Joy in Tears #Uganda #butterfly #children #goodbye

travel, Uganda

I waved goodbye to my little Bethany who has been my friend over many years and many countries. We tell stories about Jesus together. Today she chose to leave with a friend. Her name is Stella and she is nine years old. Stella and Bethany my la fofo will love village children together.

It’s hard not to shed a tear when my friend and I have shared so much. I am proud of Bethany that she willingly flew into Stella’s satchel for the trip to the village.

Goodbye Bethany. I love you!!!!

And to our dear Acoli family we say goodbye for now. Goodbyes hurt but we are joyful to love you!!!

Unlikely #photochallenge #uganda

Haiku, Photography, travel, Uganda

Unlikely is this

magenta Fort backdrop

Nile sunset

If you know me, you know I have tried to work in Liberia, No. Africa, Congo and So. Africa. I never thought of Uganda, the Nile or mosquito netting as my “likely.”

The photo challenge this week is “Unlikely”

These pictures are all taken at Fort Murchison. A beautiful get-away and great place to enjoy an African Safari.

One Way #Uganda

a to z challenge, blog, orphans, Photography, Poetry, travel, Uganda

I have dotted my eyes

and crossed my teas

some of the animals

made me sneeze

what I hold now

happily in my hand

is a one way ticket

to a distant land

of Uganda I write

and hope to serve

the people Acholi

our love so deserve

As I close this A to Z challenge, I am finishing up the process and preparing to go to the land of the Acholi in Northern Uganda. This week we meet with people who will hopefully give us homes for the South Sudanese children.

Blogging is a great way to journal so here’s the beginning of a new journey to work with African children.

We appreciate your dear prayers.

T0

Zebra #atozchallenge #Uganda

a to z challenge, black and white, Photography, Poetry, travel, Uganda

I can’t count your stripes

or see through the trees

white and black patterns

are camouflage it seems

There were no zebras on safari in Uganda. The ranger told us the herds in that part of the country had contracted disease but fortunately the zebras in other regions are alive and well. Funny thing I cant find a bit about the missing zebras in the news or any google search. Someone is behind the times or lines…

Cant believe that this marks the very end of the A to Z challenge.

Lake Victoria #atozchallenge #Uganda

a to z challenge, Photography, Poetry, travel, Uganda

Sunday picnic

families and friends relax

one day to enjoy

waters lap along the edge

one man is angry

chases another

friends laugh

drama in Africa

same all over the world

Lake Victoria is named after England’s queen – Victoria. It is the largest tropical lake in the world, it provides a livelihood for people in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It is the source of the Nile (in Jinja); there have been arguments over the years which country owns the Nile.

Pollution and over fishing are present day problems for Lake Victoria.

We are almost at the end of the A to Z Challenge. Many thanks to the people who make this possible each year.

The Case of the Absent Q #atozchallenge #Uganda #acholi

a to z challenge, Poetry, travel, Uganda

A beautiful language

almost like a song

letters and accents

sounds short, some long

this old tribal tongue

I looked hard didn’t see

the Q is missing

oh woe, woe is me

quite lost without questions

as are kings without Queens

kids never Quiet or Quick

a Quandary I can’t see

I’ll manage without Quakes

but Quiche a sad day

cold nights without Quilt

no Quails fly away

scribe’s Quill never broken

duck’s Quack you won’t hear

author never to be Quoted

Quinine Quashed dear , oh dear

and so I end

my absent Q song

grab a letter

sing along

In the spirit of a favorite writer Doctor Seuss, I ponder the case (with little or no quantum leap) of the lost or absent “Q”

Acholi Alphabet (thanks to Acholi-Luo folk Culture blog site)

Thanks to the A to Z folks for letting me have some fun today with the letter Q

Lions and …. Monkeys “Oh My” #uganda #atozchallenge

a to z challenge, Photography, Poetry, travel, Uganda

“Here kitty kitty”

I whisper from my seat

looking very un-edible

I don’t rise to my feet

I can hear her breathe

she waits still for her prey

her whiskers flick

not staying to play

Monkeys watch from the road

they will jump on your car

if you aren’t careful

they’ll be nearer than far

We enjoyed being a few feet away from the lioness. I was glad we were in a very large truck.

We were told not to provoke the monkeys (small and large). From our boat, we watched a group of tourists (where we had been earlier in the day) being circled by baboons.

I continue to enjoy the A to Z challenge tho I got behind because of travel.

Photo of the lioness taken by my friend and host John Pipes.