Real Partners Uganda

Presentations to Your Group. Organizations in Southern New Jersey are invited to contact us about arrangements to have an exciting multimedia presentation at their meetings or assemblies provided by Real Partners Uganda featuring our work in Uganda. We can provide information, as well, on wildlife and safari eco-tourism adventures. Our goal in making these presentations is to find additional partners to support the RPU projects, including individuals who might want to investigate a volunteer experience in an exotic third world country. Please use the Contact Us... link for information on reaching our office.

These children enjoy a meal at the new Saturday Program of Mustard Seed Academy. Get the whole story from an inspiring and fun multimedia presentation for your organization.

Updates

Marcie is getting to know Mahad, the child she sponsors for Tree of Life Ministries, at Christmas time 2007. He was shy at first, but things got a lot friendlier when he saw the gifts she brought for him and his family.

Editor’s note: Marcie Nisley visited Uganda at Christmas time in 2007. Her article and Haiku verses reflect the strangeness and attraction of engaging the people of Uganda in the village where our project is located.

Lukaya Through My Eyes

by Marcie Nisley

Greetings from Brigantine! I am Marcie Nisley…good friend of Elaine and Joe Griswold. In the last few years, I have heard about the lives of adults and children in Lukaya. I have heard of the dedicated individuals that have shared their vision and hope for the school and community. I have heard the clearness in the calling of Joe and Elaine to begin partnering with other caring friends to help make a difference in many lives there. I have chosen to sponsor a child…and I treasure the picture of Mahad holding my picture.

This year a dream came true for me when I traveled to Uganda for the holidays. I went to visit my son, Scott Metzel, and his family in Kampala. My son has worked in Africa with Habitat for Humanity for 18 years. He is now National Director in Uganda. It was my first visit there. Along with the joy of “catching up”, Scott planned to show me the city, country, a game drive in Queen Elizabeth Park for Christmas, and on the return to stop in Lukaya to meet the student I sponsor, Bwogi Mahad. I had a few gifts for him and for Rachael, a child sponsored by my friend, Linda Schapley.
I chose to journal my trip in a unique way. I enjoy capturing moments and thoughts in Haiku…the Japanese form of poetry of three lines in five, seven, and five syllables. The thought could be jotted down as it happened and later simplified into a few words. Journaling at night would have been hard as often there is no electricity. Here are the thoughts from leaving an inn the morning of our trip into Lukaya.

Thoughts in Haiku

Over two hour drive:

Observing Ugandan ways.
Everyone does work.

Young girl about five;
Holds hand of younger brother,
Walking along road.

No old people here;
Life span is about forty.
Poverty, disease.

Lukaya at last;
Bustling town activity,
Turn in at the sign.

Ahead on the right;
I see the Good Shepherd School.
Drawings on the walls.

Children appear now:
Come around me with laughter.

Look at the Mzungu.

(Note: white person)

Met George and others;
We tour school and property.
Talk about future.

Elaine and Joes’ dream.
Helping families in need.
Children getting school.

Rachel is there;
Give her the gifts from my friend.
She holds them with care.

Someone brings Mahad;
He looks at me with distrust.
I sit next to him.

Together we sit;
Just looking at each other.
Show him our picture.

We look at his shirts;
With sailfish, turtle, Phillies,
So glad they will fit!

Connection begins;
He relaxes, a smile shows.
Can’t believe I’m here.

His eyes light up when,
I show him the little cars,
He’s never had them..

The ball will be shared
With three brothers at his home.
American gifts.

Visit childrens’ homes;
Both so poor and needy.
Mahad’s was the worst.

Staff meeting at noon;
Gives me a chance to meet all,
One part of the whole.

Bicycle parts;
Being sorted and then sold.
Selling the metals.

Children search garbage,
Mahads’ neighbor does sorting
Front step is his shop.

Families on steps.
Sitting, talking, laughing too.
Each one works for all.

Poverty abounds;
But cell phones are everywhere.
Its pay as you go.

Curbside chipati;
Rolled, fried, flattened to wrap eggs,
Red dust included.

Nothing seems new now;
Roadside, traffic, way of life
In less than two weeks.

Schooling for children;
A community with hope,
A new Lukaya.

On the road again;
Americans are so spoiled
WE can learn much here

I returned to America after a delightful visit to Uganda. When looking at the large homes, cars, stores, commercialism I was filled with a sense of loss. I once again realized that a country, Uganda, that is so poor, is so rich. The people are so gracious, generous, share such humor with big smiles. They have few possessions but have so much that many Americans lack. Real Partners Uganda can unite us in caring for others. We can take a part in helping our friends in Lukaya attain the dream to be a community that is self sufficient. We can give hope for the children there with education and a future of well being.

Partners' Progress - Uganda Newsletter

You may read our December 2007 newsletter by clicking on the blue link here Newsletter....

Real Partners Uganda is on track to publish its newsletter, Partners’ Progress - Uganda, three times per year. Articles keep donors and friends up to date on current developments at Tree of Life project sites. We will post the most recent edition of Partners’ Progress - Uganda on this page, and in the future, will be archiving earlier issues.

Donors may choose to receive mailed copies of the newsletter, that we publish in black and white to save printing costs. The electronic versions, delivered either by email or on the website, have two important advantages, they are in full color and they save RPU printing and mailing costs, so even more of our donations can go to Uganda. We are happy to provide paper copies to anyone on request at Contact Us...

Partners' Progress - Uganda is published three times per year. Black and white copies can be mailed and color issues are published on this website.

Donors may receive the paper version of our newletter, Partners' Progress - Uganda by mail.