Well, I fly out this evening. This has been such an incredible adventure and it kills me to be leaving right now. I feel as if I am being ripped from this place. I plan to come back as soon as possible, perhaps next May and June, we'll see.
Thank you all for your support and I cannot wait to show you and many others the photos, work and small glimpses into these people's lives. My hope is to have two different shows either in Portland or Eugene with the photography project from my students at the school in Kapelebyong. There were 8 boys, ages 14 to 21, whom I had given disposable cameras to and has them answer a series of questions in writing to learn more about their thoughts and lives. I will be developing photos from each boy and selling the photos hopefully at the shows. This money will be going directly back to the school to build a fence so the students can start cultivating the land. The other show will be representing Nu Intentions, the micro-finance organization I am now partnering with. For every girl in Nu Intentions I gave a camera to as well and have each of their stories gathered by myself and a few others. I will be selling their photos as well. Along with the photos I'll be selling the earrings they make, to view them go to www.nuintentions.com. This micro-finance is just starting and we are looking to broaden it by accepting a few girls (hopefully more later) from the neighboring Karamajong tribe. After doing some work with them, I have bracelets to sell, and they have graciously given my several samples of their necklaces to sell as well. Both the bracelets and necklaces are the same tribal jewelry the girls wear every day. Along with the work of these women I will be doing a series of drawing/paintings to sell as well. All the profits will go back to the women. I will give more information and history later, this is just meant to be a brief explanation into what I will be doing when I get back. All of this may take a little time due to raising funds to develop the 17 cameras and getting the shows oragnized, as well as other details but I will keep all of you updated as to how the process is coming along and then post photos and information as to how it went.
Thanks again for all of your support and I will see most of you soon!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is oly that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy...and when you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight...
Verily you are suspendid like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
-K. Gibran
I am carved out and am recieving one (probably of many) burning processes. I am starting to really grasp the meaning of not only this poem but also of putting yourself in a place, taking action upon the Lord , and He will move in you. If you allow him to, and ask and thus open your heart to what he has, he will move and work.
One of my hopes in coming here was to be broken for him, repeatedly and that through this process He would better be able to continue his work in me, and in that be able to serve and understand loving people all the more. I have been in a constant state of movement , this is what it feels like to truly grow. It is incredibley painful, and yet although I am on my knees , I am not at a loss.
My purpose here is to educate people...to bride the gaps in communities, to aid in allowing two people who are completely different to better be able to relate to one another. To be able to get a view into a different life and start to grasp the essence of this person. But, this purpose gets so easily lost in all the other needs out here. It is too easy to want to do as much as possible, maybe for a good reason, but I'm learning that every little step counts, especially the details. For the past few weeks, every day, I have been mending and repairing the villagers clothing. It seems like an insignificant thing to do, but most people only have one to two pieces of clothing, and repairing it gives them clothing for maybe even another year.
I have also been thinking about the details in life and how to communicate these people and their lives and thoughts. Using photography, paintings, audio redordings and even their own words I hope to show all of you when I come back the essence of who many of these people are.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is oly that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy...and when you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight...
Verily you are suspendid like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
-K. Gibran
I am carved out and am recieving one (probably of many) burning processes. I am starting to really grasp the meaning of not only this poem but also of putting yourself in a place, taking action upon the Lord , and He will move in you. If you allow him to, and ask and thus open your heart to what he has, he will move and work.
One of my hopes in coming here was to be broken for him, repeatedly and that through this process He would better be able to continue his work in me, and in that be able to serve and understand loving people all the more. I have been in a constant state of movement , this is what it feels like to truly grow. It is incredibley painful, and yet although I am on my knees , I am not at a loss.
My purpose here is to educate people...to bride the gaps in communities, to aid in allowing two people who are completely different to better be able to relate to one another. To be able to get a view into a different life and start to grasp the essence of this person. But, this purpose gets so easily lost in all the other needs out here. It is too easy to want to do as much as possible, maybe for a good reason, but I'm learning that every little step counts, especially the details. For the past few weeks, every day, I have been mending and repairing the villagers clothing. It seems like an insignificant thing to do, but most people only have one to two pieces of clothing, and repairing it gives them clothing for maybe even another year.
I have also been thinking about the details in life and how to communicate these people and their lives and thoughts. Using photography, paintings, audio redordings and even their own words I hope to show all of you when I come back the essence of who many of these people are.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
He breathed us together, and we became His hands and His feet...
Thank you, THANK YOU to all of my friends and family who have already heard and who have been praying. You are a godsend and I am so thankful you all are in my life.
