love because of their stories

I finally get to sit down and think about the past few weeks in Uganda.  Its hard to gather all my thoughts because we were constantly meeting new people, hearing new stories and seeing how change was being brought because of organizations there in Uganda.  So this may take a few blogs and very random thoughts to say what I want to say.

I came back so encouraged. Encouraged by the amazing friends that I met. Encouraged by the tragic turned beautiful stories I heard. Encouraged by the motivated individuals of Uganda who have given their every day life to make a difference in a torn place.

A torn place, just like here in the States. It may not look like the same kind of torn but, indeed, they are both torn and in need of passionate people to change the ugly reality of human trafficking.

Everywhere you go, human trafficking exists.  Small villages, big cities, suburbs, and everywhere in between.  From the most unlikely places, that look like perfection, to the ones where you can point and almost be for sure that it is happening there.  I saw differences in how human trafficking is perceived and the ways of going about the effort to end it.

In my mind there are three stages of fighting human trafficking.  Of course there are details in between, but this is how I simplify a complicated issue.

#1 Awareness- This comes in many forms. Media (posters, radio, tv, or billboards), word of mouth, story telling, being a real life example of change.  The list goes on......

#2 Meeting someone where they are at- Stepping into the middle of the circumstances to be a friend and show love in the middle of whatever situation someone is in no matter what.

#3 Aftercare- Providing a physical, emotional and/or spiritual safe place for victims of human trafficking to go to tell their story and continue living as they have been created to live.

That being said, it will be easier to understand what I learned.

In Uganda awareness is lacking.  There are so many dedicated people that want to spread the word of the desperate state that human trafficking has caused but to bring awareness to the people that can legally and physically help is the hard part.  The need is to create awareness for police, politicians, NGO's, and other people in leadership so that the amazing law that Uganda does have on human trafficking can be used properly and effectively.  In hopes that it will bring the people of Uganda to trust the protection that they are most deserving of and understand the difference of culture and human rights.

Uganda has many NGO's that are doing very good work for victims of child trafficking and child soldiers.  I did see so many good programs for kids that were truly changing lives.  I was blessed to see and be apart of it.

Now, to compare it to the States.  Again, I want to emphasize that the issue is in both places.  It is in both places in a very big way.  It comes across very different because of culture.  In Uganda, in some ways its a part of culture and something that has just been there for so long.  In the states, its hidden and made to seem like we got rid of slavery years ago, when in all reality its bigger than its ever been....EVER!

You may have noticed how human trafficking has become something that is talked about a lot in the States, so awareness is becoming more prevalent. Although we are not filled with aftercare programs, I do believe more and more are opening up. The 2 step is what I think we lack in the U.S. Someone to meet them where they are at, no matter where it is.  The streets, a brothel, a strip club, a bar, whatever it is, no matter who it is....all people need to feel loved. They need to feel loved no matter what part of life they are in.  So I come back with an urgency to do exactly that.

In every day life my goal is to meet people where they are at, hear their stories and love them because of their stories.  I want to find myself in a place I normally wouldnt find myself, so that I can find people I might not have normally met, and hear stories I might not normally hear and love people I might not normally find to love.

I come back not feeling like I want to save people but feeling like I want to love like I have never loved before.  I want to hear stories of heart break, and redemption.  Stories that will change the way I think and act, the way I love and dream.

More thoughts to come....

Last days...

Last days..

I can hardly believe this trip is coming to an end. I am deeply saddened because I have family here now and I hate thinking that it could be years before I see them again. But, I have had the most amazing time. Things I will never forget. Stories, faces and hearts that will be with me forever.

We traveled to Busia on monday which is the boarder town of Kenya. We spoke with the probation officer. This guys works alone. He deals with every problem imaginable when if comes to protecting the people. He was the one person that spoke a lot about the corruption in the government, police and other officials involved with trafficking. Seems that this problem of people that should be taking care of citizens, are using them, destroying them and taking their trust just as it happens in the states. It makes it feel hopeless when you know you need those people to protect. We continue to see the same things.

