The Truck

Hello Friends, Here is an update about a new opportunity on how you can help with the work the Lord is doing here... if the Lord moves on your heart to do so. I see this as a long-term need that is necessary for my continued work here. But it seems like such a huge need, but, if it's of God, God will provide.

The Truck

One of the notorious truths about Karamoja is that the roads are, what? Awful!!! As the natural resources of Karamoja are becoming known to the outside world, more and more rock trucks come lumbering up the road to exploit these resources. But the roads were not made to support multiple tons of rock and truck, and the trucks were not made to support the roads, and so they get stuck. And when they get stuck they create craters and ruts that become saturated with rain water and make the road nearly impassible for everyone. Thus a sturdy, 4X4 vehicle is a necessity for life in Karamoja.

When Dr. Jean first arrived here, back in 1998, she bought an old Land Cruiser that had been used in Sudan as an ambulance. So the seats in the back sit sideways and the suspension is nearly shot from years of hard driving on rough roads. During the time of great unrest, she added the cow horns to the front as a symbol that she came in peace, as a protector and helper of the cows and not as an enemy. God used these horns to help save her life several times as she drove through very dangerous territory. Now, as peace begins to settle in the land, the horns still represent our friendship and connection to the people and the cows. As we drive the vehicle, people will often rush to the road to wave at us and shout “Nakaala, Nakaala!” which is Jean’s Karamojong name.

Now that Tom and Jean are leaving the field the truck goes back to CVM (Christian Veterinarian Missions, whom Jean was with). I had the opportunity to buy the truck, but have chosen not to. As much as I like the truck for sentimental reasons, I recognize that it is not a reliable vehicle for me. Since I am not much of a mechanic, I need something that I can trust will get me to my destination (without costing me hundreds of dollars worth of fuel and repairs). So it is with sadness that I say goodbye to this great truck. I have actually really enjoyed learning how to drive it (left-side manual transmission), and taking on the challenges of the roads with it (love the adrenalin rush that comes from conquering the really muddy spots).

But since I am not buying this truck, and since it is necessary to have a truck for Karamoja, I must look into buying a new truck for me/the team. Vehicles here are very expensive. In addition to the initial cost of the vehicle, you also have to pay import taxes which can nearly double the price. Thus, for a good, used land cruiser you can pay about $17,000.00. I had initially thought that I would buy a motorcycle to travel around Karamoja (much cheaper), but with the changes of team dynamics, I know that I need a real vehicle instead of just a motorbike. So I am asking for your help. If you would like to contribute to buying a vehicle, you can send your donation to Pioneers (follow the directions below) and add a slip of paper specifying “vehicle funds”. I really appreciate your help in this. It is a need I cannot meet on my own. CVM has allowed me to continue to use the truck until March, 2013, so the sooner the funds come in, the better. Thank you!

Thank you for your faithful friendship and prayers.
Summer

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."

Please help support Summer's missionary work in Uganda by prayerfully giving through Pioneers by using the following link, and fill out the form. Thank you so much!
Website: https://webapps.pioneers.org/V2/giving/GiftInfo?name=Summer+Root&accountid=111084
Missionary Name: Summer Root
Account Number: 111084

A Day in Karamoja

Twenty minutes before the sun raises its tenacious head above the horizon a rooster warns the world of its coming. A new day is breaking forth, the rhythms of life set in motion once again. Each new day is slightly mysterious, yet cushioned by the daily tasks that must be accomplished, keeping a tedious balance between the mundane and chaotic. As the sun climbs slowly into the morning sky, the village wakes up around us. Women begin making fires for morning porridge, shepherd boys begin singing to their cows, waking them up and preparing them for the day’s journey to graze. Girls giggle as they get dressed, sweep the compounds and begin to walk to the nearest bore hole to gather water. Soon the air is filled with chatter and squeaking as women pump water from over-used bore holes. Andrea, the guard, slashes grass on the compound; his blade grazes the ground as he attempts to keep snakes and other pesky critters away. A multitude of birds sing through the air, happily chaotic in their celebration of the new day.

By the time the sun reaches through the window in my round rock house many of the villagers have been up for an hour or so before me. I have been listening to the slow awakening around me, but without electricity to brighten the house my motivation to wake up earlier is limited. I went to bed with the light of a flashlight, I would rather wake with the natural light of the sun.

I love the ease with which I can get ready for the day here- pull on a skirt, slather on some sunscreen, add some beads if I’m really feeling fancy and out the door I go. I haven’t looked at myself in a mirror for over a week- freedom. The opinions of others is already confused by the color of my skin, so what does it matter if I hold to the western standard of beauty?

