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Hello,
On the 7th January I went to Lira in Northern Uganda
as part of my college course to work with the Christian
organisation, LightForce International.
I came home on Monday, 12th Feb, safe and sound. My
placement went well and I have learnt a lot, as well as having
my faith stretched good and proper! I worked with internally
displaced people in camps doing various things, working with the
director of the organisation and a British lady who work there
full time. I stayed at the LightForce base where they have a
house, which is basic but comfortable. As well as sharing a room
with lots of creepy crawlies we often had power cuts and no
running water which made life interesting!
Each day I started work at 7:30 and finished at 7:00. I
travelled to lots of camps with a team of Ugandans where we
registered people and assessed their needs so that we could go
back and distribute such items as blankets, clothes, tarpaulin,
mosquito nets, cooking utensils, plates, bowls, cutlery, cups,
washing bowls, soap, buckets, a knife and a hoe. While in the
camps I also helped assess children with special needs and made
suggestions of how to help them progress. One thing that came
from doing these assessments was that we were able to register
some of the orphaned children into a boarding school that suited
their needs. Doctors and nurses from the hospital would go along
to run medical clinics and I went to assist them in treating
people for various conditions. We also counselled people and
gave talks on such things as HIV/Aids and epilepsy which is a
very common problem. Most of the time I had a translator but I
did learn a few phrases of Luo, the local language, so that I
could introduce myself, saying who I was, where I came from and
why I was there.
Whenever we went to
the camps we had to have an armed guard and police or army
escort. There were a number of times when we were really
grateful for this provision as rebels would come into the camps
and shoot the camp residents so that they could steal the aid we
were giving out. The subsequent changes in births and deaths
made registration seem a bit pointless at times as the numbers
changed daily.
As well as working in the camps I sometimes took deliveries at
the organisations warehouse and also helped load up the trucks
ready for distribution. I also helped with interviewing for
special needs workers to go and work in the camps.
Driving anywhere in Northern Uganda was an experience as there
were more potholes than road. Consequently each trip was
2-3hours long as speeding was impossible!
During my time away I got the chance to go to three different
churches, one of which was held in a mud hut. In the largest
church I was asked to introduce myself which I was able to do in
Luo. It was great to experience worship in a different cultural
style.
Two weeks before I came home I went on a Safari in Murchison
Falls for a weekend. It was fantastic! I saw lots of animals
while sitting on top of a Land Rover as well as during a boat
ride down the Nile. It was really good to see a different side
of Uganda, one which was quite beautiful, and to take some time
out from the work I was doing.
My placement was tough but I gained so much from it and have
come back stronger both physically and spiritually. Thank you
for your prayers I could not have done the placement without
them; it was good to know that I had your support back home.
On Sunday 18th February I go back to college to
finish the term.
Praise Points:
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During my placement
God kept me safe and well throughout.
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I learnt a lot and
was able to do something that I have wanted to do for a long
time.
Prayer Points:
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As I go back to
college please pray that I will carry on feeling fit and healthy
and that I will continue to improve.
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Please pray that I
will be able to get my written work done for the end of term.
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By the end of last
term I had made some friends and was beginning to feel at home
once again at college. Please pray that as I go back next
week these friendships would develop.
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Do also pray for
the people I have left behind in Uganda. For strength and safety
for the aid workers. For an end to the atrocities and for God to
reveal Himself to the Ugandan people.
God bless,
Hannah |
