I've decided just to share random stories for a few reasons. 1) I don't want to re-live everything. 2) This way I can break up the depressing stuff and infuse some lighthearted things for you. Otherwise I think I'd lose some readers. But since I mentioned Invisible Children before, I'll just start there. If I had to rank what I'm about to talk about, it would be the #3 most emotional thing I dealt (and am still dealing) with. Just to warn you. And before you read it, you should watch it. Aside from actually being there, it is the best way for you to come close to understanding...
This video/organization is pretty much the reason I wanted to go to Africa in the first place. While we were there, we went to the UJV. (I'm not going to use real names here.) It was actually a home for orphans who came from northern Uganda. All of them were from the Acholi tribe and had escaped the LRA (the rebels). The social worker's job was incredibly dangerous. She would go into northern Uganda once a month to get a few of these kids and bring them to safety. We asked her how she got the documentation she needed in order to have them stay and she looked at us, smiled, and said, "We are creative." In other words, she makes up what she doesn't know. This woman is amazing.
Not a single one of the children there did not have some sort of physical scar, and obviously had some deeper emotional ones. They wouldn't look you in the face when they talked to you and if you asked them about themselves they would look down and lower their voice.
As I was talking to a small group of them I felt someone take my hand and open it. I turned and saw a little girl place something in my hand and then close it and walked away. I caught up with her and had to bend way down in order for her to look me in the eye. She had given me a beaded necklace. I asked her if she made it and she shook her head yes and tried to walk away again. So I caught up with her again and told her that it was beautiful and I loved it and that she was beautiful and thank you so much. We all quickly realized that they aren't used to much affection, so I really raved about how much I liked it and how pretty her smile was and how I liked her dress and that it really meant a lot to me that she had given me this gift. She finally looked me in the eye and I got the tiniest little smile. I don't see myself taking this necklace off any time soon.
This was one of the hardest days that we had. These kids were so empty. But how were they supposed to be? They had probably seen their parent killed, their friends murdered in front of them. They possibly had been part of an army, probably forced to kill their friends themselves. And now all they had was each other. I only know a couple of their specific stories, told to us by someone else and too graphic to try to explain here. To give a vague idea, there was a child who had a scar across his face from a machete, all of them had nicks in their ears, and a few of the boys were wearing gloves in 90 degree heat. I didn't ask.
It's hard to explain...expressionless faces, but their eyes packed with pain. The intensity of their hugs. They way they didn't just hold your hand, but they clung to your whole arm. It really made me question what I was really doing there. Did they really need a spoiled American girl to come and give them candy and McDonalds toys? What they really need is heavy counseling. But I guess they did get to be kids again, at least for a day...
We'll try for something happier tomorrow. And maybe, just maybe, some pictures. Depends on if I get any sleep tonight.
Later,
KT
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