The first order of the day is to make a charcoal fire. We splinter eucalyptus wood into small pieces and burry it in the middle of the sigari (charcoal burner). Once it flares to life, we build a charcoal wall around it heating as many pieces as possible. The smell of smoke is seared into my clothing and hair as I fan the fame to get it red-hot for cooking. If possible, I will keep the charcoal burning all morning. I will start by cooking porridge for breakfast, followed by boiling water for drinking, and then other baking projects (bread can take four hours on the coals). I enjoy experimenting with cooking projects and have found that you can cook a great deal with limited ingredients and no oven.

Personal devotions are enjoyed over a cup of morning coffee and porridge. This is one of the sweetest moments of the day, before the demands come, before language lessons start, before you have to do anything, you can just be. Be with the Lord. Rest in His life-giving words. Journaling prayers, intimate communication with the Savior of my soul. Dealing with heart issues, crying out to Him for direction, for wisdom, for grace. Precious moments with the Lord are never wasted.

I would love to linger there longer, but the day presses forward and so I must join it. Melissa and I pray together and go over the schedule for the day. The routines that give us daily structures are unique, unknown to the rest of the world, protected from the pushing and shoving of the western world, free from the clock that governs the schedules of others. We will clean the compound, do language lessons, help KACHEP with whatever they need (animal health, trainings, spraying events etc.), go out to the villages, share the Word of God through storying, cook food, and when the sun goes down we will entertain ourselves through book studies, conversations, worship, pod-casts or movies. It is simple. But it is consuming.

There are times when I wonder what I accomplished that day- I walked to the market. On the way I greeted the tailor, I spoke with Mama Sarah, stopped by the counselor’s house, shook hands with about fifty people, denied that same number of people the money that they begged from me, chatted with the store clerk, bought my kilo of sugar, my four tomatoes and five onions (all in different locations), amicably argued with the woman over charcoal prices, fought off two marriage proposals and came home. A trip to the market is not really about the kilo of sugar, the four tomatoes and the five onions. It is about community. It is about building relationships. It cannot be factored into a time-oriented society. It just is. And somehow, in the eternal perspective of the Lord, it has value.

If I get caught up in the events, the goals of life (i.e. the quantifiable accomplishments of organizations), I rush over the people, I miss the bigger scheme of community, of relationships, of participating in life with God’s beloved. I miss the joy that I see on their faces when I learn a new word and use it correctly, I miss knowing that the counselor is sick and needs prayer, I miss bringing a smile to the woman who sells tomatoes, I miss life in Karamoja. So I must change from being task-oriented to people-oriented. And in that change, I must remember that it is through these relationships that the kingdom of God can be known. It is through our love and the way that we live our lives that people first experience the presence of God. It is through these relationships that we have the platform to speak God’s truths. And we do need to speak them, because faith comes through hearing and hearing from the Word of God (Rom. 10). So in the schedule of the day, I must carve out time for people, for trips to the market that take an hour.

As evening gives way to night, I make another charcoal fire to cook dinner. The crickets and frogs join in the last chorus of the day and the sun rests once again beyond the horizon. Bright stars splash against the dark sky with awe-inspiring radiance. The village to the east starts a late celebration, dancing and singing with unity and power which echoes over the land. The village to the west sounds an alarm as raiders come in to steal their livestock. Gunshots can be heard as the army comes to intervene. Melissa and I hear these sounds from afar and pray for the villages. Pray that one day the sounds rising from the villages will be that of worship and praise, of celebration in the work that God will do in their lives.

Until that day comes we will continue to live here, faithfully asking God to fill our days with the works and the relationships that He wants us to have; submitting our schedules to God that He may be glorified in the smallest, most inconsequential act to the biggest, most exciting events. God is worthy of it all and He is always at work, even when we don’t see it.

Please pray that God will guide us with His love and wisdom, that we would have grace for each day that He gives us here. Pray that we would value each day and life it to the utmost for His glory and honor, and that each day we live in Karamoja the people would recognize the presence of God in our lives.

