Cities and Villages
By Olivia Lasater
During our time here in Uganda, we’ve had many opportunities to take in our surroundings. Whether on long bus rides, walks, or boda bodas (motorcycles), we have been given time to SEE. The combination of sights has brought about many conflicting feelings, prayers, and complex thought processes within myself.
Time in transit has become an essential avenue for conversation. As I look out of the bus window, I hear the voices of my Ugandan and Kenyan brothers and sisters—their stories adding meaning to what I see. My eyes fall on a new mother as we’re driving through the city. She has a baby on her back who's hardly a few months old. She’s carrying a wooden piece of furniture on her head while holding a wooden crate in her other hand.
One of the most jarring elements of the city is the utter disorganization that is present. There’s no separation between people, animals, the marketplace, or a person’s home. Goats and cattle roam in search of food, sifting through trash along the side of the road, while vendors sit in close quarters, waiting for their next customer. Despite the present challenges, there was still life to be found in the faces of men and women who know what it’s like to spend their lives working hard.
As we ventured further into the village areas, I noticed the vast amount o children, some by themselves, others being looked after by a sibling who was barely older than themselves. As they stood in front of their houses, I noticed a common thread — I never saw their parents. The disparity between the rich and the poor is strong. You may see a small, one room home and turn the corner to find a gated mansion. Though I’v heard of the promise of jobs, that the city seemingly holds, I see the challenges of life in both places — the city and the villages.
Both places have people who need, one hoping for a better future. Though my observation skills still feel very underdeveloped, I’ve been taking everything in and trying my best to view what I’m seeing through the Word I know. But the more I see, the more I know I need to learn.
I’m seeing from my perspective at this point in my life right now, but I’ve had the gift on this trip of also seeing glimpses of life in Uganda from the perspective of my friends who have grown up here. I know that the combination of these things is making into a more holistic and developed person, and as I continue to observe and learn how to see, I’m excited to grow into someone who will be able to observe, interpret, and respond to the deeply rooted issues at hand with compassion, leadership skills, and the capacity of a laborer.