Tournament Day

By: Carl Vick

Today I experienced my first Fields of Dreams Uganda tournament. It was described to me as Christmas for these kids, and it did not disappoint. In a way, the tournament encapsulated and reinforced each of the lessons that I have been learning since arriving in Uganda.  From small encounters such as a young girl asking me, "Why do Americans love their dogs so much?" leaving me questioning our priorities, to envying the unexplainable joy that I see all around me. It was an eye-opening day.

The kids in FoDU's program are incredibly talented. The day began with a music and dance competition. I continue to be wowed by the fact that I am literally watching traditional African dances in real life. Next, the "football" began! 

Our kids are so talented, and soccer is their passion. It was an honor to get to witness the event that our kids train for all year. I was blown away by the passion and poise the players displayed. Many of the matches ended in shoot-outs with thousands of spectators huddled around the net. Girls and boys boldly stepped up and took their kicks. The joy at the end of a match was overwhelming. Cartwheels, screams, and smiles abounded.

The night ended in rain during the awards ceremony. As I whined about getting wet, I was struck by the fact that our kids would be walking home from their schools in the dark and in the rain, and they do so on a regular basis.

The biggest thing I have taken from today is: there is always joy to be found, despite the circumstances. Despite rain, the lack of proper shoes or a decent ball, or even if they won or lost, the children of Uganda have an underlying joy. They do not require the extravagance of possessions that I often feel that I need. There is joy to be had by doing things you love with people you love. This is a lesson I hope to take home with me and remember as daily life resumes

African Safari

By: Madeline Stone

I never thought I would be able to cross "African Safari" off my bucket list, but I can now! Today our team traveled to Murchison Falls National Park to view the waterfall that flows into the Nile River and drove through the African savannah to spot wildlife. I got the privilege of witnessing the stunning land of Uganda. I saw giraffes, warthogs, baboons, water buffalo, Ugandan kob, elephants, and many more strolling through the lush green landscape. On the river, there were several hippos peeking out of the water and a few crocodiles lounging on the bank. The waterfall the park is named after was beautiful and powerful. It felt surreal to be surrounded by so much beauty! I'm so blessed to have had this experience with my teammates.


Today was a day for our team to take a "break", but I found myself thinking about the children many times throughout the day. My mind wandered to Sunday, when dozens of singing children happily welcomed me to their school. I thought of Tuesday, when a few of my teammates and I were taught how to play a dancing game with some of the kids, and when a sweet girl told me "good job" after I was started to get the hang of it. My thoughts were filled with scenes of children smiling back at me when I waved at them. I now realize that there is no escaping! And that is a good thing! The awesome children of Uganda have forever left an impact on my heart. I have enjoyed the moments I got to spend this week being around and playing with some of the kids when our team was not doing integrity training with the young men. I love that I got to make some of them smile, even if it was just for a few minutes.  Tomorrow I will be attending my first Fields of Dreams Soccer Tournament and I cannot wait to see the joy on the kids' faces when they get to be a part of something this huge!

Home Away From Home

By: Laura Unfried

If I am perfectly honest, the one thing that I am absolutely horrible at dealing with is change. When I was a toddler, my parents could not move the furniture in our house around without me turning into an angry whirlwind of a three-year-old. Since I began school, I've struggled every fall to adjust to the new teachers--and now professors--, new students, and new curriculum. I was sure that adjusting to an entirely different country and culture would take me much longer than a mere eight days. I was still absolutely sure of this my first night in country, when I went to bed wondering if I had made the right decision to come here. To my surprise, Uganda has become a home away from home, with hundreds of brothers and sisters that I never dreamed I had.


A few members of this newfound family gave me a bit more insight into this beautiful country today. During our program to the young boys, a group of toddlers and girls had gathered around the group to hear what was being said. Being pretty young and a student myself, I've been having a difficult time standing in front of and teaching other students, some of whom are just four or five years younger than me. So, instead of sitting uncomfortably in front of the boys, I took a place on the ground next to a very young boy, around three or four, to wait until my turn to speak. I reached out my hand to shake his, and he just hid his face while the girls who were standing giggled. I have a bit of a hard time with new people myself (which goes back to that problem of dealing with change), I just smiled and turned back to my team.


