Who's Next?!

Life Goes On

Currently I am sitting out on my veranda, after having taken the morning to wash my clothes by hand; here I am sipping on fresh lemon grass tea, taking in the pleasant air, and gazing onto Lake Victoria in all her glory; I am sincerely in love with my life.  As pleasant as this day has been of course not nearly close to all my days are spent in such leisure.  However, I am blessed to have been busy as I have been.  Ever since I have returned back to Uganda I have found myself going here and there, contacting this and that person, sending emails, writing proposals, advocating for sincere interest in making Lazarus Community something more, visiting the members of both Lazarus Communities….the list goes on.

Not many of you may be aware of this but Lazarus Community continues to expand all over the United States.  Soon Lazarus Community crafts and jewelry will be sold in California and Florida as well as Indiana (two events coming soon; details will be posted, also items are being sold at Just Teasin’ Hair Salon, off of Allisonville road www.justteasinhair.com).  Because all of the wonderful people who contributed to the Lazarus Community Crafts Programme there are now several people representing us by wearing the jewelry in many states.  With all of the interest and demand for these products I have been beyond fortunate to have an outstanding supporter taking on various projects to extend the opportunity to increase awareness of Lazarus Community.  A very many thanks to Karen Stroude, my mother; as I could not be where I am today without the support of my family and friends, my mother has taken it upon herself to become the Program Coordinator of Craft Sales in the U.S. As the members and founders of Lazarus Community say, “She is now truly a part of Lazarus Community.”  All in all, I could not be more pleased with the way things are beginning to come together and it is because of all of you faithful followers and devotees that help us to strive towards our mission.

On a more personal note, there have been many things happening in all aspects of my life.  I feel that the trip back to my home in the U.S. truly rejuvenated and refreshed my thoughts and ideals of being head over heels involved in Lazarus Community.  Even moving around Wanyange, Bugembe, Jinja Town, Kampala, etc. I feel even more confident in my daily activities.  I’m not sure if it makes sense to many, sometimes it doesn’t make much sense to me but somehow I see Uganda a bit differently.  I find it even more fitting to my lifestyle now that I have taken a step back to realize my surroundings.  I always find it truly important to take a step back, to look at things differently, etc. but sometimes I suppose it takes leaving a place to truly understand what it means to you.  While I was home, as busy as I was I  found myself missing small things about Uganda, and now that I am back here in the midst of it all, I can understand why I was missing them.  Uganda has become my home away from home and I know now that after being at my home in the U.S. that it will always be my home away from home regardless of how long I am able to spend here or all the other places I will go.

As I’ve talked before about the dirt roads, blue skies, rainy days, boda-boda’s, mutatu’s, coasters, meat hanging on the side of the road, chickens running, cows grazing, goats sleeping, children everywhere, people walking day and night…being back here feels like I’ve placed myself back into the pictures in which I was sharing with people while I was home in the U.S.  It seems that for many, all I’ll ever be able to do is show pictures and share stories…but for me this is my life and then I find myself questioning…will it soon be a life that I once led and now it remains in photo albums? At this point in my young Round II Journey, I find it very challenging to try and imagine myself back in the U.S. placing snaps into slots to only sit on my coffee table as a conversation starter and I life I once led.

I have also stumbled many times already upon the question: why leave the place that I have always dreamed of coming to; after all of this time of imagining myself living in Africa, why would I want to put myself in a position where I’d have to say goodbye to the number one goal that I set for myself so many years ago? Eh, but as for now, I do not have to search for those answers, not just yet.  I have been told by a couple of very dear people in my life that one day I will have to come home…ah, but then I say, in one world, I am home, but in another I am missed and missing my home…in the end, the world continues to go round and round.

Other thoughts

As many of you know Gadaffi was killed on Thursday…when I heard the news I was with Henry, Aiida, and Betty just leaving our members in Nakasadhere after spending the day with them, and Henry said, “Uh huh, Gaddafi is dead.”  Later that night after I returned home to Wanyange, I watched the news and there was one of the most intense videos I’ve ever seen broadcasted.  There he was being dragged out of an underground water tunnel, pleading for his life in all of his disarray, and shot.  Of course, I cannot imagine the torture and pain that Gaddafi put people through for decades, but still watching that man, hearing the yelling and screaming and suddenly he was motionless; eh, my heart was heavy.

