The LRA ~ wreaking havoc in DR Congo

The following is from Mark's blog. There have been some major reports come to the media (finally!) this week. Such a tragedy happening even now.

Human Rights Watch have finally published their report on the LRA attack in Tapili in December 2009. Tapili is located about 6okm South West of Dungu, towards Isiro. In the space of 3 days, the LRA killed over 300 people. According to reports we have heard locally, the LRA may have killed over 400 civilians in this attack.

The Ugandan and Congolese armies are continuing to claim they are winning the war against the LRA. However, the LRA, if anything seem to be re-arming and replensihing their forces. In Nianagara last week, its believed 102 local people were killed in another LRA attack.

A strategy is surely needed, initiated by UN (MONUC) and local
governments to combat the ongoing threat of the LRA. The attaqck in Tapili indicates just how active they still are.

Links to articles detailing the attacks in Tapili can be found below;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8587305.stm
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2010/03/29/trail-death-0

Also, see http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/lra-army-abuses-congo?page=show.

Pray with me for peace & justice in DR Congo!

The LRA Tradgedy

Human Rights Watch have finally published their report on the LRA attack in Tapili in December 2009. Tapili is located about 6okm South West of Dungu, towards Isiro. In the space of 3 days, the LRA killed over 300 people. According to reports we have heard locally, the LRA may have killed over 400 civilians in this attack.

The Ugandan and Congolese armies are continuing to claim they are winning the war against the LRA. However, the LRA, if anything seem to be re-arming and replensihing their forces. In Nianagara last week, its believed 102 local people were killed in another LRA attack.

A strategy is surely needed, initiated by UN (MONUC) and local
governments to combat the ongoing threat of the LRA. The attaqck in Tapili indicates just how active they still are.

Links to articles detailing the attacks in Tapili can be found below;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8587305.stm
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2010/03/29/trail-death-0

Wedding of the Year

Well i think so anyway...and i love this. Check it out, the invite to mine and Jennie`s wedding, it even has a link to our website. http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleId=9628986563927617

Amazing pictures!

Hey all, check out the amazing pictures from our friend Charlie!

http://charlieshoemaker.blogspot.com/2010/03/come-lets-dance.html

In contact with the outside world again

Wow, firstly i must apologise its been a good 2 months since i updated this blog. I have mostly been in Dungu for that time, and I often have just not had the time or the means to update this blog. For the last 5 weeks i have been the only expat for Medair in Dungu. Its not been easy, at times its been pretty tough.

LRA activity in and around Dungu is still pretty intense. Even In the last few days, there has been an LRA attack in central Dungu. As you head North of Dungu towards Doruma and the borders with Sudan and CAR, there are several groups of LRA soldiers continuing to wreak havoc. As many as 102 peole were reportedly killed in a recent attack. As for their strategy and what the LRA are doing, well who knows. I`ve added the link below so you can read a bit more.
http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/ledio-cakaj

The base here was very simple when i arrived, so there has been a big focus on improving things logistically. We have installed a water system, electircy and of course the VSAT for access to the world wide web. Soon we will install a VHF base and continue to improve the quality of the house. I`ve negotiated the rent with the Catholic church, which has been much more challenging than you`d think. They tried to double our rent!!!Pretty disgraceful as we are to assist and serve the local population.
Its been challenging, lots of ups and downs for sure.

I`ve missed Jennie a lot. She has been in Kampala since February. I saw her for 5 days in early Feb, and will return to Kampala next week for more holiday i cannot wait.
`
The following verse fom Isiah comes to mind `but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Ive been depending God throughout dasily life here, there are strong foundations for the future.

*Snaps*

Alex, Mike, Simon & I - good lookin' crew, don't you think?

My friend Rose & her son Jovan - so good to reconnect with them!

Christine - she cooks and cleans for us, but even more than that she's a friend!

Sula, on the far left, works in our compound and has requested that I come to visit his family for months now. This past week we went for lunch & had a lovely time!

Sophia seems to be a natural photographer! Look at that pose...

My beautiful friend, Linda & my little friend, Stesha

Oh, Diana!! She's a riot!

Baby Jonah!

better late than never???

Whew!!! I can’t believe its actually been about 2 months since I’ve updated this blog! So sorry to anyone who may be interested in reading about my life out there. (I think/hope there’s a few out there???)

I officially arrived back in Uganda on February 9^th, and since then I’ve found it really difficult to sit down and summarize what’s been going on or how I am here… I use the excuse that I’ve been ‘busy’, as we all do. And there has been quite a bit of moving and shaking going on since I arrived: Mark was here for the first week I got back, so we spent a lot of time together, celebrated my birthday, and actually did a bit of wedding planning TOGETHER (as in, physically we were in the same room, discussing the wedding!) – what a concept, eh? Following his departure was a few weeks of hosting volunteers, play-time at the Kid’s Home, a brief trip to Rwanda to deliver some school supplies, hosting a medical clinic relief day in Katanga slum, and many, many meetings! Add to that a huge dose of reconnecting with old friends and meeting some new ones, and here I am 5 weeks later!

Once you’ve missed so many great blog-worthy stories and pictures, its difficult to know where to begin! My tendency is to want to back track and start with Christmas, giving you the play-by-play of life…but I don’t really have time for that. So you may hear highlights here and there, but for now I’ll begin with now.

I sat down this morning to make my “Spring Priority List” so I could have all in one place and feel accomplished when things begin to be checked off. It seems to be significantly longer than I expected!!! Well, at least I won’t be bored at all over the next 10 weeks! Some highlights are:

- Renewing our NGO status

- Getting our guesthouse spiffed up!

- Many, many manuals to gather info for our Fall Internship program

- Working with Solomon on more projects at the Thread of Life shop

Not on my list, but in my mind, is the priority to keep posting on here. My goal is once a week from now on – so keep me accountable to that!!

Love from Uganda!