Still Processing

Those of us who went to Uganda have been back in the US for at least a week at this point. Last night we gathered once again, this time back in the living room of Jared's home with Adam and Sarah on the phone from Minneapolis. With snow on the ground and below freezing temperatures in both places Uganda seemed a long way away.

We talked about our return and how each of us, although in many ways ready to return to family, community, safety, and sanity - still are processing through being back in the context we left not too long ago. We commented about missing the pace of life, the unscheduled nature, the darkness and the sounds of animals rather than automobiles. All of it lingers in the mind as each of us attempts to integrate what we have seen and how we have lived back into life here.

There were no great moments of clarity, but in the caring conversation of community we found pieces that help us continue. Prayers for our friends, some we had just met, others we have known for years and miss dearly. Hopes for a country that continues to capture our heads and our hearts. Faith that it is God who will bring healing through small efforts such as ours.

Relaxing in Jinja

Alyssa, Jennie and I (Tiffani) traveled to Jinja after saying good-bye to Jared on Saturday. There was some hubbub in Jinja because the delegates from Kampala along with Prince Charles were visiting at the same time to get a break from their meetings in the city. We went to see the “Source of the Nile” (the place where the Nile starts flowing from Lake Victoria) and were diverted because Prince Charles was going to be there “very soon.” “Very soon” turned into a couple of hours and we lost interest and decided to go to lunch until it was over. On Sunday we went to Bujagali Falls, which was absolutely gorgeous! On Monday after a wonderful TexMex lunch and some time at the pool, we took a sunset canoe ride on Lake Victoria and ended at the Source of the Nile. We kept looking around over the weekend and talking about how beautiful it was and how it felt like some kind of tropical resort. Everything was so green and the flowers were so bright. Now we are in Kampala and have checked into our guest house and got Jennie settled in her room at Medair. Alyssa and I will get on a plane to London tomorrow morning and send Jennie off to Kaabong again. It has been an incredible trip and we have had such a good time with Jennie. Tomorrow will be difficult saying good-bye, but, alas, it had to come. Pray for safe travel for all three of us and pray for Jennie as she goes back to work.

Home Sweet Home

After two years of planning and praying Africa is officially a past tense in my life. Its strange to think about. During my flight to London I was looking out over the Darfur Mountains and it hit me that I'm no longer in Africa. Time moves at a slower pace in Africa and it has felt like the past couple weeks have in fact been much longer.

I just wanted to let you all know that I arrived safely in Denver this evening. As I landed I was greeted by an orange and blue sunset over the Rocky Mountains and a group of familiar faces. It was sad to leave the new relationships and beautiful faces in Uganda, but it feels good to be home.

[brandi]

The Return

Tomorrow the team begins to leave Uganda. We have traveled for over 40 hours the last week from Kampala to Gulu, Gulu to Adjumani, back to Gulu, then yesterday back here to Kampala. It will be another week before everyone on the team returns, but one at a time we return to the world we left not too long ago.

After leaving Adjumani we visited one of the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps outside of Gulu. We were able to again partner with CPA (Concerned Parents Ass.) in a Solidarity Day. The beginning of the day consisted of welcomes and introductions, traditional music and dance. Then the girls (Alyssa, Jennie, Brandi, Sarah, & Holly) went away to fetch water, build fires, and prepare food. The guys (Adam, Ben, & Jared) did the work of digging in a field and watching with the older men as the young kids herded the cattle then rested under a tree waiting for the food while eating sugar cane. There was not question who worked harder. Whose stomachs worked harder was no question either as Adam & Jared were expected to taste food from several huts. The day concluded with a soccer match between the camp and CPA, which the camp won 4 / 0. The ride to and from the camp was an hour of four wheeling at 40mph. As we shared dinner with Ben & Holly and the staff of CPA the director thanked us for our discomfort and willingness to go and see things that, as he stated, "not even the President of Uganda has seen". It was another bitter sweet farewell as we left Ben & Holly.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we traveled the six hours back to Kampala. Exhausted we arrived to fresh vegetables, artichoke dip, and guacamole thanks to Shane and Julie with CLD. Jared, with great assistance from Alyssa, carved the turkey (which also required removing the full stomach of the turkey). We had a stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and even cranberry sauce thanks to Brandi and Alyssa shopping in London on the way over. It was a wonderful meal and celebration as there were over 20 people, both Ugandan and American, sharing time together. Our prayer of provision and thankfulness was poignant as we recognized how greatly we have been blessed after spending just the day before among some of the worst poverty and need on the planet. We ended our time sharing what we were thankful for. Many of us were reminded of the friends and family we have back home and how greatly we miss them.

