Regeneration!

Last posting I had met Morning…I was praying for help to know what to do, AND, to do it!

Well, Spirit moved me to take to the mountains on my own for regeneration and solitude…so I planned a guided solo visit to beautiful Sipi Falls in the foothills of Mt. Elgon!


Regenerate I did! I share the Light and Love that I received at the falls with you here!





I hope you enjoy your visit to ‘Kapsep’, a ‘peaceful place’. Joseph, my guide said ‘Sipi’ is an English word. He explained that when European explorers ‘discovered’ this area, there was a clan living alongside the water. When asked their name with the intention of naming the falls the same, they apparently replied ‘Kapsep’ which somehow turned into Sipi!



A couple weeks ago I visited the Falls area for the first time with several others. We took a trail to ‘Upper Sipi Falls’. The path led over an ‘Indiana Jones-like’ bridge across a river, around a hill to the side of the falls and then right into the back of them…a spectacular and wonderfully enriching perspective indeed, to be in a cave looking out from behind the powerful water as it is falling past!







On my most recent visit Joseph guided me to a different area of the falls, a lower level that can be seen from far away across a valley of green. We descended 2 of the greatest flights of steps I’ve ever been on into the valley that looked and felt like a dream. We wound our way around a few hills, through plantations and fields of coffee, bananas, cassava, corn, beans, peas, pumpkins, onions, carrots and cabbage; over a couple streams and some ‘safari ant’s’ relocating their young; arriving at a very dramatic, awe inspiring viewpoint across from the long falls, perched on the slippery side of the basin they plummet into. On our return walk, the heaven’s opened and poured huge, very noisy raindrops upon us and every thing. It was fantastic! Soaking wet, we took shelter in a small cabin for a time and I learned a little about the origin and customs of Joseph’s people.





The Sabinye People originated in the Ethiopian highlands many centuries ago. Joseph explained that the Sabinye People arose from under the umbrella of the Kalingin People who also included the Nandi, Sabout, Kipsegiese and Masai.( Warning! Do not ‘use me’ for reference…I was interpreting…there is every likelihood that I have spelled just about every one of these names incorrectly and even gotten a few of the details backwards…! ) So… originally being nomadic pastoralists the Sabinye moseyed along with their animals looking for pasture and water. Leaving the Ethiopian highlands they eventually arrived in the Trukana highlands in Kenya. Because of internal conflict with the Trukana People, the Sabinye moved on and eventually settled on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. Originally living in caves, they depended on hunting antelope and water buffalo. Eventually they lived under thick trees and then in small huts called manatas made of mud and cow dung, next in mud and grass huts and on to the iron sheet homes we can see today.



Joseph further explained that the Sabinye culture is based around rituals, primarily a ‘coming of age’ ritual during which teens are circumcised. The ritual marks the end of childhood and proves their courage and strength as adults. The ritual takes place only in the even years...so, not this year…

( Sidebar re: circumcision…Female: I am told that although the Ugandan government has outlawed female circumcision there are clans who continue to perform it secretly. Male: In studies it has been shown that male circumcision can reduce the spread of HIV in men if the procedure is done in a sterile and controlled setting such as a hospital. Circumcision performed during a ritual in a village setting can actually promote the spread of HIV as traditionally one instrument can be used consecutively on several participants during the ritual. )



The rain moved on and the sun came out. Joseph and I left the little cabin and headed back around the mountainside. Run off orange water poured over the side hills in mini waterfalls creating fantastically colored rushing streams, everything glowed and glistened, the children re-emerged…it was remarkably beautiful and all together a most healing time spent in the heavenly garden!


Thank You Spirit! Thank You Kapsep! Thank you Joseph!



I am good to go again! Love you, Cath

Child Headed Households

Rain pours down tonight. I sit with my laptop on the bed under a mosquito net. Being under a mosquito net can feel a bit surreal to me, kind of like I’m in a cloud…the rain is so strong, pounding on the ground 2 feet away on the other side of concrete and an open, screened window. I shudder. I’m sure if I was in it the rain would drench me completely in less than 10 seconds. Instead, I am ‘in a cloud on the other side of rain’.