It did not take long for the girls and younger boys to begin sitting down around me, at first giving me space, then slowly moving closer into a half circle. This time when I reached out my hand, it was grasped in return. There were a few minutes of hand shaking and sharing of names before our conversation turned in other directions. We talked about our respective countries and told stories about our cultures, but what inspired me was their excited answers to my question, "What is your favorite subject?" Their eyes shined as they replied with "mathematics," "English," "social studies," and, the answer that I adored because of my love of biology, "science."

It is amazing to me how much the kids here love school and their classes. I have spent my whole life in a society where the schools have so many opportunities, so much technology, and so many resource, and yet it is the norm for students to hate school, and hate the classes. I regret that I cannot exclude myself.


Despite my own aversion to change, four days in Uganda have already impacted my perception of education. These kids have taught me

 more than I could have hoped to teach them in a few short days, and I can only hope to bring their ideas back with me to share with our culture, and--despite my difficulty with it--begin to make a change.

Joy, Sorrow & Conviction

By: Mariza Gaviao

Four days, in the grand scheme of things, feels like such a small amount of time, yet in other aspects, four days has been more than enough time for me to fall in love with Uganda. In just four days I have experienced more joy than I ever thought possible but conversely have felt such sorrow and conviction.

Joy has come in so many unexpected forms. From the smiling faces and laughter of children who have so little but find amusement in the smallest things.  They laugh when we attempt to brokenly speak their native language and say, "How are you?" They cannot contain themselves when we try to dance as they do or join in their games. They eagerly wait to introduce themselves and politely curtesy and shake our hands.  These children are so excited to share their successes with us.  Many have worked so diligently to pass their exams or improve upon their English. I was especially moved in hearing the countless girls share their gratitude for the hygiene kits provided by Fields of Dreams in February. At Bungatira Primary School their female enrollment increased by 25% after the hygiene kits were distributed. Over 100 additional girls now attend that school because of all who donated towards that project.

Dancing with the kids!

Sorrow and conviction overwhelms me because there is still so much more work to be done. One cannot undo the pain of the past and finding healing from such tragedies takes time. Although I do not fully understand God's plan, I know that he is a loving God whose heart aches for the people of Uganda.  I am confident that He is at the center of all the positive changes that are occurring in this country and that these convictions are placed in our hearts only to move us towards making an even greater impact.  I find myself continually asking God what is next. How do we help more children?  How can we influence more schools to have a warm and inviting school climate? How can we ensure that these children have a meal during their school day or clean water? How do we help each child feel valued and loved and not exclude any? How do we assist these teachers in the daunting task of educating on average 60 to 90 students? As a teacher myself, I cannot fathom teaching a class of 60 five year olds even with the conveniences we take for granted in  American classrooms. These Ugandan teachers do so everyday: without technology, many without electricity, and very little to no classroom resources.  Although more money may seem like the solution, so much more is needed.  It takes innovation, effort and much perseverance to turn around any school culture.

However, I am confident that with God at the center anything is possible.  I know that I am not alone in my compassion and love towards these children. But most importantly, as my sister so kindly reminded me when I began this journey, God loves these children so so so much more than we ever could. Jesus said, "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Must Be Heard Firsthand

By: Scott Putler

Over the past two days I have heard two things that made more of an impact on me to hear firsthand, one for the positive and one to the negative.

Last night Dennis Toolit, program coordinator for FoDU, talked to our group about his experience during the war in Northern Uganda with the LRA.  I had heard about it and even tried to read the books Kill Your Family First and Children Soldiers...those were tough. However when Dennis explained it firsthand it broke my heart so much more. To hear him tell about his cousin being abducted and not knowing if he was alive or dead. Others being abducted and having their arms cut off depending on a short sleeved or longed sleeved shirt. And so many other stories he told. But as he said, the war is over and this is no longer that Northern Uganda. Fields of Dreams is providing hope for these children that were victims of the war or have parents that have been through the war. Hearing Dennis' story gives all the reason that FoDU must be providing this hope in Gulu. Dennis will graduate from University later this year and truly has a passion for the children of Northern Uganda in Gulu. He is an examples of light coming out of darkness and evil.

The second thing happened today. As you may or may not know Fields of Dreams Uganda provides hygiene kits to the girls at their partner schools. This past February was the first time that the girls in Gulu received this. Today we had three girls, two at Gulu PTC and one at Pageya share their experiences with these kits. All three girls were very appreciative of the kit and talked about how the hygiene kits allow them to attend school during their menstruation period. Before these kits,

they would use whatever they could find, leaves or pages from books, and would not attend school. I knew about this project but I did not grasp the full impact of this project until I heard these girls speak today.

