think twice about the dollar menu

Do unto others as you would have them do to you…

I realize it has been sometime since I have updated you all on my current adventures…and for that I apologize.

There are many things going on here in my life that I find myself lying my head down at night running through all the things that I did not get to that day as I am sure many of you have felt the same way…however, it is important we keep in mind that we must do what we can, with what we have, where we are…and that we must take time to rest our bodies and minds.

Since visiting Kigali I have had many different experiences, some more challenging than others and I have begun to recognize that these various events are what make up my daily life.  As I have said to many people along the way, I always knew in my heart that I would come to Africa…as one may ask why, I will simply answer, because I have always heard “the call”…did I know exactly what I would be doing, where I would be going, who I would be with, no of course not, but here I am.  Yet, the intentions that I had are nowhere near the expectations I am beginning to realize Africa has in store for me.  

All of a sudden it seems that I have much work to do…people to contact, partnerships to form, information to research, and results to publish.  I have now been here for 4.5months and still feel I have not done nearly enough.  The obstacles I come across are those in which I am sure many of you have had your fill. 

The reality of the matter is there are people…women, men, and children waiting for me.  They are waiting for me to provide something for them, waiting for me to make the right connections, waiting for me to help them.  It seems that it is not enough to be present, and I did not come all the way to Uganda to merely be present, I came to “make a difference.”  Starting right away with visiting each member in the sub-county of Wairasa which resulted in visiting 61 members, I was not sure exactly what it was that I was supposed to be doing.  We went for nearly three weeks to four, five, six homes a day and I asked each woman the same 10 questions…from there I started my own journey.

I remember thinking, as I often find myself still questioning, how in the world do I begin to actually piece together all of the information gathered, ideas offered, address the needs of the community, etc.  After the first two months it became clearer, I wasn’t asking the right questions…of everything I had learned I had essentially failed to use one of my most vital lessons…help me to help you.

As many of you know I have recently been working on our current project “Acres for Lazarus,” which essentially involves fund raising to purchase our own land to cultivate our way into the market to generate income.  Simply to purchase 5 acres of land, near the villages of our members will be roughly 800,000sch ($330.00 USD) which doesn’t include all the necessities to develop it into an actual garden…However, from this simple idea much has been tagged on and I have become overwhelmed and distracted looking too far into the bigger picture.  I guess this is where I have been, instead of keeping you all updated, I have been lost in thoughts, reading, contacting, researching, etc., ways to tackle the route to success.

However, as the days go by, I realize that good things come with time and if we truly want Lazarus Community to be sustainable starting small may be the best pace for us.  Yet, raising enough funds for 5 acres of land, tools, equipment, seeds, and materials needed for a piggery, still adds up.  My prayers continue to seek for assistance, guidance, and knowledge.  Trying to write a grant proposal to spin in any which way a potential donor may be interested in has been tricky and has taken much time.  I am still trying to find different organizations to apply to with funders who may be interested in supporting a small Community Based Organization in the most impoverished district of Jinja, Uganda.  Meanwhile, I continue to collect ideas from my two colleagues, Henry and James, the original founders of Lazarus Community which convinces my understanding of the expectations they have of me.  Henry and James started Lazarus Community in 2008 and have since been paying out of pocket for any such expense…fuel to travel to and from Wairasa County, burials, food, soap, materials for our crafts program, health care, hospital bills, etc. and I now can see from the expressions on their faces that they are eager for our prayers to be answered.

The more time I spend with the women of Lazarus Community I continue to see more potential, different ways we could support these women, various approaches to help improve their quality of life along with their standard of living…and as the wheels always continue to turn, I sometimes do not see their immediate needs.

Currently, the most important issue to address is the famine among our members.  The draught has left the women of Lazarus Community and their children/grandchildren with very little opportunity for income let alone food.  There are days that these women and children eat mangos as their only source of nutrition…our Wednesday group continues to diminish because the members can no longer be away from the home during the afternoon because they have to go seek for something to feed their families.  I was talking with Henry just yesterday and he said that 1 kilo of posho (cornmeal flour mixed with water) is 2,000UGX (less than $1.00 USD) and feeds nearly four people for one meal.  However, depending on the size of the family, sometimes 2 kilos are needed for one meal which is less than $2.00 USD.  If I were to receive help from anyone of you, I could purchase 150 kilo of posho for roughly 270,000UGX ($115.00) USD which would estimate 3 kilo per member meaning that we could provide a meal for 50 members and their families. 

