Followers!!!

Dear 32 Followers of my blog, and those who recieve updates in your email,
    Hi!  As you have probably gathered recently, I am leaving Uganda in less than a week.  So, what is happening to Noelle in Africa!?! 

Don't worry.  We're not going anywhere.  I won't be posting much here, but occasionally will put up photos and updates on different topics.  So stay with me!

However, the real action has moved, and I would like to give you the chance to Follow my newest blogging adventure! 

It's called Glimpse; A Journey to see more.  Please give it a chance, I think you'll love it.  I just added the "Follow" button, so you know how easy it is to keep up with now!

So check it out, if you like what you see, click that follow button and stay with me!  (you can also subscribe to receive updates in your inbox!)

Please join me for an epic summer of learning about people all over the world!

Thank you for being faithful readers.  I hope that these new ventures don't let you down!  

http://glimpsethejourney.blogspot.com

Beautiful Tapesty

How a short term visit to Uganda in 2009 turned into long term relationships

In the summer of 2009, with less than 3 weeks notice, I found myself in Uganda.  I traveled with a team of friends from London to Luwero, Uganda to help run a University student training course.  I had experience doing student mentorship on university campuses, and so was invited to join the team when one of their team members was unable to go at the last minute.  

It was my first time to Africa, and I was more excited than words.  I had been studying sub Saharan Africa for 2 years at school and had just finished my degree in International Relations with an emphasis in Africa studies.  I had been interested in working in Africa for much longer than my time of studies.  This was the opportunity of a life time.

Team Photo; July 2009

 We were in Uganda for 10 days total, the training was 5 days long.  It was held at Emmaus Centre in Luwero, a Christian retreat center about an hour north of Kampala.  We were joined on our team by a number of Ugandans, and worked harmoniously together to empower the young university students to better be able to run various campus groups.

Little did I know that the people I met and relationships I was forming would later turn into 3 years in Uganda, partnering with Emmaus Center, and 2 years working with Cornerstone Development!  I think that these stories are worth telling…  

Emmaus 2009, Alfred singing a song that encourages him.

Alfred:  One of the people who joined our team at Emmaus that week was a man named Alfred Edakasi.  Dynamic, charming, well spoken, and funny, Alfred shared with the participants aspects of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  I had never heard them presented the way he did.  When we had a chance to talk over lunch one day, he outlined the work of Cornerstone Development for me.  I was fascinated, and wanted to learn more. 

Alfred, sitting next to me at my farewell lunch this past Friday

Fast forward 4 years, Alfred has been my “boss” (oversight might be a better word) for 2 years!  I am his daughter’s God mother and incredibly close with his whole amazing family.  Alfred has been a constant encouragement and support.  While I was living in Mbarara, he used to call and text me to make sure I was ok, and getting the medical care I needed when I was sick.  Insightful, supportive and wise, Alfred has suggested many of the things we have implemented in Cornerstone Veritas, which have had great success, including our internship program!  

Me and Martha at her baptism

Who knew that a lunch and a few days at Emmaus in 2009 would turn into a lifelong friendship! 

Frank:  In late July, 2011, Cornerstone Veritas ran the 10 Principles of Leadership in Kampala.  A close friend of mine, Fr. Henry, told me he wanted his brother to attend.  When his brother didn’t come the first day, I informed Henry that he hadn’t come.  Apparently, Henry put some heat under his brother, and Frank came the next day.  He participated actively in the course, and found the material to be life changing.  At the end of the course, we invited him to join our team back at my apartment for dinner.  He fit so well with us!

A very young Frank, 2009 Emmaus Center

It was at that point that Frank told me that he had met me before that week.  I was deeply confused.  When? I asked.  He told me that in his break after high school he had attended the university student’s course at Emmaus, in 2009!  I was so surprised and excited.  He said it had been a very positive experience.

Frank's funny CV staff photo

Several weeks later, we interviewed Frank for the part time Male staff position with Cornerstone Veritas, and hired him!  Just this past weekend, he shared with the Cornerstone Veritas team the whole story of his involvement with Cornerstone Veritas.  He shared some incredible things…  “Noelle was there to encourage me and inspire me at the start of university to make positive life choices.  Just as I finished school, and was starting to move away from the right path, Noelle came back into my life!  Being part of the Cornerstone Veritas team has been priceless and life changing.  I wasn’t so good at relating with people before joining CV, but now I feel I am part of a family and am confident in building relationships with others.  I am so proud to have been part of a work that is changing and impacting people’s lives.”  

Speechless.  It’s so amazing how connected we are, and how people can come into each other’s lives at the perfect timing.  

Edmond and Clementine:  The Ugandan I became closest friends with during the 2009 trip to Uganda was Clementine (said Clementina),   We worked together on several session and found a kindred spirit in one another.  If you’ve been following my work for some time, you know who she is!

