Back in the Saddle

I am now back in the States, in NYC to be exact. It's only been a few days, but it's going to take a while for my mind and heart to catch up with the rest of my body. I think I am still in denial about being here; hence the delayed announcement. It's so strange to be in this city in particular - the stark contrast between the life and lifestyle of those I met in Uganda and here are difficult to reconcile. I am experiencing a bad bout of reverse culture shock. Fortunately, I have had a number of very caring friends ease the transition, mainly by calling, emailing, and telling me they want to hear about what I learned and experienced during my brief time in Uganda...thank you, dear friends.

I would appreciate your help as I process how best to move forward with the ideas and experiences my trip to Uganda has impressed upon my heart and mind. I have had a lot of ideas about what to do, but am reminded of the verse in the Bible (Psalms) that states unless God builds it, the builders build in vain. I am trying to spend time reflecting on various options to bring to light what has previously been kept in the dark about the situation in northern Uganda, particularly as it pertains to civilians living in the displaced persons camps. But I recognize that unless the ideas are rooted in God's plan and will, it would be vain to pursue them. Your feedback would be appreciated.

As stated below, I plan to put online a shortlist of the names, photos and places I visited so that you may get to know and become acquainted with these individuals yourself. I have phone numbers of the camp leaders and in some cases, mailing addresses, though I have been told that they are not as reliable as one might hope...esp. if one plans on shipping or sending any kind of materials that would be enticing for others to keep for themselves along the way...I am in the process right now of compiling the information about the camps and organizing them in some way to present to you and others who might be able to help them in some way, even if it is only to learn and listen and reflect on their situation.

I'm also trying to pray through and reflect on what additional steps could be taken to assist those who are languishing in camps in northern Uganda. The political situation is slowly changing and I believe there is reason to be very optimistic about the overall prospects for peace, but more needs to be done. Honestly, I think that turning to the NGOs and UN agencies there are not the answer, as much as I and many of the people there appreciate the good work they are doing...I can expand on my reasons for this belief at another time, but the previous post on IDP camps below gets at this rationale a bit.

So. What else can be done? Yesterday, a friend from church indicated that the number one thing one can do when confronted with something this big, the one thing which would be both effective and honoring to both the people and to God, is to pray.

Pray.

So pray I will and I hope those of you reading this who have the bent to pray, will do the same. Please pray for peace in northern Uganda, an end to the violence that has been perpetrated by rebel groups, especially the Lord's Resistance Army, as well as by local defense militias (LDUs), and the government under the UPDF (as well as other armed groups).

Pray for the well-being of civilians, especially the vulnerable children and women who are languishing in the camps. Pray for better roads, schools and health facilities so that people are no longer isolated from the rest of the country and neighboring villages; so that they can get a good education (which is what so many I spoke with expressed a strong desire to do); and receive adequate access to health clinics and health care.

Pray for hope and encouragement to be infused in communities affected by the violence in the north. It has been reported recently that in some of the poorer camps, people have taken to committing suicide out of complete despair over their situation. Please pray that the people living in the camps, especially those who are racked by disease and starvation would not take their own lives, but would receive help and hope from those on the outside.

Please pray for an end to the corruption within the government at the national, district and local levels; corruption that has allowed this horrible situation in the north to continue for so long. It was recently reported that there have been thousands of "ghost soldiers" on the payroll of the government army - people who were no longer alive are still receiving salaries, which were going to corrupt army officials and soldiers. Politicians have been making a lot of money and holding onto it, at the expense and well-being of civilians under their care.

Please pray for better roads, schools, institutions, and general infrastructure. Pray for an outpouring of God's mercy and blessings over the people and the land, both of which have been ravaged by war.

Pray for healing and restoration of those whose lives have been completely violated, traumatized and broken by war: women who have been raped, people who have lost family members, those who have participated (both by force and voluntarily) in committing acts of violence, children who have been aducted and are still not reunited with their parents, men who are suffering from alcoholism and despair, people who are living under the weight of poverty and disease, especially HIV/AIDS, which is still spreading and quite rampant, especially in the camps.

Please pray for the camp leaders and those who are responsible for helping and leading those living in the camps; that they would be good leaders, giving hope and good guidance to the camp civilians.

Please pray that the message of salvation through Jesus would spread like wildfire throughout the land, especially the north, and that people's hearts and lives would be transformed by the good news of the gospel.

Please pray for the Comboni missionaries, Fathers, Pazzaglia, Rodriguez, Gerner and others like them who are working to bring peace, hope and comfort to the people of northern Uganda, out of a deep love and devotion to Christ. Please pray for their work, their physical safety and well-being; please pray that God would bless the work of their hands and that others would be inspired to follow their example.

Please pray for more people in the United States, Europe and other countries to take a stand for those who are suffering in northern Uganda; and that more people would be moved to use their resources and money to assist those who are in desperate need of financial, spiritual and physical assistance...

I pray on a more personal level that God would inspire and lead me to the right people and resources to help those in northern Uganda, especially the people I met in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader through whatever means I can.

Thank you.