Just as the states are missing certain steps in this fight, Uganda is just missing different ones than we are. When I get back I will be writing a blog about all I observe and how that applies to us in the states. I've learned so much. I have many opinions and facts to come home with!

Our last venture was going back to UDELL. Which was the rehabilitation home with over 200 kids. Two of our team got their hair done, but with my boy hair I couldn't :) I got to sit with a girl about 17. She wanted me to pray with her and tell me her story. What an honor. The shorter version of her story is that her father died, she hasn't seen her mother in 6 years and she had to get a job to take care of her grandfather. Keep in mind that she is now 17, not when this happened. She ended up working as a domestic. He worked for a long time and never got paid. She was a slave...
A lady found her, saw what was going on and brought her to this place. She is a strong girl. We found out at the end that we had the same birthday :)

Thank you so much for the support! Know that it was worth every moment. I'm headed to the airport today. First stop, Amsterdam and then home. Well...one of my homes :)

Aber (ah- bay)

Rhinos!! We got to stop at the rhino conservation park yesterday! We have been begging Brian and Doug to take us to see some sort of animal but you have to have a big jeep and a lot of time, which we don't have. :) so on our way back from Gulu yesterday we saw a sign for the rhinos! We went and it was incredible.

To see animals like that in their own environment was amazing. Imagining that these grazing animals are stuck in cages in zoos is very depressing. We had a tracker to find them in acres and acres if the land. We saw a mom, dad and little one. I will show pics when I get back. It was kind of our afternoon with no heavy stuff.

We spent most of the day traveling yesterday.

This morning we woke up an headed to the slums. The women we met have incredible stories! They make beads by cutting strips of paper, rolling the paper on a small stick, putting a gloss over them and then creating the designs. We sat there as around 10 women made necklaces. It is how they make a living instead of prostituting themselves or any other things that are so prevalent in that situation. The problem is, they are not allowed to sell right on the street because they cannot afford to rent a small spot along everyone else who sells. They had so many! So they only sell them to people that stop by which is hardly ever. We left with lots :)

We were able to go into 3 of their homes. Words can't describe the slums...it's what they know. They are happy women who have become a family.

When we left, they wanted to give us Ugandan names. We became family :) mamma Lucy, one of the lady that runs the women's fellowship wanted to name me and gave the name Aber (ah-bay) which means "good". I was honored :) it was a beautiful time with beautiful people.

A part of my heart will be left in this beautiful country...

It must be true!

It's so easy to believe something and conform to others ideas or beliefs when it is posted all over the Internet or even posted on YouTube a few times. It must be true right? I've been guilty of this.

Yesterday we started at Invisible Children. As I stepped into the gate we were immediately greeted and taken into an office where a passionate young woman from Uganda told us all of the programs that had been created and developed for children right there in Gulu and around the rest of Uganda as well. Things from mentoring programs, to schools being built to a Mend program that teaches women to sew and make a living.

The documentaries, drama in the states about Invisible Children and media that we heard so often in the states and were very quick to judge by only what we saw on tv, youtube or facebook quickly became reality once again when we met the Ugandan people that were so involved in making their people and environment a better place by serving each other.

I am only hear to say that I saw, experienced, and heard good stories coming from invisible children. We were able to go see the women at Mend who make the bags that are sold online. I bought one and took a picture with the lady that made it. Each bag has their story inside and their fingerprint on the strap. We were able to take a picture of the whole group. So beautiful. All the women there had been captured by LRA at one point and thankfully found themselves at Mend. What a complete blessing to meet all of them.

