One hudred fourty four thousand footsteps to Kiwoko

Dear Friends and Family, I have not had a longer moment to send out an update. By now you all know we finished Rose's Journey successfully on Saturday. Folks, it was cathartic journeying with more than 60 people by my side or behind or ahead of me. Everywhere I looked, there was somebody walking with me. It was a great walk, simply freeing and hard too. Each of us experienced their moment of hitting the wall, but we kept on walking. My friend DJ who is a bit of a math whiz tells me that it took approximately 144,000 steps from Bamunanika to Kiwoko! I still cannot believe it. We left Bamunanika a little later than we had planned but were on Que by the time we left our first resting stop. The segment from Bamunanika to Wobulenzi was probably the easiest. I walked that stage with my Irish Mother, my brother Steven, and my friend Flavia and from time to time was joined by many of my best friends. At times it was memory lane, at other times it was a completely new walk, one full of hope and random acts of kindness. To say that I was emotional the whole day is an understatement! Many children joined my friends Kristen, Jen, Christina and Mike (The Breckenridge Crew) and made the reason for the walk even more meaningful. Even though I could not see everyone at the same time, I knew that they were there, repeating the same steps I took 20 years ago, experiencing a journey of their own, adding their voice to mine in a very public way. It was phenomenal.

I anchored the second leg of the walk and it took me a full three hours fifteen minutes to walk it. I had with me The film crew--Discover The Journey, Kisakye Pendo, a friend I have known for 16 years, and Shifa, a friend a i hadn't seen for 14 years! My former Professor from Baylor--Lori Spies, joined me for 30 minutes, and so did two other friends from Dallas. The team from Breckenridge stayed by my side for most of this leg and we encountered two profound moments together. One was when Pendo stopped at Emmause Centre to use a bathroom and ran into Joseph the director at the centre. Joseph inquired as to why we were walking and Pendo explained. When I caught up with her, she and Joseph and were waiting at the road side. Joseph wanted to meet me and had a message for me. He said "when I heard about your story, this village girl who walked 20 years earlier I had to meet you, what you are doing is so important...God is going to use this walk in profound ways...20 years from now, this journey will be remembered, again..." We all just stood there, listening to Joseph affirm the reasons why we walked. We could not help but weep together--for joy, for knowing, for random acts of compassion.

The second was when a choir of young children lined themselves up on the side of the highway and sang to us! Their song "Oh we are coming, we are coming today...we are coming today we are coming for you....we are dancing today we are dancing for you, we are singing today we are singing for you" left me speechless. I knew that many had come to walk with me but it was good to be reminded to celebrate this anniversary walk. It was also good to remember that we were being encouraged and watched over with singing...not just there but across the world and in heaven. At Luweero, I had an amazing opportunity to sign the "End child Sacrifice car" adding my name to many others including my Irish parents as well as the First Lady of Uganda.

I power walked the last leg as I wanted to be the first (among the walkers) to arrive, so I could receive everyone. It was almost impossible for others to keep up the pace and I am grateful to Hannah Magoola, another best friend who followed me in the car and walked with me from time to time, and Tom my brother who stayed at my side until his feet complained. Hannah and I sang my favorite hymn as we walked and when I felt faint she was quick to give me that last power bar. The final kilometer was simply impossible! I don't think I have experienced that much heat, and pain in my feet. I kept thinking--Kiwoko must be around the corner--and then it wouldn't! The film crew tagged along capturing many moments I probably would not want to watch again. I had renewed strength the moment Kiwoko signs came into view and walked the last mile with my friend DJ by my side. Kate Glerup, another friend whose flight had mechanical problems, called me one minute before I finished the walk--she was just starting hers in Breckenridge. Kate walked in Breckenridge, wearing the end child sacrifice t-shirt and accompanied by her dog Emma!! Her call was so timely.

The reception and finish at Kiwoko was so unexpected that the moment I saw my Dad (who had run the whole distance) I was so overcome with emotion I just bawled. The nursing students from Kiwoko School of Nursing lined up and danced infront of me as I walked into what used to be my Irish parent's garden when they lived at Kiwoko. My friends Ken and Judith Finch did an amazing job setting up the reception and it was a grand way to end the walk.

I saw my self in a new light, in the lives of many who wore the t-shirt with my picture on it and the words "END CHILD SACRIFICE," in the lives of the children on the road side who sang--we are dancing for you. I remembered where I come from and why I had walked and thought--it was and is worth every step. I admired the sheer determination of so many who persevered when the road ahead seemed endless...but still finished the walk. I could not have been any prouder of every single person who was present or was praying for us every second of the day. And What a way for my Irish Mother to make a statement! People will not forget the reasons we walked, the reasons we came together on July 11th 2009. This was not just my journey after all--it was a journey for everyone who participated in it. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me in your journeying too.

