Three Interviews

I have a basic idea of what I want to do for the intro of the documentary! And I'm really excited about it. So today, we started getting the sound we need for it.

We interviewed three of the Ugandan staff here at Village of Hope, individually. We hooked a microphone to their shirt, but didn't use the camera, because their words will simply be used as a voice over. First, I asked them to explain the history of the war to me. Then, I asked them how it affected the people of Northern Uganda and also how it affected them personally. Then, I asked them if there is hope for Uganda. Then, I asked them if Village of Hope is bringing hope and is truly helping.

The first was one of the construction workers here. First, he told us about the IDP (Internally Displaced People, aka Refugee) Camps and how they were necessary for the safety of the people... but also how they weren't too safe because the government soldiers who were supposed to "protect" the people often raped the girls and women or would steal food from them. Then he told us that many people have moved out of the camps now and gone back to their homelands so they can farm, but because none of the centers around their home villages are built up at all, education and health care have not been good at all. Many kids can't go to school because they don't have the funds or school is too far. And many people who are sick or pregnant can't get to health centers fast enough because there is little transportation and the health centers are far away. He said many people who are trying to get to a health center just die on the road.

The second interview was harder than the first. He lived in the African bush from 1990 until 2007. Literally did not sleep at home at all, for fear that the rebels would attack his home and abduct or kill him and his siblings. He said that throughout that whole time he would hear news that (in his words) "five people died there," and "eleven people died this other side," all around him. He said that sometimes, the rebels would force 25 people into one hut and then burn it. That's how his grandmother died. His father died of TB. His older brother died as a soldier in the war. His friend was abducted and killed. Then he said, "I can't tell any more stories."

The third interview was hard as well, and possibly the most informative about the war. She went to an all girls school, and one night, 20 girls were abducted from the showers. She was in the dormitory, so she didn't get abducted, but she was so scared and was hiding the whole time. Of the 20 girls who were abducted, three have survived and returned. One of the girls who returned told her about a girl she went to school with who was abducted. Because she was so beautiful, the rebel leaders all wanted her to be their wife, so they cut her into pieces and so they each got a piece of her. They forced all the schoolgirls to watch, and told them that if they cry or express anything besides laughter, they would kill them the same way.

Hearing things like that is unreal. It’s impossible, even while hearing a firsthand account, to fathom that things like that actually happened, and are happening. I’m really happy we got those stories recorded, because that’s the type of thing people need to hear so they will understand that help is needed. Every single interviewee said (even without being prompted) that Village of Hope is helping so much because these kids otherwise have no hope and no one can care for them. It was perfect content for a documentary about VOH.

Our purpose here is being accomplished, little by little. Keep praying that it will continue to be. Daily.

Love, love, love. All of you!