credit ok.

Jinja

The air seemed to gradually get cooler the closer we got to Jinja. I sat in the very front of the bus next to the pilot so I had the full range of view of what came our way. I was quiet the whole way just taking in everything I possible could for the hour and half journey to the Jinja Nile Resort. The students went rafting on the Nile but I chose not to due to the cost and lack of interest. Instead another student (Jake) and I went into town with out knowing what we would get ourselves into. We had six hours or so until the rafters would come back and we could hangout together in at the resort over looking the Nile. Jake and I walked aimlessly around town, but made our way towards Lake Victoria where we hired a private tour guide to take us to the source of the Nile River, which I captured on video. After that we ate some American style food at resort near by which also over looked the Nile. We took Bota’s back to the resort (motorcycle taxi). To keep a long story short we just relaxed on the deck/bar area that was elevated 90 ft above the Nile until our group returned and we ate some foods there as well. In the mean time I got to know some of the Ugandan staff working there who we my age and doing well for themselves. At the resort I met people from all over the world. Australia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, London, Scandinavia, Canada and there were some more that we there that night all hanging out in one sweet location. The next morning is when some of the students went bungee jumping witch was featured at the resort we stay at that night. It was fun to watch them, but it again was not worth the money for me…maybe if it would have been 3 times as high or if I could jump twice. Backing up…I first woke up that morning to a stampede of monkeys running on our tin roof cabin. They were everywhere. In fact some us brave soles lured them in with crackers and bread and eventually they took food right out of our hands! A few of us hand fed them for about a half and hour which is one of my highlights to the trip. Over all it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience for me as others had fun as well doing extreme activities (and got really sun burnt). The area of Jinja is beautiful…full of lush green plants and massive trees. I am looking forward to this coming Friday (March 4th, 2011) I will be gone in Captura (that’s not how you spell it..I am not sure at the moment) Anyway we are doing rural home stays near the foothills of Mt Elgon! I will be living in an African rural setting for a weeks time. Pray for me not that it will be easy, but that I will learn from it. Life is not supposed to be easy. In fact how can you grow if there is no pain or suffering?

Election weekend

Aaron J. Fekete

2/25/11

Journal 5 – Election Weekend

Since arrival in Uganda posters filled the walls of buildings, fences, and corners of every street. As in every country presidential elections are a big deal for it may or may not determine the prosperity of the individual and the country as a whole. Before entering the country I was aware that elections were going to take place. This thought began to stir my imagination as to what could possibly happen during the election period. I have heard from movies and other sources of stories about much rioting and violence that has lead into civil wars in the countries of Africa. As much as I was pretending to be confident in such a matter not coming to light the thought still haunted the back of my mind. I began to wonder how and why such thoughts would be birthed in my mind? Could it be simply that I am uneducated about the politics and the people of Africa? I believe so. I believe now that I have been here and have seen elections first hand as to why violence may or may not erupt throughout the countries of Africa, at least in particular Uganda.
In short, the stability and peace of the economy is crucial for the lives of Ugandans to continue in their lives without disruption. In part it is almost life or death in politics. Previous wars have taken place in Uganda that has disrupted the lives and the advancement of the country. The other thing I was realizing to was that the country has never witness a peaceful transaction of power. This lead me to believe why the outcome of the election process went the way it did. In part it was for “prosperity”, which is part of the campaign slogan for the incumbent, but I feel prosperity can only be reached through peace in the region. The incumbent won a swift and clean election and life in Uganda seems to be as normal as it was I arrived. People are able to carry on with their lives without interference of divided nation.
As I mentioned before I had left to Uganda I had thoughts of possible uprisings in Uganda. A day or two before the elections people had dispersed to their home regions and an eerie feeling came about me as cities began to empty out and quiet down. Citizens had stocked up on supplies and went to be with their families for the results of the election and awaited the unknown. As results were being counted I had planned to come to school the following day the polls close and my brother mentioned that I should wait. It occurred to me that the elections I experience in the states have always been so peaceful that we can carry on without daily lives without considering their to be rioting or disruption. I had made plans, but had to keep in mind that they could easily be canceled if people were to flock to the stress in jubilee or anger. The incumbent won the election and life seemed to appear very normal, not to say that my personal experience was nothing close to the normal I experience at home during American elections. I had some anticipation for the results with the added ingredients of anxiety perhaps fear. Thankfully prayers have been answered. Now time for the chicken farm to start! Can't wait until it happens...i will keep you all posted. Thanks for reading