I’m thinking about the children I met today, 4 different families all without parents, all with older siblings or relatives caring for younger ones, all living in rural areas in grass and mud huts. I was taken inside a few of the huts today to have a look around. I remember looking up and seeing sunlight streaming through one roof made of branches and dried grass…I’m thinking about the rain that may be falling on the children right now.



I gave my hoodie away today, to a little boy…I thought I could hear an Angel say give him your top, so I took it off me and put it on him. It was very easy to do. He almost smiled. I could feel his grief and sorrow, especially when I hugged him to my side and rubbed his back as he leaned on me. I think he is named ‘Morning’…I think the story goes that he was born in the morning. His Mom and Dad died a few years ago. He owns one t-shirt and a pair of shorts both ripped, and now, of course, a hoodie. He lives around 50k from Mbale, somewhere way out along pretty serious, narrow 4x4 roads ( the land cruiser was up on it’s side a couple times ) with his 2 sisters (I think.) It’s hard sometimes to understand who lives with who when you’re ‘out there’… there are always so many children that seem to come out of the bushes when a muzungu is around, especially in the rural areas where we are sighted more infrequently. ( Sometimes I laugh to imagine children sending out a ‘muzungu alert’ that ripples across compounds…)



Some of the children were initially quite afraid today, I bet some had not seen a white one for a very long time, if ever. Children usually come running from everywhere, full speed, very excited, but when they get up close, when they see ‘the whites’ ( or green ) of my eyes and really take in how light I am, some of them can get very scared. Someone will usually come forward bravely and shake my hand or reach a pointed finger out and quickly touch my skin before rapidly retracting their arm … I smile and joke with them, they relax and laugh, maybe I take a picture and then show them a photo of themselves ( many African children I have met would agree…what a great invention…the large screen on the back of the digital camera…) … eventually fear is over come, defenses go down and they are ready to play! Amazing, great teachers they are… despite all outward circumstances, children are all very much the same wherever I go…so ready to smile and play, to be care free and express joy, except maybe when they have seen and felt so much in their few years that has scared them, like I would guess Morning may have.




Usually by the time I am leaving from a visit at a compound, the children are all following me to the vehicle and I am turning around every now and then and chasing them back for a few feet….over and over till we run out of room and there’s nothing left to do but climb in the open door and say good bye. Sometimes like today, a group of children will run fast as they can alongside the truck as we drive away, until they can’t anymore…smiles, waves…’gooooodbyeeee’.




So, 4 families…The first…Mom and Dad’s graves lie to the side of the compound, with a brother’s grave in between. Baby was 3 months old when Mom died. Baby feels safe to stay in the doorway and look out from there today.




Older brother is here too, I’ve lifted him into the vehicle where he sits, happy like any little boy might be in the front seat of a truck, eating a banana I have handed him. Auntie is away from the compound right now. I am told she tries to do what she can for the children, keeping them in food. Grandmother is here visiting today. She says, ‘Do not let me deceive you, it is really their Auntie who does for them…I am old, I don’t do much’. ‘Today you are here’ I say ‘I am sure just by being here you are a great strength for Auntie and the children’. She and I hold hands for a moment through the open truck window as we drive off.




The second…Here, older sister, twin with a brother, takes care of the 3 siblings her junior. Mom and Dad died a few years ago. The children were left an acre of land and the huts upon it. Their relatives help them with food. They ‘dig’ and sell vegetables when things get tough. Twin brother makes ‘bricks for homes’ with a friend. He tries to sell them. She, twin brother and younger teenage sister had to leave school because of fees. The 2 youngest are still in free primary school. She wishes to take classes in sewing and buy a machine so that she can bring the skill and earning potential home to create a better life for them all…she can also teach the others if she learns herself. They have all been HIV tested. They are all ‘negative’.( I count 26 children from the neighborhood who have gathered around us.) She is 20 years old. Many in her community pressure her to be married. She says no, she has to take care of the little ones.