I continue to try and wrap my mind around my reality…that with the smallest donation you can seriously feed a family…I would always see advertisements on the television or read them in the newspaper but I am here to tell you first hand, that it is true. 

This is why again our project “Acres for Lazarus” is going to be beyond effective even if at first it is simply a source of nutrition for our members…if it takes a few planting seasons for our garden to bring in income for our members so be it…the foremost important issue to be addressed is that the women that I am working with, the women and children that you all are praying for, do not continue to suffer from the on-going famine.  When I leave those women, even to head back to my village, I know that I will at least have rice and beans to nourish me…and these women, these children, they have very little…ah, my heart is heavy.

What to do? Feed the hungry…clothe the naked...well, here is our chance…

 Perhaps the lesson learned here is that even though we may have certain intentions, there will always be more expected of us…and we should always expect  more of ourselves…to never set limits on our capabilities, our good fortune, or on our love.  To actually follow through with my mission, which I continue to become more familiar with as the days go by, I must produce…I must prosper…and I am asking you to come along with me…to support, to provide, and to care for the women that are now not just in my daily life but in yours as well.

May the Lord continue to bless each and every one of you…and may you harden not your hearts.

Much love to you all,

Anne Therese

Awake My Soul

I’ve been traveling…

Check in time was 10:30pm and by 11:15pm on Thursday May 19^th I was on my way to Kigali, Rwanda.  The coach was full of passengers who all of have their own story as I have mine, and the excitement of traveling to a country  that I have always wanted to visit was flooding my thoughts with excitement.  We reached the Uganda/Rwanda border around 5:30am and surprisingly the process was quite simple.  We got off the bus in Uganda and walked across the border in the damp early morning to fill out visitor passes and have our passports checked; crossing the border from one country to the next is definitely a humbling experience but it felt so surreal.  After checking and processing what was entering the country, less than one hour later we were on our way.

With my first glimpse of Rwanda, I instantly fell in love.  The sky was still a bit hazy as we reached there around 7am, misty fog lifting from the earth hovering the great hills and valleys right before my eyes.  I was somehow overcome with the previous thoughts and notions that I have learned about regarding the Rwandan Genocide which took place in 1994 where an estimated 800,000 men, women, and children were viciously murdered.  Even though the scenery was breathtaking I couldn’t help but envision what it was like during that time…people hiding, running, and struggling to survive the mass evil which had taken over the souls of those condemning others.  Then suddenly the sun appeared, the sky was blue, the clouds fluffy and white, my trembling ceased, and I saw the country’s beauty instead of its darkness.

As some people say, first impressions are everything…my first impression of Rwanda was awe.  Throughout the night my internet modem had slipped from my purse and as we pulled into the bus park people were filing out of the coach and as I was frantically looking for this thing, four Rwandans came to help me search…after just a couple minutes, I said, “no worries, it is okay…” and the conductor said, “no, please, just keep looking…” and moments later he had found it for me!

“Just keep looking,” could not have been a better lesson to learn that early morning.

The instant my feet hit the ground I realized first how clean the city was and how fresh the air seemed, it was truly wonderful.  Thirty minutes later our friend Damian met us (Matt and I) and we walked through the city to find a small café where we enjoyed black tea, bread, and eggs.  Everything about this place already seemed so different than Uganda…the mutatu’s ( 14 passenger taxi vans) were much nicer, the moto (same as boda in Uganda, which is a motorcycle taxi) allows only one person to a moto (where as in Uganda you can board two passengers) and a helmet is required (which is not the case in UG).  After breakfast, the three of us boarded our own moto and headed to Gatenga, a Salesian Community where we would stay for the weekend.  Watching the three of us zip in, out, and around traffic, we realized that we somehow looked like a biker gang and got a pretty good kick out of that…meanwhile, the ride was a little less than 10 minutes and just seeing the city from that seat with the wind in my hair, ah, it was incredible.  Kigali has medians down the center of the roads, lined with palm trees and flowers, there are sidewalks (which are not present in most of Uganda), and even bus stops.  Rwanda really has it together in a different sense than Uganda seems to (but don’t get me wrong…I still love Uganda!)   

When we arrived at Gatenga we dropped our belongings off at where we would be sleeping and Kyle, our host and good friend of Damian and Matt (an SLM volunteer/Salesian Lay Missioners) showed us around his compound.  He is working there as an agricultural buff and one of their main famers of the land.  It is a really impressive place though they have many projects, plenty of produce which they harvest for their own food supply, four fish ponds (which they also use for their food intake), cows (they sell the dairy products), rabbits, chickens, banana trees, etc.  Also on this compound is a secondary school and trading schools.  It seems, at least my impression, that most of these students had been street kids and are now having the opportunity to complete school.  The trade schools are really remarkable as well there is a cooking school (3 years), construction (3 years), welding (2-3 years), and carpentry (2-3 years). 