For those who have not heard, I came down with malaria and was hospitalized for the last few days. It was awful, and I have never been this sick, but have recovered very well. I am not 100% yet, but pretty close. For those who are unfamiliar with malaria, it is carried by mosquitoes and once infected, it drains the body of all it's liquids until they're gone. You have a raging fever, can't walk (or even sit up), and without getting too graphic, you have extreme vomitting and other things. It is a very deadly disease, but very treatable. The treatment is pretty harsh, I was on a quinine drip for 2 days which has made my entire arm swollen and my veins hard where the iv was placed. As hard as this was, God was there the entire time.
We (Amelia and I) were worried because in the hospitals here, you are required to have someone else with you because there is no one to take care of you- the nurses only give medicine and nothing else, and both Amelia and I were sick( she came down with Malaria as well) and we didn't know anyone else. We didn't have any water, or food or anyone to carry us to the bathroom (neither of us could walk). And all of the sudden our taxi driver decided he needed to check on us and then one of the rafters at the hostel we stayed at (who we had met once) walked in with the appropriate food and water and literally came back and forth and took care of us until we were both checked out.
Even when we knew no one, God provided and was there. He tells us to never fear, that no matter the circumstances, He will be there. And here is a testimony that that is true.
For those who have not heard, I came down with malaria and was hospitalized for the last few days. It was awful, and I have never been this sick, but have recovered very well. I am not 100% yet, but pretty close. For those who are unfamiliar with malaria, it is carried by mosquitoes and once infected, it drains the body of all it's liquids until they're gone. You have a raging fever, can't walk (or even sit up), and without getting too graphic, you have extreme vomitting and other things. It is a very deadly disease, but very treatable. The treatment is pretty harsh, I was on a quinine drip for 2 days which has made my entire arm swollen and my veins hard where the iv was placed. As hard as this was, God was there the entire time.
We (Amelia and I) were worried because in the hospitals here, you are required to have someone else with you because there is no one to take care of you- the nurses only give medicine and nothing else, and both Amelia and I were sick( she came down with Malaria as well) and we didn't know anyone else. We didn't have any water, or food or anyone to carry us to the bathroom (neither of us could walk). And all of the sudden our taxi driver decided he needed to check on us and then one of the rafters at the hostel we stayed at (who we had met once) walked in with the appropriate food and water and literally came back and forth and took care of us until we were both checked out.
Even when we knew no one, God provided and was there. He tells us to never fear, that no matter the circumstances, He will be there. And here is a testimony that that is true.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Breath in..and Breath out
These last few days have been the hardest. I have spent the last two days in Kampala's hospital's cancer ward with one of the most amazing little boys I have ever met. His name is Ojada, he is nine, and for the past year has been receiving treatment for bone cancer in his leg.
Lying on the cement ground outside with him yesterday, covered in ants and flies holding him as he is going through so much pain was incredibly difficult. The hospital is overcrowded and people are dying left and right. Even while we were there a child passed away and I could hear the mother screaming inside. It takes every muscle inside of me not to brake down sobbing.
Even through this, Esther, Ojada's mother who has HIV is a rock. All she said at the end of the day was this, "It is ok, no matter what happens...in the end we will all be dancing with God".
Lying on the cement ground outside with him yesterday, covered in ants and flies holding him as he is going through so much pain was incredibly difficult. The hospital is overcrowded and people are dying left and right. Even while we were there a child passed away and I could hear the mother screaming inside. It takes every muscle inside of me not to brake down sobbing.
Even through this, Esther, Ojada's mother who has HIV is a rock. All she said at the end of the day was this, "It is ok, no matter what happens...in the end we will all be dancing with God".
