In 6 days I will be heading to San Diego to start my five month internship with Invisible Children.
This is crazy. Where did I get the guts to do this? To allow everyone into what I am feeling right now let me tell you a story......
This blog started two years ago as I left to embark on an adventure to Uganda with my lovely friend Anna Yearwood. It was impossible for me to put into words the experience I had there - that is why there are only three blogs from the trip sawy. The people I met were phenomenal, and it was nice to go on a trip where the agenda wasn't to "fix something". The agenda was to get to know the people, to build relationships, and to really understand them. One of my favorite quotes from the trip came from a girl named Cherish. She said to me "To many times people try to fix us Ugandans, or tell us what is wrong, but what they fail to do is to see and experience our beautiful culture. More people need to just take the time to get to us and let us show them how amazing we are." To say the least Cherish is very proud of where she is from.
The second weekend Cherish, Anna, the Archbishop Henry Orombi, myself, and some others went to take a trip up to Nebbi village where the Archbishop is from. On the way there I overheard Cherish and our driver talking about the LRA and Museveni. I quickly stepped into the conversation. Apparently Museveni - the president had just announced on the radio that he was going to extend his time in office. This led to a political debate and eventually Joseph Kony. They told me how no more than two years ago you couldn't drive this drive up this road without some form of security. While driving you would see the LRA in the bushes lining the road. Well talk about a change of perspective. Now when I looked out the window, I saw much more than beautiful scenery, I saw a country with wounds that were still being healed.
In Nebbi we got to stay at the Archbishop's house which was on top of a beautiful "mountain" overlooking the valley. Archbishop had told us on the way up that we were basically on the border of the DRC. I remember one particular night, I was sitting by myself on the mountain watching the sun go down and family fire's lighting up for dinner time. That's when it hit me. I am sitting here in this beautiful village where these family are able to gather each evening together but not too long ago they had to fear each evening of a rebel attack and abduction. Now their neighbors in DRC are experiencing the same feeling. I can tell you that there is never a more helpless and sad feeling than knowing and recognizing a problem and having no ability to fix it at that time. Everything in me wanted to yell, run into DRC, try to be Rambo and find Joseph Kony. Obviously this was not possible for I am not nearly as skilled as Rambo.
Though I was involved with Invisible Children two years prior to this trip, the experience I had in Uganda definitely increased my drive to participate in all that IC does.
So as you can see this internship is much more than some crazy adventure I wanted to embark on, it's an opportunity to follow my heart and help the people I have learned so much about and have to come to love.
XOXO
Rambo
P.S. This internship is in fact unpaid. And for the next 5 months for my financial support I will be depending on the generous donations of friends and family. If you would like to help please go to the link below.
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