While we were finishing up our tour we ran into one of the volunteers from Italy, who lives with 3 other Italian volunteers and we were invited over for an afternoon espresso.

After a delicious lunch and meeting some of the Salesian priests, we walked over to the Italian’s place where we enjoyed a small espresso and slice of cheesecake…sound luxurious? We were delighted…while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, I remember we had a couple of hours free after lunch because of their cultural ways of taking a siesta and preparing for the second half of the day…now that is something I’d love to reincorporate into my life J From there we drove with Kyle who was following a priest transporting 30 boys to a lake about one hour from the compound.  A special event they hold for these boys throughout the summer months is providing them with a weekend free for swimming, spending time together, and eating foods and drink they normally do not have access too such as brochettes (expensive meat), soda, etc.  The trip there and back had their own little adventures and we were grateful for the nice drive through some of the villages and great views of the city from the country roads.

That evening we went out to dinner to meet a few of Kyle’s friends…we enjoyed the good company and yummy Indian food.

The next day after lunch, Matt, Damian and I hopped on a few moto’s and rode over to the Kigali Genocide Memorial where we spent the afternoon and in our own way and we somehow took in the history of such a tragic and mind-blowing event.  I had been told from a friend of mine who had visited the Memorial before to be prepared for such a challenging undertaking…but there really is no way to prepare oneself for such an experience. 

As mentioned before the Rwandan Genocide resulted in the mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people and simply being present where over 250,000 people have been buried was enough to overwhelm the emotions my heart was feeling for these men, women, and children.  The first section of the museum was filled with the history, pictures, and videos on these large, strategically designed panels.  I learned more that day, (who some say is only a one-sided perspective of the actual events), than I had in any classroom.  The video’s throughout were of the same people who had watched their mothers be raped and stripped by a machete, their fathers beaten and shot in the head, their husbands taken off and never seen again, their sisters and brothers being hassled and killed...their stories continued throughout the display; a couple of them even knew the men who killed their family members….these men who came to destroy their families had once been long time neighbors or even very close friends of the family. 

As I was deeply moved by the first few rooms, I then passed on to the next section.  This room was set up with about six or seven stages with a stool to sit on if wanted.  These stages had pictures from floor to ceiling of the men, women, and children who were heartlessly killed…their family members were asked to bring them to the Memorial so that they could be respected and honored by all those who came to visit the Center.  There I was surrounded by faces, smiles, laughter, of the people who were once alive.  I couldn’t help but close my eyes and try to envision the circumstances of the pictures being taken…birthday parties, graduations, weddings, picnics, random photos of a cheerful day…and suddenly their lives went from joy and happiness to an overwhelming sense of fear and disdain.  They were no longer men, women, and children, they were corpses.  These people, human beings, were beyond inhumanely murdered…they were hunted down like animals.

 In the background a video of the same men and women of the ongoing video of the first section was playing, in this room however, they were describing in detail what they saw and how they felt watching their loved ones be killed or taken away…my heart, my body, and  my soul was divested…I could barely stand, hardly catch my breath…speechless…and really what else is there to say…I was lost in confusion of why this was allowed to happen, how could people just turn away when they heard of the what was going on here...this was not the right time to turn the other cheek…these people needed to be rescued and although there were some stories of successful hide outs for some people, many did not escape the wrath of death. 

After that, I moved on to a room full of skulls…cases and cases of skulls and bones; SKULLS and BONES…of these men, women, and children who were hunted.  Of all the skulls I saw, there were very few that did not either have bullet holes, teeth missing, or cracks from being crushed.  To be honest, I used to cringe at the thought of looking at a skulls and bones, but on that day, it was hard to pull myself away…because just before I had seen their faces and their smiles in those pictures, and then I was seeing and surrounded by their skeletons.  One of the last exhibits was dedicated to children with their age, favorite food, best friend, and how they were murdered.  Children…2,5,7,10, all ages, a lost generation who’s favorite food was cake and their best friend was their brother or mother...stripped by machetes, shot in the head, or strangled.  After walking out of the building, I entered the rose garden where the 250,000+ people have been buried…again, I could barely walk.