During our time together in 2009, I shared with Clementine about what I had just learned about Cornerstone Schools.  I knew that she had young men who she was caring for, and encouraged her to have them apply to Cornerstone Leadership Academy.  I didn’t think anything more of the conversation.

Edmond's CV Intern Photo

Clem, sharing with the group in 2009

In 2011 I met Edmond Elasu, and interviewed him for our Cornerstone Veritas internship program. While talking with him, I realized that he was one of Clementine’s nephews.   Later, I asked Clementine about it.  She told me that after our conversation in 2009, she had encouraged Edmond to apply for Cornerstone Leadership Academy for Boys because there was not enough money in the family at the time to send him to his last 2 years of high school.  He applied and was accepted.

Picking coffee with Clem last year...

Edmond graduated from CLA Boys in 2011 and was a Cornerstone Veritas intern in the 2012 Internship year.  He then joined junior staff, and will become the Cornerstone Veritas Administrator when I leave!  He is taking over our work… all because of a casual conversation under a mango tree in 2009.  

Clem is still one of my closest friends.  Last time I visited the states, I took crafts she made and that I helped her design.  She made some good money!  

Edmond's current staff photo

Fr. Herald Brock:  In 2009, our team from Europe expected to be the only white people at our conference. But when we began the course we were surprised to find a tall, grey rob clad, American Franciscan joining us!  Personally, I think Franciscans are great, so naturally I took time to talk with him and get to know more about him and his work.  He had come to Emmaus with a car load of young people from his youth group in Torit, South Sudan, where he had been working for a few years.   I enjoyed spending time with his youth and hearing about his work.

We remained in touch when I went back to the States.  When I decided to travel back to Eastern Africa in the summer of 2010 and asked him if he was hosting any teams at that time.  It turned out he was!  He invited me to be part of their 3 week team, which would travel across South Sudan.  Of course, I accepted.

Fr. Herald and Noelle in South Sudan

 My time in South Sudan was life changing, and deepened my heart for the African continent greatly.  At the end of my time in South Sudan, I asked Fr. Herald if he would be my spiritual direct (another word for Christian Mentor), and he agreed.  For the last 3 years we have regularly emailed and met several times a year, usually in Uganda (at Emmaus).  He no longer lives in South Sudan, but he is still the person from “outside” that I see the most.  He has been a consistent support, encouragement and advisor through the ups and downs of the past 3 years.  Because of his experience of living and working in Africa, he has been an incredible mentor and guide, all because we both showed up and the same place, at the same time in Uganda, July 2009.

Susana and Peter:   Rewind to 2005.  A dark, dank, and cold night in London, England.  I had journeyed by myself to a small meeting of Koinonia in some random part of London.  When I arrived, I met some nice people as we stood outside in the cold for a while because we were locked out.  The meeting was nice, and I was invited to an event the next night with them.  I convinced my sister Hannah, who I was traveling in London with, to attend the Saturday night event with me.  There, I met Susana from Uganda.  She was dynamic, fun and African!  I cornered her and we talked for a while.  She had a great story and was really fun.

But we lost touch.  In 2007, when Facebook became open to people who weren’t at university, I signed up.  Who should find me but Susana!  She had just gotten married to some guy named Peter, and sent me a message just saying Hi.  Because she had worked in London, she knew some of the people I traveled to Uganda with in 2009.  So, we met up with her and her husband Peter, in Kampala for a day!  It was great to reconnect with her.  

As we said goodbye, I asked if I could stay with them if I ever came back to visit.  They said an enthusiastic yes.  Then, just as they were walking away, Peter turned around and informed us that Susana was 2 months pregnant!  

S&P 2009 visiting with our team in Kampala

My favorite family, a few weeks ago after enjoying Indian food

 Well, I did come back and I did stay with them, for 10 days in June of 2010.  Their son was then 5 months old, and a little afraid of his new muzungu (white) auntie.  Well, he’s now 3, and not at all afraid of me anymore.  He now has a brother, and the two of them are probably my favorite children in Uganda.  Susana and Peter have been a pillar of friendship, love, support and encouragement to me.  They let me stay with them many times, helped me recover from being sick, bought me my first sim card, taught me to use taxis, and have been a rock in the midst of a lot of craziness.  We’ve been through a lot together over the last 4 years, I would not have survived Uganda without them. 

And there are even more!

To me, these are incredible stories of how connected the world is, and how little we comprehend the impact of our actions and choices.  I had no idea that I would spend 3 years of my life in Uganda, or that all these amazing people would play a large role in my life.  I value each of these people so much, and am grateful beyond words for those “random”… or not so random, 10 days in Uganda in 2009.  