The third…Now I meet a family of 4 children. Mom and Dad have died some years ago, Grandmother is here, she is quite blind. Older sisters both carry babies, I think one or both of these young mothers may be HIV+? Here is brother, the only boy, he is in Senior 3 ( Grade10 ) a year younger than my oldest nephew in Canada. He speaks for them all. Yes, he explains, it is very tough, he feels great responsibility, there is much to worry about and scare him. Eventually I ask him about his friends, does he like to play, what do they do together? Yes, he lightens up, they like to play ‘football’…he smiles…ahh, just like my nephew, I say, he likes to play sports with his friends too. He looks happy to imagine that they are the same. Younger sister is kneeling beside me as I sit in a chair that has been brought for me. I am rubbing her back, she is moving closer and closer to me as I speak with her brother. Eventually when I ask her to speak to me she tells me in a very quiet voice ‘…friend I have no uniform…they run me home…’. Thankfully I have the correct change of 10,000 Ugandan shillings in my wallet ( that’s about $7 Cdn ) that will pay a tailor to make her a uniform for school. Her brother and her are smiling, waving as we drive away. Before leaving, I have reminded them both that they are very loved…their parents are very proud of them, they are always with them right inside their hearts. I am nodding to him and his young sister, he is mouthing the words to me ‘We will not give up’ … all this as we drive away.




The fourth…I am to meet ‘Morning’ here, that is after his older sister finds him and calls him out from where he has hidden since our truck has driven up. Grandmother sits near him, she is drunk on 300 shillings (.20) someone gave her today. I don’t learn many other details about this family, I am taken with Morning, his fear, his deep grief, his gentle and trembling Spirit…it is all I can do to try and wrap him in some kind of comfort, protection and Love.




Tonight I am praying…please help me to know what to do…please help me to do it…

It’s a pretty great night for a huge rain, or, I remember, maybe not if I lived in a hut.

Goodnight Children, We Love You,
Cath

Love Is...

Yesterday I returned to Sironko Orphanage with some supplies for the 14 children I’d met there a couple weeks ago. Since my first visit I had gathered together new blankets, mosquito nets and foamies. I sewed sheets and little bright green bags for each of the children with the help of the women in ‘skills development’ at the center. Each bag held a school book, a pen/pencil, a few candies, some cookies, a toothbrush and toothpaste along with a ‘Peace, Love, Joy’ card ( specifically made for orphan children here ) that my nieces and nephew in Canada created before I left there in September …




(…This woman pictured here with me had just ‘lost’ her sister to HIV/AIDS the day before coming in to help me sew these sheets…Her brother in law passed last year. At this moment she looks to her future to care for the 3 children of the marriage, now orphaned at ages 10, 7 and 3…)

I think the pictures taken yesterday at the orphanage may say more than I ever could …





Because his beautiful song is playing over and over through me today, I include John Lennon’s lyrics for ‘Love’ in case anyone wants to sing along…

Love is Real Real is Love ~ Love is Feeling Feeling Love ~ Love is Wanting To be Loved ~ Love is Touch Touch is Love ~ Love is Reaching Reaching Love ~ Love is Asking To be Loved ~ Love is You Love is Me ~ Love is Knowing We can Be ~ Love is Free Free is Love ~ Love is Living Living Love ~ Love is Needing To be Loved




Many thanks to you All for sending Love to the children…

Thank you to those who shared the expense for the supplies for the children…
(The girls and I will be sending you more info soon…)

Love Love Love, Catherine

Gulu Walk 4 Peace...

Isn't it an interesting and funny irony that here I am in Uganda and I have just heard last evening about a Walk For Peace that is happening in the Gulu district in northern Uganda tomorrow, Oct 20th...A Walk For Peace that is gathering international attention and support with walks occurring in many cities around the world, Vancouver, BC included...!

Gulu is about 370K north of where I am right now. I will be there in Spirit tomorrow!

I have plans to visit the orphanage I first went to a couple weeks ago in Sironko tomorrow. I have been gathering supplies to bring for the children and I'm feeling pretty excited to be taking the blankets, sheets, mosquito nets, toothbrushes etc and to be seeing all the children again. Maybe we'll all go for a walk together in honor of the Gulu Peace Walk...

