Visiting Uganda
Gwyn Owen
The Revd Gwyn Owen tells of his recent eye-opening time with fellow Christians in Bristol's link Diocese in Uganda
"I'm just back from Uganda and I suspect it will take quite a long time for all my thoughts, feelings and memories to take a place in me and settle. Everyone has asked me how it was. I (who am used to speaking about subjects) struggle for words. Not that I cannot find them; it is just that one or two are not enough, it would take at least an hour and even then I feel I would have failed.
"However some initial words would be: Beautiful: Africa is just awesome, huge and utterly breathtaking; the plains, the mountains, the greenness, the wildlife. It is just so not England! The minute I stepped of the plane I could smell a different air; warm, moist and full of spice. Every verdant green morning I woke up to strange bird song, and went to sleep listening to frogs that sound more like mobile phones than creatures.
The ever-changing weather from baking heat to huge thunderstorms. Well Mannered: Everywhere we went people would shake our hands and have formal introductions. The Ugandans speak slowly and gently; there is little brashness or pomp. Everyone has time for conversation and the Christians we met would interject the talk with 'Amen' and 'Praise God' in such an honest and un-self conscious way as to make me really think about how often my thoughts turn to God.
Poor: In our country we have a level of poverty beyond which very few fall. Pretty much all of us can count on a roof that does not leak and water, hot and cold, on tap. We enjoy plentiful and varied food including meat most days. We have a bed off the floor, paint on the walls, saucepans, flushing toilets! In Uganda there is a large section of society who are subsistence farmers. Very few people in Uganda are hungry. It is a very fertile land. However, these farmers (and many others) are very 'cash poor'. They can get the essentials but very little else because the have little or no money. Many have to walk up to three miles to fetch (sometimes rank) water. Shoes for children are very rare. Soap is something that is taken very seriously, they all have a bit but it is expensive. Yes, a simple every day bar of soap is a big deal.
Community. As a people the Ugandans have very strong neighbourly, family and social ties. Very strong. An orphan nephew will be taken in by and aunt and uncle and called 'son'. And they would not even think 'step-son' just 'son'. Our driver, Wilson lived in a village of about two hundred and fifty souls and every body knew, and was in community with, everyone else.
I could go on. If you want to see our slide show please arrange for us to come speak to any group you want. I feel that it will only be in sharing my time over there with you, answering your questions, that my restless heart may also find some peace. It is a strange and wonderful place full of good people trying to make their country a better home for all. Maybe we can find fitting ways to help them to help themselves.