Uganda Trip #15 | Post 6

Today, Mike, Stu, and I took a ½ day for some local sightseeing. In the past we tended to get here, teach and get home. The exception was with a first timer we would take an extra day for a safari. This trip we have four days in between our last class and Saturday’s graduation. So we went out.

First of all, we went to Aruu Falls, about 45 minutes from our home base. As you can see in the picture, it is a beautiful location. We paid a guide $18.85 to walk with us to make sure we could maximize our experience and not kill ourselves in the process! Funny thing, he had a life vest on, and we did not…

What we did have was a walking stick to help us on our walk down and back the somewhat steep, rocky and wet path. I only fell once, on my butt, so I was with significant protection. The guide did a nice job of being ready to intervene on our shaky moments. He was so skinny if something did occur he might have been collateral damage.

We made three stops to take pictures on the way down. The place is really breathtaking. You drive up to a park on a dirt road with houses that exhibit significant poverty. Then you go in this park and are assaulted with the beauty, power and majesty of these falls. It’s quite a contrast. We took pictures, posed for others and took it all in. It is something seeing the mist from the falls make its way to the trees and vines, creating a lush environment.

We never got the best pictures we could have because that required a level of agility these three 65+ years old weren’t willing to take (although our only 70+ year old, Mike wouldn’t have needed much encouragement – we didn’t give it). The path involved stepping on two underwater rocks with the water over them moving at a good clip, then walking with wet tennis shoes the rest of the way. A younger group was about 75 yards away taking glory pictures, while we told ourselves we were being wise. The tour guides walked back and forth on the rocks quicker than I had walked on the path to the falls.

I was also surprised by the impact on my legs because of the walked down. My thighs felt rubbery, which really surprised me. I average 10,000 steps a day which usually includes about a one-hour walk (6,000 steps) at a pretty good clip.   I play pickle ball and basketball, but apparently, I don’t do enough hills to prevent rubber legs. The walking stick was really helpful.

The trip up was harder work, but safer. We stopped twice on the way up for another view (of course it had nothing to do with the need to rest!) and took to the second part of our trip.

There is a hill that is only ten minutes from where we live and Abaana’s Hope ministry base. It is called Atoo Hill and is has a very nasty reputation. For those of you who don’t know the name Joseph Kony, he led atrocities throughout Uganda, but his most evil work was in the area where we live, among the Acholi people. Our whole Ugandan adventure has its roots in these atrocities and the calling one couple (Carl and Julie Gaede from FCC New Richmond) had to provide healing for Acholi in Jesus name. Helping those who came to Christ through them is way we came to help develop leaders for churches that existed and needed to be planted.

Kony is long gone from here, but still at large. Four Corner’s Ministry, who is hosting us has put together a video about Atoo Hill and some ministry they have done with the soldiers who were left behind. The hill is now a military base. We tried to go up the hill but were stopped at the gate by two soldiers. We could have driven around the gate, and the gate looks like it would have snapped if this overweight American sat on it. The soldiers had casual uniforms, no weapons with Crocs on their feet. A five-minute video about Atoo Hill and follow up ministry from here can be seen through