Thursday, July 21, 2011
African Queen
I've been going through my journal finding things I want to share about Uganda and I came across the words "African Queen". Looks like I need to share my new favorite song with you. Enjoy!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thank you
Tiffany and I were just walking around the village and I happened to have my camera to record this (call it my great PR skills ;) ). In no way was this staged.
This is Basimbye George, the headmaster at Life Academy Christian School in Seeta, Uganda.
Thank you, sincerely, for all your support, love and prayers. We are all so blessed.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Grace
Meet Grace. A beautiful Ugandan woman who has given her life to care for precious children at Adventure Village in Seeta, Uganda. During our "celebration" day she gave her testimony of what God has done in her life.
At the age of 16 or 17 (not many really know their real age in Uganda) she was married off to an older man because her parents could no longer afford to take care of her. Being educated was her only dream, and being married off so young only squandered it. Her husband was not a man of good character and in her words she "never had a good time in the marriage." She had five children with this man and he never supported them. Since she is uneducated it was really hard for her to find work, so she had to find odd jobs to support her children by herself. She worked so hard and became so thin and diseased-like because she gave all the food she could grow and buy to her children. She heard about Christian Life Ministries and went to apply to be a "mum". She told us that if it weren't for Jackson Senyonga answering God's call her children wouldn't have the opportunity to go to school and she wouldn't have ever been able to go to the Ridar hotel (the place where we stay while we are in country). She said, "I never thought I would go to a place like that."
By most American standards the Ridar Hotel is nothing special (personally, I think it's a really nice hotel), but it meant so much to her that she was able to go. Because of her job at the orphanage she can pay her children's school fees, and when she visits her family they tell her she is so fat (which means you are healthy) and ask her how she is living so well.
I was so touched by her testimony because it reminded me of how fortunate I am. I get to choose if and to whom I marry. I had the opportunity to go to school, and had loving parents and family to support me. I never thought I took all that for granted, but at times I do. It sort of reminded me of my mom. She may not have been encouraged to do well in school or pursue higher education, but she always encouraged us kids, always loved us through everything. Going to college was non-negotiable in her eyes, and like Grace did for her kids, she did all that she could to equip us for that journey.
It's women like Grace that remind me to be thankful in all circumstances.
Amy & Grace
At the age of 16 or 17 (not many really know their real age in Uganda) she was married off to an older man because her parents could no longer afford to take care of her. Being educated was her only dream, and being married off so young only squandered it. Her husband was not a man of good character and in her words she "never had a good time in the marriage." She had five children with this man and he never supported them. Since she is uneducated it was really hard for her to find work, so she had to find odd jobs to support her children by herself. She worked so hard and became so thin and diseased-like because she gave all the food she could grow and buy to her children. She heard about Christian Life Ministries and went to apply to be a "mum". She told us that if it weren't for Jackson Senyonga answering God's call her children wouldn't have the opportunity to go to school and she wouldn't have ever been able to go to the Ridar hotel (the place where we stay while we are in country). She said, "I never thought I would go to a place like that."
By most American standards the Ridar Hotel is nothing special (personally, I think it's a really nice hotel), but it meant so much to her that she was able to go. Because of her job at the orphanage she can pay her children's school fees, and when she visits her family they tell her she is so fat (which means you are healthy) and ask her how she is living so well.
I was so touched by her testimony because it reminded me of how fortunate I am. I get to choose if and to whom I marry. I had the opportunity to go to school, and had loving parents and family to support me. I never thought I took all that for granted, but at times I do. It sort of reminded me of my mom. She may not have been encouraged to do well in school or pursue higher education, but she always encouraged us kids, always loved us through everything. Going to college was non-negotiable in her eyes, and like Grace did for her kids, she did all that she could to equip us for that journey.
It's women like Grace that remind me to be thankful in all circumstances.
everything You do is just and true
This morning at church I was struck by the words in this song by Brenton Brown. "Everything You do is just and true." I never realized how powerful these words are or that I would actually be at a place where I was questioning them. My aunt died from colon cancer a few days ago, right on the heels of my return from Uganda, and I feel like I have been inundated with suffering.
The deep pain I feel for my uncle and my dear cousins is unreal. I have no idea what it feels like to lose a mother, a spouse, a brother, a son.. or all four for that matter. I know my friends in Uganda have experienced pain like this too. It's truly tragic. I want to scream that life is unfair, that God made some horrible decisions, but I know deep down I don't believe that. Oddly enough, I was reminded of a sermon I heard a few months back while visiting a Solid Rock Church in Portland. They were going through the bible studying 2 Corinthians and the message was titled "Why God allows suffering to happen". I had my notes from that sermon in my hand today and didn't even know it.