Much love,
Summer

Chickens, Ladies and Bible Studies

A group of five women gathered together on the veranda outside of the KACHEP (Karamoja Christian Ethno-veterinarian Program) office. A year ago these women were selected from their communities to be participants in a chicken project supported through KACHEP. The goal of the program was to improve nutrition in communities. These women were chosen because they were women of influence, up-standing women who could be examples for those around them. They came from four different communities within a 20km radius of Nabilatuk. So on this day we gathered together to reflect on how the project had gone. All of the women were very encouraging as they shared the positive experiences they had with their chickens. Despite heat, rains, raids and diseases, all of the chickens had survived and were producing high-quality eggs. This may not sounds amazing, but it is. This is the first and only successful chicken program in Karamoja. These women have had to work hard at building cages for their birds, carrying water for them, keeping records, and learning about how to care for chickens appropriately. In addition to adding nutrition to their families’ diets, many of the women had sold the eggs and had created a small business for themselves which provided money for school fees or other household necessities. It was such a blessing to be able to reflect with them over the successes of the program. Of course I was not here at the conception of the project; I’ve just been blessed to be able to reap the benefits of the work that Dr. Jean and the three amazing chick ladies (Christine, Nabor and Valentina) put in.

Veterinarian work and projects such as the chicken program are blessings for the community and help build the capacity of the people of Karamoja. They are wonderful activities that enable us to participate in the lives of the people here. But in and of themselves, they are not enough. The programs themselves do not bring people into a right understanding of who God is. It is through the hearing of God’s Word that peoples’ lives can be transformed. We must utilize these programs to bring us into contact with people so that we can share God’s truth with them. We gain access to the hearts of the people through loving them where they are at, through building relationships with them and meeting their felt needs. But if we leave it at this, we have failed. We must use (and create) opportunities to share God’s Word with the people in ways that they can understand.

Thus at every training or animal health event, Melissa or I will share a story from God’s Word. So it was on this particular day that God impressed upon my heart to share the story of Lydia (Acts 16). As I prayed through this story I realized that these women have a lot in common with Lydia. She was a woman of influence in her home town. She had her own business selling silks in the marketplace. She had a foundational knowledge about God but she did not know about Jesus until Paul came to share these truths with her. Once she submitted herself in faith to Jesus her life was radically transformed. She immediately opened her home to become a place of worship. Her home became a church, where the Word of God was used to edify the lives of the believers and to bring them to greater faith. These five chicken women have lives that are similar to Lydia. They are women of influence, business women selling eggs in the marketplace. They have a foundational knowledge of God (“Akuj”), but most don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I felt like I was supposed to share this story with the women and challenge them to be like Lydia. To use the position that God had given them to be a blessing in their communities. As I shared with them I encouraged them to open up their homes to become places of worship and study of the Word of God.

The women listened with keen interest. At the end of the story, I challenged them through questions to think about the story and to pull out application for their lives. As they did this, they began to respond. Three of the five women immediately invited me to their homes. They were very excited about inviting me in and told me that they wanted to be like Lydia.

So Melissa and I have begun meeting in their homes each week. We have begun to chronologically story the Word of God, highlighting 26 stories from Genesis to Christ. This is building foundational knowledge about God so that they can recognize Jesus as the Savior when the time comes.

I am thrilled that God has opened this door of opportunity for us. As we have made the commitment to travel out to their homes on a weekly basis, we have found many obstacles standing in our way. But our God is greater and His love is stronger than any obstacle that would stand against us, so we push forward with the assurance that God is at work. Our focus at each of the Bible studies is not the number of people in attendance. We want to pour into these women to equip them to be able to share these stories within their communities themselves. In order to ensure reproducibility, we keep the stories simple and ask only three questions for discussion: 1) what does this story teach us about God? 2) What does this story teach us about people? And 3) If I believe this story is truth, how can I change my life to reflect that truth? In other words, how can I apply this story in my life?

At the beginning these questions were very challenging for the women to process, having no education, they find it difficult to think critically about the passage and pull out more abstract thoughts. But they are learning, and it is getting more in depth as we proceed through the passages. We are still at the beginning, having only met five times before Melissa and I came out to Jinja, but we are encouraged that in our absence the work will continue. In the weeks before our break, I worked with a local school girl named Christine. She was on school holidays so I commissioned her to help me record Bible stories. Another KACHEP worker named Emmy has taken on the responsibility to go to each of these homes to conduct the Bible studies using the recordings. We are grateful that God always provides for us through people and resources.