Today the team has spent some time in Kampala resting and carrying on the American tradition of shopping the day after Thanksgiving. It is limited as CHOGM has most of the city closed due to security of moving the Queen and the other delegates from the countries. Tonight we plan to share out last meal together as a complete team. The journey, both physical and spiritual, has been significant for every one of us. We thank each person who has journeyed with us through our posts, emails, texts, and calls. We will see you soon.

Grace and peace.
(Jared)

Back to Gulu

Hello friends! The team arrived safely in Gulu today. I wrote one last blog while in Adjumani, but due to internet issues, we were unable to post it. Oh well.
Leaving Adjumani was bittersweet. The hardest part about meeting new people and making new friends is having to say goodbye when it is time to leave. But as Jared talked about on Sunday in church, even if we never see our new friends again in this lifetime, we will see them again in heaven.
On the other hand, for those of us who haven't seen Jennie Otte while here in Uganda, we were able to meet her here in Gulu. So much fun. It is good to be with her again. We were walking around Gulu today remembering what it was like the last time we were here. So much has changed, and yet so much is still the same.
Not much else to say today, but since we now have better access to email, we will hopefully update again. Love to you all.
[alyssa]

Learning Together

It’s hard to believe that our team has been together here for a week now. All of us have been commenting that time moves much slower here as we are a world away from all the normal things that occupy our thoughts and time.

Wednesday and Thursday we spent our days traveling to some different churches in the Adjumani district. It has been an odd tension going to these churches and being treated as dignified guests when we are all just normal people. It’s hard for us to get our heads around the way that just a Westerners presence is seen as an encouragement and sense of hope for the people here. Wednesday was Michelle’s birthday, so we surprised her with a birthday cake made by Michael Idha, one of the individuals we’ve connected with doing community development.

We’ve been engaging in good dialogues about the role of a short-term team on trips like this. We each bring our own lens and perspective, seeing as Jeff and Michelle are here long-term, Rick and Faye are mid-term and our team is short-term. Our activities and experiences thus far have given all of us a lot to discuss, so that we can learn from each other about the effectiveness of different roles in the mission field.

Yesterday we played “choose your own adventure”. We all went separate ways that allowed us to be able to interact with things that are important to us. Alyssa, being a nurse, had interest in the local hospital and wanted to see what health care looks like here. Cosmos, a pentecostal pastor, came over to visit in the morning and he became our guide in the Adjumani hospital. Jared, Adam and I tagged along with her. It was good to tour the hospital. I think we were encouraged to see what a good job they are doing with the amount of resources that they have. They are sorely understaffed. When we were there yesterday, there was one nurse covering about 40 patients in all different wards of the hospital. The maternity ward was the busiest ward, and considering all the little kids running around, that is no surprise.

While we were at the hospital, Brandi spent time here at the house, hanging out with the house help staff. Relationships are tough here. Westerners are seen as people that have money and that can solve everyone's problems, so it's tough to have friendships with people that are not motivated by money. Jared and Adam had a good talk with Michael Idha yesterday afternoon. They listened as he explained his business plan for the pumpkin cake business. It is good to see such an motivated entrepreneur that is helping his own community.

To all of the moms reading this, know that we are being spoiled by Michelle and Faye...we're all eating very well. And despite Alyssa not feeling well yesterday, Brandi with a cold, and Adam with a tick bite, we are all healthy.

[Sarah]

Gulu

From Tiffani--
Hello, everyone! I thought I would give a quick update from Gulu.I am almost finished with my interviews. Due to time constraints and having to travel quite a distance to reach the camp, we (my translator and I) did four interviews on Wednesday and 3 on Friday. Concerned Parents’ Association (CPA) has been wonderful to work for. (To learn more about them go to www.cpa.net) I can hardly believe that my field research is half over! I feel like the interviews went well; the women seemed very honest and were extremely hospitable. They even made us lunch and sent me home with a bag of g-nuts (kind of like small peanuts in the shell). All four of the women I interviewed were in their early twenties and had been abducted by the rebel army, some as young as age nine. One woman even conceived her first child at age 13 while she was still with the army. All of them have escaped and have been living in the camps for 4-10 years. I am so amazed at their strength and courage. And after all that they have endured, they are still able to give and love and find some joy.

