This trip was absolutely wonderful. I wish I could share every sight and smell and taste with all of you...check out Facebook for some more exciting photos SOON! Also, if you want to receive the Uganda Venture 2010 newsletter, just email me at ebrown@tkc.edu.
We foresee a bright future with the people of Uganda. I've heard most of us already talk about wanting to come back. I certainly do!
In the words of our friend Joyce from Campus Crusade for Christ, "Once you've tasted the waters of the Nile, nothing else will quench your thirst."
We're all packed up and about to take off for the airport! Our new flight has been scheduled to take off from Entebbe at about 8pm tonight (Uganda time) and will arrive at about 12noon Monday morning (U.S. time). Although it'll only be Sunday and Monday, because of the time change we'll be traveling for nearly two days. Please pray for safety, patience, and timeliness!
We've had an amazing debrief in Jinja, full of writing our report, singing, prayer, swimming, eating a lot of pizza and pineapple, and even a little bit of white water. Yesterday we rafted on the biggest rapids on the Nile and, although the raft tipped once, no one was hurt. :) Afterward we hopped into the still water downstream and went for a swim. There was thunder in the distance and I don't think I've ever felt so close to God. This is a beautiful and inspiring nation--please continue to pray for all the new friends we've met. It's been an adventure to say the least.
If/when I post again, it'll be from Manhattan. Love always, Betsy
Hey all, Betsy here--I'm sitting in a hotel (WITH WI-FI!!) in Jinja, Uganda, with a view of the Nile River and Lake Victoria. The team has reached our debriefing/chillin' time, complete with swimming pool, Internet, and (eventual) white water rafting on the Nile River. Right now Dr. Bleattler is outside playing with the local dogs (yes, I'm serious) and most of the team is getting ready for a well-deserved sleep.
Our van broke down literally five times on the way to Jinja (which is about three hours from Kampala), and once it even broke down in the rainforest. How cool is that. Seriously, the team took it in stride and we actually had fun singing and looking for monkeys out the window. We all made it in one piece, and our driver, Fred, deserves a lifetime supply of pineapples or something. Note: total monkey count was sadly 0.00.
Wow. Our exchange this week with the students of the School of Industrial and Fine Arts at Makerere University totally exceeded our expectations! We spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with 20 of the top art students in east Africa painting, singing, dancing, and talking. They are even cooler than I expected, and everyone wants to hopefully reunite next year.
Day one (Monday) was a lot of introductions and cultural exchange. Dr. Bleattler lectured on how African Art has influenced the West and Prof. Kynyene of MU lectured on 20th century Ugandan art. We talked with the students about our impressions of Uganda and America, and it was so cool to hear their reactions. One of my favorite quotes was by one of the students, who described America as "money-rich and time-poor." Too true.
Elvina introducing her neighbors to the group
Day two (Tuesday) got exciting as we collaborated with the students on art projects that reflected our discussions on how culture and art influence one another in our respective nations. The students at Makerere are so talented--we worked together on making beautiful jewelry, painting with watercolors, mixing media such as traditional Ugandan dried banana leaves and bark cloth, and even a little acting. The atmosphere was relaxed and slow-paced, with a lot of tea and chipate (traditional African flatbread) to go around. MU was so gracious and even provided lunch for us. We worked in the MU art studio building--tomorrow Elvina will post some of the amazing photos Elijah took. :)
Elijah, Ali, and Katelyn's group brainstorming ideas for their art project
Ali working on her group's painting
Elvina and Karla's group's final project
By day three (Wednesday) none of us wanted to leave. We presented our numerous projects to the group (one of my new friends, a jewelry making/museum curating major named Violet, made earrings and necklaces for almost everyone!). In the evening we had an open mic talent show.
Rehearsing for the talent show
The talent show included everything from original songs to crazy African dances to poetry. The art students at Makerere are all such natural performers--many of the guys can do backflips and dance as well as Usher, and the girls have beautiful singing voices. Their passion was such an inspiration for us. Many staff and faculty members were in the audience and by the end it broke into a huge dance party. I loved playing music (lots of guitar, and even a little African drum/American harmonica fusion!) and just getting to know and love the students. I think we all learned so much about each others' cultures and personal lives as well.
Joe reads a poem at the talent show
Well, all for now. You may be hearing more than usual from us because we have our first consistent Internet connection in 2.5 weeks! Also, we've recently discovered that our flight has been canceled due to British Airways strikes, so please pray that we find a flight around the same time frame ASAP. I'm sure it'll all work out--we're all getting used to this polychronic time thing, which means we're a whole lot more patient than we were when we left the states. All in good time, we'll work it out. (All the flights we're looking at are around the same time, so we won't be a month late or anything.) ;)
As we reach the midpoint of our trip, it's vital that we as a team keep our purpose in mind. I've created a page entitled "OUR GOALS" (the link is on the sidebar to the right of this post). It exists to give all of you at home a clearer picture of why we're here...to find ways The King's College and Uganda can connect long-term.
Also, yeah, I took that picture of the sunset. :) It's SO beautiful here! I'm sending all of you a postcard in my heart.