Please join us in prayer that these Bible studies will yield great fruit. Pray that these women will be equipped in the Word of God to carry it out to their community. Pray that their homes will become places of worship, places of Biblical study, and places of prayer. Pray that they will not just be hearers of God’s Word but will be doers of it. Pray that their lives will be transformed into obedient disciples of Jesus Christ. Pray for me to have wisdom and insight to guide these Bible studies well. It is sometimes very difficult to do this through a translator, things can often be “lost in translation” pray that God will help me to communicate clearly and that the listeners will comprehend these truths rightly. Pray for more opportunities to work with KACHEP to meet the felt needs of the community.

The first chicken project has come to a close and we plan on starting the second chicken project in October. I will be driving 100 baby chicks from Jinja to Nabilatuk on October 4. There are several big challenges for this new project. The first is transport, not only for the initial transport of the chicks, but also for the feeds, vaccines and materials that we will need on an on-going basis. Another challenge is that I don’t actually know that much about chickens and I have been thrown into it. The first four months are the most difficult where the chicks will need the most care. Another challenge is the feed. We must get feed from down country because Karamoja does not produce all that is needed for quality feed. The problem is that Uganda has had a serious shortage of good feed sources, it has come out recently that most companies are corrupt and are mixing sand or other non-food substances into the feed to reduce their costs. This drives the costs of the good feed companies up, which makes it difficult for us to know if we will be able to subsidize this project enough for the women. So please be in prayer for this project as we venture forward. I desire to support the women and the chickens, but I’m not sure I’m up to the task.

Here is a weekly schedule of the Bible Studies that we have, I would love your specific prayers over each of these women, their homes, and the villages.

On Mondays we usually go to Okatoot. One day we were traveling to the village and found that the road was blocked by a thorn fence. In addition to this, it had rained recently, so the ground was too muddy, rendering it impossible to forge a new road around the thorn fence. We felt discouraged that we had come so far (about at 45 min drive) only to turn around 5km from the village. We saw a couple of shepherd boys with their cows and asked them if there was any way around. They responded that there wasn’t, we asked them to call other people from their village to get another opinion. They called a few men and women from the village and we asked them about the thorn fence. They said that they were expanding their village, so we could no longer travel on that road. Frustration. Then they asked us why we wanted to get to Okatoot. We told them that we were believers in Jesus Christ and that we wanted to share the stories of God’s Word with the people in Okatoot. Immediately the people asked us to share the stories with them as well. We told them that the only thing we could offer was the Word of God- not education, medical care, or development (commonly assumed by-products of having a white person show up at your village). They said that they understood this and they just wanted to hear the stories of God. So, we have started two Bible studies on Mondays, one in the village of Okatoot and one in this new village called Naput. I love the way God directs us to the people that he has prepared to receive his word. Pray that God will continue to direct us and open opportunities for us.

Much love,
Summer

Irish

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d'aghaidh
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú. 



May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

from here 

hope (center) across the street…

Update by Micey

By micey

Hope Center
After we cleaned at Ignace Deen, we continued the field trip with a stop at the Hope Center. The center is a building belonging to the hospital that a team renovated and brought up to modern standards. It’s purpose is to house patients when they are ready for discharge but still have a lot of follow up appointments. The folks who don’t live locally can stay here while undergoing outpatient treatment.

I enjoyed visiting the folks at the center. It’s really nice to see kids getting back to normal and recovering so nicely. The above boy is one of the many cleft lip repairs we’ve done. It’s such a great joy to be part of this ministry!
His… Michelle
Philippians1:20 

Public urged to play more role in fighting corruption

Public urged to play more role in fighting corruption

Bank of Uganda Issues Sh1, 000 Coins

Better than the filthy 1000 shs notes......

