It has been one crazy week going from nearly getting lynched for playing with the kids to nearly getting lynched for not giving $200,000 to build a church because were rich americans!
We started off the week by working in local cooperatives in and around kigali. We visited a place where they raise rabbits and crops down in the valley. The goverment owns most of the agricultural land - handy I know - and it only lets people use it if they come together as a group or association. It is a good way of building community and supporting each other and it definately works. Most of this week we have seen numerous coops were people are coming together to work despite the past.
On Tuesday we visited a farm outside the city it was twenty minutes or so down a dirt road which didnt seem to far. We saw a field full of aubergines and of course we apparently became farmers as we helped pick the latest crop which was loads so much that they gave Justin a massive bag. After we looked around talked to a few people and were taken up to somebody's house. There was some honey being made and banana beer making place thing ie a wooden bath with a stick! Banana beer is em well different we first had it in Gisenyi I asked some Congolese guy to get us one and we cracked it open it was dark so I took a large gulp not realising that banana beer is 14%! And it doesnt taste too great! Anyhoo we were told to go up to the next farm yea Im back to tuesday again keep up - they did the old trick of its not too far! It was really hot as we walked up this hill like four miles in the heat of the day 30C it was a brute! But we got to the top and found a lion - well a drawing of a lion but a lion none the less and a pig you would think Rwanda was Jewish or Muslim with its lack of pigs like whats wrong with bacon or honey cured ham! I missed both and was considering killing these peoples' only pig and source of food but luckily by the end of the week I was porked out! But talking to the people was good alot were widows and survivors of the genocide.
On wedneday we travelled to another cooperative which was made up of hiv positive people and survivors of the genocide who were really struggling to survive. Luckily CJ has invested $1000 into building a bakery for them but they still need $400 to start work. They told us stories of their lives during the genocide how groups of killers used to haunt their town seeking their blood from a piece of paper which had their named scralled on it for many it was their effective death warrant for the rest it destroyed their lives and families. We struggled to understand how these people did survive and were still able to get up in the morning and even smile. one girl told of how her mother had been raped by seven men in one night and now has HIV. How does a country which has been damaged, hurt and lost so much continue? I suppose it really shows the resilience and strength of humans but with most if not all of the survivors their strength comes from their faith in God like in Goma at times of hunger and hardship it is Him who helps them through and is a real testiment to their own faith even after the horrors and atrocities they have lived through.
For the weekend Coeur Joyeux had organised a crusade to do some healing and reconciliation! For the Crusade I had prepared my red cross tunic, sharpened my sword and was waiting to get the next flight to Jerusalem to take back the city for Christendom! Instead we headed down on the bus 6 hours of back sweating and leg debilitating journey down to Cyangugu on the border with the Congo and the notorious Bukavu.
Bus drivers in africa seem to defy the logic of self perservation, common sense and the laws of the road as they hurtle down the road at 60-70mph tryin their best to throw the whole bus into the nearest ravine. Maybe when I was on the plane the laws of common sense changed! Not looking forward to next bus trip to Kampala the brutal 11 hour journey over every hole in the road!
Chris preached at the crusade opening with the great 700 year struggle that Ireland has faced dissident repubilicans would be proud first an irish passport now this some people! but his preaching on reconciliation and healing and forgiveness really touched alot of people and definately was God led.
I have been getting random reports of various human rights abuses in Rwanda. The first being that the army are summarily executing people found in Nyumwe forest trying to gold dig apparently there have been so many people who out of desperation have died this way because the park is supposed to be protected for environmental reasons.
Secondly Janvier has been telling me that children who are born to mothers in prison become prisoners themselves its crazy! But hopefully we will meet with the justice minister next week to start a program to help these children or least give them an education! it seems the whole convention of the child doesnt apply here!!!
Anyway this month has flown Mark finally arrived after I got a flat in the taxi to pick him up and Chris and Dave leave tomorrow! We are heading back to Goma next week to deliver some aid and kick the UNs ass! Had a flock of attack helicopters (think its that or a gaggle) fly over our house yesterday was cool n made the house shake!
Going now to sleep siestas here are awesome probably the only one partaking but nonetheless awesome!
Monday, 29 June 2009
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Goma
So we travelled over to the Congo on thursday and friday. It took just over three hours to get to the beautiful resort town of Gisenyi on the shores of lake Kivu which glistened a turquoise blue with the rolling hills of Kivu in the near distance. Behind us was the Virunga range and the massive volcano Nyiragongo loomed through menacing clouds across the border.