I cannot help but think about the screams that were heard and ignored, the flesh that was stripped from those begging for the lives, the children who were never given the chance to grow up, the lives that were tortured and brutally taken,  the souls of those who committed beyond what I could try and describe as evil acts,  and the lifeless bodies left to be eaten by the dogs…however, it is important to try and keep faith, that in times like these, the mass murder of 800,000 people, that we must pray for our enemies, for those who persecute us, and for those who hate us.  Please, find some time to offer a prayer, or some small reflection for the men, women, and children who suffered such anguish…and though it may be beyond challenging, for those who committed such heinous acts of evil as well.

After a few hours Matt, Damian, and I reunited and we just sat in silence…took a few moments and left.  We left the history of those who were once alive and went on to add on to our own personal histories. 

The next couple of days were filled with laughter, good times, and delicious food (I had pizza for the first time in 3.5 months!!).  I watched my good friend Matt finish the 26mi International Peace Marathon in record time…I watched Rafiki’s head be cut off (the largest bull I have ever seen)…I rode around the compound with Kyle on his tractor (who has offered me a few really great idea’s regarding Lazarus Community)…all the while trying to embrace and take in as much of the Kigali air and environment as I could.  Then the time came to board the bus on Monday late afternoon and head back to Uganda.  The trip was fast, and here I sit in Kampala preparing myself to head back to Wairaka.  The week of travels has provided another beautiful vision of East Africa, idea’s regarding my own mission and project, new friendships, independence, perspective, interest in further researching the history of the Genocide, respect for all human life, questions yet inspiration regarding my future, and life-long memories. 

I am beyond grateful for this wonderful trip.  I realize more and more that with each day here in Africa I am truly blessed to be living the life that I have imagined for myself.  I always knew I wanted to live some of my life in Africa and here I am, living…I always knew I wanted to visit Rwanda, to gain an understanding, and embrace my own struggle with understanding its history and I have been able to somehow approach this during my visit…and I would not have been able to achieve these goals without all of you and your support!

The time has come to get back to the grind and delve even deeper into my work to try in the best way possible to provide ways to benefit the lives of the Lazarus Community members.  This experience has further influenced me to see the endless potential that could come from helping develop Lazarus Community.

I want to thank you all for being a part of my journey and taking the time to read my thoughts…you all are with me in spirit and I am with you….

Much Love,

Anne Therese

Attached are a couple of sites you may be interested in visiting regarding the Genocide

http://www.rwanda-genocide.org/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/

first glimpse of Rwanda

inspiration

Matt crossing the finish line

Sack gardens I hope to instill at LC

Kyle on a moto rideRight before the kill

Tribute

There are several of these grave sites

My travel buddy Matt

My new friend and our host Kyle

My new love: Kigali

Unity

This past week has involved a few exciting stepping stones for Lazarus Community.  These stepping stones in which we have embarked upon have helped us feel more established, empowered, and recognizable as a Community.  Earlier this week, Henry, James and I set up a bank account here in Uganda at the Bank of Africa and we could not have been more proud of ourselves.  We are hoping that in due time this bank account will flourish with funding to help stabilize our mission and truly uplift the standard of living for our members.  Henry and James said, “Because you have come Tereza things are moving…we now have a bank account in our name, something that would never had happened if you had not joined us here.”  Ah, the simple things in life; opening a bank account.

The other major step was yesterday at our “crafts Wednesday” we celebrated Lazarus Community’s three year anniversary.  When Lazarus Community was founded in 2008, there were only ten members (in the Wairasa District where we meet weekly in the village of Ntinkalu), now there are sixty-two.  There are a few of the original members still among us today, others have died or have left for various reasons but the group that I sat before yesterday was strong, proud, and confident.  We asked for some of the women to share what they have learned from Lazarus Community and what good things have come to them since becoming involved in the organization.  As you all know more than 90% of these women are widows, and before joining this community they were alone, bitter, and depressed.  They had no one to turn to if they fell sick, they had no one to converse with, and they had no one to rely on.  Now, these women have each other, and they have us (the founders); they have a commitment to one another to work hard to not only improve their own lives, but the lives of their friends.  These women support one another.

Hearing these words, seeing the tears of joy, and the gestures in their movements, I realized that when this organization was forming, I was somehow already in the plan to be present three years later.  I could not have felt more flattered for all the praises and thanks for my presence…”and now we have a friend of a different color…” When it was my turn to stand and speak in front them, the room fell quiet as I started off my comments with, “Praise God; today we celebrate your three years of being an established community…” (cheers and clapping), “and tomorrow, I celebrate my 3 months of being with you…” (cheers and clapping)…and so it went on…and to be honest, as I stood there and spoke to the members who I now call friends, not merely faces in a crowd of women, I felt at home.  Feelings of peace, comfort, and excitement flowed through my veins as if something/someone was telling me that I am exactly where I am meant to be…a founder of Lazarus Community.

