Hi everyone - the trip to the Karamojong region in north-east Uganda went really well and was an amazing experience for me. The bus trip was AMAZINGLY grueling - I consider myself pretty tough when it comes to travel, but man....it was amazingly long, amazingly rough, and amazingly crowded. I didn't realize the Karamojong area was so remote - for the last 2 legs of the trip we travelled on dirt roads for a couple of hundred kilometres - it was awesome. It reminded me a lot of central Australia - very dry with stunted trees & bushes. I didn't know there were going to be mountains (well, HILLS for you Americans, mountains for us Australians), but there were, and some really cool rock formations and stuff. I saw my first chicken transition from life to death & to the plate (prepared by Aggie's sons), saw the arc of the Milky Way galaxy all the way down to both horizons for only the 2nd time in my life, bathed in an outhouse with a small plastic tub of water & candle (with a cool breeze & to the sound of insects - very relaxing), was served a plate solely of meat, liver & kidney for breakfast (to my horror - but had to eat it all so I wouldn't offend - that cliched thing you hear about happening to other people! I thanked God for the bowl of peanuts on the table!), met the Karamojong people (beautiful) & Aggie's oldest son, Brian, and her father, was given 2 chickens as gifts and smiled and thanked Aggie's relatives but thought "how the heck am I going to get these back alive on a 12hr bus trip!?" (we did! Barry & Freda are now happily pecking around Aggie's Mum's place in Kampala). Aggie's relatives were great & I really enjoyed it. Aggie's kids are now in good schools up there as well, which is excellent. The photo here is of a group of Karamojong girls we came across who were excited to have their photo taken. Amazing photo!
So 2 weeks today I leave to go back to the US, planning to be back here in late May for our wedding in the 1st week of June! Aggie & I have a lot to organize! So blog posts may be few & far between in the next few weeks, but this is not the end of the blog (although I'll have to think of a new title when I'm back in the US - "Simon Paech's a Series of Fortunate Events" maybe?). I'll use it to keep you all posted of future developments.
Thankyou all for your thoughts & prayers!
Simon.
P.S. I'm feeling better than I was 2 blog entries ago - thankyou Lord!
Thankyou all for your thoughts & prayers!
Simon.
P.S. I'm feeling better than I was 2 blog entries ago - thankyou Lord!
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3 comments:
Hey SPAECH!!! I ran into Bart J in H'Ville and he told me about your blog - I had to come check it out and I am SOOOOO excited to see what God is doing in your life! David K had a pastor from Uganda at his house and we shared dinner - he lives not too far from where you were at (source of the Nile area). I will keep you in my prayers, brother!
-- JTS <><
Simon I was looking through your photos and noticed that you saw a SNAKE! I'm really jealous. I wanted to see one of those so bad when we were over there! I hope you are enjoying it!
Fantastic photos Simon! Do enjoy your adventures. Although I don't think I'd be able to handle the liver, etc. for breakfast. You are so much braver than I! Please give us some more updates when you can - back here in the US and when you go back.
Best!
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