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Besides the food, I am loving it out here. It is a bit unreal but now becoming comforting. Even as I sit here in Kampala typing this to you, I wish I was in Kapalebiong. As far as my art projects, they are going so well. I am really excited. The first project I am now a part of is with a new organization called Nu Intentions (check out the website at www.NuIntentions.com) where we employ 8 wome ranging from the ages of 14 to 24 to make these beautiful earrings. A girl from San diego (one of Amelia's friends) started it about a year ago and I will be the new rep for Oregon and eventually I'll try to go up to Seattle also. She designed these beautiful earrings that the girls weave and then send back to the states to sell. In addition to this project, we wanted to involve a few of the Karamajong girls (they are the tribe that has been raiding and killing the Teso -where we are, for years. There has been peace for awhile so our hope is that by allowing these girls to work together it will bring more peace and understanding between the two tribes) in making jewelry also. So...exciting! Last week we went and visited the Karamajong. I didn't know this but they are actually an off-shoot of the Massai tribe in Kenya. I prayed that we would be recieved well and thankfully we were. They are a beautiful tribe, tall and slender with tons of jewelry and drapery- just like the Massai. Even most of the children had permanent anklets, bracelets and necklaces. We even got to dance with them! They started clapping and singing- again just like the Massai they jump. I got some great photos and jumped with them. What was really encouraging is that we originally went out there only to view samples, knowing we did not have the finances to include them yet, but after sitting down and viewing everything I am able to buy two types of bracelets and then they are giving me free samples of the necklaces (which were too expensive to buy) and then taking them back to Portland to sell! I will be picking them up in August. Also encouraging- the man helping to do the work as far as sending and recieving the jewelry, money and supplies is a very good man. We (amelia and I) needed to make sure the girls were all getting paid and things were being done honestly and praise God, they are because of James. My other projects are with the same Nu Intentions women and some of the schoolchildren. With the Nu Intentions girls I am having them practice drawing while we are gone these next two weeks. I was able to buy each of them a drawing pad and pencil to start. When we get back I will be painting batik's with them. These are paintings on fabric using wax and ink. Luckily I was able to find a man in Soroti to help me learn how to use these materials and what exactly to get. So (money allowing) each girl will be painting 3-4 batiks to take back to the US to sell. Towards the end each girl will be getting a disposable camera and photographing her life. Each girl has gone through a lot and their stories are on the Nu Intentions web site. I wasn't sure how these ideas were received as the girls do not know us well yet and do not show their excitement. But every day this week we have been visiting a girl's home and meeting her family. When we came to Betty Itea's home she showed me 5 drawings she has already done. And some of the other girls have told me what they're doing also. I am so excited to see where this goes.
At the school, in one class I am just teaching art. The kids again did not show much enthusiasm but when class time was up most had a hard time giving me their papers and when I told them about next time, that I would be teaching techniques, their faces lit up. We'll see what happens with that. I am also working with an older and smaller class of about 8 15 to19 year old boys and each will be given a camera when I get back to photograph their lives also. My hope is, that with these works I will also try to sell them in the states (mainly the photos) and pay for some of the kids school fees. Education really is the key here to get these kids out of their current situations. Even just out of an IDP Camp where they do not know if they will get food again. They are so driven to be in school I want to try and help them as long as I can.As far as traveling, we take public transportation...which means traveling in the back of a truck where about 50 (not overexagerating I actually counted and when I get to 35 on just one side of the truck I quite counting) people (and food, supplies, chickens and building materials) are crammed into the back of a truck. It's a bit painful because the roads are so bumpy and you sit on bags of posho, but people take of eachother here. Old women who may refuse to smile at me, take my bags when needed, assist me where to sit, when to stand and so on. Everyone does this, I would feel perfectly safe to bring my own children on one of these because everyone helps. We take a bus to Kampala which was actually pretty comfortable, besides the smell. And getting around Kampala...well, we take bodas. Yup, the little motor bikes that traveling agencies say don't get on. You have to, the city is too big and they are your only option. I actually really like them, besides that I feel like I might pee my pants every 5 seconds. There are no traffic laws here, plus huge potholes in the roads, so everyone is always swerving and driving as fast or slow as they want. They also drive 3-4 to a 2 lane road. The bodas do what they want, we go between cars, in the shoulder/curb, anything. It's like living in a fast-speed video game. But Amelia and I were invited to a bbq last night with other NGOs (basically a bunch of other white people) and all of them have been riding on bodas for years and no one has been seriously injured.
Sorry no pictures yet, but the internet is too slow to download them. Hope all is well with everyone and will update soon...headed off to Jinja, along the Nile River!
At the school, in one class I am just teaching art. The kids again did not show much enthusiasm but when class time was up most had a hard time giving me their papers and when I told them about next time, that I would be teaching techniques, their faces lit up. We'll see what happens with that. I am also working with an older and smaller class of about 8 15 to19 year old boys and each will be given a camera when I get back to photograph their lives also. My hope is, that with these works I will also try to sell them in the states (mainly the photos) and pay for some of the kids school fees. Education really is the key here to get these kids out of their current situations. Even just out of an IDP Camp where they do not know if they will get food again. They are so driven to be in school I want to try and help them as long as I can.As far as traveling, we take public transportation...which means traveling in the back of a truck where about 50 (not overexagerating I actually counted and when I get to 35 on just one side of the truck I quite counting) people (and food, supplies, chickens and building materials) are crammed into the back of a truck. It's a bit painful because the roads are so bumpy and you sit on bags of posho, but people take of eachother here. Old women who may refuse to smile at me, take my bags when needed, assist me where to sit, when to stand and so on. Everyone does this, I would feel perfectly safe to bring my own children on one of these because everyone helps. We take a bus to Kampala which was actually pretty comfortable, besides the smell. And getting around Kampala...well, we take bodas. Yup, the little motor bikes that traveling agencies say don't get on. You have to, the city is too big and they are your only option. I actually really like them, besides that I feel like I might pee my pants every 5 seconds. There are no traffic laws here, plus huge potholes in the roads, so everyone is always swerving and driving as fast or slow as they want. They also drive 3-4 to a 2 lane road. The bodas do what they want, we go between cars, in the shoulder/curb, anything. It's like living in a fast-speed video game. But Amelia and I were invited to a bbq last night with other NGOs (basically a bunch of other white people) and all of them have been riding on bodas for years and no one has been seriously injured.