Next we showed up again to a crowd of kids waiting for us. Gulu youth development association. These kids were former child soldiers or traumatized in some way. We talked about human trafficking with them. They were asked what was the definition of human trafficking to them and now that we know what it is, what are ways that it can be prevented. I got video of their answers. It was eye opening to hear if from some kids that have actually been trafficked or know someone who has. One by one about 10 kids got up and shared their story of experiences they have had. Wow...goosebumps an aching heart and tears.

Headed back to Kampala today. A day of driving and rest. Lots to process...friends have become family. It will be hard to leave this beautiful place in hopes to visit dear friends again.

I don't dance....but....

Today we left for Gulu. A city in northern Uganda. 5 hour drive out of the city. It was really nice to get out and see more of the country.
I was thankful to have Doug and Brian with us on our journey (they are the two that have been taking us around representing Not For Sale and Global Exchange). On our way they explained the history as we drove north. They talked about where the war started and what the rebels did. It's one thing to see it in a movie or even a documentary, but to be driving through where it actually took place was a feeling of its own. Even though the villages were put back together they explained that a lot of the huts that were burned down, they rebuilt with brick instead for more safety. We drove by where the IDP camps were/are, the road where Joseph Kony grew up and saw all the people that had once fled their own village only to come back and continue living. I learned that Doug's village was affected by the rebels in a big way. It was definitely something I will remember forever.
When we finally got to Gulu we went to a rehabilitation place for women. This is their story, they mostly lived in the Congo only to find themselves in Uganda because the military from Uganda who had gone to fight in the war used these women for sex, told them they would take them back to Uganda and marry them. These women followed these men back to find the military men married with families. Because they had no money they prostituted themselves to make money.
Let me tell you...when we met these women, they were full of joy, real joy. They learned how to make bread and sell it to people in the village to earn a living.
Their smiles are sunshine. They said over and over "praise God". The fact that these women can go through something like that and still say praise God....that will make you check yourself the next time you want to blame God for something awful in your life or it will make you consider how your circumstances can turn to joy with work and a choice. They hugged us, blew us kisses and said they loved us as we bought some of their delicious bread. I want be Lovely to be apart of what is going on there. They need a new stove and more things for cooking. We were able to take pictures with them. I can't wait to share their beautiful faces!
Next stop, Undugu Family. This place started of as a place for child soldiers to rehabilitate. It started with an incredible man with a passion. We had no idea this was going to happen but as we drove up they all turned around and started to clap. They immediately called us family. And instantly we felt like family. It was the most humbling experience. There were so many people and kids. Now, there are more kids there that arent only child soldiers. But to see kids that had to go through the war as they did after driving through where the war was, made it even more real. They did tribal dances for us and sang. They did it all for us. It drew a huge crowd. Now, if you know me, you know I don't dance much. This time I had no choice, the asked us up there and there was a crowd of us just dancing together. Im not gonna lie, i danced my ass off! :) I had so much fun...who woulda thought. They fed us a meal and continues to dance the night away. I also have pictures and videos of this that I'm excited to share!
We will be staying here the next two nights and then head back to kampala.

As the representative of be Lovely, I am honored to be apart and my voice will not be silent for the people I have met. be Lovely WILL make a difference...across the world. In the states and in Uganda, no boundaries! I hope this inspires people that could use be Lovely product or ones that hear about this movement because be Lovely is going to change the world, one heart at a time! All of us...together.

Love from Uganda!

broken hearts and hope

It has been a full two days here in Uganda....so I am going to have to pick and choose what I share or I will be writing a book. 