Now, there is much talk about “Who is next…?!  Will it be Museveni??” Of all the things that I’ve heard of lately that too tugs at my heart.  I have been learning much more these last couple of weeks about the “corruption” in Uganda than I did in the first seven months I was here.  From stories like the main sugar producer holding back the supply only to inflate the price because it is so scarce so that the sugar company can help the politicians pay back their debt from campaigning (as well as taking sugar from South Africa and reselling in the local brand name), to pocketing 70% of the average Uganda man’s shilling, to “having no money” to help replace the disappearing roads (due to heavy rains) because the “big men” are buying nice things for themselves…I haven’t felt this close to what’s going on or at least the talk of what’s going on in the political world in my entire life.  When I was sitting one afternoon with one of my housemates, who is from both the Musoga and Buganda tribes, she explained to me many different things about what she thinks and other people are saying about what is presently taking place.  One of the things she said still has not and will not escape my mind: “He (Museveni) is training the people directly under him to be thieves…he’s teaching them how to steal the country.”

Conversation at the breakfast table with different priests who come to celebrate mass for us have also revolved around the current issues and events happening with the government…the second round of the “walk to work protests”, threats of tear gas and tanks to be used against those who outwardly act against the government, as well as the new presence of U.S. troops in the country trying to “fight the LRA and find Kony”…it all seems so real, and well, that’s because it is…at least for us here.  Even this morning I heard our newspaper deliverer talking with one of the Sisters, “Who is next….not Museveni, he will be after this person who is ever next….where is he from, I am forgetting the country, but after he is gone, Museveni better watch out.” To hear those things on a daily basis is not uncommon anymore; it had been mentioned before but even more so now…The world is changing, the “big names” are being taken out, and other things/people are being pursued.  I am not sharing with you this information because I am trying to frighten you…there won’t be any action for some long time here in Uganda…at least that is what we are praying for…I am SAFE. I am SAFE. I am SAFE; however, prayers are always welcomed.

Meanwhile, all of these things are going on and thoughts are racing through my mind, but people continue to go about their day…cows are stopping traffic, children are running and playing, women are selling bananas and g-nuts on the side of the road…life goes on…My heart though still trembles when we talk about what one day could happen here in this country…this country in which I am in love with…this country that is my home away from home…

With all of this going on, I find myself in a daze at times…like yesterday I went for a walk and was standing looking down over Jinja where the cars were like toys and the houses the size of Monopoly pieces, the sky was blue, the sun hung high, the breeze in my hair, and the earth beneath my feet and I was reminded…this is where I am meant to be at this point in my life.

So, here I am…loving my life, engulfed in the fresh air, and letting go of the things I do not need to undertake.  As I spend time throughout my days, and may you know, that the days are running fast, I hold you in my thoughts and in my prayers.  In a distance I hear music being played…a party going on, birds chirping, jets flying, and wind through the trees…I take a deep breath…and ah, the world is at peace for but a moment.

I am Safe. I am happy. I am in love.

Much peace; Many blessings; and Abundant love for you all,

Anne Therese

Please check out our website (where I continue to update the current news of Lazarus Community) www.thelazaruscommunity.org

And for those of you who are on Facebook, please check out our page: The Lazarus Community and take the time to “like” the page…once we have 25 followers we will be able to link the website to the Facebook page to increase our opportunity to spread the mission of Lazarus Community! Thank you very much (Webale nyo).

Lazarus Community Website!!

Greetings dear friends!

I have been beyond busy contacting new networks developed while I was Stateside, making connections with interested students ranging from high school to different college and universities, meeting with the Jajja's of Ntinkalu, formulating ideas and taking the next step with Kajja Henry and Muzira James, and working diligently with the LC website designer to get things rolling!

As I hope and know to be true, please continue to follow my personal blog as I will always update you with photos, thoughts, ideas, and experiences; however, I invite you to also follow and spread the word about the Lazarus Community website!

Endless kudos, appreciation, and gratitude goes out to Tommy Miller and his team of partners who have been working pro-bono to develop and keep this website up-to-date.  Tommy has his own business in designing websites and I would be happy to share with you his informaiton if anyone has an interest in having him develop a website for you or your company!

On top of continuing to update this blogspot I will be updating the LC website as well...

Check us out, Spread the word, and Share the site:

www.thelazaruscommunity.org

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Anne Therese

Round II

From one Side of the World to the Other and back again…

As many of may know, I had the opportunity to visit my home country for most of September and during those few short weeks there I learned more than I could have imagined regarding every aspect of my life.

First things first I must offer an abundance of gratefulness to all who were supporting Lazarus Community by organizing and attending the few fundraisers that were held while I was home.  I know for a fact that I would not be where I am today without all of you who have the heart to be hands on involved in helping to sustain the mission of Lazarus Community.  Each and every one of you who took the time to ask questions, gander at our items, purchase our crafts/jewelry, join the fundraising festivities, and/or requested more information about the Jajja’s of Ntinkalu truly touched my soul.