Laughter and Love; a Weekend away

This past weekend, May 3rd-5th Cornerstone Veritas had it's first annual weekend away!  We went to the Cornerstone Development ranch, and stayed at the cottages there.  It's a beautiful and secluded spot, and provided exactly the sort of place we needed.

The first night there were 8 of us, and by the next day 10!  It was a truly joyfilled. adventurous, and fun time together.

We filled our days with a long walk together around the ranch, visiting Jovia's home DEEP in the bush, visiting with friends from Cornerstone Leadership Academy Boys, playing lots of games, and having a few times to share together, hear a few talks, and have small group time.

Pretty much, we laughed for 3 days straight!  It was a glorious time of team building, fellowship, and becoming better friends.  Here are some pictures of this glorious event!

The Middle of Nowhere... the roof of our pavilion

Sharing about the 10 Principles of Leadership

 This is one of the teachers from CLA Boys.  He went through Cornerstone Veritas' 10 Principles of Leadership course last December.  Here he was sharing with the group how much his experience on that course impacted his life, and how much he'd like to see any new teach who come into Cornerstone go through it! 

Cornerstone Veritas and CLA Boys Teachers/Student

We decided to invite friends to spend time with us on Saturday afternoon.  We prepared a nice lunch, and were able to eat and have time to visit together!  It was wonderful, and also encouraging for the CLA Boys teachers to see how far their graduates have reached!  They were very proud of who their students have become!

Local milk storage

 We went to visit our intern Jovia's home.  She lives very very deep in the bush!  We were so surprised to see how far she has to walk to even start her journey to Kampala.  It gave me a totally new appreciation for the commitment and dedication of our interns!  Here, Jovia is showing how they store the milk from their cows and make various local drinks and food from it!  It was really interesting!








This is Jovia's mother, Esther.  She greeted us with the warmest of hospitality, despite the language barrier.  She gave all of us fresh milk to drink, and told Jovia she should have told her more specifically when we were coming so she could've had more milk ready. Milk and Cows are the stable of their culture, they are originally from Rwanda. 









Here is the team all visiting Jovia's!  The huts you see behind them are their houses, where 11 people live!  It was a long walk, but very worthwhile.  What a great chance to visit our intern's home! 

View from Perapetua's home

We also got the chance to see where Perapetua is staying currently. She was chosen to work as a Matron for the boarding primary students at the Cornerstone Primary school.  She has a small room next to the dorm where the girls stay.  I am sure she is very good at taking care of all her young ones! 

At the end of the weekend, we each took time to do something artistic about what we were taking away from the weekend. We each got colored paper, markers, and chalk, drew pictures or wrote something, and then shared with the group.  It was a great time to hear the different things that people had learned and gained from the weekend. 

Kizito being adventurous

Birds nests against beautiful blue skies

Almost all the family!  Interns, staff and friends!

This is Edmond, looking very happy!  He's taking over Cornerstone Veritas at the end of the month and I am sure he'll do a great job!  He organized all the logistics for the weekend away, and did a fantastic job! 

Our Friend Robina

This is our friend Robina.  She had wanted to be part of our internship program, but was able to get a job during her school break which will help her pay for university.  She was able to join us for Saturday and Sunday, which was wonderful!  She did some fantastic drawings during the art time.  It was great to have her with us.

All in all the time away was an incredible time of building our lives together.  Everyone played a roll and had a chance to give and receive.  It was such a beautiful time, we're already looking forward to next year! 

A Million Pieces

Note:  I depart from Uganda after 3 years here on June 3rd.  Many of my posts around this time will be various reflections on my time here in East Africa.

What does it feel like to be leaving?  How do you feel about leaving? 

I have no idea. 

It feels like the world is crashing down
Like a massive earth quake just struck

It feels like a quiet, still morning at a peaceful lake
It feels like the soft whisper of the breeze on a beautiful day

Leaving feels like my heart is being torn out
And that life is being breathed into me

It's not real, and it won't be
until planes and trains and thousands of miles away

Away, Away from these years
glory, terror, wonder, pain, progress and total failure.

What does it feel like to be leaving?
It feels like I am being cut into a million pieces
again
to be tossed on the winds of change
parts of my heart fly to every corner of the sky

And so I fly, beyond
half way around the world
and back again

To belong means nothing
I belong everywhere and nowhere

I leave behind those I have loved more deeply than I have ever before
I leave behind those who have hurt me more than I can speak
I leave behind old things, new things, death and life

And so I am going
I'm not really feeling
because if I were, it would be so much
far too much to speak
far too high for small words to satisfy

Laughter and Tears
Memories of these 3 years
More than I can ever tell, explain, unfold

All I can say are simple words;
I gave, I received
I lost, I gained
I trust that this was not in vain