To check out the walk and issues about Gulu further ...

www.guluwalk.com www.resloveuganda.org



Many Blessings to all in Gulu and everywhere...peaceful Saturday...
Catherine

Dreaming and 'Orphans'...

I grow more accustomed to my outward experiences and environments and realize how they are very similar, event to event, ie: the road trip to and fro, the welcoming, the ‘high table’, the singing, the format, the food, etc., and I start to recognize how the inward essence of each experience is also remarkably consistent.




Connecting the dots I begin to see that each gathering I attend, from a ‘cow giving away ceremony’, to a meeting with grandmothers, caregivers and orphans, to a seminar with youth on self help initiatives, virtually every discussion and connection that feels substantive shares a consistent theme, namely…

...a deep need, want and desire in the majority of people I meet for education, experience and idea exchange, empowerment and relationship building with ' those who know and will share '. This, AND to find the way to bring what is learned home into the local context of life.




Many times people 'ask for this' in a patient, gentle way or maybe even an overtly submissive manner ( Elders...grandmothers have knelt down to show respect in conversation with me...) or conversely I have heard a practiced bold voice shrouded beneath a smile ask ‘Do you have money for me? Provide for me muzungu...' However the message is delivered or by whom, looking deeper I sense an intense energy exists that I interpret as saying ’I seek knowledge, empowerment, expression, independence, self reliance, esteem, respect, actualization...I seek Love’...followed in most cases by ’Please’.

There could be many 'distractions' here for me, many directions I might 'spin off' in. Virtually everyone can ask for something, ‘causes’ abound. If I remain open in my focus while I carry on my way along this time of learning, bringing everything back to the children who have called me here in the first place, I find a couple things…

I seem to be dreaming of a model…remembering first, where there are children there are women, the model slowly starts to make its way through me… it is a self reliant, self sustaining cooperative, a community based care center that offers Love, nurturing, housing for ‘total’ orphans, schooling, vocational training, income generating activites…the women and guardians of the community are administering, volunteering at and accessing it along with their ‘partial orphan’ children…' ( more on the 'definition of orphan' below...) It is a dream, maybe even one in the process of becoming..!'




( Sidebar…

The term ‘ORPHAN’ has taken on many definitions since I have arrived here.

There is the definition I am familiar with, the one from my dictionary which says an orphan is ‘a child whose parents are dead’. These are the children in my heart and mind with whom I have started this journey. Here, I have learned, these children can be referred to as ‘total orphans’.

I have also learned that there are children here who can be known as ‘orphans’, ‘paternal ( or maternal ) orphans’ or ‘partial orphans’ in the eyes of the community and even orgs, including ‘UNICEF’. In most of these cases, the father, the income earner has died, these days often because of ( undiagnosed and/or untreated...) HIV/AIDS, leaving alone and without ability to earn a living his dependents who include his wife. She, in many cases, has several children to care for and lacking experience and knowledge in areas of business outside of the home and/or because of cultural reasons can be completely stymied at how to proceed positively. In many cases she ( and any number of her children) may also be HIV+...

In the event that a child is a ‘maternal orphan’ it is most unlikely that the father will remain the primary caregiver of the child. It is more common that the child will be sent to a female family member for care.

Further, the ‘local’ definition of ‘orphan’ can be expanded to describe children involved in a cultural tradition. Although both parents are alive, sometimes children are sent off for a time to say, their auntie, where they will learn discipline, life skills and/or help out within that arm of the extended family…in this case I have heard the ‘hosting’ family refer to the relative child(ren) as an ‘orphan(s)’…

I am finding that, probably for many reasons, ‘orphan’ can be a catchword that can beg definition in individual cases to provide clarity and understanding...



Today I am happy to be heading to work in the 'Aromatherapy' room at the center...I'm bringing along some beautiful scents, a few crystals and a book on alternative therapies to donate. What a wonderful opportunity I am given!

Loving you, Cath

Surprise! ... my new blog with photos!!!