These were the reasons God allows suffering to happen:
1. To comfort others
2. To help a watching world see God in your coping
3. Because of the coming judgment (purges you from sin)
4. We know God best in times of suffering
Life is so precious and so unbelievably short. In no way am I trying to minimize the pain of death, but I have found joy in the little things this weekend; spending time with my beautiful pregnant cousin, a phone call from my little brother, running in the rain, having Saturday morning breakfast with my mom, her sister, my cousin and her family, and loving on my sweet little nephew at church.
The deep pain I feel for my uncle and my dear cousins is unreal. I have no idea what it feels like to lose a mother, a spouse, a brother, a son.. or all four for that matter. I know my friends in Uganda have experienced pain like this too. It's truly tragic. I want to scream that life is unfair, that God made some horrible decisions, but I know deep down I don't believe that. Oddly enough, I was reminded of a sermon I heard a few months back while visiting a Solid Rock Church in Portland. They were going through the bible studying 2 Corinthians and the message was titled "Why God allows suffering to happen". I had my notes from that sermon in my hand today and didn't even know it.
These were the reasons God allows suffering to happen:
1. To comfort others
2. To help a watching world see God in your coping
3. Because of the coming judgment (purges you from sin)
4. We know God best in times of suffering
Life is so precious and so unbelievably short. In no way am I trying to minimize the pain of death, but I have found joy in the little things this weekend; spending time with my beautiful pregnant cousin, a phone call from my little brother, running in the rain, having Saturday morning breakfast with my mom, her sister, my cousin and her family, and loving on my sweet little nephew at church.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Haiku-a-day 1
I'm so ready to for spring! To get through these last few months before better days, I've decided to write a Haiku-a-day. Hooray for (potentially) improving my writing skills.
Here's attempt number one:
Water falling down
Cloudy grey sky, thunder claps
A burst of light shines
Here's attempt number one:
Water falling down
Cloudy grey sky, thunder claps
A burst of light shines
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Resources Related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
This was passed along to me and is a great resource list of how to get involved in Oregon. There's also a few nationwide ideas as well.
Resources Related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
Book titles
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide - written by Nicholas D. Kristof and
Sheryl WuDunn
Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children - written by Linda Smith with Cindy Coloma
The Road of Lost innocence: The Story of a Cambodian Heroine – written by Somaly Mam
Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress - written by Melissa Farley
Films
Very Young Girls – documentary based on the work of the GEMS program. Available at Netflix
Dan Rather Reports’ Dan Rather Reports, Season 5 – Pornland, Oregon. Available on ITunes
Taken (2008) - Available at Netflix
National Resources
GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) www.gems-girls.org
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children – www.missingkids.com
OATH (Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans) www.oregonoath.org
Polaris Project – a world without slavery www.Polarisproject.org
Shared Hope International – www.sharedhope.org
Support local efforts
SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Center) providing advocacy and support through programs
specially designed for sexually exploited youth. Volunteer or make a donation. For more information
contact the volunteer manager at 503-626-9100 or volunteer@sarcoregon.org or visit their website at
Janus Youth Programs (JYP) contracts with the City of Portland to provide shelter beds for
CSEC victims at its emergency shelter facility. JYP is responsible for the community-wide collaborative
process to develop a comprehensive system of care for victims of child sex trafficking. To make a donation or
learn more go to http://www.jyp.org/, or call 503-233-6090.
Lifeworks NW supporting people who are working towards a better life, through recognized, culturally
responsive prevention, mental health and addiction services and delivering high quality individual and group
treatment. Contact us at 503-710-1513 to get help for yourself or a friend, you may also visit their website at
www.lifeworksnw.org for more information or to make a donation.
More information and training - visit our website at http://web.multco.us/dcj-juvenile/csec
If you or someone you know needs or wants support please contact:
National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888 for help 24 hours a day in six languages
SARC hotline 1-800-640-5311 for emergency support 24 hours a day
Lifeworks NW 503-710-1513 for counseling and long term support
This project is supported by Grant #2009-MC-CX-K057 awarded by OJJDP
Steps citizens can take to end Human Trafficking:
•Work to eliminate backpage and similar websites that promote CSEC.
•Support federal and state laws to combat Human Trafficking – contact your representatives
•Support the re-authorization of the TVPA (trafficking victims protection act) in 2011
•Support state laws that address the age mistake defense and those that create safe harbors for victims of CSEC.
•Work to end pimp glorification and the sexualization of children – contact the company responsible for this type of advertising when you see it and share your feelings.
•Challenge inappropriate language on the topic of sexual exploitation.
•Support efforts to cease the practice of arresting youth and women who are prostituted.
•Supports aggressive prosecution and stiffer penalties for people who buy and exploit others sexually.
•Develop creative ways to post the NHTRC hotline (national human trafficking resource center) stickers in your community.
•Financially support programs on the local and national level that support victims of sexual exploitation. Every little bit helps. Everyday staff at Lifeworks NW, Janus youth Programs and SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Center) work to support victims of CSEC. Donations of gift cards to stores or fast food vendors are deeply appreciated. Call these programs directly to find out what additional support they need.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
It's election time!
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