I cannot tell you how much your devotion and generosity has and will continue to help enable Lazarus Community to grow.  I am not quite sure if you all know the depth of what you have done for these women by simply being a part of this vision either physically (donations/purchasing from our crafts project), mentally (brainstorming new ideas for our group), and/or spiritually (offering prayers for our continued success of empowering one another).

Talking and writing about Lazarus Community can do so much for promoting our cause but actually giving you all the opportunity to see their faces upfront, hold the crafts that they themselves held so dearly while producing them, and tangibly feeling the beads, seeds, and mats themselves was truly a blessing.  People kept asking me what the women’s expectations were…and sincerely, I believe they were only expecting some small interest in their products.  It is challenging for them to try and picture you people there going through their handiwork because they’ve never had so many people interested in supporting them.  Honestly, I think their expectations involved knowing that I was leaving with their crafts and that one month later I would be returning.  Just the thought of what they had created traveling to America was enough to make them happy for months to come….and now I can go to them and tell them how successful their hard work and dedication to the crafts project truly was overall.

My first meet and greet with them will be tomorrow…Wednesday...and tomorrow their hearts will be overflowing with genuine happiness, tears of joy and sincere empowerment. I’ve heard many times before that if you can empower a woman you can empower a village…well with your help we are empowering 50+ women, therefore we are empowering three villages and even generations to come!  With this excitement of how well their crafts were received from you all, they then will work twice as hard to produce many more as to continue their advancement in generating income and opportunity to further identify themselves as unified group and to advance to a more solidified and sustainable community based organization…Lazarus Community is on the Rise!

On an even more personal note I am still trying find the time to truly reflect on my visit home.  Stepping into the place that I left behind when I first came to Uganda was an interesting space to fill; however, I was welcomed home in the most endearing way I could have only imagined.  My parents were there to greet me with a very beautiful welcome home sign that was put together by all members of my family…standing there waiting for me at the bottom the escalator…(something that I had forgotten existed) to the warmest embrace from the two people who gave me life.   Then suddenly I was emerged into the American culture right away…

Taking a step back, when I was on the airplane from Brussels, Belgium to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA before we landed the flight attendant said…”Welcome to the United States of America…” whew, my heart started beating in a very unique way.  As much as I tried to prepare myself for the departure from a life in Uganda that I had become so comfortable within, I found myself about to land on soil where I had once trod for my entire life and I felt a bit nervous.

Nervous in the sense that I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I would emotionally respond to the blatant differences between the US and UG…I had been forewarned by people who had come and gone between the US and UG before that it would be somehow overwhelming at first sight and they were correct. 

Overwhelming in sense that I forgot about things like those moving walk ways in airports and how many lanes of traffic there are across the high way…other things such as street lights and way more people driving than walking…the roads seemed quite and smooth, which is completely opposite of what I had become accustomed to; swimming pools and karaoke; Fords and Hondas; consistent electricity and endless restaurant options; fancy hotels and beautiful dresses; dogs on leashes and cats with collars; access to easy transportation and driving myself around; clean water straight from the tap and no fear in eating raw carrots; fast food chains and no chapatti stands; toll booths in the middle of the road instead of herds of Ankole cows; an alarm clock waking me up instead of the roosters crowing at the break of dawn; easy access to medical care and teeth cleaning; endless packaged chicken and beef; grocery stores and shopping malls versus street vendors and markets; the differences in this sense is never-ending.

Yet, as a friend of mine kept reminding me, “Don’t forget that this is where you came from”…and as I completely understand his viewpoint, it was challenging to come from where I had been in UG to the life that I left in the US.  An interesting feeling that I have subsiding within me that I have again yet to take time to digest is that I feel I am from both places…both sides of the world.  And yes, as I have only been living a life in UG for 7+ months and now will be here another 9+ months that is still nowhere close to the years and time I spent growing up in the US this is true, but the life that I have been living here and will continue to live here easily slips into my blood stream, my veins, and my heart.

