An FH Uganda Tour

My apologies for not posting prior to my departure but I have been traveling around the country for the last week and just got back into town last night. I accompanied Kate, who leads the study-abroad group that is in Uganda right now, to 5 of the 6 FH Uganda field offices to visit the students on their "practicum assignments". We started in Kampala and drove to Mukono, Mbale, Piswa, Pader and Kitgum before returning to Kampala. It was a tiring week to say the least but it was great to see all the field offices. Seeing and understanding will certainly make the work I'm doing in Kampala more meaningful and will make me more effective.

In Kitgum the "New Life Center" is up and running and there are about 30 women and their children currently staying there. The idea of the center is to take young mothers who have either been formerly abducted by rebels or who are deemed otherwise extremely vulnerable. About half of the women currently staying there are formerly abducted. It's unbelievable to think about what some of these women have been through... I actually can't even imagine. Many were taken from their villages by rebels, forced to marry their captors and bear their children and live in remote areas of the Congo and Sudan for years. But watching these women laugh and dance and sing you probably wouldn't guess their history. Unfortunately all these women suffer from sever depression and suicidal thoughts and the goal of the New Life Center is to counsel them back to mental health and provide them with the education and skills needed to support themselves and their children. So it's a long process but one that will hopefully give new life to these women.

Another highlight of the trip was visiting the office in Piswa. It's an amazing location, situated among rolling green hills, mountains and waterfalls; maybe something you'd expect to see in Ireland or Scotland but certainly not Uganda. We spent two nights in Piswa and had a chance to do a little hiking and see a number of the communities that FH is currently working with there. It was a nice break from the pollution and from the heat. In fact I wore long sleeves, a jacket and socks most of the day, also not something you'd expect on the equator!

And the main reason I mention Piswa, apart from the beautiful scenery, is that I'll be getting to spend a lot more time there in the coming week. The Piswa office has recently experienced some issues that have left it understaffed and busy so I'll be leaving tomorrow morning actually to go and offer any assistance I can for the next 9 days. I don't really know what to expect but I imagine I'll stay busy for the next week which will be good. The office is without power or running water and it's an hour long ride by motorcycle to get to the nearest town so I'll have plenty of chances to think and read (when there's light). Pray that I can be useful there and that the week would go quickly and smoothly!

Peace,

Matt