I was feeling pretty tired and a bit overwhelmed with everything after the first day of interviews -- it was a LOT to take in and I felt like I was still getting used to the culture here too. But the week ended well and now my friend Jennie (who works in NE Ugand) is here with me and we are having a wonderful, relaxing Saturday. I am looking forward to rejoining the team on MOnday, although I'm sure it will be sad for them to have to leave Jeff and Michelle. It seems like all greetings and good-byes are bittersweet here...trading one good thing for another. I continue to covet your prayers as I finish up my interviews and working wit CPA on Monday. Blessings.

At home in Adjumani

Things are beautifully simple here. Since our arrival on Sunday our team has received nothing but love and generosity from our friends in Adjumani. It is funny, though we are so far from home, I think I speak for everyone when I say we feel very much at home here with Jeff, Michelle, Rick and Faye.

In the past couple of days we have spent our time meeting so many amazing people. We first met Michael who has helped some women in the area by building an energy conserving stove in order to bake pumpkin muffins which they can sell in town. I know we were all so encouraged by his desire to see his community prosper. His passion is contagious.

We have also visited a handful of churches now. Each congregation has welcomed us with open arms... and much singing... We have been so blessed to join them in praise and worship. And to hear how their churches were first started and how they've continued to grow. They also made requests in areas which Jeff and Michelle might be able to help them. I've been blown away by the way Jeff handles the requests. I know one of his biggest goals during his time in Adjumani is that the people would not grow dependent on him, but rather that he would be an encouragement to them to take steps on their own and to become self-sufficient. He has been in Adjumani for many years now and can honestly tell them he understands their needs and reminds them that God is the one that provides and fulfills those needs. Its hard to explain, but I think Jeff has been made for this place. He has a great understanding of what helps and what hinders.

I could type for hours about the massive potholes, or the sugary sweet african tea, or the cute neighbor kids that yell to us whenever we leave the house, or the sparking power surges, or the giant net of stars that show up at night in the giant african sky, but i will not. internet connection here is so touch and go. we will continue to update as frequently as possible. much love to you all.

[brandi]

Arrival in Adjumani

After three consecutive days of travel, our team has arrived safely in Adjumani, Uganda (East Africa). We are grateful and thankful for all the prayers that have helped us arrive here safe and sound. Our friends from Kampala provided gracious transportation to Gulu which took approximately 6 hours via taxi. The travel was particularly humorous since we only had nine people in the vehicle instead of the standard sixteen. We arrived in Gulu only to find that our hotel reservations had been dropped, but Jared and Alyssa did a great job finding rooms for all of us for the evening. Even without running water or electricity, a bed to sleep in was a good respite from the travels of the day. It was also good to spend time with Tiffani before leaving her in Gulu so that she could continue working on her counseling project focusing on women affected by war in Uganda.

The next morning, Jeff and Rick traveled down from Adjumani to pick us up. We traveled via truck from Gulu to Adjumani with Alyssa, Sarah, and Brandi riding in the cab and Jared and myself riding in the back. The roads were relatively smooth and dry, but Jared and I shared some exciting moments together in the back of the vehicle. When we arrived at Jeff and Michelle’s, we were greeted with a wonderful homemade meal. We shared communion together with Jeff, Michelle, Rick and Faye with the help of homemade bread made by Faye and red Crystal Light.

We look forward to a week filled with visiting churches and community leaders. We’re excited about the various supplies we were able to bring (clothing, candy, eyeglasses, financial support, etc.) and looking forward to seeing how these items impact the lives of the people here. Another particularly exciting aspect of our journey is that we have successfully doubled the “Mundu” population in Adjumani from four to nine! Jeff and Michelle are in the process of developing an intergenerational missional community here in Adjumani. They were recently joined by Rick and Faye, and it has been exciting and beneficial already to see how two couples from different generations are able to find common ground and work together for the good of the people here.

It has been good to spend some time with people who share the values and vision we have in our journey as a team. We began our time together with communion and we will end our time here next Sunday with communion before traveling again to Gulu. Communion was a simple reminder of our common faith and our common belief in God’s love for the people of Uganda.