To Lira and back again

What a weekend. Our group of home stays students (American) traveled to Lira on Friday. It was a 6-hour trip, but was very enjoyable. We road in a coaster and the giant windows could easily slide wide open making it easy for pictures, air circulation, and scoping the landscape. We crossed the Nile River along the way where we found Baboons along side the road! We are all over joyed to them. Any how, we arrive in the evening for our first experience. We stopped at a Sankofa Café (Sankofa - means looking behind, moving forward.) A younger American man who lives in Lira with his wife owns it. It also is stationed three stories up where we can walk out on a balcony, but evening more exciting was the fact they served a variety of American foods! I ordered a BBQ burger and a large coffee shake…I was very satisfied and enthused to hear about the mans story and experience living in Uganda. After spending hours there relaxing and enjoying one another’s company we made our way back to the hostel where we continued to get spoiled! I had my own room with a large bed fully equipped with a misquito net and a conjoined room for bathing and an American style toilet…not a squatty potty ☺ We sang some praise and worships songs and read scripture before bed. Morning came and we had a great breakfast and my shower had some warm water that made my usual bathing time extended. Next we went to Otino Waa School for orphans and the “less fortunate” which is joined by the owners in Path ministries as well. http://pathministries.net/ The ones who started it are American and the placed is been truly blessed that to put it all on paper would be impossible! They have a few hundred orphans after starting out with around 50. It has expanded into providing a home with mothers for them, education, vocational school to train them to get involved in the community and a large church! Check the place out one child costs 100 a month to take care of and they rely fully on the grace of God to provide. It was very amazing and touching. They also have some orphans who were previous LRA members and some who were orphaned as a result of the 20 year war. We ate lunch there and it was also fantastic. Coslaw, sesame seed salad, pizza, cookies, and sodas, then topped off with ice cream. We visited there other location briefly and saw where he and his wife reside. The home was extremely beautiful and also a gift from God as someone who believed in what they were doing provided the funds to build the home. The home would cost at least $300,000 , but only cost 68,000 to build here…that is not enough to pay for the materials back home. I am tempted to go work for 10-12 years in the states and purchase a second home..who knows. After that we visited a lady, retired policeman, who started a home for women who have been victims of abuse such. This also was very inspiring to hear about and encouraging seeing someone trying to help those in need. We concluded the evening at our hostel where we had two Peace Corps members come and talk with us about their experience. We had another amazing meal with them; candle lit, and under the star lit sky. It was really pretty. Everything was…the places we visited, their stories, the food, and Gods manifestations! We left after going to church in the morning only after shaking hands with about 100 Ugandans, which was a fraction of the amount that were there. All was a good experience…PS my arm got sun burnt at the window seat I had. Check out my pictures ya’ll!

Viva La Kampala!

A small group of us Muzungu’s along side with a few of our new Uganda Christian University friends pilled into one taxi van to make way towards the capital of Uganda, Kampala. It was Saturday and traffic was extremely heavy and what should have bene a half hour trip turned easily into an hour. It was fine with us though since we were all on the trip together. I was sitting in the front seat of the van so that was nice for getting a breeze, but not so much freshest of air as exhaust and dust loom about the roads most of the day. This often caused me to briefly hold my breath or to rub dirt out of my eye. Along the way there were roughly 20 long horn cattle crossing the road, which we all found joy in seeing. It is a normal thing to happen.
We got dropped off in Kampala and walked to the Garden City Mall. I had somewhat low expectations, but to my surprise it was super nice. Also it is open 24/7, which I thought was convenient. There we ate some American style food such as Pizza and Burgers. I had both and seized the opportunity to eat something other than Amatooki, beans, or rice. Oh later we found some ice cream to! The mall consisted of a wide variety of people from all over the world. This was true in Kampala as well. It was the main attraction for international travelers coming to Uganda and they seemed more used to seeing whites than the smaller more rural parts of Uganda. Anyhow some interesting things happened while we were in Kampala walking around the town. First someone ripped a necklace off one of the girls in our group and attempted to flee, but dropped the necklace. It is a good thing he ran, because Mob Justice can be brutal, even to the point of death. She was shooken up and I do no blame her, but it is good to be aware and observant of our surroundings. I always put my wallet in my front pocket in prevention of being potentially pick pocketed, which is common in the capital where it is crowded. Also we saw some women get hit by a taxi! She was knocked down and hit her head, but was helped up and eventually brushed it off. Luckily the car was not going any faster..phew close one! Also, we saw the back down of one of the taxi vans fling open and a bunch of the crews stuff feel all over the street. Intense as it seemed to us my Ugandan friend Dennis informed me that this was not even that crazy of a day here in Kampala. We made it back safely, though traffic was still heavy. A good day..a day of experience and learning.

Sunday Adventure

Starting Saturday I had felt feverish followed by a headache so I went to bed early. Sunday morning I woke up to get ready for a trip to Kampala with my parents. Kampala is the capital of Uganda for those of you who do not know. I felt better than when I went to sleep, but that all changed in the afternoon. We took a taxi to Kampala. The taxis here consist of bota botas (motercycles), vans, or busses. We took a van. The vans drive up and down main roads honking there horns all day attempting to pack out their vans beyond what it can hold. This happened to the van I was in. People are picked up and dropped off along the way as one worker drives and another sits as a passenger to flag people in, open the door, and collect the money. It took roughly a half hour to arrive in Kampala where we arrived at a taxi center and hopped on another taxi to take us to our destination. The plan was to go visit close friends of my parents. He was a reverend. A reverend at a church located on Kampala’s hospital property. The hospital in Kampala is the largest in the country and handles all major cases. I do believe that the hospital was not up to Americas standards back home, just be judging from the eye. We snuck into the service and sat in the back because it had already started. As usual I attract many looks by my skin, but not five minutes later two other whites came in that helped steal some of the attention I would attract by myself, however my parents and stood up in the front as my father spoke of how he helped the church. This I had no idea of and certainly did not feel as though I should stand with them up at the front, but they said that I go with them. I became more comfortable when my father Godfrey claimed me as his second to last-born son, which the crowd enjoyed. Afterwards we went to the reverends house for lunch where I ate little because my stomach started to turn accompanied by another headache and feeling feverish once again. Even though I was not feeling well I felt comfort by the hospitality of the family we ate lunch with as we prayed and sang a hymn together. Nothing like community! After we left my mother went home, but my father and I remained in town to purchase supplies for his Taylor shop. It was very very busy place. Super markets everywhere, people yelling, selling, and trading goods. With the intense crowds, heat, and wide variety of smell I began to feel worse and was anxious to arrive home. Finally we made our way back home and I immediately used the toilet…perhaps 6 times before I finally went to bed…To change the mood my family gave me a clan name… my name is Lubanga. Impedi is my class. There are 52 clans in the Buganda region. Buganda is a region with in Uganda.