Uganda, a land of “poverty” but also a land full of
potential. There are lots of
organisations endeavouring to help the many children who are either abandoned
or orphaned, in the way of children and babies homes, and I have had the chance
to visit several of these, from a rural village home for orphans, to a home and
school for HIV+ children that would not otherwise be cared for. I have seen
throughout the developing countries I have visited, a great need for people to
be empowered to change the world they live in.
And Uganda is no exception with an unemployment rate of over 80%. Rather than just giving money, putting jobs, training, skills, education and
opportunities in the hands of people would go a long way to helping this nation
to help themselves. Talking with my
friends here on the ground in Uganda, and seeing their heart to find strategies
to do this is so inspiring. Change is
not something that happens overnight, especially with a problem so complex as
this, and I commend them for their long term commitment to the community they
are working with.
I also had the
opportunity to join a small but dedicated group of people who go into the Burns
Unit at the local city hospital, giving out food and bandages that family
members would otherwise have to provide and pay for. We were able to pray and encourage these
folk, and sing songs to both lift their spirits and connect them to a God who
loves them, and let them know that they are not forgotten. There was no nurse or medical staff on duty
and the wards were full with the overflow out the door on mats in the
corridor. I couldn’t get over the large
number of children that were there with large degree burns due to falling into
fire or pulling hot water or food over themselves, and to see women severely
disfigured with loss of sight due to acid been thrown in their faces and over their
bodies was shocking. The smell of this
place, and plight of these patients touched my heart, especially when one woman
in particular, an acid attack victim, got off her bed and shuffled across the
room so she could be by us and take part in praise and worship. What a humbling and moving experience, and
what a wonderful act of compassion this team of people are showing to choose to
love and care for those others turn away from.
These experiences are etched into my mind, and have given me
the chance to see Uganda from the inside out.
A month has raced by, and it is time for me to once again board a plane
to travel to my next destination .......
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| at the well pumping water |
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| playing duck, duck, chicken ... and I'm it |
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| lunchtime .... rice and beans |
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| Charlotte on a trip to the Reptile Park |
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| Part of the garden dug ready for seed planting |
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| watering the new garden ..... or am I watering myself!!! |
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| Local housing |
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| Typical Ugandan road |
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| Back street shop |
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| Entebbe housing |
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| rural scenes |
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| me and the Caldwells |
