Update from September 12, 2005

Trip to Uganda

Leah and I went to northern Uganda, to visit an orphanage called Amazing Grace in Adjumani. The orphanage takes care of 30 Sudanese children who lost parents during the war in Sudan, and have no extended family to take them or their extended family doesn’t have the capability to adequately take care of them. The children at Amazing Grace were so beautiful and hilarious. I will try to give you a short picture of our time there, and some general info about the area.

Kids cheer after catching a chicken.

There are about 4000 Sudanese refugees who are living in Adjumani and around 8-10 thousand Ugandans. The orphanage that we visited was started in ’96. It has been officially opened since 2001. The Ugandan/Sudanese Episcopalian diocese was given a spot of land to build this orphanage. It was torn down and rebuilt because it was first located in a UN transit camp that was forced to be dismantled. (Hence the name Amazing Grace—after the orphanage was moved and restored to a new location in Adjumani).

Assisting with cooking at the orphanage.

We were told that lately more and more people had been moving to Adjumani (Sudanese refugees) because the refugee camps around Adjumani (about 20 km away on many sides) were still very susceptible to attacks or kidnappings from the LRA (Lords Resistance Army). The LRA has been responsible for kidnapping more than 20 thousand children to be used as child soldiers, slaves, and “wives” for its military commanders.

Susan with a widow and her hut.

So many more people were setting up makeshift huts in Adjumani since it offered better protection. Susan Tabia, the woman who started and helps run the orphanage stated that because many of the refugee camps on the outskirts of Adjumani were so insecure, many people, including elderly widows, had decided to take their chances and return to Sudan (back to KajoKeji area) despite the risks there. She showed us pictures of widows who they are now trying to help since they made the choice to move back to Sudan. Most do not even have blankets, and lack any good shelter because they are too weak to make an adequate thatched roof and sturdy walls. And there are no medicines to help them with any of their ailments.

Already living in barren circumstances, some have moved back to Sudan deciding that they would rather die in their own country than from their vulnerable placement in refugee camps in northern Uganda. These people desperately need assistance. The war destroyed everything so they have very little to survive on with very few resources. Even farming equipment is difficult to come by. Many people in the refugee camps are making plans to return to Southern Sudan with hopes that the peace agreement signed last year will remain effective. (I don’t know how the death of John Garang—the former leader of the SPLM—and late vice-president of Sudan—will affect the peace agreement and rebuilding efforts of Southern Sudan.)

Gloria lost her hearing in an accident.

Some of the stories of these children will tear your heart out. One child who had been abandoned during the war was found eating human feces. She was so malnourished that all that was left of her was skin and bones. Now at the orphanage 5 years later, she stands beautiful and healthy because she has been taken care of and can go to school while living at the orphanage. Another beautiful little girl lost her mom in a car accident, and her grandparents to a shooting by a rebel Sudanese group. She witnessed these things as a small child, and was found both times by people in the dead arms of her care-givers. She became deaf because of one or both of these incidents, and needs special training/attention. These stories are hard to take in. But what’s amazing is how many of the children are now being taken care of and are loved in their current environment.

Leah and I had a lot of fun with the children. Playing soccer (futball), and learning some of the many games they played—despite the heat! We also we able to talk to leaders and members of the community over long cups of tea and strolling into town or biking down the dirt roads. After one soccer game with a rather flat ball, it started to rain and we ran into one of the huts and Sarah, one of the eldest girls, led the kids in some singing and dancing.

Storm clouds approach the dorms.

I can’t describe how inspirational some of these moments were. The last night that we were there we tried to learn some traditional dances. We had been playing another soccer game when it started to get really windy. The sky seemed to be getting stormy, like it was about to rain, and the wind began to blow harder wrapping the clothes around their bodies. Little dust twisters ran around the compound and the children began to dance, smiling and laughing as they sang many songs in many of their different tribal tongues. They made a big circle and tried to get people to jump in the middle to strut their stuff. Even older women with their babies on their backs jumped in and danced around the circle…

A rainbow appeared in the immense African sky. The children only grew in excitement as they fervently pounded their feet into the ground. Then all the girls ran into their dorms and came back out with brightly colored sheets pinks, orange, green and blues, and they wrapped their faces in the sheets bringing out their bright smiles. They were stunning…

The girls later told me what some of the songs meant. The words of one of the songs they sang in Arabic was, “We want to go to our homeland, but we are so far away. We want to see our brothers and sisters, but we are so far away.” That night I wrote this poem when I went back into my room and it sort of describes the experience.