I'm so pleased to welcome you to my new blog, one I seem to be able to easily, happily attach photos to! Yeah!

Much gratitude to you Erynn for your help, patience and commitment to seeing this process through to success! Thanks also J!

I haven't quite made it back to all the previous posts and added the photos yet, I'll be working on it! Cruise back in time periodically and you'll see some visuals that will hopefully bring the text to life for you...



Love to you all....enjoy!
Cath xoxo

A Visit To Sironko

The man I have met with a couple times who has the vision for the child care center is the founder and director of a CBO ( community based organization ) called ‘Aids Concern Integrated Org’ or ACIO for short. He arranged to meet me on Tuesday in downtown Mbale where he said he would have a car and driver ready to take us out to his community. It would take about 45 minutes to get there, we’d be heading in the direction of Mt. Elgon. Our plan as I understood it was to visit the orphanage he is currently running that is housing and caring for 14 children.

Driving on a pretty great dirt road through many villages and communities eventually we pulled up in front of a small building and were greeted immediately by a few smiling adults bowing, helping me out of the car, taking my hand, saying over and over ‘You are most welcome, thank you, you are most welcome’. I was guided into the building. The 2 small office rooms, ‘ old hospital turquoise’ in color, had posters about HIV/AIDS, the structure of ACIO, its members and their responsibilities as well photos of the orphans covering the walls at eye level all around the room. As we sat and I started to learn from these people about their org I was immediately understanding that they are all volunteers who have been together since 2004 working to address head on the issues surrounding the huge number of children without parents in their communities. After some minutes I could see that a line of children had formed at the door leading to outside. At someone’s subtle direction one by one each child entered the room, came forward, knelt and extended their hand to me. Many could barely manage a whisper when I asked them their name….some were very brave! These darlings I was meeting are the children currently living at the orphanage.

( In general, it requires focus to understand what people are saying when they introduce themselves, especially people living in villages as opposed to the city. There is the custom of saying ones last name first, first name last and running them both together, as well as pronouncing every vowel and consonant quite distinctly resulting in a few extra sounds and syllables where not expected, and of course, people speak quickly…)



At present 10 boys and 4 girls are cared for full time by ACIO. The org has rented 3 buildings for the past couple years now, paid for by donations from community members. 2 buildings are adjoining and provide space for the office, cooking area and girls bedroom, the 3’rd, some distance down a path out back of the office, is where the boys and 2 patrons sleep. After meeting all of the children, I was asked to come on a tour of their facilities. First we visited the girl’s room. With big smiles and looking very proud to welcome me, the girls all in their early teens, showed me into their unadorned 10 x 10 room that has 2 single size foamies on top of woven reed mats on the floor along with a couple metal boxes that I understand are for their personal belongings…( no sheets, no blankets, no mosquito nets, 2 foamies…).



We moved on down the path to the boys building. Several hundred meters away the mud and stick building has 4 rooms: a central room around 6 x 10 that has 3 other rooms off of it. One room, approx 8 x 8, is the bedroom where 6 of the boys sleep 2 to a foamie, the 2’nd room is for the patrons and 2 of the older orphan boys and the 3’rd room, about 4 x 6 is where the 2 youngest boys share a foamie. Again, the boys, very ‘well turned out’ for me in their fresh, clean shirts welcomed me warmly into their space…( on hand…a couple sheets, a couple blankets, a couple nets, too few foamies …)

We returned back to the office building where preparations for us to ‘take tea’ had been completed. ‘African tea’, often served from a thermos, is black tea with lots of heated cow’s milk ( usually fresh and un-pasteurized if you’re in a village ) in it. Most African’s add a couple tsp of cane sugar to a small cup of it. Alongside the tea, there were hard boiled chicken eggs, roasted, salted ‘ground nuts’ ( like peanuts ) and bananas.

While enjoying tea I asked for confirmation about the most immediate needs I felt I had seen that the orphanage could use help with in order to provide for the children’s care and safety…how many foamies, mosquito nets, cover sheets and blankets were needed?…I came up with a shopping list for myself of 8 nets, 8 foamies, 8 sheets and 14 blankets.