Bank of Uganda Issues Sh1, 000 Coins

September Rains, and October Heat

Update on Ryan

As I write this update its now the month of October(as if you havent noticed).  While all you on that side of the world are watching the colors of the Autumn leaves, life continues on here.  It took many years to get used to not having real seasons.  We have seasons of course, wet and dry.  For the last month and a half I've been adapting to the changes in temperature.  Living next to a giant green mountain had its perks, cool weather even when it was really hot.  Kitgum on the other hand is lacking mountains but at least there is a river that borders the town.  Every day these days is like the mid nineties and as many of you experienced this summer, its not a very nice temperature.  I mean if I had a pool that would be a great temp to live at, but sadly I am lacking a pool.
  So I have now taught the church and a few other ministries for a month.  It has been a good switch for me because teaching in town is a bit more fun.  In the village I taught things rather simply knowing that the people I ministered to were less educated.  So extra illustrations, and little jokes here and there are lost in the silence.  In town I can use all those extra ways of keeping people attentive and applying the truths of scripture to their lives.  It has been a challenge, and I like challenges.
   I have all these different ideas I want to put forth in this new area of ministry but I want to move slowly.  One of the ministries on my heart is to get the youth involved in the church.  We have a few but I desire to bring many youth into the church.  So please pray as I plan school outreaches in the coming weeks.  I want to open a door for further ministries.  The other day I tracked down all the schools in town and they're really spread out.  It's funny how every town is different in their layout.  The kids have to walk a long way to get to their schools.  So please pray for open doors in the schools and step one of my plan to reach the youth of this town.  As for me personally I ask that you would pray that God would fill me with his Spirit daily, and that I would long for what He longs for
  Oh I almost forget a few last things.  First thing I have started a page to raise funds to get a well for the farm in the village.  We want to provide work for people year round and abundant water.  All we have to raise is 2500 dollars and we can put one in so far we have $350 here is the link www.facebook.com/GiveABoreholeToMoruKo?ref=tn_tnmn  Please help us to make this happen.  Secondly my motorcycle was stolen over 2.5weeks ago.  We are still keeping our ears open for whatever news may come, but it could be a lost cause.  Pray that in the case God still wants me to have a motorcycle that he would provide the funds a good one probably costs $1500.  Please commit these things to prayer.  Thanks for reading

from here

Ride for Refuge

Dennis' Story

 "It was dark when they came in to my village and set it on fire. It was 1993, West Uganda and I don't remember much of that night, I don't remember how they killed my mum and my dad, only of hearing it afterward, I just remember being taken. Kony and his men kidnapped us small ones and made us walk for days and days with no food or water. We were all tied together as we marched along and beat us if we were slow. One boy tied with us died in those few days of marching, but they wouldn't untie him, they made us drag him along with us. We reached a river that was higher than we were tall. All I remember was fear as we crossed, still all tied together as a group.

Once I escaped from the LRA and I just ran. I had no plan, I just ran and ran until I could go no further. I thought I was free but they caught up with me and beat me as they brought me back to do their work of terrorising. That's all we seemed to ever do.

Quite a few years later the Ugandan police found us and arrested us. It was in prison that I found peace. A Christian group was advocating for the education of ex-child soldiers so that on release we could have some skills to get employment. I learnt how to lay cement & bricks, build structures like houses and walls and I learnt about Jesus. I could not forgive myself before this for all that I had done and I could not forgive those who had made me do it either. It was only through having Jesus in my life and knowing that he takes all that sin and pain away by his work on the cross that I could let it all go and be who I am today.

When I was released from prison I tried to return to my village. I am a Cholie by tribe and I went back to see if any of my people were there, but no one would accept me home. Too many of my tribe were fearful of what we had done in our past and wouldn't let us come home. That is why I came here to Soroti, but now I feel happy to be able to minister to boys who have been put through what I was put through. Together, with the help of our mighty God, we can strive to let go of the past and make decisions to change our future, knowing that God alone will come again to judge the living and the dead, to bring justice, and that I am covered and protected by the blood of Jesus Christ."  

This is the testimony of one of the members that I heard on Saturday's bike ride "Ride for refuge" to raise awareness for ex-child soldiers. We rode 25km to the Obalinga mass grave site, where 360 people are buried. They are all people who died in the LRA insurgence on the 16th June 2003. When we got there the site was all over grown with weeds and so we had to hoe and slash the whole area (hard work in the African sun!). We then had a memorial ceremony and cycled back to our base to have lunch together.

 Many of the men who cycled have similar stories as Dennis, but many have not been able to adjust to normal life again like he has. Many are in severe inner turmoil, suffering greatly over their sense of identity (as rejection from family members and tribe members is very common), over guilt and over anger. Many are angry with God, not believing that he was suffering along with them as he watched every evil and wicked deed they were a part of, not knowing that he is the opposite to all of that, he is love. Many don't know what to do with themselves and see Jesus as their only hope but don't know where to go from there.

So much prayer and wisdom is needed for them and for the patient souls who are working with them, walking with them each step of the way, hearing their stories, and letting God heal them and bring them back to Him, for His purposes.
here 

Small animal surgery at Dr Val's

  Surgeries!

Wednesday 26/9/12

 Today Dr Liz from Oregan in the US, and I did 8 surgeries (2 neuters and 6 spays) and yes, I got my birthday wish, I completed a whole spay and neuter, solo. Most of the others I did half of, and Liz did the other half, as I am not very efficient at it yet.