We crossed the Rwandan border without hassle and within a few minutes. Proceeding through the Congolese border was somewhat different. Justin our hero was called into a dark back room and soon after we were too. In a tiny room which was taken up mostly by a table and the fat congolese Commissioner behind it we squeezed in with all our bags to be questioned. He was a short well dressed many with a old bullet wound on the back of his head and his round focused face never betrayed a smile or any sign of hope. He asked me in French what we were doing here I acted like I didnt understand because I didn't know what we were supposed to say so he got frustrated and Justin took over. Justin continued the conversation in Swahili but we could tell from his face that it wasnt going well. In the end we got out alive but ended up paying $50 each per day to be in the Congo normally it should be $35 or cheaper.
After that blow we got some boda bodas, its worth noting here that boda bodas in Congo are completely different from anywhere else mainly because they are dodgy as and two the roads are insane. A few years ago Goma was completely covered in lava from the Nyiragongo volcano this wasnt the best thing for a road. To make matters worse my boda boda ran out of gas leaving me behind the rest of them strangely I wasnt worried I was just hoping I didnt have to walk but we got gas and caught up with the Justin, Dave and Chris. It kinda hit we were in a war zone when a attack helicopter with all its weaponry flew over our head was so surreal.
We arrived at the Mugunga refugee camp a couple of miles outside Goma. The camp holds over 8,000 refugees mostly children probably 6,000. There were dozen of children at the gate to meet us and quickly swarmed us. We walked over to the camp leader's unhcr clad tent and he told us a bit about the tent. We then went outside and talked to the people in the camp and they told us of the horrors they faced. Most are starving to death, some our wounded from the conflict, all have lost family, and all are deeply traumatised one girl couldnt even speak after the horrors she saw months ago. Now there is seven camps around Goma holding roughly around 100,000 refugee most face starvation, no medical facilities and deeply traumatised.
What was the most shocking thing about seeing the camps was not the dying children but the fact the there was UN and aid agency trucks everywhere and yet these people were dying right in front of them. One UN peacekeeper was lounging on the back of a pickup as other white aid workers drove around in $30,000 jeeps. It almost seems its not their job so what the hell are they doing? it is so frustrating yet it is so humbling to see the people in the camp praise God and to be able to smile and laugh after the hell that they had been through.
We got a min taxi back to the border was unbelievably bumpy. Some guy tried to pick pocket dave as we got boda bodas to border but his pockets were empty. Got back to the border through the ash and the haze we thought it was near dusk but when we crossed into Rwanda the sun came out it was like coming from hell paying off the passport Commissioner as purgatory and Rwanda was so like paradise the fruit bats, the fanta, food, beautiful lake and the safety. The Rwanda passport officer actually said to us "Welcome home" and we were happy to be home.
Our plan was to go back in on Friday but because we were ripped off we had no more money left on us but Justin wa able to go back in and get supplies and food for some 200 people in the camp. Its so little but will probably save a few lives the question is what the hell is the UN, UNHCR and the dozen of other aid agencies doing except lining their own pockets?
We crossed the Rwandan border without hassle and within a few minutes. Proceeding through the Congolese border was somewhat different. Justin our hero was called into a dark back room and soon after we were too. In a tiny room which was taken up mostly by a table and the fat congolese Commissioner behind it we squeezed in with all our bags to be questioned. He was a short well dressed many with a old bullet wound on the back of his head and his round focused face never betrayed a smile or any sign of hope. He asked me in French what we were doing here I acted like I didnt understand because I didn't know what we were supposed to say so he got frustrated and Justin took over. Justin continued the conversation in Swahili but we could tell from his face that it wasnt going well. In the end we got out alive but ended up paying $50 each per day to be in the Congo normally it should be $35 or cheaper.
After that blow we got some boda bodas, its worth noting here that boda bodas in Congo are completely different from anywhere else mainly because they are dodgy as and two the roads are insane. A few years ago Goma was completely covered in lava from the Nyiragongo volcano this wasnt the best thing for a road. To make matters worse my boda boda ran out of gas leaving me behind the rest of them strangely I wasnt worried I was just hoping I didnt have to walk but we got gas and caught up with the Justin, Dave and Chris. It kinda hit we were in a war zone when a attack helicopter with all its weaponry flew over our head was so surreal.
We arrived at the Mugunga refugee camp a couple of miles outside Goma. The camp holds over 8,000 refugees mostly children probably 6,000. There were dozen of children at the gate to meet us and quickly swarmed us. We walked over to the camp leader's unhcr clad tent and he told us a bit about the tent. We then went outside and talked to the people in the camp and they told us of the horrors they faced. Most are starving to death, some our wounded from the conflict, all have lost family, and all are deeply traumatised one girl couldnt even speak after the horrors she saw months ago. Now there is seven camps around Goma holding roughly around 100,000 refugee most face starvation, no medical facilities and deeply traumatised.
