I closed my eyes and immediately felt the dust taking liberties to cover every inch of my face and fill all of my pores. As the bus crept up hills and careened around corners going down hill, I let my mind wonder. I began to think over the day that we had spent in Western Uganda at the Kabwoya Game reserve. The reason we had visited the game reserve, however, was not to see animals or even admire the beauty of God’s creation. In fact, we had crammed into a rattle-trap of a bus and traveled an hour and a half simple to see Uganda’s newly tapped oil source.
Part of the Living with Shalom program was designed to study peace with the environment so our facilitator had so kindly set up a field trip for us to see where oil had been found in Uganda. Being conscious of what resources I use and how I am making an impact on the earth, I assumed we would take this opportunity to talk about how drilling for oil is not peace with the environment. I was sadly mistaken.
I was shocked at first to realize that we were going to a game reserve to see oil drilling. Then I became very upset about the fact that we had very talented PR people from Tullow Oil talking to us about the drilling and environmental impact, covering all of the negative things they were doing to animals by telling us about the 2 schools and one maternity ward they were building for the people living just off the reserve. I was appalled when the Environmental rep., when asked what environmental impact the roads were having, answered, “We have to give up somethings to gain others.” Since when did we have to give up nature and animals to get oil?…(wait). My final and prevailing emotion was helplessness when I realized that a man whom I respect and who seemed very educated in many matters, felt that the oil drilling on the animal reservation wasn’t a bad thing. All along I was under the impression that humans were placed on earth to take care of it and the living beings on it (granted we haven’t done the best job thus far).
At each stop I felt more and more helpless as I saw how excited these youth were to see this resource that would make Uganda rich. The thing they don’t know is that they will probably never see any of the money generated from drilling for oil on this western Uganda game reserve.
Peace,
eh

Shalom: Holistic Peace
For the past 2 ½ weeks I have been in Hoima, western Uganda living with holistic peace, or at least trying to. Living with Shalom is a 3 week program supported by MCC that targets secondary school students from around Uganda with the intention of teaching about different aspects of peace. The first week’s focus is peace with oneself, highlighting HIV/AIDS awareness. The second week the students learn about peace with the environment and get to make a more fuel efficient stove called a Lorena stove. The last week students learn about peace with other people, the focus being mediation and non-violent forms of resistance to injustices.
While this program has good intentions, it is not the most organized program. I am finding it hard to be an organized and task-oriented, North American participating in a program planned by a Ugandan. I am learning to let some things go and to embrace the relationships that I am forming with the youth that are here participating. I am finding joy in learning several different cultural dances which involve jumping, shaking my hips, and singing in three languages of which I have no knowledge.
The experience is different and a nice change of setting and opportunity to see another part of Uganda. There are things that could be improved upon for the program but at this point I’m content to step back/away and not think about that kind of stuff.
Peace,
eh

After being out in the wilderness for 2 ½ days, it was like a zoo to come back to Kampala. On the ride back to Red Chili, Kampala we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant. It was fairly new and part of it seemed to be under construction. As we sat down at the table and began contemplating the menu, I noticed that the menu was quite humorous (perhaps it was under construction as well). We had the usual choice of chicken and chips or pork and chips but we also had the additional option of sandwitches and hambuggars. It was hard not to laugh while the waitress was taking our orders, but it was refreshing to have my sister around to catch some of those funny spelling errors that seem so prevalent in Uganda.
Upon arriving back at Red Chili, we unloaded our suitcases from storage, hopped in a taxi and rode towards a welcome shower and bed at my host family’s home in Kampala. We arrived just barely 10 minutes before they arrived from their Tanzanian vacation in Dar es Salaam.
The next couple of days we spent learning the public transportation in Kampala and bartering for various purchases in the Ugandan Craft Market. It was quite an experience climbing in and out of taxis (14 passenger vans) and having to know where to say, “stage” (meaning, “please stop here”), but it was also very enjoyable because I was doing it with my sister.
Peace,
eh

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the North western part of the country, near the town of Masindi. The park is home to Murchison and Uhuru (freedom) falls as well as numerous wild animals and birds.
Right before the new year Vanessa and I packed up and went to explore Murchison Falls with Red Chili, a relatively cheap touring company. After an interesting first evening (during which our beds were taken because our stuff was beside not on the beds) we loaded a van with another family (it happened to be the people who stole our beds) and took off down the dusty road. After stopping in Masindi for lunch and other supplies we entered the park at a break-neck speed. Our driver really seemed to be in a hurry to get to camp, however, our head-long rush thru the park was halted when we got a flat tire. Eventually we made it to the Red Chili Rest Camp where we spent the next 2 nights.
The 1st evening at the camp we journaled, relaxed, chatted and tried to avoid the warthogs that were wondering freely around the camp. After one particularly nasty looking warthog bumped into the table next to ours we packed up and went to our tent. The next day we got up early to go on a morning game drive, during which we saw 2 lions, some giraffe, lots of antelope and warthogs. After lunch and a short siesta back at Red Chili we went on an afternoon boat ride on the Nile that took us up to Murchison falls. The day was beautiful and we were so lucky to see elephants, tons of hippos, crocodiles, and some beautiful birds (I could really become an avid bird watcher if I stayed here longer). When we reached the falls we stopped for a brief moment in order to take some pictures before heading back down river.
The next morning we packed up and headed to the top of Murchison falls where we took a short hike (something I miss very much here). We saw the hidden Uhuru (freedom) falls, named because it was found the same year that Uganda gained independence in 1962, and took some lovely pictures (that just don’t do justice to the Magnificent Nile and the falls). That evening we returned to Kampala and to my host family where we spent a quiet New Years Eve and the couple of days following.
Peace,
eh

Over the Christmas and New Year Holiday I was so fortunate to have my younger sister, Vanessa, here in Uganda with me. It was exciting to show her where I live and introduce her to people I’ve become close to. Because of the lack of snow and lack of bombardment of Christmas songs and crazy commercialism that is so present in the states, I found I wasn’t in my usual Christmas spirit. It got me to thinking: What is it that helps to create a “Christmas spirit”? Perhaps the decoration of homes or a Christmas tree? Maybe it’s in the making of Christmas cookies and singing of Christmas carols. Or is it in the observing of Advent and the ritual readings and lighting of candles? Whatever it is, I felt like I missed out this year. It made me realize how much I appreciate the things that our family does to prepare for Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
On Christmas day Vanessa and I went and celebrated with the extended family of my host in Kitgum. We ate a huge feast contained in at least 11 different pots and pans and watched 2 different films, both Nigerian and neither christmasy. After the meal we visited some other family members and ended the day dancing.
The next couple of days we spent time relaxing, reading, and staying out of the intensely hot sun. On the 27th we woke up very early to meet the boda (motorcycle) driver to take us to the bus park to travel to Kampala. After finding the front gate locked and the watchman gone, we had to call for help. We finally located a key to one of the small gates at the back of the compound and were off. The next couple of days were spent at Murchison Falls National Park…
Peace,
eh