Prossy's Poem

(please excuse the weird fonts and sizes... my blogger is being weird)!

The other day at Obiya IDP Camp (August 23), the kids recited some poems and sang songs for us. At most camps, they dance some of the Acholi traditional dances, but at Obiya, the kids are younger overall and I don’t think they know the dances well yet, so they sang instead. One 12-year-old girl named Prossy recited a poem that she wrote, and it blew my mind. Her poem begs for recognition of her rights, something I rarely, if ever, thought about at age twelve. If Prossy read her poem to her guardians (aunts/uncles/grandparents) or to her teachers, she would be labeled as a rebellious child, so I feel honored that I got to be there, and impressed that she was brave enough to recite it to us.

Yesterday (August 30), we got a chance to go back to Obiya Camp to distribute food and take photos of all the kids for Village of Hope's child sponsorship program. I asked Prossy if she would be willing to recite her poem for our video, and she smiled and said yes. Unfortunately, I’m having trouble uploading the video with blogger… if I can figure it out or find faster internet I will upload it, but for now, here are the words to her poem:

"Children Right is a Must"
by Piloya Prossy
Age 12, Class P-7
Obiya IDP Camp

All children have rights
I have a lot of rights
A right to eat
A right to trim
And they are precious to us.

All children have rights
My mother was very motherly
She used to give me food
She used to give me treatment
She was precious to me.

All children have rights
A right to go to school
And a right to talk my views
My mother could give me those
She was precious to me.

All children have rights
But let us claim my rights
My mother is no more there
She is deep in the grave
But she was precious to me.

All children have rights
Parents and teachers,
Doctors and nurses,
You all violate our rights
But they are precious to us.

All children have rights
Uncles and aunts,
Brothers and sisters,
Stop violating our rights
But they are precious to us.

All children have rights
We are talking to our fathers
We are talking to our mothers
We are talking to our aunts
Please, obey our rights.

All children have rights
Pregnant mothers, pregnant girls
Don’t dump us in the latrine
Don’t dump us in the dust bin
Our life is precious to us.

All children of Kenya
All children of Rwanda
All children of Uganda
All children of Tanzania
We all deserve our rights.

Please, please
Please, please,
Obey our rights.

The sad, sick statistical truth is that around 97% of girls in Uganda admit to being raped or abused by their teachers or guardians. Oftentimes, the school headmasters will give scholarships to girls willing to "give" something in return. This isn't okay and begs the simple question that so many comfortable people avoid... why is injustice happening? Why are people dying of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and starvation... when we have the power to do something? Why are these issues so easily overlooked? Why do we simply donate to a charitable cause and feel like we've done our part? Our part WILL NOT BE done until these kids are healthy, safe, and nourished. Until child mothers without husbands can feed themselves and their babies, and on top of that, so they can have money to continue their education and send their child to school as well. How can we claim to love Jesus and serve him and be Christians when we're not doing what the Bible so clearly states is necessary... that we are to care for the widows and the orphans-- those that have nothing.

This must be changed, and little by little... it is. Now, it must pick up speed; there is no excuse for our apathy. Hope is here, change is coming, love will win.

Isaiah 62

I am so convinced that Uganda will pull through these hard times (already it is better than it has been for the past 23 years). I believe that God's got huge plans for this country... to be a light and an example to the countries surrounding it, to raise up a generation of young Ugandans who can be leaders not only in their communities but also in the world.

The book "Girl Soldier" convinced me of this the first time, and as I read Isaiah 62 the other day, I was convinced again. I replaced the words "Zion" and "Jerusalem" with "Uganda" throughout the chapter. It also shows so clearly what my heart is for Uganda... I pray for Uganda, I won't keep silent until these people are healed. Here you go...

Isaiah 62

For Uganda's sake I will not keep silent, for Uganda's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Uganda; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Uganda and makes her the praise of the earth.
The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: "Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled; but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."

Safe in Gulu!

We are in Uganda. It’s real. I can’t believe it. I keep reminding myself that I actually am living here… for four months. I LOVE it here so much and I feel healthy and strong and so at home already.

Traveling to Uganda was… long, to say the least. We left from Chicago and flew for 8 hours to London, where we had a 12-hour layover. This flight was the first time I have EVER flown through the Chicago-O’Hare airport and not had a delay! Success. When we got to London, we put our carry-on bags in a storage room, exchanged some US dollars for pounds, and hopped on the tube for Hyde Park. We also saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, rode a double-decker bus, and overall just enjoyed the layout of the city, which was definitely NOT a grid like Milwaukee.

Being in London wiped us all out, especially because we hadn’t slept much on the plane from Chicago. When we got on the plane from London to Uganda, I passed out right away… I don’t even remember taking off.

