I know the last will be first

The most moving experience of my life. This mother could not breastfeed, so she handed me her
son, 1 month old Emmanuel to pray for him.

 

I have a good excuse for the recent lack of Paris posts. We have just returned
from a week long trip to Uganda. My dream for the last 3 or 4 years has been to
work in a development organization. I have been passionate about justice,
equality, and especially simple solutions that have life changing effects in the
developing world. Little did I know that I would be lucky enough to be involved in
a project from scratch that has personal and real consequences in my life.
 
Africa is unlike anyplace I have ever seen before. In some ways, it was exactly as
I expected. There are women who carry things on their heads, kids who smile
real big and point and laugh at the pale people, and lots of music and dancing. In
other ways it was totally unexpected and nothing could have prepared me for
what I would see or do. The media tends to portray Africa as a dark, scary and
hopeless place, filled with fear, crime, depressing images of kids with big bellies
and no clothes. I did see these types of images with my own eyes, but far from
being sad and depressing, I was shocked at the light and hope that radiates from
each person.

Africa is under my skin. The people are resillient, their lives are often
characterised by war, poverty, and fear, yet they are the happiest, most
welcoming people on earth.

For a great summary on the situation we are working in in Northern Uganda,
watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb8TTYWwcWI

This man is the Father of my dear friend, Julius Achon. He has been abducted by the LRA army, has
lived in fear for his life as the LRA based their camp near his homeland, has lived through his Eldest
son being abducted and taken into the bush to be a child soilder for 3 months, and the death of his
wife at the hands of the rebels. Now he is a pastor, and we are working with him in his village of
Awake to build a clinic and provide agricultural support so that his village can return to their homes
after living in IDP camps for the last 5 years.

This photo was taken at a church in the village of Baa, where we implemented our first Cents for
Seeds project. For $25aud we provide a women in this village with 10kgs of seeds. She plants, and
harvests these seeds, generally receiving a yield of 100kgs. Then she gives back the initial principle
of 10kgs for us to give to her neighbor.

At the site where Julius' mother is buried after being murdered in 2004 by the LRA.
We are building a clinic in her village Awake in her honour
The Kristina Achuma Clinc- coming January 2011

 

 

 

 

To contribute to what we are doing, go to www.lovemercyfoundation.org or email me at caitlin@lovemercyfoundation.org