Who ever said life in this business is boring? In my years as a humanitarian worker I have had some strange days, some exciting, frustrating, amazing and sad days, but today I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The (working) day started with the privilege of speaking at the office devotions. As I have moved around the refugee settlements here in West Nile, Northern Uganda I have spotted a constant presence gliding serenely in the skies above. The eagles use the thermals to glide silently and majestically across the landscape, unhindered by any geographic, ethnic or cultural segregations designed by humanity.
The (working) day started with the privilege of speaking at the office devotions. As I have moved around the refugee settlements here in West Nile, Northern Uganda I have spotted a constant presence gliding serenely in the skies above. The eagles use the thermals to glide silently and majestically across the landscape, unhindered by any geographic, ethnic or cultural segregations designed by humanity.
These magnificent creatures of calm, strength and grace reminded me of one of my favourite verses in the Bible: “They that wait on God will renew their strength, they will mount up on wings as eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint, teach us God to wait.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Using the eagle as a metaphor I encouraged the team to make time to wait on God: for strength, for wisdom and for renewal. In a place and at a time where we seek to be agents of transformation and channels of hope for a people who are vulnerable and in desperate need - we need to take time to wait, to be renewed and strengthened so that we are of sustained benefit to those we serve.
Using the eagle as a metaphor I encouraged the team to make time to wait on God: for strength, for wisdom and for renewal. In a place and at a time where we seek to be agents of transformation and channels of hope for a people who are vulnerable and in desperate need - we need to take time to wait, to be renewed and strengthened so that we are of sustained benefit to those we serve.
The rest of the day of meetings, discussions and report writing was ending with an early dinner at a local restaurant across the road from a sports ground where a local celebrity was holding a concert. Disco lights were flashing, giant screens broadcast the singers and the subwoofers were thumping as we ordered our Indian curries.
Apparently, that was the cue for the peace to depart – all of a sudden concert goers were running as the dull thump of tear gas canisters was heard. First, the response director (Jennifer) Daria and I smelt it then our eyes begun to burn and stream and our skin felt like it was burning as a wave of tear gas hit us in the (outdoor) sheltered restaurant. We were safe from the chaos, but not the gas. I know this will sound bizarre, but despite the discomfort we couldn’t stop laughing even as our eyes burned. This was the ‘safest’ place we had, and were travelling to and yet it was here that we were being tear gassed? Really?
All of us have lived in and visited places considered much more volatile and insecure – but this was a first for all three of us. And just for the record, Indian curries are not enhanced by the smell and taste of tear gas.
The wave of gas carried by the cooling breeze of the evening passed as did the chaos – we finished our meals and retreated to our gas free accommodations. And that was the end of our last day in West Nile, Uganda – a day we will not soon forget.