As I have mentioned before, it’s as if they were just waiting for me…they knew that one day I would join them…but do not fret, they continue to ask about all of you…they ask when more visitors will come, when my family and friends will come to visit them…and I say to them, “when there is Will, there is a Way…one day…” And so the day carried on with good food, laughter, speeches, and dancing, ah, the dancing.  These women sing, clap, and dance.  The room was filled with so much happiness…it was filled with the abundance of life.   

The party came to a close with prayer, hugs, and handshakes…and as the bliss of celebration was still present the reality of what it truly means to be a community came into play.  The council members hopped on to the back of Henry’s truck as the founders and other visitors piled into two cars.  We drove, just for a few moments and the mood changed dramatically.  First, we all entered a very small home, lit only by candle light and doomed with grief.  We were visiting one of our members whose husband is still living, or at least struggling to live.  A few weeks ago, he fell ill and it was thought to be his liver, when just recently they discovered it was an advanced case of HIV/AIDS…as he laid there he tried to roll over to greet Henry and James and he could barely speak; we remained only for a few minutes, prayed for his comfort and for his soul and we left them there.

 Again, we piled into the cars and drove up through the village to another home.  This place I remember visiting; this family I remember seeing; this member I remember crying for…just three months ago Henry, James, and I were walking through the village visiting each home.  This day I remember vividly; it was just Henry and I and we walked to this home where many children were all around and this man could barely speak, was losing his eye sight, losing control his joints; the look in his eyes, it stings me even now as I recall this visit.  I couldn’t help myself from glancing towards my members direction, she was sitting there, knowing that soon she would be left alone to care for her children, that her husband was going to pass away and there was nothing that could be done to prevent this from happening.  I left there completely choked up, unable to grasp my breath. I felt and knew that I was helpless, and here we were back again.

We entered the home, again lit only by candlelight, filled with a very distinct smell…he was motionless, he had shrunk since I had seen him three months ago, and he was unconscious.  As I sat there among the members my mind was racing, my heart was grieving, and I felt as if the inevitable was tangible; his days, his hours, his life is limited.

United as a community…the council members wanted us to visit these women and their dying husbands, because it is what they have become, they’ve become a family of their own…these women who are elderly, young, widows, caretakers these women are now joined together because of Lazarus Community.  They not only have each other and the founders, but they also have all of you to continue to pray and support them.  These two men are leaving behind their children, grandchildren, and their wives…their wives who will struggle even more than before to survive and to provide means for their children/grandchildren.

…And this what I am here for…to see, to experience, to realize that these are not just stories I hear or read about, they are happening right in front me…Going from such a happy and wonderful celebration to being in the presence of death not just once but twice in an evening…I was only having a very small taste of the reality of the lives these women lead.   

I mentioned earlier that today I am celebrating my three month mark of being here in Uganda, hardly seems possible.  My time here has been a whirlwind capturing so many different experiences thus far that I can only imagine what the next three, six, nine, etc., months will bring…what I do know however, is how grateful I am to be here, through the celebrations and the grief…I am here, I am present, and I am learning.  Life, ah, life is what we make of it, yes of course it is, but life is all the more better when we do it together…UNITY.

Much love for you all,

Anne Therese

We were able to sit in one of the classrooms at the David and Mary Young Ntinkalu Primary School because the students are enjoying their "Holiday Break"

We are in the World

Crafts Wednesday

Typically, it seems that a Crafts Wednesday consists of the women sitting in the shade on their matts learning different ways of creating bracelets, necklaces, earrings, table matts, etc., but yesterday was different.  Henry, James, three visitors, and I arrived and the women immediately began filing into one of the small classrooms on the property where we hold our gatherings.  The women greeted us with smiles, hugs, and song; embraced by love.

The Chairperson began welcoming us and soon after she began addressing several different topics of concern and interest among herself and the members. First, we clapped and cheered because Lazarus Community, in its own way, has been established now for 3 years and we are planning on having a celebration next Wednesday; you are all welcome to join (ah, wouldn’t that be amazing if you could just zip on over to Uganda)!! After this discussion we moved on to which seeds we should purchase to harvest for their tiny garden of less .5 of an acre and they decided on maize (corn) and beans, which work really well in this type of soil.