Following tea, I was guided outside to where some chairs had been assembled. After I was seated front and center I looked up to see a group of 7 children ready to perform. They immediately burst into unaccompanied song, at times singing in beautiful 3 part harmony, complete with gentle feet shuffling and lots of body, arm and hand movements. ‘Blessings shall come upon you…’ ‘You are welcome our visitor, my name is Susan my friend is Ursala, another one is our visitor, you are welcome, our visitor, you are welcome…’ ‘ Thank you for the time you spend for us to make this occasion powerful and wonderful, you are very welcome and a high welcome...’

I have seen a few such performances by now and I tell you they are incredible! There is nothing quite like being a ‘guest of honor’ and having a group of very brave and talented little ones sing to you, expressing from their hearts up close and personal ( maybe 2 - 3 feet away from you ) their gratitude and appreciation that you have come by to say hello and share a little time…amazing!



After a fond farewell, 7 of us squeezed into a car that usually would take 5 ( think thin..! ) and we headed for another community where some people had apparently assembled to meet with us. On the way, we stopped at a field and ‘there by the tree’ I was shown the land upon which the orphanage will be built one day.



When we arrived at our destination, we entered a small, dark building and once inside I realized there were around 100 people quietly sitting on benches, many children, perhaps a dozen adults. They clapped as we entered and were shown up to the front. I was directed to take a seat at a head table, and a meeting began. There were prayers and introductions, the children performed 3 songs, it was explained to me that on this side of the room there were many orphan children, while on the other side, there were a few dozen more children and a handful of caregivers. As I understood it, everyone present in the room was a ’stakeholder’ and waiting on the reality of an orphanage to be built for one reason or another.



I was asked to speak … wow, not my comfort zone… ok ... words came from somewhere and just kinda rolled out …‘My name is Catherine’… my friend translated into the local dialect … ‘ I am honored to be here with you, thank you for welcoming me so warmly. I am from Canada and I bring Love and happy wishes to you from my family and friends. I have come here to tell you that you are not alone. Regardless of country, color, custom, we are all the same, we are all one and together we will find the way for all the children to be Loved and cared for. I Love you. We Love you. Thank you.’

Everyone clapped and cheered. Through my own mist I’m pretty sure I saw a few tears in the eyes of some. It was very real and right in the heart center … sort of difficult to put into words you can probably imagine.

We ‘took tea’ once again and I met and talked with a couple of the caregivers. One young woman, a widower and typical of many is raising 10 children, 2 of whom are ‘her own’.



Maybe needless to say, I was in the presence of some amazing people.

Incredible, beautiful, amazing people, the children and adults alike,
all remarkable examples of strength, courage, commitment and Love…

My cup is very full,
Catherine

Ps…AND…WOW! Was it ever great to speak to 2 family members in Canada today…nothing like the sound of a loved ones voice…more music to my ears!

An Exciting 'AHA' !

I realized something fun while rinsing my laundry earlier today!

A year ago right now I was in Australia at an Angel Medicine Workshop and one evening over 400 people participated in a fantastic ‘Sacred Healing Fire’ accompanied by an Aborigine playing didgeridoo. I have worked with fire on many occasions in my healing work and training in Andean / Inca Medicine so I was familiar with the concept of that nights ceremony, namely to ‘bring something’ to the fire that you want to release in the form of a gift. Maybe one brings a concern, maybe it’s a habit, a hope or a hurt, an expectation, desire, whatever! To ‘bring it to fire’ can be a powerful way to let something go that may be holding us back or simply no longer serving us. That night a year ago, my gift, my letting go was my ‘need to know’ particularly concerning Africa.

Following that time those who were around me will attest…for months leading up to this journey I applied myself to research and to waiting, to being open, aware, following leads, ideas, inspirations and dreams that might guide me on, or not, to actually understanding where I’d be coming in Africa, who I’d be with, how I would connect with the orphan children I could hear calling … all the while trying to remain mindful about letting go of any ‘need to know’.