Getting off the plane in Africa and seeing Lake Victoria was so wonderful. I felt at home. Asunta and Shammah picked us up at the airport and we hopped in the Village of Hope van. It was supposed to take us 6 hours to drive to Gulu, but with all the stops we made, it was more like 12 hours.

One stop was on the VOH land in Masindi!!!!! Last year when I was there, there were only 7 huts, and the foundations for one house and one school building. Now there are two school buildings, four homes, a kitchen, and like three bathroom buildings! I also got to see George (who calls me B2, because Bryce was B1 when we were here last year), Bosco, and Ken, all who remembered me… I was so happy. (Bryce: they miss you so much, and so does Julie)!

We finally got to Gulu last night, and we are staying in a hotel called Hotel Roma. It is SOOO much nicer than where I stayed last year… we even have our own bathrooms in each room. We feel so safe here.

Today came the moment I have been waiting for for over a year… I was FINALLY reunited with Julie, my very best Ugandan friend. I missed her so much! We walked to Gulu market and passed Kope Café… it’s so great recognizing things and kind of knowing where I am! I feel SO at home, especially because I am reunited with my family here… Julie, Rosie, Charles, Asunta. I have also made new friends- my Acholi is improving even just within one day. I hope to be fluent by October at the latest. :]

Tomorrow we are planning on going to Watoto Church and then visiting Koro Abili refugee camp. I can’t wait to see the kids and play with them. I will not be interviewing any kids individually with the video camera tomorrow, because we will go back to Abili next week, and I want to simply build relationships tomorrow. I will bring it and perhaps film them dancing and playing, though, so they can see the camera and get comfortable with it being there.

Everything is wonderful. I want to stay forever. (But don’t worry Mom and Dad… I promise I’ll come home for Christmas, at least this year).

Thanks for reading… love you all. :] Stay tuned for photographs and video clips within the next couple of weeks!

Leaving so soon!

Hey supporters... it's finally here, almost. I can't believe it... we're actually going to Uganda, FINALLY, after much planning and preparation and hoping and worrying and praying and everything else.

I have never felt more supported and encouraged in my life than in the past week. People have given me much-needed financial support, prayers have been said and written down for me to take and read, my church prayed for our team, and words of affirmation are coming from all my friends mouths. It's such a blessing; God is so good.

Being with my team the past two days has been wonderful. We have laughed and enjoyed each other's company so much. Already there have been struggles and minor setbacks, but tonight we all sat in a circle and talked and prayed. I am feeling much better after that, and I know it will only continue, because now these 5 are my brothers and sisters. We really MUST grow closer... it's our only option. I trust that each and every person is on this team for a reason, and I am so excited to see how everyone's talents and skills are used and honed while we're in Africa.

I am not scared of going to Uganda for four months. I'm not scared of language barriers. I'm not scared for my safety, I know to be careful and wary and smart. I'm not scared about fitting in. But I am a little scared... I'm scared to lead this team; I'm scared to step up when I need to; I'm scared to have that responsibility. But I know there's no other way it could happen. I have to lead. It's been so clear to me that that's a big part of what I must learn on this trip, and I am so excited about it. I want to be a humble leader, to lead out of love, and to even lead by following at times. I am scared, but I know I can do it.

I know I will come back on December 19 and be a completely different person than I am right now. I know I will learn things I never knew, do things I never thought possible, be stretched in the most uncomfortable of ways, break down when it's least convenient, step up when it's harder than ever. I know I will change, it's inevitable.

I'm so excited to become more full, more beautiful, more whole. I don't even know what to expect, but I know change will happen, and it will be so good.

The Past 3 Weeks

The past three weeks have been filled with family and friends and preparations and relaxation. I am so blessed to have the family I have. I'm so grateful for the relationship I share with each of my beautiful sisters. I'm going to miss them more than anyone, I think.

Tomorrow, I am going back to Milwaukee. I'm shooting a wedding reception on Friday, and then on Saturday and Sunday I'll just get to kick it on the east side with my friends there. I am really looking forward to seeing them and going to Epikos! There's a lot of people I want to see, and not a lot of time to see them all though.

Then on Monday, I go to Leilah's house with entire Uganda crew. Suzie, Collin, Erin, Leilah, Tom, and Me. We all get to be together for the first time ever! I think that's when it will hit me that I'm actually leaving for four months!

On Wednesday we leave for Uganda. I'm so excited. I can't even tell you how excited I am, because I don't think I really know yet. But it's that feeling where you know you're going to be exactly where you're supposed to be. Contentment, joy, peace. Plus, I get to see all my Ugandan friends again.

I'll write again soon, because I want to tell you about the war in Uganda. You should know why I'm passionate about this country specifically. Uganda is said to be the pearl of Africa. I'd say, that's true.