Wow! Our third (and final) day at Mercy Junior School was full of dancing, singing, animal noises, spelling, and even a few tears. It’s powerful to see so much joy in children who have so little.
Once again, our team split up into teams to teach different subjects for the nursery, Primary 1 (five and six year-olds) and Primary 2 (seven and eight year-olds). I’m so impressed with everyone’s teaching skills, and with how attentive and well-behaved the children were. I (Betsy) taught P1 English, and the kids already knew how to spell all of their colors and shapes. The students all raise their hands at once and say, “me, teacher!” when they know the answer—which is pretty much every time we ask a question.
During group time the kids performed several songs and dances for us and then asked us to join them on stage (they are all much better dancers than I am, ha!). I got to play my guitar and the Ugandan drum the team gave me for my birthday during worship, and I wish I could clone the instruments and leave the clones with the kids (they think it’s hilarious to bang on the drum!).
Karla teaches in the nursery
This little girl was SO adorable!
We’re so grateful that Mercy Junior School exists to help these bright kids begin their education, even in the midst of the slums of Kampala. Pastor Joseph, the leader of the church affiliated with the school, hopes that we can return in the future to teach again, and we hope we can as well.
The teachers brought the kids to the front to sing with us. So cute!
On Tuesday night we also had the opportunity to dive even deeper into the arts culture of Uganda. We went to dinner with Destreet, a local artist whom we met at the community center last week. He told us about his t-shirt making and college experiences. (At that point we were in an Italian restaurant in Uganda, listening to American country music. It was a pretty weird culture clash, for sure!) Then Destreet led us to a local club to see Maurice Kirya perform. Kirya, one of the most popular performers in the country, is an extremely talented vocalist and guitarist. His blend of Afro-beat, soul, and jazz was so much fun, and it gave us an insider’s look at the music scene of Uganda. The concert will certainly aid us in our conversations about the fusion of art and culture when we meet with Makerere University next week.
Maurice Kirya at Club Rouge--there was a painter working on a canvas during the music. It was awesome.
Today Elijah and Dr. Bleattler will be joining us—pray for their safe travel from Dubai to Entebbe! When they arrive our team will be complete. We can’t wait to introduce them to pineapple soda, chicken and chips, Malibu storks, and, of course, all of the contacts we’ve made so far. Bye for now!
If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far in Uganda, it’s that Internet is far more difficult to find that anticipated. :/ We’re sorry we can’t post more often than we have, but we’ll continue to trek into the city to find usable Internet cafés!
A view of downtown Kampala
The weekend has been full of adventures with children, adults, Ugandans, and Americans alike...and we're learning how musical a place Uganda really is! Choirs, rappers, even country music at our guest house...we've heard it all. :)
On Friday we visited the Chapmans, an American couple with Campus Crusade for Christ who have been living in Uganda since the 1980s—it’s amazing to hear an American speak Lugandan (the native language here) so fluently! Ken and Lynne were very welcoming, and took us to a service at a Ugandan Ministry service. I’d love it if American churches picked up a few tips from a Ugandan church service—it proved to be such a warm and sincere environment. Whenever the congregation was especially happy about something a member was sharing, the whole church burst into song. Many members of the congregation shared stories and there was a lot of laughter. Each of us got the chance to share our testimonies, and the service was in both Lugandan and English.
Yes, that is a real African sunset behind us. Stunning!
Afterward we walked to the nearby Mengo Hospital (one of the oldest in that part of Africa!) to visit patients and pray with them. I personally got to meet some one, two and three-year-olds with malaria—the most common disease among children in Uganda. The families of the sick children were so happy to have visitors, and some even wanted photographs with us and exchanged email addresses. It was incredibly humbling to see families so willing to speak with us as they were going through a rough time.
Kate with baby Josiah at Mengo Hospital
Yesterday our team traveled to Bavabuka Youth Arts Center for an art gala that promoted peace and human rights in Uganda. The younger children there were immediately hugging us and asking to take photos with our cameras—one of the eleven-year-old boys got some awesome video footage with mine. :) It was great to be surrounded by Ugandans who were as passionate about the arts as we are. Drawings and poetry hung all over the walls and the artists were playing pool and break dancing to hip-hop music (Karla learned some new moves!). Outside, artists were silk screening t-shirts and selling homemade paintings and jewelry. Everyone was thrilled to have so many muzungas at their party. Many of the artists were MCs (improv rappers), and they were so talented, especially the cute little ten and eleven-year-old boys! We engaged in conversation with some artists and land developers who are interested in how economics, religion, and media are affecting Uganda. We’re very interested in finding long-term opportunities with the organization because of its dedication to human rights and art philosophy.
Apparently the peace sign is big around here. :)
One of the young MCs at the Bavabuka Youth Center gets down with it
What can I say? Joe is a popular guy.
Well, it’s my birthday so I think I’m going to go eat some pineapples and hang out with the team (we’re taking it easy today)…there’s nowhere else in the world where I’d rather turn twenty-one! Also, Jennifer Tharp joins our team tonight as she flies in form South Africa! Pray that her travel will be safe…bye for now!
We, the Uganda Venture 2010 Team, are dedicated to pursuing truth and relationships by using our faith, passion, and creativity to love and engage the people of Uganda.