There are some things that you can read about or hear about second hand, but then there are others that you must experience to truly grasp.

Coming Full Circle

By: Michael Warneke

In 1976 a student led movement for educational rights took to the streets of Soweto, South Africa. The young men and women were crying out for an education system to be available to them in their own language. Many children were killed during the demonstrations, including the leader, a young man by the name of Hector. I have had the honor of visiting the museum honoring these young crusaders in Soweto, the home of so many marginalized individuals in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the year 1991, the African Continent began to remember the struggle of these young heroes by creating The Day of the African Child, to be celebrated every year on the 16th of June.

Our team had the chance to be enveloped in the celebrations at two of our partner schools, Gulu PTC Demonstration Primary School, and Pageya Primary School, as we honored The Day of the African Child. Education is life to these children, it is the very thing that will propel them toward their dreams and a promising future. How fitting for us to give out our education grants to our partner schools today to help them make improvements to their campuses, and remove obstacles facing these amazing children. Our schools are using these funds to bring electricity to their schools, to boost their teacher salaries, to update classroom space, and even to start a piggery project. The African child was held high today at our partner schools through song, dance and drama and the sharing of cakes and shared community.

This date also marks a very special day in the life of our organization as it is the 3 year anniversary of our first FODU tournament held in Kampala back in 2012. At the time our organization employed only Jonathan Ssebambulide as our National Director, and our work was just beginning. Reminiscing with Jonathan today brought us so much joy as we stood in awe of what has been accomplished with a thousand simple acts of obedience to the convictions laid on our hearts and so many others in the U.S. and Uganda. To look out at the work we are now accomplishing and the seeds of hope that are being planted all across this beautiful nation can only be attributed to God’s hand on this work.

Just as our work has come full circle on this important date, the programming we are sharing with the children has come full circle as well. As an organization we take great pride in listening to the needs of the children we serve, and then responding appropriately. The FoDU team that was present in Uganda this past February to distribute hygiene kits heard countless stories of rape, defilement and bad touches from the young girls receiving our kits. It was heartbreaking to our team at the time, and we have responded by challenging the young men of their soil to be men of great character and integrity. The young men at our partner schools have been called to be men of INTEGRITY: to be Intelligent; Non-judgmental; Trustworthy; Eager to Serve; Generous; Respectful; In Control of Their Emotions; Thankful; and finally to be Yourself.

I had the task of addressing the cries of their sisters and talking with these young men candidly about rape and defilement during the Respectful portion of our workshops. Some boys giggled uncomfortably about the topic, while others looked back at me seriously having seen so much violence lived out before their very eyes. We shouted out together in unison, “The rape stops with us,” in hopes that they would become a new generation of Ugandans that can change the culture around sexual violence that has been instilled after 20 years of civil war. We shouted loudly, in hopes that the young women on their campuses heard that their friends and brothers are there to protect their rights and stand up for their futures. It makes no sense for us as an organization to push for girl empowerment, when we are not challenging the young men in ways that lift up these young woman as well. You simply cannot address the victim, and then ignore the perpetrators hoping that true change will take place.

I go to sleep tonight with mixed emotions. I am so proud of where our organization has come in the three short years we have been working in Uganda, and at the same time I am wondering what the next three years have in store for us. I am proud that we are empowering 6,000 children at our nine partner schools, but this is not the time for contentment. The needs here are great, and I invite anyone reading this to come and see this work with your own eyes, touch this work with your own hands, and have your heart broken for the beautiful children of Uganda. We need your help to continue our work. The reason we have seen such change in the children we are serving, is because so many of you have chosen to invest in our work. We thank you greatly as an organization, and I thank you as FoDU’s Executive Director. Our programs are changing lives for the better, and we need your hearts, your prayers, and your finances to continue the great work that we have been burdened to carry.

Thank you for your time and interest in our work!

Gulu's Road to Recovery

By: Tim Shoemaker

It had been over two years since I last traveled the road between Kampala and Gulu. My first journey on this road left a very long lasting impression.  Not only because of the long, bumpy, sweaty journey that makes international flights seem like a walk in the park, but also because of what the road symbolized to me.  I had never been in a place so cut off and forgotten as Gulu.  Decades of unthinkable acts of violence by a few towards the many, meant that visitors were no where to be seen and the road too unsafe to repair. 