Yesterday, I met for a second time with a Ugandan whom I’ve known for about 4 days now, and together we looked at a drawing I had suggested he make at our first meeting. Pretty crude, certainly not scale, drawn on an 8.5 x 11 inch ‘acre of land’ ( the land has literally been acquired … ) he has envisioned a child care orphanage that, beginning with 150 children, he hopes will ultimately grow to care for the 400 HIV/AIDS orphans in his community and surrounding villages. We looked at the drawing…the girls rooms would go here, the boys there, the kitchen, latrines, admin bldg’s, poultry, cow, playground, primary and vocational schools, vegetable garden, they all go somewhere, oh, we could add another wing there in the future, opps, we’re missing the dining area…


And so, my Aha…

Well, it occurred to me that, wow…I’ve been in Africa 3 weeks and there I was yesterday sitting in ‘Gracious Café’ in downtown Mbale meeting with a new friend, helping to design ‘my first’ orphanage (…a ‘model’ that over time and with refinement will serve many I suspect…) all the while really having NO idea how it came to be that I would meet this man, or how any of this is REALLY happening…and I laughed…if I once wondered or worried that I might ‘need to know’ something in order to make something else happen…well…that sure seems hilarious now!

One year later and on Canada’s Thanksgiving Day what fun for me to say thank you ‘fire’ for accepting my gift, eh! Cath

Giving Thanks…

Still indulging in a relaxation theme and feeling like I wanted to do my part to celebrate Canada’s Thanksgiving, I decided it might be a fun idea to hire a car and driver for a couple hours and head up into the Wanale Hills that overlook all of Mbale and particularly the ‘Senior Quarters’. I thought some time in nature would likely be the soul soothing and enriching experience I was craving!

( ‘Senior Quarters’ is the area of town where I am staying, the name a throw back to colonial times…ok, yes, I am now 50 and considered a senior in some circles …ha!… however, ‘Senior’ in this case applies to the ‘Administrative White Ones’, the original planners of Mbale who settled and built homes in this area. The affluence is particularly noticeable when one realizes that most homes are quite large, built with lasting materials, have water plumbed in and enjoy the great luxury of electricity…I think the stat is that less than 10% of Ugandan’s have power in their homes…)

What a beautiful, luxurious ( very ‘unplugged’ ) treasure of a landscape hides tucked away up in the hills, certainly the most magical place I’ve seen so far in Uganda!



…huge boulders have fallen away from ancient rock faces; lush, vibrant prolific greens grow out of deep orange, red and brown patches of land; crop after varying crop is carved neatly into the hill and mountain sides; waterfalls burst forth from rock clusters creating streams that curl into and around hillsides and homesteads; compounds are spacious, neat and clean with mud and stick, clay brick and banana leaf homes; little coal cooking fires burn in shaded areas beside doorways and outbuildings producing feathers of rising smoke; ‘Jambo, jambo’ ( Swahili meaning ‘hello’ ) echoes out in happy, little excited voices from behind bushes and rolls down from the hills above as we meander around corners and through the small townships…



Harmony, community was everywhere I looked! 3 tiny goats were grazing together, a group of women sitting on the grass by the roadside were talking, teens walked along with sticks for firewood stacked high upon their heads. Families sat together in their yards Mom’s holding babies in their laps. Graying elderly men with hunched backs used walking sticks to make their way along zig zagging steep paths. Children were filling buckets at water holes or playing a game with a large ball that looked to be woven out of nature or some were just sitting minding the cow. Men sat together in shaded areas watching, waving, smiling…

It was late afternoon as we made our way up into the hills so by the time we did a u-turn and started our descent, the sun was moving closer to the horizon casting an incredibly warm, glowing light on the magnificent garden! Talk about a mystical gloaming…

Hopefully the pictures I will be posting ( Erynn is working on it…should be soon, I think! ) will speak to you about some of the natural beauty that certainly did nurture and Love me to great joy and peace!

Heartfelt happy wishes to you as we all gather together to remember the many many gratitudes we have…

YOU are a part of my very long list!

Love Love Love, Catherine