....More to come

It is good you exist, it is good that you are in the world—Joseph Piper:One Day before I walk

Dear Friends, it has been a frantic and terrific few days with the film crew—Discover The Journey—here as well as my friends arriving from Breckenridge, plus trying to cover all the logistics for the Walk. There is much excitement and enthusiasm for Rose's Journey and it keeps me grounded. This will be the last blog post before I walk. But before I forget, here is the number to reach me on the day of the walk: +256-777-723-375. I shall be in touch as soon as I can get to a computer and Internet after the walk.

On The Radio with Allan Kassujja—formerly Mr. President: Yesterday we had an opportunity to be in studio with my good friend and impressive Allan of Capital FM, Uganda. Allan hosts a program called Dessert Island every Sunday at 7PM. It is for high profile folks only so I and the team felt so humbled and privileged for the opportunity to have a conversation with Allan. The program will air this Sunday after the walk but the message will still be relevant. I am so thankful to Allan and Capital FM for joining in Rose's journey and giving us an opportunity to speak to the country about ending child sacrifice.

Meeting George: As mentioned in the last shot blog, I had a chance to meet Goerge yesterday. Here are a few of my thoughts in detail during that encounter: I remembered—as I do so often, the words of Joseph Piper when I met beautiful George and silently prayed over him, “…it is good you exist, it is good that you are in the world…” you are the apple of God’s eye. At three years, George might be oblivious to the horror acts performed on him by a witchdoctor, but the rest of us in the room are not. I look at the place where his genitals are supposed to be…there is nothing there except scar after scar, the wounds have healed, but the scars…the scars tell the story of cruelty. One cruel act against this child has altered his life forever. The plastic Surgeon tries to explain what he might possibly do to help this young man, but I am really not listening to the details. Then he says we cannot really replace what has been taken away from him, we can just try.

I sit there staring at George wondering what life he will have, what definitions of manhood, what emotional scars, what despair, what constant fear, what hope and light and love…we can only try Ben Khing (the surgeon) says…I sense his exasperation and then his hope for something better for his patient. Ben Khing is a tender doctor, a Christian man; I have known him and his wife for years and I know that George could not be in better hands. He holds George who is now happy to be held as long as Ben does not bring out the dreaded needle. We all reassure George—no needles today…he smiles, a beautiful and captivating smile. He is just like any other child of three years and he is a survivor…

Tomorrow we walk on his behalf and on behalf of all the untold stories. Tomorrow we will hold our heads high, for George, all the other Georges around Uganda. We will say to others seeking to wound and destroy…ENOUGH! We will tell the stories of the silenced children, we will journey in Hope. "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise Hebrews 10:23"

In Rose’s Journey: We journey tomorrow with one heart and voice. Numerous thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement. We shall flood you with updates as soon as we are done walking.

Meeting George

Dear Friends, meeting George was as I thought it would be,emotional and powerful. He is an amazing boy who is happy to play with anyone as long as he is not getting "injections" He shook my hand and when i offered to have him on my lap he asked if I were going to give him an injection...to which I happily replied no! We were great buddies after that. Meeting him renews my zeal and enthusiasm for this walk.Will write more when time allows. Love Rose

I walk in 3 Days

Dear friends and family, what can I say, I am so overwhelmed with your generous support of Rose's Journey--whether with money or prayers or words of encouragement and cheers--you have all outdone yourselves and I thank you much for your faithfulness. Every individual who is walking with me has experienced spontaneous acts of love and encouragement and we hope to in-turn share these with others as we walk. Since my arrival home--two weeks ago--it has been wonderful to see family and catch up with friends. I have also had many opportunities to engage others in the cause. I have on my computer more than 100 articles detailing stories of child sacrifice across the country. These stories are hard and their escalating numbers even more disturbing. The recent face is George Mukisa, one of our Hope Ward Patients. George is a 3 year old lovely boy whose private parts were mutilated by the neighbour (a witchdoctor). George's Father arrived back home one day to find the child missing (the mother had gone for a funeral and left the child in the care of other children). He then heard him crying in the garden near the house and hurried to find the boy abandoned and bleeding. The neighbour, being a witchdoctor was the prime suspect and on searching his shrine, the boys mutilated body parts were found (the witchdoctor was taken to prison). George was taken to Mulago Hospital (government main regional referral centre) and later, after his story was publicised, was moved (under the sponsorship of Stanbic Bank) to Hope Ward for possible reconstructive work. One of our Surgeons--Dr. Ben Khing--has been taking care of George and plans reconstructive surgery after the wounds heal. I am meeting George tomorrow, he is returning for an outpatient check, for wound dressing and for the Surgeon to make an assessment. George and many others like him are the reason I am walking this summer--I imagine that meeting him will be emotional. How can we look a child like George in the eyes and remain the same? He will be on the hearts of everyone come Saturday, and so will many of the children in the stories that I now know by heart. But as you know, the walk is not just about child sacrifice, it is a demonstration of our solidarity in this cause, in the support of hope ward and in the setting up of the scholarship fund. It is a celebration of Hope where there is so much horror and devastation. It is a pilgrimage in friendships, in faith, and a commitment to the healing of communities In a few days I shall be joined by so many people--friends and family, strangers and partners: Here are the details of our walk: For anyone who is in Uganda and would like to join us: We leave from International Hospital at 5:30AM. The vehicles will take us to Bamunanika my home village. We will start walking @ 6:30-7:00AM from the trading centre to Wobulenzi. If you want to join this segment please be sure to leave with us when we do at 5:30AM. We plan to arrive at Wobulenzi at Approx 9:00-9:30AM or earlier. If you are left behind at IHK please jump in the first taxi out to Wobulenzi-Luweero. Wait for us at Wobulenzi--there will be a car painted and signed by different local leaders with the logo "END CHILD SACRIFICE" you cannot miss it. You can join the walk there. We shall leave Wobulenzi at 10:00AM to walk to Luweero arriving at 1:00-1:30PM. If this is the segment you are walking, please make sure you do refreshments with us before you jump right back in a taxi to return to Kampala. Luweero is a resting point: we shall have speeches, media etc. We shall then leave Luweero to go to Kiwoko at 2:00PM arriving at Kiwoko at approx 5:30-6:00PM. The walk starts from the house where my father held the last meeting in which I was disowned for abandoning witchcraft and will end at the door of the house where i first met my Irish parents. There we will have refreshments and return to Kampala after 6:00PM. We hope to have several vehicles following the walk including an ambulance. I look forward to walking with you guys. I am so honored to do this with many of you in spirit. With Gratitude, always http://www.justgiving.com/rosenanyongac http://www.narrowroadintl.org/Narrow_Road%3A_Roses_Journey.html "Lord, be the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way." -St. Augustine

