Strength Like I Have Never Seen

Visiting the school was an amazing eye opener. You would not believe the conditions of this school.
Even with barely anything... their smiles are intoxicating!
I was finally able to give Cece the radio Sara and I were able to get for her. The radio will help her know when to take her medicine and give her something to listen to. Her son (in the yellow shirt) is a brilliant young man. He is the one who takes care of his mom.
This is Cece saying goodbye while "seeing" me with her hands. She was laughing at how my hair felt.
This is the bathroom that must be finished! Under these boards is a 15ft. hole with people waste in it. I can't imagine trying to go to the bathroom here, especially without sight!

The sound of children enthusiastically singing, chating, smiling, and learning was the beautiful greeting I had from the walls of a building that had no business holding these incredible children. The school we visited today had nothing in it except for desks, walls, and barred windows (and I say windows very loosely for there is no glass in these windows). I saw a mirror image of what I have been looking at all week in Africa: broken down buildings, peeling paint, bare bricks showing with broken corners, no running water, no lights, dirt floors, horrible conditions... yet breaking through this depressing shell is the most beautiful, vibrant, strong, and brilliant people I have ever seen. I never thought such good could exist in such bleak surroundings. It makes me wonder what incredible, world changing influences could come from the Ugandan people if they had a chance to have access to all that we do. I asked the headmaster what they need (as if the obvious wasn't screaming at me). She started with the need for technology but by the time we were done talking, they basically need everything! When I show you what these kids endure to go to school... you will see what I mean about strength.

This may be my last entry. Tomorrow we head on a safari and it is a two day adventure. When we return from the safari we head the next morning for London. So... here is the end of my blog thoughts while in Africa. More will come once I leave this rich soil, prepare the video, look through my journal, and fully allow the last week and a half to inbed itself into my life. I am honored to have spent a sliver of my journey in this country.

While I have your eye, ear, and heart take a look at what is going on in Northern Uganda. Look into Invisible Children (Parents please look ahead of time, although it is real... it may be more than your child should see). What is going on in Gulu, Kitgum and southern Sudan is even beyond the level of poverty my eyes have seen. It is the scariest and most evil thing in our world. So on that positive note I say goodbye and goodnight.