ISP

I'm two weeks into my ISP (independent study project), and research is going alright. At this point it is difficult to gage if I'm at an ok place with my project. I have been able to interview about six religious leaders, attend five different churches, go to an Inter-Religious Council of Uganda workshop, and travel back to Kitgum. So far the highlight of my research has been one of my interviews with a retired Anglican bishop, named Bishop John Baker Ochola.

Bishop Ochola is from Kitgum and a very respected and influential leader in Northern Uganda. He has done an incredible amount to bring peace to Northern Uganda and is an advocate for inter-religious dialogue. One of his biggest claims to fame is helping to start an organization called Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative. He has traveled around to world to speak on peace and forgiveness, and has even met with the LRA rebels in the bush to have peace talks. He also was very personally affected by the conflict and lost several loved ones, so the fact that he is working so hard for peace is even more admirable. I have so much respect for this man, so getting to interview him for two hours and then having tea in his house was a huge blessing.

It was also the Bishop's birthday last weekend, so I was invited back to Kitgum by my host family to attend the party. The Bishop turned 80 so the entire town of Kitgum was invited. They were expecting 1500 people, several Members of Parliment, and the Catholic Arch Bishop of Gulu. Two bulls were slaughtered for the meal, and traditional dancers from a neighboring sub-county were bussed in for entertainment. It rained the day of the party, but there were still about 800 people and when I asked the Bishop if he enjoyed hid birthday he said yes.

Now that I'm back in Gulu I'm starting to feel pressured by lack of time, both for completing my research and just for being in Uganda. I am a little sad I need to spend my last two weeks doing homework instead of enjoying Gulu. I'm trying to balance the two, but it's a challenge. I am traveling back to Jinja for two days with a few classmates to do a couple touristy things as a break from our ISP's. I am let with two and a half weeks in Uganda. Thinking about coming home is, of course, bitter sweet, but I am looking forward to seeing everyone at home.