Nomad's Pub

Please Pray!

Here are a couple posts I'm copying from one of my fellow students here who is still back in Uganda (where I will be returning in a week and a half).

April 12th, 2007 Chaos in Kampala For those of you who haven't heard the news, there were some big riots in Uganda today, all over the country in the bigger towns/cities, with the biggest being in Kampala, of course. They are rioting over a company that wants to destroy thousands of acres of natural forests to extend their sugarcane plantations, ruining several species of plants and wildlife. The debate has been going on for a long time, but today, what started out as a peaceful demonstration ended up with chaos and killings of at least three people. Here is an attached link for further reading on the story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6548107.stmI just wanted to assure you all that I am fine, and so is David Goodman, a fellow Go-ED student (and classmate from GC) who just returned to Kampala on Monday. We were both working in clinics in Mengo Hospital which is outside of the downtown area of Kampala, near our guest house, so we were quite removed from the downtown action. However, as I watched to footage on the news tonight, I was faced with how violent and out of control things can quickly become. Take heart, we are being cautious and staying away from any danger, but as you read, watch, and hear about these crazy events going on, I just ask that you would pray for peace in this country. There are so many bad things going on in the north with the LRA and rebels attacking innocent people, especially children, and now this political unrest in the south only stirs things up more. Pray for the people of Uganda, whether they are in a comfortable home, in a remote rural location away from the craziness, or in an IDP camp and right in the thick of the attacks. People here live in fear and unrest, and yet we are able to sleep peacefully every night, possibly only having to worry about which number to adjust our mattress tension to or whether or not to kick on the AC (or heat these days!).

April 14th, 2007
Crazy Incident with the Mengo Boys
Well, I wrote about the chaos in Kampala a couple of days ago. Little did I know how close to home that incident was. Granted, some might call me an outgoing girl, and I have made a number of connections here, but I had no idea that some of the few people I know in this gigantic city were actually in the thick of the excitement! Check out this story:Okay, so the Mengo Boys are these boys who have become dear friends to our entire group. They are a bunch of boys who are primarily orphans whose parents have died of AIDS. I will tell the story of them later, and how they came to be, what they do, who they are, etc. Just know that they are wonderful kids, very talented, and they have a brass band that performs all over to raise money for school fees for these boys. Well, they were invited to perform at what was supposed to be a "peaceful demonstration"--the one on Thursday that I wrote about. They were performing, and allegedly an Asian driver (Asians and Indians are referred to here as "Mwindi") was driving down the middle of the road. He refused to get over, and ended up hitting several of the boys, injuring two of them badly enough to send them to the hospital. The car continued and was headed straight for another little boy in the band, but a woman jumped out in front of the boy, pushed him to safety, and ended up being torn apart by the car and killed on the spot. The passenger of the car, another Mwindi, was pulled from the vehicle and stoned to death. The driver escaped from the car and took off running. It didn't take long before eye-witness boda boda drivers (the motorcycle taxi guys) chased him down, blocked him off, and also drew a mob which stoned him to death as well. This chaos was exactly what I had written about two days ago, but I had no idea at that time that my little buddies were involved so closely with it all. As they told me the story tonight, I could tell they were all so shaken and scared by the entire thing. Don't worry, they were only victims, they had nothing to do with the killings. It was only the next day, Friday morning, on my way to work at the Mengo Hospital Dental Clinic that I happened to see Robert, a little boy about 9 years old walking toward me. When I asked him what he was up to, he told me he was going to the hospital to visit the boys. Lawrence (fondly referred to as "Mzungu"), age 14, and Tony, age 12, were the two boys who were hit. Tony has a broken clavicle and Mzungu is bandaged with cuts and abrasions all over. His right arm, right ear, left hip, back, and both knees are the major injuries. It was so scary to see those boys lying in those hospital beds, lacking the sparkle and excitement I had always seen in their eyes. I couldn't stay long that time, but I have been back to visit about 3 or 4 times since, and will continue to go daily. I take them sodas (their favorite treat) and today David and I brought them balloons and bubbles from another missionary who is my surrogate mother at the guesthouse. Lynda and her husband Roger are from the US and are here to do children's ministry so she was eager to share some simple joys with these boys. It really did brighten their night when we came in with our gifts. I am happy to say that they are recovering well. Tony should be released from the hospital soon, with only a sling (they originally thought he was going to have to undergo surgery, and he was so scared this morning!). Mzungu could be in the hospital for anywhere from another week up to one month, depending on how the healing progresses. Things looked better today, though, and he actually got out of bed and walked a little! I know it wasn't my doing, and it really wasn't much, but I prayed with the boys both yesterday and today. I just prayed that the Lord would heal them and be their strength in the midst of their weakness, and also that He would take away their pain. Like I said, I know it wasn't me, but God is really working in those boys and bringing them back to "normal" much quicker than expected. Still, if you could lift up these boys in prayer, as well as the many others who were injured or killed in these incidents, I would truly appreciate it. It is so crazy to think that my good friends were involved in the middle of that crazy chaos Thursday. It is also scary to think that life can be snatched away so instantly. I am sure this experience will not ever be forgotten by these boys, but I also challenge you to remember them in thoughts and prayers, etc. Also, if there is any way you would like to help them out with hospital fees or replacing many lost and damaged instruments, let me know. I know Mzungu (the 14-year-old) will be missing exams that start on Monday. Exams here are a much bigger deal than they are in the States, and not easy to make up. He has to take them and perform well on them to continue with school, so this is not a good situation for him. Just pray for quick recovery and ability to focus.

posted by Lada @ 2:28 AM