For the vets interested out there, here is some info on doing surgery on an office desk :) We did it all 'clean' as opposed to aseptic. It was 'field work' so we did the surgeries on the only space available, on someone's desk in the CLIDE* office! We gave the dogs Acepromazine first to chill them out a little, then a mix of ketamine and Valium (50% of each in the required dose, IV) and then gave half of that dose again once the dog was prepped for surgery and we were beginning and then as needed, we topped up with Propofol.

 

 On the field, as they say, you use whatever you have and these all worked really well! The animals went down and woke up really smoothly. Antibiotics were given afterwards because the surgery was 'clean' not aseptic and because they will most likely be rolling around in bacteria-ridden dirt before too long.

The cats were given what is called 'kitty magic' - I think the drug companies came up with that one- which is 0.1ml each of Torbugesic, Ketamine and Dexdomitor for every 5kg. Ooh and I learnt a new trick it's called the 'clove-hitch knot' and I've used it with tying up horses and boats before but never seen it in a surgery, so that was cool to learn. Hopefully we'll get to do some more next week as well and when we go to Karamoja on Wed next week, there as well :)

 *CLIDE stands for Community Livestock-Integrated Development (consultancy), it has four offices, two in Karamoja, one here in Soroti and one in Kampala. It is another Christian Veterinarian Mission outlet here in Uganda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More here

Extra Ordinary Women of Uganda

Friday, 28 September 2012

Extra Ordinary - Significant Women of Uganda.
"I love to catch the sunrise. I love the multifaceted aspect of being feminine. I love God. He inspires me to see the best in life, people, myself and my work." Jennifer Mypisi. Designer/Architect

"If I could speak to my younger self, I'd say; "Baby girl you can be all that and then some. Give life time. Give yourself time." Dr Paula Mundari. Physician.

"While in exile I had to carry my child on my back and walk to the market. I'd learnt that the high status I'd enjoyed before was - an addition to me and not who I truly am." Florence Nakyoni. Human Rights Activist.

"My day of courage dawned when I met President Amin. I didn't know whether I would come back alive or dead. I know who I am because of the commitments I have made in my life." Juliana Bezuidenhout. Girl Guide/Presidential Advisor.

"Every day is unique and when it is gone, it is gone forever." Maria Kiwanuka. Entrepreneur.

"I come from a strong line of women. I look at my grandmother, my aunts and my mum, and I know that I too can make it. I am emotional and intuitive." Gloria Wavumono. Fashion Designer.

"God comes first. Fear Him and have integrity." Leticia Kikonyogo. Deputy Chief Justice.

from here

Veterinary Symposium in Kampala

17-23rd September Oliotya!

 Heya, from Kampala, Uganda at Mackerere University, where I have spent this last week, listening to lectures, meeting other veterinary students and doing surgery practicals in the afternoons. The program has been run by the Ugandan Christian Veterinary Mission and has been fantastic fun; learning, laughing and loving each other (as my new US friends say). Five Americans flew over for the time (some are staying a bit longer as well) on a mission trip, they're mostly small animal veterinary surgeons who have been doing the lectures & surgeries (they brought all the vet materials we're using over with them!).

The week has also been a great opportunity to hear of the faith of the students and to fellowship with them. The lectures have been on many different topics, ranging from 'client communication' to complex surgeries to common skin diseases. In most of the lectures we've looked at the theoretical side of certain surgeries; cystotomy, gastrotomy, enterotomy, intestinal anastamoses, speys, neuters, opthamological surgeries, even fluid therapy for post operation, etc.

The students seemed really excited that I was a student too (as all the other mzungus we're real docs haha) and very interested to hear what vet work in Karamoja is like! Many of the students still hold to their culture of segregation of the Karamajong even subconsciously looking down on them as lesser than they are, which comes out when I speak to them about my work. Back home we have such a culture of being politically correct and even if you secretly think badly of someone you would never show it or say it. Of course, ignorance in what the K'jong are really like (these students and most of the Ugandans living outside of Karamoja have never been or met a traditional K'jong, they just know what they've been told of them) will always breed distance and even disdain or fear. That seems to be a fact of culture clashes throughout history and throughout the world today, even a funny example of this is the way the Karamajong harshly judge a woman for wearing pants. To the women down here at the bottom of Uganda in Kampala, wearing pants is a sign of an educated woman. To the Karamajong, wearing pants is saying that you are basically a prostitute (no joke, from their mouths not mine), showing the shape of your legs is very provocative. A simple thing like that means two very different things to two different people of the same country.

read more here