The third topic was that of savings.  The Chairperson and the other members of the council had sat until very late last Wednesday going through each member’s savings book to go through the reports on who has been contributing to their savings and who has been lacking.  Henry went through each booklet, called out each name, and the discussion was that some women, who are receiving some small treatment from St. Francis every other month, are also among those who are not participating in the savings.  I found this process, first of the council to go through each savings booklet, and then for Henry to go through each name, to be vital to their understanding of the importance of saving some small money.  They ask for a mere 500 schillings once a week or even once a month; 500 schillings is around $0.25. The women all agreed to start bringing their small contributions to the Community savings in hopes to establish resourceful means if needed.

The women then started talking about how they would like to learn English because they want to be able to communicate with me and my “visitors” (meaning all of you) when they come.  The women yearn to be able to communicate with me directly and wish to have a tutor come three or four times a week after their days work to teach them the alphabet, common words and greetings, etc.  One of the visitors that came with Henry, James and I told me that the women long to hold a conversation with me without a translator; their desire is heart-felt.

                *When I say “visitors,” the entire Lazarus Community pray for more of my friends to come to Uganda to see where they live, how they live, and to meet them personally.*

James then stood and addressed the women saying that I have been very busy working towards trying to find ways to support our mission…he then said, “You are on her heart…” and this is so true. I may have written about this before, but I need to stress that these women are REAL.  As I sit day after day doing research, writing proposals, interviewing etc., it is sometimes easy for me to get wrapped up in the wording, the editing, the preciseness of my work (which is not a bad thing), but I tend to forget their faces, their eyes, their smiles, their hands, their bare feet as I work.  These women are not just words on paper, they are not just a project proposal, they EXIST, they are here, and they are working hard to try and better their lives. 

I was able to interview/talk with Margaret who is somehow a member, but more along the lines of a companion to the founders of Lazarus Community, she is also the Head School Mistress of the primary school where we meet each week.  Her words touched me a in a way in which I was not prepared for; she talked about the purpose-driven life, that God has put a Spirit in each of us, that we have a certain purpose.  What she is learning from the Lazarus Community is that there are some things that God wants us to do and we miss them if our eyes and our heart are not open to seeing or hearing them.  She said that as Uganda seems to be a peaceful country for the time being, there are still people who need to be touched in certain ways, that are being challenged in ways that many people overlook their needs, and that having this Community for these women to belong to has given them a reason to live and strive on.

She shared with me how she became involved in Lazarus Community and her views on which ways to try and reach the immediate needs of the group.  She said, “You can rise and see that these women are needy and impoverished.  That you could turn in circle and see that there are many different issues that need to be addressed; but what is important is addressing the most essential needs first.”  In her opinion the land in which we are working towards purchasing, harvesting, and marketing is a step, but what we also need to keep in mind is that it will take time to see our profits blossoming…what about now she asked me.  She is concerned more about the children and grandchildren of these women, and that sometimes life ends too quickly, and then what. 

I realized that while in the grass, under the shade from a strong tree, that I have much work to do.  It was overwhelming to hear her words and then again it was reassuring that she believes with all her heart that I am here for a purpose. She said that when she heard I was coming she knew that I would help lead Lazarus Community in a new direction, and with your help dear family and friends, I believe we can do this together.  After being in Uganda for nearly 12 weeks I was discouraged at times thinking, “how did I ever think that I could help change the world…” and there I sat with Margaret who was addressing all of these different topics and issues and I realized that we are helping to change the lives of these women, which will eventually help change the world even if it is one acre at a time, one child at a time, one craft sell at a time; we are all making a difference.

The needs are endless, the challenges to be worked through are countless, the days at times seem to be too short, but all in all with the help of your prayers and support we can make a difference, we WILL make a difference. At the end of the meeting, one of the women closed with a prayer and through her Lusoga I heard my name, “Tereza” I asked Henry what she has said…and he told me that she was continuing to pray for my health, for my hard work, and grateful that God has brought us all together.

The power of a human being: we are in the world to help change the world.  

These women are REAL

Throw your fear away

“Feel at Saaka”

For Holy Week I traveled with two of my close friends Matt and Damian as well as Fr. David Burrell, C.S.C to join the priests and novices staying at Lake Saaka.  As I have visited Lake Saaka once before I was somewhat prepared for the beauty of the surroundings and the peacefulness that hovers this special place, however, this time was even more rejuvenating than my last. 