Many times I ceased to find the right words to describe certain things here or to put into detail what a typical day is like for me…and as I know that many people will not have the opportunity to experience or visit this place…my home away from home…please bear with me when I struggle to understand some things or when I try to piece together the major differences.  I myself know that I cannot compare this lifestyle to that of an American lifestyle it just doesn’t make sense and honestly isn’t feasible and this is why I think I am finding myself in a place that is in between here and there…as wonderful as it was to be home and as happy as I am to be back here I still am looking for my place in everything…

While I was home I took a few road trips to try and squeeze all the things I wanted to do, places I wanted to see, and people I wanted to visit.  First I drove to South Bend, IN where I visited with friends, professors at Saint Mary’s College and spoke to a classroom of SMC students who were more than interested in my work and then when I returned to Indianapolis, we held the first fundraiser in Beech Grove…then the following week I traveled to St. Louis, MO where I spent time with a few close friends and discussed my project…after that I went to Columbus, Ohio and the following weekend my second fundraiser was held in Irvington (as well as at the Our Lady of Lourdes Fall Festival) and the last week of September I road-tripped out to Philadelphia for a beautiful wedding…Each trip in itself was lovely, much needed, and full of blessings…and the fundraisers could not have been more successful!

Throughout all of these times of going and coming time ran very quickly from me…but during those visits and throughout the fundraisers I was able to connect with many interested people and I gained new ideas and perspectives about how to manage such a mission.

With all of the exciting contacts I made and networking that was accomplished while I was home, I have found myself with a plate filled and somehow wondering where to dig in first.  I truly believe that with the right connections, generous contributors, and sincere interest, my mission will be fulfilled in due time.

Yesterday I had a skype conference with a professor at Notre Dame and as we were exchanging our ups and downs of starting grass root organizations in East Africa…he offered me sound advice and new ideas…he definitely had my wheels turning which has made me feel completely blessed…a tid bit of advice I have for you: always continue to look at things differently…talk to new people, be open hearted and open minded…because as often as I remind myself of that importance…I still find myself behind closed doors and they are only opened by continuing to talk through things with as many people who are interested and willing to help you find those new pathways towards the light.

Before we ended our conversation he offered me sincere compliments on what I am trying to do (what we all are trying to do) but then after I told him that currently I am planning on staying here this time around for another 9-12 months and he said something regarding to sustaining and continuing to sustain this project that I have been playing in my mind on repeat since:

“You have to find someone with the same commitment, with the same heart, and with the same spirit that you have to carry on your legacy…to carry on what you started…to be as dedicated to these women as you are…and you also have to be devoted to going back and forth to UG if you are sincere about this mission.”

For whatever reason those words brought tears to my eyes and anxiety was within me…it seemed like he was telling me to find a replacement…someone to take over once I leave…and I felt sad because a part of me…a large portion of my heart actually doesn’t want to leave…I would be blessed if I could find someone or many people who were as interested in promoting and enduring the mission of Lazarus Community as I am…but as for finding someone to take my place…is that what I will have to do some day…someday soon?

People ask me, especially my family members and close friends…how long do you plan on staying there?  My typical answer would be, “Well, my work permit is until July 2012 so I plan on being there another 9 months but it could potentially be up to 12 months….” And then right before I left my five year old niece/Goddaughter asked me “Are you going to keep going back to Africa until I’m in college?”…then she asked “How many times are you going to go back there?”  And instantly, without preparation tears filled my eyes and she became blurry as I tried to hide them from her…

Tears of what though is what I am still pondering…tears of sadness to leave her, to leave my family and  friends once again; tears of joy to be taking on yet another venture here to UG; I’m thinking now though that they were tears filled with bittersweet purpose that I know my calling is in Uganda…I also I know that I am leaving my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, niece, nephews, extended family, close friends, acquaintances, etc. behind but again I will tell you what my heart is telling me…Uganda is where I am meant to be at this time in my life…

And as for answering the question, “How many times are going to go back there?” I must be sincere and completely honest with you all…I will always be coming back here.  As much as the US and my home is within me…and yes as I understand and know that the US is where I came from…Uganda is also within me…these streets, these people, this life is flowing within my very self…my very soul and there is no one who can take that from me or who can change that about me…

I have endless tasks to accomplish and work to begin…I’m starting Round II and I look forward to keeping you updated with my progress…

I am blessed to have you all genuinely interested and following, supporting, and truly being a part of this mission.  If any of you are willing or find the time to become more heavily involved in this mission of mine please let me know. Again, there are not enough words of gratitude that I can offer you all for coming together and being there for me while I was home…please continue to support Lazarus Community physically, mentally, and spiritually!

Also…feel free to check out our website…

www.thelazaruscommunity.org

Cheers to Round II J

Much love to you and many blessings,

Anne Therese

Pictures are worth more than 1000 words; snaps from my visit home

Welcome home sign :)

Beech Grove, IN: Fundraiser

Road Trips

OLL Fall Festival

Lazy Daze, Indpls, IN: Fundraiser

Grocery store

and packaged chicken 

Go Golts

PHL hotel

Fancy

  dresses & friends

Ellenberger Park; Farmers Market