What was the most shocking thing about seeing the camps was not the dying children but the fact the there was UN and aid agency trucks everywhere and yet these people were dying right in front of them. One UN peacekeeper was lounging on the back of a pickup as other white aid workers drove around in $30,000 jeeps. It almost seems its not their job so what the hell are they doing? it is so frustrating yet it is so humbling to see the people in the camp praise God and to be able to smile and laugh after the hell that they had been through.
We got a min taxi back to the border was unbelievably bumpy. Some guy tried to pick pocket dave as we got boda bodas to border but his pockets were empty. Got back to the border through the ash and the haze we thought it was near dusk but when we crossed into Rwanda the sun came out it was like coming from hell paying off the passport Commissioner as purgatory and Rwanda was so like paradise the fruit bats, the fanta, food, beautiful lake and the safety. The Rwanda passport officer actually said to us "Welcome home" and we were happy to be home.
Our plan was to go back in on Friday but because we were ripped off we had no more money left on us but Justin wa able to go back in and get supplies and food for some 200 people in the camp. Its so little but will probably save a few lives the question is what the hell is the UN, UNHCR and the dozen of other aid agencies doing except lining their own pockets?
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Kigali
So we finally made it to Kigali after a nearly twelve hour bus journey with our driver travelling at nearly 80mph in an old coach, dirt track roads and potholes galore my dernier has yet to recover! thankfully when we arrived in Rwanda it has some of Africa's best roads they put NI roads to shame!
Crossing the border was interesting it was pretty much a bridge with a few buildings and shacks and had a hard time explaining that we had dual nationality but we got through! After customs we had to empty our bags to stop the dreaded plastic bag from entering Rwanda which was really annoying because we needed them to stop stuff leaking everywhere! but we got through and arived in Kigali three hours late realising that Justin the guy who organised everything for us didnt have our number or we his! luckily after ten minutes we found him and he brought us round to our house its pretty sweet right beside the amaharo football stadium!
Justin and the director of Coeur Joyeux Janvier brought us to this african bbq place food here is just awesome even bananas are great cost only 5p its crazy! the markets are a bit crazy too there is so much selection and dirt cheap prices. Chris of coursed needed to get a shrit and instead of just bargaining normally him and Justin had about twenty vendors haggling with him for half an hour around the market was hilarous!
Saw the President he drove past but he didnt wave he must not have recognised us! he will be getting a strong worded letter from amnesty about that!
With Coeur Joyeux (CJ) we have been travelling around the country to see and document all their programs. Yesterday outside Kiglai we visited the ACCORDI cooperative whcih alongside CJ provides money and training to local vulnerable and poor people such as genocide survivors and widows. I will write more on this later. Tomorrow we are heading to the DRC into Goma and staying overnight on the Rwandan side in Gisenyi then back in on Friday to work with refugee camps. We have been taking notes, photography and videos of all the projects so that we can use them to fundraise and raise awareness at home!
Justin the administrator for CJ have been brilliant he is so talented and has so much passionate and love and its been really good to see him work! he should be president someday! photos and videos to follow if we can get them uploaded!
Crossing the border was interesting it was pretty much a bridge with a few buildings and shacks and had a hard time explaining that we had dual nationality but we got through! After customs we had to empty our bags to stop the dreaded plastic bag from entering Rwanda which was really annoying because we needed them to stop stuff leaking everywhere! but we got through and arived in Kigali three hours late realising that Justin the guy who organised everything for us didnt have our number or we his! luckily after ten minutes we found him and he brought us round to our house its pretty sweet right beside the amaharo football stadium!
Justin and the director of Coeur Joyeux Janvier brought us to this african bbq place food here is just awesome even bananas are great cost only 5p its crazy! the markets are a bit crazy too there is so much selection and dirt cheap prices. Chris of coursed needed to get a shrit and instead of just bargaining normally him and Justin had about twenty vendors haggling with him for half an hour around the market was hilarous!
Saw the President he drove past but he didnt wave he must not have recognised us! he will be getting a strong worded letter from amnesty about that!
With Coeur Joyeux (CJ) we have been travelling around the country to see and document all their programs. Yesterday outside Kiglai we visited the ACCORDI cooperative whcih alongside CJ provides money and training to local vulnerable and poor people such as genocide survivors and widows. I will write more on this later. Tomorrow we are heading to the DRC into Goma and staying overnight on the Rwandan side in Gisenyi then back in on Friday to work with refugee camps. We have been taking notes, photography and videos of all the projects so that we can use them to fundraise and raise awareness at home!
Justin the administrator for CJ have been brilliant he is so talented and has so much passionate and love and its been really good to see him work! he should be president someday! photos and videos to follow if we can get them uploaded!