The company and good conversations seemed to flow the entire week we were there; some shedding light onto new perspectives on how to approach my project while others presented innovative ways of thinking about life in general.  Currently, there are 14 novices and two priests staying on this compound.  The novices are there discerning their devotion to the Lord and preparing for their first vows to priesthood which will be held in late July.  There was plenty of time between morning prayers and the Liturgy of the Word where I found myself cuddled up in a chair on the porch, with a warm cup of tea, looking out towards the Rwenzori Mountains and Lake Saaka.  The time presented a wonderful chance to truly dig deep, let my mind wander off to distant places, and feel sincerely alive in the gracious presence of Mother Nature.

Saturday afternoon a few of us went for a hike up one of the many neighboring hills in the area.  After an hour walk out and a slightly taxing climb we reached the top of one of the tallest peeks and we all stood there peering out to the magnificent green abyss.  The overwhelming feeling of the bright blue sky, huge puffy white clouds sailing by, we watched a storm evolve in the distance.  For some time there was an appreciated silence among us.  Standing there I realized that I was in one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been, surrounded by an essence that only He could have created.  While taking the time to soak it all in, my mind was racing yet still in the midst of comprehending where I was, who I was with, and who I am becoming.

After our time of reflection all but one of us took on a downhill hike towards a large rock which we were determined to climb.  As we approached we had to decide whether to go left through the thorns or right through the tall grass each presenting their own small dangers.  As we chose the path with the tall grass, taking on the risk of coming across snakes, we reached our destination after helping each other reach the top by offering our hands for stability.   Once we were all safely upright, we embraced the moment. The view was even more spectacular and the small life we found there on the rock was flourishing.  We discovered there was a beautiful tree growing between the rock formations and Kennedy, one of the 14 novices, and I decided that we wanted to climb across to sit on one of its branches.  He went first to show me the way and as I reached out my hand to grasp the tree trunk I froze.  The earth was far below our stance and I was afraid that with one slip up I would be bouncing down towards a painful fall.  However, these words of encouragement came from my new friend, “Throw your fear away.”

“…Throw your fear away…” how could I not then squash my fear, reach out for his hand, and extend towards my destined place?  As I scooted along the trunk, I stretched my leg so that my foot could find the sturdy rock under it, and there I went.  A few moments later, I was standing there next to Kennedy, having learned a valuable lesson in a flash before my eyes…”throw your fear away.”

As the days slipped by and the evenings came to a close, we were all simply enjoying each other’s presence.  There was a comforting understanding and acceptance among these young men that I felt that I was being embraced by a cloud filled with love.

A few of the novices took the time to talk with me about their ideas regarding my approach to working with the Lazarus Community.  After listening to their advice I began to realize that it is better to start small and make sure that the initial project will stabilize itself.  I understand the importance of dreaming big, believe me, I have been doing so all of my life; however, I find it vital, especially working with this vulnerable population to create a safe haven open to expanding once it is sustainable.  Therefore, as things have been changing throughout these last several weeks, instead of trying to purchase 10+ acres of land, we  willshoot for 5 acres.  Developing an organization that we hope will one day ensure positive change for generations to come, we believe this is the best approach.  I’ve heard “good things come with time,” and “the best gift to give is the gift of time,” repeatedly throughout my young life, and as I fall in love more and more each day with Uganda, I know that time is what I am here to give.

Therefore, as I continue to walk through this journey, traveling throughout Uganda, meeting wonderfully blessed souls, learning from those around me, and experiencing life in a new way I appreciate the support you all have been sending my way with your love and prayers.  I feel truly blessed to have been able to spend Holy Week and Easter with such an invigorating and inspiring group of people and I continue to reflect upon each day as it comes.  Some days are more challenging than others, but as I have mentioned I am falling in love with this country more and more, with the people I meet, with the potential of Lazarus Community, and with life itself. 

In a brief update regarding my work, currently, the project proposals in which I have been diligently working on are coming together with the mentoring of many, and I pray for its success.  These project proposals and executive summaries will be sent out to different organizations hoping to receive donations to purchase the acres, and provide stability in our organizations finances.  I am also working on having the website for Lazarus Community up and running with the help from a dedicated colleague very soon.  With May approaching, so is my 3 month marking point, and as James would say, “time is escaping us,” therefore, there is no time like the present.

May there be peace within each and every one of you.

Blessings and Love,

Anne Therese  

                                                                                                                                                    

Kennedy and me

Loving Life

We made it!

I have been lost!

Jebale!!