Our Sunday

I (Tiffani) have been delegated the task of posting today, so I thought I'd tell you all about Jennie's and my fun and yet heart-breaking time at church on Sunday at this orphanage in town. The kids were so precious. It took us 45 minutes and some 4 wheel drive maneuvering because of traffic and the biggest potholes I've ever seen....but we made it and it was totally worth it. We ate lunch with them and got to hear more of their singing and see them dance. Actually, a group of older girls lead the music part of the worship along with some very talented little drummers and they had some almost choreographed dance moves. It struck me as ironic that these little children who have nothing and have often experienced great amounts of pain are able to sing songs with words like "God is my comforter...provider....protector." their faith and love seem to run so much deeper than should be possible at their tender ages. The orphanage "mother" commented to me at one point that she thought we would all be surprised about who gets any kind of "reward" when we get to heaven. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. I think these little ones who had so little worldly possessions will be shoved to the front of the crowd. How beautiful they are!

the rest of our team has either already left or will be leaving Thursday night. Please pray for their last day in the states as they prepare to leave. Pray for safe travel to Kampala and for our trek to Gulu on Saturday. From what I've heard from people here, it could take us up to 8 hours, but 5 hours at the minimum. Pray for those roads and for all of our bodies. It will be a long weekend, but we are all looking forward to finally being together as a team and heading up north.

The Fire

Today is back in the fire of the reality of life here. Most of the morning was spent at the local police station trying to create enough of a scene to keep a man who raped a four year old girl in jail. She is the younger sister of one of the young men who works with Come Let's Dance. Shane and I took the Criminal Investigator along with the man's wife (who had to go to unlock the gate) to the house where it happened. The young girl described the incident to him. The neighbors are upset that this family is causing trouble. The process continues only if the pressure to make an example of this man continues - which requires calls and "appreciation" (money) to the officials. It was difficult as I stood there, holding the hand of a four year old girl, standing less than five feet from the man's wife, wondering where does one go from here. I was asked what did I think about so much trouble by one of the young pastors. I told him it is the cancerous nature of sin - it spreads and kills, far beyond one person, whatever he has done to this girl, it has spread into this community and impacted so many.

The second explosion hit closer to home as Shane received a call from a man claiming to be the father of a young girl who has lived with her for the last two years after her mother died of AIDS. It is difficult to know what his intentions are as at the time of her mother's death he was thought to be dead as well. The family system here is challenging to understand. Children are given away and put out so freely; but when a wedding, an achievement, or in this case potential adoption occurs the family appears with expectations of contributions. Please pray as the road ahead I am sure will be difficult.

The time here has illuminated the deep need and value of caring for children in the context of community. I have been constantly reminded of many of the children in the TNL community and of the responsibility together we share to care for them. Today is Tuesday in Uganda and my thoughts are with those worshiping together at TNL. May the peace of Christ be with you.

Grace and peace.
Jared

Road Conditions

Jared, Tiffani, and Jennie spent the day in Kampala today. We found a pizza place for Jennie and also a cafe' to have frozen coffee drinks - not quite Starbucks. It has been good to spend time with the each other listening and sharing stories of life in Uganda. Tonight we plan on eating Indian food on a roof top restaurant overlooking the city of Kampala. We are trying our best to show Jennie as much of civilization as possible while we are here since she has not seen a building over two stories in quite some time.

We received a phone call from Jeff in Adjumani - they traveled yesterday and the update is 6 hours to Gulu, 6 hours to Adjumani, and digging out only once. He said, "be ready for an adventure" as Adam and Jared will be traveling the second leg in the back of a pickup truck.

We are grateful for your prayers and believe that the road ahead is worth taking to encourage our friends and be with those in need.

Grace and peace.

Many Friends

An unexpected phone call connected many friends today. Jared and Jeremy Schmitz (who has lived and worked in Kampala for 5 months) went to see a local rugby tournament since Jeremy has played for a club team while living here. We were traveling across town in the local taxi (a mini bus that should hold 14 people but usually has 20) when we received a call from Jeff Theisen.

We met him and were able to connect with Jennie O thanks to several replies to early morning texts from Jared (thanks Constance and Alyssa). We were able to transfer a large tent Tiffani brought over with her for the work in Adjumnai. So here we are, in the middle of a Saturday, connecting three different groups here in Uganda. It is exciting to see the networks come together.

Jared in Kampala

I arrived yesterday morning and was greeted at the airport by Shane
Gilbert, Julie DeBoer, and Jeremy Schmitz - all who work with Come
Let's Dance here in Kampala. The airport has recently been updated as
the Queen of England will be here this month for Commonwealth Head of
Governments Meeting. The roads have also been repaved and much of the
city cleaned up for the visit. The cost was passed along to our visas
as they increased to $50 - lucky us.