Friday, 12 June 2009
Krazy Kampala
So we arrived in Kampala in rush hour only took us two and half hours to travel 50kms but it was awesome saw so much of Ugandans just get up and travelling to work and school! Some of the kids start at 7am brutal! Luckily we arrived at the guesthouse and we just crashed!
After a much needed four hour nap we grabbed some boda bodas down to garden city (a sanctuary for mzungos) boda bodas are awesome, so dangerous but the best way to see anywhere! Dandered around garden city for a while its so divided its like economic apartheid - most ugandans could never afford most of the stuff in the shops and when you see the golf course behind it and the slums not far away it boggles the mind. But kampala is still an amzing city after a devastating war twenty years ago and various brutal dictators its impressive how far it has come. We didnt realise its magnitude until we came over a hill in the muslim district which revealed the whole city far bigger than Belfast and taller buildings!
We took a walk about yesterday around fields of life beautiful scenery but unbelievably hot! Dave got propositioned by a prostitute and thankful said no before chris introduced himself! The food is really good somehow everything over here tastes so good fanta, pineapples, davids feet amazing I know.
Dave has been building up contacts for his research something I should be doing but Chris said boda boda and I said yes! What could go wrong! Randomily met a girl from Armagh and girl from Cavan who had just come up from Rwanda and had just met Joy McMullen its a small small world afterall! After we took a random stroll around the city found the parliament so blagged our way in then headed over to random govt building chris wanted a ugandan rugby t-shirt so obviously the ministry of education and sport would have one. Found a randomily open door so we went in started wandering around. Some guard spotted us and shouted at us asking what we were doing but said we were looking for the sports minister so the guard told us to go round the corner. We thought we would get out before we got arrested! But Chris and I still wandered around trying to get sneaking pictures of armed men what could happen!?
Our bus to Rwanda was full so had to get boda boda to another company on the otherside of the city so we used random boda bodas instead of the ones we knew - mistake. I dont know where they drove us but it was scary they flew, with two very close near accidents. Iit was crazy as chris disappeared for a good bit and thought we were going to be dumped somewhere but we got there after a few prayers!
Got our orginal boda bodas to pick us up was so glad to see moses didnt think those other guys would get us back alive!
Heading to rwanda in the loveable hour of 3am to arrive after 12pm fun!
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Long Road to Kampala
So 24 hours in there has been alot happening for a start im writing this from Cairo with free food and coffee - awesome! though we nearly didnt make after we spent the night in the wrong terminal thinking our flight had been changed from 9am to 3pm and didnt realise the flight was with BMI an hour before our flight so lots of running fun! though the highlight of the night would have to be 1am races between chris and dave in the hallways of heathrow dave spun, bags went flying and trolley flipped and landed on dave all while i was videoing watch this space, youtube and facebook for the hilarity that is dave barr!
Anyhoo apparently Susan Boyle arrived before us at Heathrow we thought the Lurgan Mail had sent over few photographers for us but alas no! had a really comfortable night sleeping on the floor of a cafe with chris's feet hanging about me - nice! Chris is somewhere in Africa not really sure where but im sure he's chatting up somebody!
Arrival in Cairo was fun was like a scene out of 28 days later with ministry of health officials running around with masks and quarantine signs! dave started coughing so i screamed swine flu apparently not the smartest thing to do in a muslim country! its hot really hot thank goodness for aircon or I would be melted over this sofa! white people are so interesting its like we a rare breed and that when you seen one you just have to talk to them as if you somehow know them! surprisingly not starbucks were the first shop we saw coffee is now bad in three continents! loving bribing people got this guard to body search dave hilarous but TIA!
Were boarding final flight to entebbe so hopefully in twelve hours will be in Kampala when the real fun starts!
Anyhoo apparently Susan Boyle arrived before us at Heathrow we thought the Lurgan Mail had sent over few photographers for us but alas no! had a really comfortable night sleeping on the floor of a cafe with chris's feet hanging about me - nice! Chris is somewhere in Africa not really sure where but im sure he's chatting up somebody!
Arrival in Cairo was fun was like a scene out of 28 days later with ministry of health officials running around with masks and quarantine signs! dave started coughing so i screamed swine flu apparently not the smartest thing to do in a muslim country! its hot really hot thank goodness for aircon or I would be melted over this sofa! white people are so interesting its like we a rare breed and that when you seen one you just have to talk to them as if you somehow know them! surprisingly not starbucks were the first shop we saw coffee is now bad in three continents! loving bribing people got this guard to body search dave hilarous but TIA!
Were boarding final flight to entebbe so hopefully in twelve hours will be in Kampala when the real fun starts!
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