Tongues of Fire Children’s feet raining down in gentle powerful rhythms Tumbling down upon the listless mounds Lifting up the dust of the earth, The clouds rise, enshrouding dancing bodies Voices pour forth in song, cleansing pools of salty tears Voices rise up in laughter, scattering moods of fear Voices rise up to threaten the looming darkness of nightfall’s advance. In the beat of the drum - mourning, pain, loss, loneliness, abandonment Transformed. The dimness fades as dancing feet following the light’s path. “The Lord has changed my sorrow into dancing.” They pound the palms of their feet into the land of exile, Defeating the curse. Releasing the chains. Their healing words spit into the dust and turn it into mud And the Loving hand takes it, spreading it on their wounded face. The eyes of their hearts are opened. Hope resting in the arms of their Creator. Trusted Lover, Mother, Father, Redeemer, Friend. Rain from heaven seen in their bright eyes. As tears of sorrow turn to stains of joy. As songs begin to stir the warm wind Their fear evaporates into the glowing stillness. For awhile freedom reigns Bright cloths and sheets of lavender blue, sun-washed pinks and oranges, Envelop their dark skin. They sing in tongues of fire In the spirit of Pentecost their hands are outstretched for the flood As the coming downpour promises to bring them peace And then they sing an old song in Arabic verse. “Sudan is so far, so far away!” they cry, “We want to go to out homeland but it is so far away. We want to see our sisters, but they are so far away. We want to see our brothers, but they are so far away. We want to see our mothers and fathers, but they are so far away! Oh Sudan is so far…so far away!” voices trailing off… Deep-rooted moaning, longing, rumblings of their souls in waiting Longing to Return. Then high above the Creator re-enacts their colorful schemes Spreading more vibrant strands against the sea of the sky While songs pulsate the atmosphere’s luminous expanse The sign of the promise appeared. “I will be with you.” Each beam of refracted light That makes up the bow Gave a glimpse of the Source, the Sun, Like streams in the desert. Like pools in the wilderness. Floodgates opened Hope longed for, Hope held, Hope here. Presence felt, Permeating the bones of every figure of moving color Immersed in languages of love they shine. Refreshed once again Thy staff and thy rain, they comfort me. They drench me. These are the meek, the displaced, the refugee The children and orphans of war Praising the prince of peace With open arms he enfolds them to his breast and Into the kingdom of God, Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Oh Children you will never be forgotten You are children of light, earth and heaven. Piercing the darkness of your suffering Spreading new life to those around you. It’s written on your heart, And no one can take it from you.

Susan hanging out with the kids.

It was really hard to leave and say goodbye to the kids. I had fun talking with some of the girls at night before tickling them into their beds. The wanted to swap riddles and stories, so we chatted and laughed. The older kids too who had so many questions and who have so many dreams. Some of the youth who are now in secondary school have sponsors (just from people/visitors who have come into contact with the orphanage and decided to help support the secondary school funds.) But not all the older kids have a sponsor. They all have so much potential, and it only seems like opportunity is what people lack, because people will make the most of everything they have. They are extremely resourceful and creative.

For example, the caretakers of the orphans are trying to create more income-generating projects to support themselves as they now depend on donations by individuals and their own self-sustaining projects. One example is a poultry/egg farm which has helped to support them (the children go and sell the eggs earning some money for the place). There are many ways some of you might be interested in contributing to help them! Given more opportunities they could do and learn so much, not just for themselves but for their community. A good education is so vitally important! If anyone is interested in being a sponsor or donating, check out the website again. www.agorphanage.com

I had so much to learn from these incredible people who had demonstrated lives of service and devotion. All of them--Susan and Ezbon, Cecelia and Benaiah---and many other care-takers of the children were truly inspirational. And the children have so much beauty and joy.

Susan stated that if many of the orphans couldn’t come to AG many would have been susceptible to abuse and extremely hard labor from relatives or others trying to take care of them in the refugee camps. Life in the refugee camps can be extremely tough, and we saw that with only some day visits to some of the camps.

Time for tea.

Walking for miles, hauling wood and water, cooking and preparing food, and working in the fields can take all day. Before coming to the orphanage, some of the children had been forced to do hard labor all day long and were not able to go to school. And even other basic needs could not be met like healthcare. Many worked long hours and their education suffered as a result. But the children at Amazing Grace can go to a good local primary school, and the older ones are now going to secondary boarding schools and come back on holidays. They have jobs that they share while staying at the orphanage, carrying water, cooking, cleaning, farming---but they have what they need and are able to attend a good school.

We met many other inspiring people in Adjumani. There were some leaders who were working for peace and disarmament of those who still had small arms left over from the war. One pastor named Solomon was involved in collecting small arms left over from all the rebel movements and wars which have increased domestic and social violence, like robbery and rape. They are trying to educate people about the harmful effects of small arms, and convince them to give them over. And they have done a lot, but still need assistance. Some community members also expressed the dangerous situation of the youth and the high suicide and AIDS rate. Many young people were becoming desperate with little opportunity in sight, making it very difficult to live and have hope. Some community and church leaders are trying to create new social programs for youth to give them hope.

While we were there we got word that a one-year old baby had died in the community from a type of anemia. We walked by crowds gathered to comfort and pray for the family. What made it very despairing is that tragedies like this seem to happen a lot. People continue to grieve over the death and destruction of life, no matter how often and reoccurring it is. But they resist the numbness. They cry out, open up the wound for as someone said, “it’s the only way to heal.”

"Girl Power."

I have never seen more people with so much faith. They don’t just survive on their faith-- they thrive because of their faith. And so many of them expressed so much hope, mentioning their intentions of returning to Sudan in the near future. Many were hoping to return in the next two years. The leaders of the orphanage want to eventually move the Amazing Grace orphanage to Sudan (Kajukeji) near the one that they have built taking care of 30 more kids. As Ezbon would often say, the church’s responsibility is to take care of the orphans, widows and the vulnerable, and that’s exactly what they are doing as much as possible with the strength of God behind them.

jo french

 

You can check out the orphanage at www.agorphanage.com. Some of my pictures I took are up on the site and you can read more information about this place. There are some projects that you might be interested in supporting as well. (Also check out www.lahash.net for a link to the orphanage and its sister projects—including new efforts to help some of the Sudanese Widows and Refugees). Feel free to communicate with me about our time there and if you are interested in visiting or learning about the place.