The first day was meetings.  Not the boring kind where you cant wait to get out, but the kind where you could sit for hours and listen to a passionate, hard working heart speak about saving the world they live in. :) Those are the two meetings our team got to interact with on our first day.  First was the ABA (American Bar Association).  The are the big advocators.  There goal is to teach people here in Uganda what human trafficking is and teach the police how to enforce the human trafficking law that was given here a few years ago.  It shocked me to find out how a lot of the problem here with human trafficking is unawareness of the issue or simply not knowing what it is.  There are people with good hearts in the law enforcement and regular citizens that simply dont know what human trafficking looks like.  I also found out that the penalties of human trafficking are very severe. Which you think would be a positive thing but it makes the police not enforce the law because the consequences seem harsh to them.  All and all I learned that Uganda needs a lot of advocacy here. Coming from the states that seems to be a big thing for us.  Interesting to see what is needed in different parts of the world.
ANPPCAN was our second organization.  They advocate on the protection of children from child abuse in the home and also human trafficking. They are fighting that same fight.  Advocacy is a big thing for them as well. This is where the hope is.  There are organizations doing exactly what they should be doing.

Now the second day....wow. I will add that to the list of overwhelming experiences due to the stories I've heard and the faces that go with them.  First stop was Sanyu(Joy) Orphanage here in Kampala.  It is an orphanage for newborns to 3 years.  Heart wrenching.  They take up to 50 kids and they had 49 the day we went.  Its something you cant explain. These children were either brought to them by police, left in a taxi or found in a hospital after birth.  The hearts of these workers are incredible.  There are not that many staff taking care of infants and toddlers running around. But man, did they make me smile.  We were able to play with them for nearly an hour, help take baths and get them to lunch.  Now these faces...leave your heart aching and bring you job all at the same time.  We werent allowed to take pictures do to security but the faces are implanted in my mind.  On our way out we were able to meet a couple that was adopting a little girl. I'm not gonna lie...I wanted to be them.  Part of my heart was left at Sanyu Orphanage.

Second day, second stop...Masooli Treatment Center.  Looking at the itinerary for the trip, this was the one I was looking so forward to.  It is a rehabilitation center for teenagers who have been involved in drug abuse, alcohol abuse and sex trafficking.  I believe they said they had 140 girls and 70 boys. Some of which stay at the center and some of which come daily. This place is legit.  This place is one I will talk more about in person because it is so close to my heart and typing it in a blog will not do justice.  They have few staff as well but hearts of gold.  They teach them trades to make it on their own. Give them counseling and a safe place to stay.  They are allowed to stay 6-9 months and then leave.  They keep their existence low profile due to the fact that they would have a line out the door of children who need help and they just dont have the facilities or staff to take that many.  They teach them sewing, hair, carpentry, cooking, electronics and lots more. I met a girl who was sex trafficked named Christy.  I got to take a picture with her but again, I am not able to share it on here due to security, but I will treasure that picture and remember the soft spirited girl who was broken due to a crime that I will fight against for the rest of my life. 

All of these places make me see how these issues cause so much brokenness and heart ache but it is good to know that there are amazing people here fighting for the same things I am fighting for.

I wish I could continue to write about all of this but, breakfast is being served and we are headed to Gulu today.  Lots of changes always being made to our next adventure but it has been a blast.  My team is great, our leaders are great and this place is incredible.  This was a bit of an info blog. I hope it was still fun to read :) More soon! 

This is what I was going for...

Well, I'm in Amsterdam! It finally feels real. I was sitting in the Minneapolis/St.Paul airport and it didn't feel real. But here I sit in the Amsterdam airport for the next 4 hours. Next, Entebbe, Uganda!
As I sit here alone I'm reminded that this is what I've been waiting for. This is the position I asked to be in. On my own headed somewhere I've never been, meeting people I've never met and experiencing things that will change me forever...yep, sounds about right.
I know this won't be easy. It's going to stretch me and teach me. I will be vulnerable because I don't have my usual people I can talk to about stuff or when I'm stressed out...just me. I have committed with only blogging as a means of communication. God will be hearing lots of my thoughts on this trip. Not that he already doesn't but I tend to tell more than just him :) not this time!
So onward....well in 4 hours! Oh, by the way. I apparently missed nighttime...I left Minneapolis at 3pm an it's 7am here. I missed that part of the day where you sleep :)
Hoping I can continue to do blog!