Sorry no pictures yet, but the internet is too slow to download them. Hope all is well with everyone and will update soon...headed off to Jinja, along the Nile River!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Yoga!
So, it's amazing here, it has been a little hard. Kapalebyong is so dirty, the villages here are incredibly beautiful with tons of greenery and huts, but Kapalebyong is dirty with goats, pigs, cattle, chickens, turkeys, and stray dogs everywhere. There are no fences so everything just runs loose. But there are also babies everywhere- chicks, puppies, little children, we even have several baby goats living by us that we watch play king of the hill.
I'm having a hard time knowing where to begin to talk. I'm doing very well health wise, it's actually been quite a miracle- no stomach issues, no mosquito bites even! But that is partially do to a drought. We could strongly use prayer for that, the people here are on the brink of possibly starvation, we are in the rainy season now and it has only rained once and it is very dry. So pray for rain! The women I am living with (and children) are amazing and so loving. Daukus, Esther's 18 year old daughter has been cooking for us and it's actually really good. We had fresh chicken (I watched it get butchered) for two days (same chicken) with rice and a great sauce made from oil, tomatoes, onions and salt- yeah, I know it doesn't sound very good, but it is delicious! There is not much food here so we are always a little hungry, but our needs are met and we are also feeding the people we are living with so that is good.
As far as language, it is funny. The main language is Teso, with a tiny bit of english and even that english is the british form. So to speak to people I have to use their accent otherwise they will not understand. And I am slowly learning Teso, a little swahili- for instance djabo means how are you? and Yoga meanse how are you in Teso and you reply with yoga noi, meaning i am fine how are you? People are very friendly. But we do feel like celebrities- we are treated as royalty almost because we are white but also as freaks and everyone, everyone stares. The children try to touch you to see if you painted yourself and if not, they get very excited if you smile at them. Except the really little ones, they are scarred. They call it fearing here, so someone might say "Ah! She is fearing you!" and...everyone thinks I am 14 or 15, because I have the body of one (no boobs or butt) and they laugh so hard when they find out my age.
On my next update, I will talk more about the project- art project, I am working on, we have some incredible opportunities and even to help create peaceful associations between two tribes. This week, I think, maybe next, I (and a few others) will be traveling into the karamajong's territory to work with the women. I will talk about this more soon but pray for a safe journey and that we will be recieved well.
I'm having a hard time knowing where to begin to talk. I'm doing very well health wise, it's actually been quite a miracle- no stomach issues, no mosquito bites even! But that is partially do to a drought. We could strongly use prayer for that, the people here are on the brink of possibly starvation, we are in the rainy season now and it has only rained once and it is very dry. So pray for rain! The women I am living with (and children) are amazing and so loving. Daukus, Esther's 18 year old daughter has been cooking for us and it's actually really good. We had fresh chicken (I watched it get butchered) for two days (same chicken) with rice and a great sauce made from oil, tomatoes, onions and salt- yeah, I know it doesn't sound very good, but it is delicious! There is not much food here so we are always a little hungry, but our needs are met and we are also feeding the people we are living with so that is good.
As far as language, it is funny. The main language is Teso, with a tiny bit of english and even that english is the british form. So to speak to people I have to use their accent otherwise they will not understand. And I am slowly learning Teso, a little swahili- for instance djabo means how are you? and Yoga meanse how are you in Teso and you reply with yoga noi, meaning i am fine how are you? People are very friendly. But we do feel like celebrities- we are treated as royalty almost because we are white but also as freaks and everyone, everyone stares. The children try to touch you to see if you painted yourself and if not, they get very excited if you smile at them. Except the really little ones, they are scarred. They call it fearing here, so someone might say "Ah! She is fearing you!" and...everyone thinks I am 14 or 15, because I have the body of one (no boobs or butt) and they laugh so hard when they find out my age.
On my next update, I will talk more about the project- art project, I am working on, we have some incredible opportunities and even to help create peaceful associations between two tribes. This week, I think, maybe next, I (and a few others) will be traveling into the karamajong's territory to work with the women. I will talk about this more soon but pray for a safe journey and that we will be recieved well.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Things I'm not looking forward to...
White fried ants.....Delicious!
Or maybe not....or maybe so, we'll see.
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