So, "I have been lost," or "you have been lost," is a common phrase expressed when you have not seen someone for sometime, haha, I even hear it when it's only been a few days; ergo, since it has been a several days since my last post, I have been lost!

As I have been working on trying to develop a precise and down to the tee project proposal, I feel I have neglected my blog! Sorry!!

I have been so busy that the days seem to run together, I am sure you all know that feeling. Three days ago, April 12^th hit my 2 month mark; wow right?! And now, it’s already half way through the month bringing us all to ¼ through the year.

I have been blessed to have discussed how to approach my proposal with a few good souls. One of which resides here in Uganda his name is Adrien, he has developed an organization called Omoana which is a rehabilitation center for hiv/aids orphans. He has had many interactions and experiences writing proposals so he has been a major help! Randomly emailing him one or two questions at a time, I feel like I’m back at school; not a bad feeling either!

However, there have been other exciting things going on in my life here other than researching etc. I was in Kampala for a few days this week, Tuesday there were some protests regarding the increase of fuel and food prices; a few people arrested not too much more than that. However, yesterday, I was back in my village of Wairaka and was planning on heading to town (Jinja) when we heard news that the protests in Kampala (1 – 1.5 hrs from where I stay) had intensified teargas and bullets were fired, more people arrested; and here in Jinja, there were also protests, people lighting things on fire in the middle of the streets; my colleague Henry told me today that the town was filled with smoke and people were everywhere. It was good that I didn’t come in town early like I had been planning, however, I am sure I would have been safe.

Today as I sit at my new regular spot called Flavours the town is going about as if nothing happened yesterday…people moving about, everyday business as usual. I somehow wish I had been in town to be able to witness such a movement.  There hasn’t been other talk of demonstrations happening but some think that if nothing is done soon about these prices, and the government continues to avoid addressing the country as a whole, there could be issues; I will keep you posted!

Nothing too radical has occurred which means, I think I have adjusted to this life of Africa in some sense! However, the one image that I did see which is struggling to escape my mind is a dead body outside of the hospital. I had just been picked up by Henry and he was dropping someone by the hospital and Richard a friend of ours said, “are you seeing, a dead body…” and there in front of me a was a lifeless human being, somehow elderly, mouth slightly open, eyes closed, skinny; his whole body besides head and feet covered. Death here in Uganda just seems so nonchalant like it is to be expected, it’s hard to put into words sometimes, but death seems to be a regular visitor in our lives here, like a neighborhood friend that comes around regularly.

On a lighter note, I look forward to this weekend a couple friends and I are planning a slight trip to the Nile River Explorer’s (NRE) campsite again, to bask in the sun, enjoy other travelers company, and bounce idea’s back and forth not only regarding our work but also life in general.  We seem to come together and somehow always seem to inspire each other it’s beautiful!  

Hard to believe that I will be in the US in less than 5 months, looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Much Love,

Anne Therese

a New Twist

I am beyond excited to share with you all that my initial goal for my mission working with Lazarus Community has been declared!  Through these last few weeks, as I apologize for the delay in posting, I have been working towards truly finding my place among these beautiful people.  Ensuring sustainability has always been my motive but now, ah, I have seen the light.  My goal which I would love for you to all be a part of, and which you will be through your already generous contributions, is to purchase a plot of land for Lazarus.

Lazarus Community

Through practical training and consulting on how to properly manage their own personal gardens as well as a Community garden, we hope to address the problem of low production of both food and income.  As part of our program involving income generating, the founders and members of the Community are working towards purchasing land to begin harvesting their own garden.  This is now my number one priority.  I would like you all to know that my prayer is to have raised enough money to purchase land through fundraising and hopeful donation from an organization for which I am applying. We, the founders, believe that in order to uplift the standard of living for the members of Lazarus Community finding a way to provide a sufficient way of impacting their lives is through agriculture and food production.  As our overall mission the founders of Lazarus Community are working to help the women sustain for themselves and their children/grandchildren.  In March 2011 ten of our grannies were sponsored by St. Francis Health Care Center to tour a 7 acre demonstration garden (Katende Harambe, Rural-Urban Training Centre) integrating management and processing involving crop farming and rearing livestock (cows, pigs, and goats).   This opportunity allowed the women to take notes on how to begin their own personal garden as well as how to manage a larger piece of land as well as to ask questions to increase their understanding of the training session.  Touring the 7 acre garden truly empowered the women and instilled hopes that they too have the potential to manage such crops and livestock to positively impact generations to come.   

Much love to you always,
Anne Therese