Mission to Uganda
During Summer 2010, I had the privilege to go on a mission trip to Uganda with Central Texas Orphan Mission Alliance (CTOMA) For me, serving in Uganda that summer became a spiritual vision quest.
After a long flight from Houston routed thru Amsterdam, we finally got off the plane at a modern style terminal in Entebbe. Immediately, I looked across the tarmac and saw the old, now grown over, terminal that was center of interest in the Raid on Entebbe event of 1976. The air was cool yet heavy with humidity; I was breathing the sweet African air for the first time.
Our group came on a medical mission to treat people in villages that didn’t have access to medical treatment. Likewise, we visited some schools and brought them some badly needed basic supplies.
The children were a joy to be around and were appreciative of any assistance they received.
At one village I divided the kids into two groups; one was doing the “Gig’em Ags” and the other “Boomer Sooner”. It got to be a game between the two groups, each trying to be louder than the other. Sooners won!!!
I saw many things I expected to see and many I didn’t. I saw much in the way of color, wildlife, texture, and beauty. The people were warm, inviting, and curious. I also saw a hardened people shaped by conditions not of their own making. These beautiful people adapted to hard conditions in ways I could never image.
Growing up in rural New Mexico, I sometimes woke up to the sound of bells from a near by mission church. But, at our compound in Busia, I was awakened by chants from a Muslim morning call to prayer; another new experience.
In the states our students complain about the idea of school uniforms, but here the children were proud of their colors. Some were pink, blue, yellow among others.
On the surface a foreign visitor is struck for the abject poverty, however a keen observer will see a hardy people who celebrate life. This day I was privileged to witness an impromptu celebration marking the people being granted local autonomy. Women of all ages where dancing and chanting around a tree while the men were nearby playing soccer. And the children……doing what children all over the world do.
Some of the funniest things I witnessed were motorcycles used as taxis, bus racks loaded with uncaged chickens with legs tied, and police officials in pink uniforms.
Our mission team was one of many who go to Uganda yearly to provide for the many needs. People would line up for 100’s of meters just for the opportunity to see one of our doctors. We visited a local hospital where they showed of some their newest technology to better treat patients.
Other than the people, the most impressive part of Uganda is the wildlife and fauna. Unfortunately, I lost most of my wildlife and fauna shots before I had fully backed them up on an extra hard-drive before the first drive crashed :/
The state of New Mexico claims to be the “Land of Enchantment“, but I beg to differ; that distinction truly belongs to Uganda.
The people of Uganda are tough but welcoming. They are traditional yet creative. They are spiritual and entrepreneurial.