30 Days before I walk again

Dear friends, in 30 days I will walk again and it feels as though life has come full circle. It is almost 20 years since I first made this journey, alone. On July 11th, with a group of not less than 30 people, we will kick off Rose's Journey from Baminanika, my home village, to Kiwoko. It will take us all day to walk. Bamunanika is a place that holds a book of memories for me and my family: Some wonderful and happy; and others dark and painful. It is a place where most of my childhood was shaped, a place where, every time I visit, I am reminded of these formidable years. I celebrate a great deal of the happy memories and mourn less the hurt and brokenness; but the profound truth remains, there are others. I see my self in every silent child in the streets of Bamunanika...I could be anyone of them. For them and many others who suffer cruel injustices around the world, I walk this summer. To give voice to the voiceless and to stir people's hearts with the story of hope and light. I hope that as we show our solidarity, communities in Uganda and around the world will come together to enhance the collective advocacy. Child Sacrifice is one of the less championed injustice against children in Uganda. We so easily mistake it to be a normative part of the people's culture. I have been guilty of this, of passing something off as, well, part of the culture as though that makes it alright. It should make us uncomfortable to pass off some thing heinous as killing a child as a cultural norm! By blanketing it under normative practices that define a certain group of people, we are all looking for a way out. There is frankly nothing normal about killing a child. There shouldn't be any reason or justification for such an act or other injustices committed against children around the world. A friend recently said to me, "Rose, sin is sin, irrespective of where people come from, no matter the reason" and I agree. I am also deeply touched by the bravely of so many of you who are joining me to walk. A combined 100-150 people will join the walk at different stages, a much larger number than I ever thought possible. There are many others who have donated towards the set up of the scholarship fund and Hope Ward. The money goes a long way in building healthier communities--spiritually, physically, politically etc. For 7,500.00-10,000.00 USD we can sponsor a student at IHSU to obtain their Bachelors degree (all three years of tuition and fees). That is how much money it takes to sponsor some one in the USA for just one year at a state school. Post secondary education is much needed in Uganda if we are to increase capacity, skills and competencies for sound governance, as well as management and leadership skills across sectors. I am aware that it costs a lot more money at this level than it does at primary education tier, and yet, I am also aware of how desperate we need to invest in the former. So I thank you deeply for believing with me and for your generous giving towards these causes. This is my hope: That our collective voices will be heard from village to village That this will build momentum to stir people's hearts in the media and else where to stop child sacrifice That this will be a pilgrimage in Faith, in Light, in Friendship, in Hope, and in bringing communities together to stop child sacrifice That many silent prayers will be answered That hope indeed will come alive for many others who live in desperation and despair, and that this hope will be shared That our solidarity will be noted--whether by the silent witnesses in the villages, or by the noted word of a reporter, or by strangers who will join the walk That this will be a coming together of different worlds, joined in oneness for causes that are so important. Over the years, I have been blessed by so many friends most of whom have shared in the journey, its challenges as well as its triumphs. So together we will walk, to celebrate this incredible journey of 20 years, to celebrate my passion and excitement for nursing, to speak out against child sacrifice, and to raise money for causes stated above.

Follow me on this journey, and I thank you with all my heart for doing so

Rose

http://www.justgiving.com/rosenanyongac

http://www.narrowroadintl.org/Narrow_Road%3A_Roses_Journey.html