After finishing his first term in “A” levels three weeks ago, Henry headed home for a two-week break with his family in Hoima. While there, he snapped some pictures of the calf that was born during his first term, and the chickens that have grown from the baby chicks they were a couple months ago. […]
If we are honest with ourselves, our true motives for our actions are sometimes difficult to fully understand and appreciate. For those (like me) who are quite adept at rationalization, this task becomes even more difficult. If it is this difficult to identify our own motives, then surely ascertaining and articulating the motives of other […]
Over the course of my time here in Africa, I have had numerous discussions with others about whether the money and services being provided by Americans (and other Westerners) are actually helping – or hurting – countries like Uganda. In other words, does the constant flow of financial and developmental assistance to third-world countries operate […]
Caring about those in need is good. Caring for those in need is better. Why did it take me so long to understand and act on this? Neither Joline nor I had ever been on a “mission trip” until we were in our forties. My first such endeavor was coming to Uganda in January of […]
Joline, Henry, and I awoke early Monday morning and set off north to Masindi with my court-assigned driver, Michael. Our destination – the Ihungu Remand Home just outside of Masindi. Masindi is a mid-sized town three hours north of Kampala and one hour east of Henry’s home town of Hoima. Masindi once bustled with activity […]
We have been blessed to have Henry with us this weekend after we picked him up from school on Saturday at the end of his first term at the top secondary school in Uganda. While we don’t have his grades yet, he worked very hard and gave his very best against the top students in […]
Before coming to Uganda nearly three months ago, I had no intention of becoming a pirate. I know pirates. Some good friends of mine are pirates. I am no pirate. Of that, I was sure. Now, nearly three months into our Ugandan adventure, I think I might be a pirate. “But I don’t want to […]
Lots of things frustrate me in Uganda – the lack of chocolate chips in this country, the lack of access to basic hygiene among a substantial portion of the population, the length of time it takes to get even the most simple tasks accomplished, etc. But the most frustrating thing I have encountered here is […]
We recently passed the two-month marker on our African adventure and experienced another event that has caused me to start thinking about the sadness of separation and joyfulness of reunion. On Monday, March 26th, we woke up to what we thought would be another “ordinary” day in Uganda as we kicked off the second one-third […]
I knew Thursday was Ghana be a long day, but I wasn’t smart enough to realize the half of it when I woke up that morning. Joline and the kids left on Wednesday with the Gregstons for Gulu, so I was alone Wednesday night, but for only part of the night. My driver picked me […]