Fast forward just two and a half years.  Instead of three trucks overturned by potholes we found as many construction sites where significant road repairs were underway. Already, there were miles and miles of new roads making for safe passage of industry, aid workers, and tourists wanting to see this great and beautiful land.  

What really makes me excited is what this means for the children that we are visiting this week.  Yes, their lives thus far have been unbearably difficult and there will continue to be many struggles.  That said, today that vastly improved road is symbolic of vastly improved lives for the people of this city.  It gives me hope that Gulu will no longer be forgotten, instead one day remembered as a place that persevered through the worst of times and emerged a wonderful place, with wonderful people, connected to the world.  This is what I am dreaming of this evening, and what I will be watching and waiting patiently for in the years to come. 

Reunited!

By: Brian Fleming

When plans for a trip are laid out and flights booked, we naturally expect them to go as planned with no issues or delays. For 4 of our team members this was the case. They made it from the US to Amsterdam to Uganda without a hiccup and arrived to the lodging in time to get a good-night's rest before visiting at 2 schools today. For the remaining 7 of us, flight delays turned our 19 hours of flights into a 2 day ordeal that left us tired and worn out physically from the lack of sleep. Not our idea of a perfect start to the trip, but once we stepped foot on the ground in Uganda, we knew our imperfect circumstance would soon be overpowered with the love of the kids we came to serve!

A few hours after landing (and after much needed showers for all of us) we finally met up with the rest of our team at New Kabaale Busega. It wasn't 2 seconds in to their welcome presentation before I was transformed from my tired, sleep-deprived self into a rejuvenated, upbeat human being who was doing everything he could to stay in his seat! I'm always amazed at the talent of the kids at our partner schools and the choir at New Kabaale Busega never disappoints. We missed worship this morning, but I am telling you that I had church this afternoon as I listened to them sing praises to God for all of their blessings and sing with such conviction and joy. And the welcome at our second partner school of the day was just as amazing. As you may have heard in other FoDU blogs, there is no welcome party like a Wakiso welcome party. They, too, sang beautifully and danced traditional dances as they welcomed us to their campus.

These 2 parts of the day were fantastic and brought so much joy to all of our team members! But the bittersweet part is always that these visits are too short. We got to spend a little time with the kids, and I got to reconnect with old friends from my trip last February, but before we knew it, it was time to head back to the lodging. So everyone said their goodbyes knowing that there were lifelong friendships made despite not seeing each other daily, monthly, yearly, or maybe ever. But we know it's true because we are connected by a God who loves ALL of us! And when one of these kids says they are praying, you can guarantee that you are being lifted up daily! And that was my hope today as we left Wakiso: that Cosmas, Devid, Kenneth, Eddy and all those others that I love dearly as friends would know that they are in my prayers EVERYday!

So has our trip been perfect? No. Would I change the way our flights worked if I could? Absolutely. But regardless of the struggles getting here, the few short hours I got to spend with my brothers and sisters today was worth every second on the plane and then some! 

I hope that you all will keep our team in prayer as we travel to Gulu tomorrow to begin INTEGRITY training with the young men. And I ask that you would keep all of our friends at all 9 partner schools in your prayers daily as well. Because I can guarantee that they are diligently praying for our friends and family daily.

Full of Love and Joy

By: Amanda Vick

It's been almost two years since I've gotten to be back in this place I love so dearly. Stepping off the plane brought back so many memories, and I was so excited to make new ones. 

This morning we were blessed with the opportunity to visit with our partner school, New Kabaale Busega. The children sprint up to you with welcoming smiles and grab your hands and it will never get old. I don't ever want to take for granted how full of God's love and joy each child is... In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus commands us to change and become like children. I know in my heart these are the children he was talking about. Their faces are full of smiles simply because we hold their hands or ask what their name is. They praise the Lord daily for everything they have. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to come back this year and to bring my husband as well. I pray that we continue to learn so much from these children.

Fields of Dreams Uganda has made such an impact on the lives of these students. Today, I was able to see first hand the differences. Empowerment of these students is our goal and getting to see the different ways this is happening is exciting. The partner schools have done amazing things with their grants, students are passing exams, and are truly excited for their futures. I cannot wait to get the chance to visit our northern schools this week and see the impact FoDu is having there.