Last night we drove to the site of the new children's home that was
purchased this last month. The house will hold 60 - 80 children once
completed. The solar powered pump was installed this last week as well
as a hand pump proudly shown to me by the resident expert plumber
Jeremy Schmitz. After dinner and sound check the evening praise &
worship (& dancing) began. We left close to midnight but the word on
the street is that many stayed until sunrise. Those at TNL can
appreciate the dedication to the sound system and set-up which
required a duct fan for cooling the amplifiers of the sound system. It
was just like Tuesday night.

The staff of Come, Let's Dance has just begun a 21 day fast praying
for the new house and moving the children along with a new beginning
for many of them returning for another year. Come, Let's Dance is
closely tied with Light of the World Church which is led by five
pastors in the twenty's. It has an amazing energy and influence in the
young people here in Kampala. One of the pastors is Wilson Bugembe,
who is a well-known Christan singer here in Uganda. It is encouraging
to see the connection between the Ugandan and American youth and the
respect and humility shown to each other.

Grace and peace.

Jared

Our return to Uganda

Last summer a team from The Next Level Church traveled to northern Uganda to witness first hand and serve those living in Internally Displaced Persons (I.D.P.) camps with local non-governmental organizations. Our experience as a team was incredibly impacting. Upon our return many of the team helped coordinate Enteraction: AFRICA, in which over 20 organizations working on the continent of Africa were able to provide information and avenues for involvement to over 500 people. From that event we over a dozen individuals went to serve in some capacity this last year in Africa. We continue to connect people to opportunities to enter into action on the continent of Africa through www.enteractionafrica.org.

Eighteen months later we are planning a team to return to Uganda. The last year we have been amazed at the continued developments in our relationships and contacts in Uganda.

• Jennie Otte, one of the individuals from our team last summer, is living and working in northern Uganda. She is stationed with Medair, working as a office manager overseeing repair and sustainability of boreholes for providing water in remote areas of Uganda. http://jennieelaine.blogspot.com

• Shane, a friend from Steamboat, Colorado, has founded an organization in the capital city of Kampala (Come, Let’s Dance) providing housing and education to children without homes. http://www.comeletsdance.org/

• Ben and Holly Porter are serving with the Mennonite Central Committee in Lira, Uganda. They continue their work with Concerned Parents Association (CPA) providing training for local counselors and supporting the process of peace negotiations in different regions. http://hollyandben.blogspot.com/

• Jeff and Michelle Thiesen are developing a missional community in Adjumani, located near the Uganda - Sudan. Together with others from their church in Portland, Oregon (Imago Dei) they are living and working with both Ugandan and Sudanese who have been displaced by the wars. http://sudanpartnership.org/wordpress/

The team from The Next Level Church this November is made up of six individuals who all have a deep desire to discover how they can serve the people of Uganda (Alyssa English, Adam and Sarah Rao, Brandi Albrecht, Tiffani Rathbun, Jared Mackey). Our goal is two fold: to encourage the leaders and workers in various communities by listening and seeing the world from their perspective; to continue to foster relationships in Uganda for our community to send teams and resources on an ongoing basis. Our team will be spending the majority of our time (10 days) with Jeff and Michelle in Adjumnai. En route to Adjumani and via our return we will take a few days to spend time to encourage and provide needed resources to Jennie, Ben, Holly, and Shane. Daily life for our friends who live and work in Uganda can be disheartening at times. We want to laugh with them, cry with them, and offer assurance that they are supported both there in Uganda and here at home.

We need your help for this team, we ask for your prayers for the following:
• For Jennie, Shane, Ben, Holly, Jeff, and Michelle all to be encouraged and refreshed by our visit
• That our hearts would be motivated by compassion and love for those in the Uganda
• For our safety and health as we travel through the war torn and unstable environment of Uganda
• That we would communicate the hope of Christ and that God would be honored as we serve, learn, and partner with those who serve in Uganda

Your help in supporting the financial costs of this team are also necessary. The total cost for our team is $18,000 – together as a team of 6 we have contributed the initial $8,000 personally. We hope to raise $10,000 for the additional costs of the team to take the needed financial and tangible resources to our friends. All financial support should be sent to The Next Level Church, c/o Uganda Team. All support is tax deductible. Your partnership is vital as we seek to communicate to others how to support peace and healing for those in Uganda.

Our hope is for this team to be a catalyst of growth and encouragement not only for ourselves and those we work with in Uganda, but for you as well.