Current update in Uganda

So many amazing things happening in the last few days... there have been peace talks happening for the last year and a half (on and off) and now the LRA and Ugandan government have just signed a permanent ceasefire.  This means that the war in northern Uganda could be ended as early as next week.  I really cannot even grasp it.  Keep in mind that this war has been going on for the last 22 years.  This is what I am doing traveling around this spring - trying to end the war in northern Uganda.  

I definitely encourage you all to check out this website: www.ugandacan.org for more information on the current up to date information.  

I cannot wait to tell you more about what is new... but for now, I have to run!  We are staying with a family who is absolutely incredible and the kids want to play before we have to go to our screening.  :)  Love to you all!

TCU

Texas Christian University.  Amazing group of people that took us in and we became old friends instantly.  Although they were some of the most exhausting days, it was some of the best.  They have a huge IC following on campus, so it was so good just to join up alongside of them.  I can't wait to go back in April to visit again.

We have been blessed with hospitality all around.  The people and families that we've stayed with have been incredible.  Then we got to Abilene on Thursday and we were given free hotel rooms at the Hampton Inn for 3 nights!  Although I feel spoiled, the relaxation is also a blessing.  

I am continually blown away by people's sacrifice and love for others and it is so refreshing to experience.  

update from this past week

written just a few days ago...

Hello!

So i wish i had the time to sit down and write about everything i've been experiencing in this past 2 wks because there has been SO SO much.. but i don't, and i know you do not have the time to read it.  So in turn, I just want to let you know that everything has been incredible!  I really can't even explain it.. but i have met some of the most amazing people on the road.  We have been to Austin, Dallas, and Ft. Worth so far (currently at Texas Christian University).  

When i receive emails from people who've i've talked with and shared the IC story with.. that go a little something like this... "The opportunity to help people in absolute dire straits was always very appealing to me.  As a civilian, I have seen poverty in Central America.  These experiences have helped me be a better teacher and given me an incredible appreciation for life in the US, however I have an unquenchable desire to go to other countries to understand their issues and develop/assist in workable solutions.  At the end of the day, we have more in common as humanity, that we can imagine." ... then I know that I am out here doing what I am doing for a reason that becomes so real.  I am 100% trying to impact each person in the littlest way, and it is encouraging to hear from some people that they get it.  They understand.

We went to one HS last week where we had 3 assemblies throughout the day and showed the film to over 2,700 students!  not to mention that this was actually the very first assembly that they've had at their school.  Students went around at lunch and asked their peers to write letters to their senators for continued support in Uganda.  The power of a letter is huge, and they understood that.

Finally, a story that continues to blow my mind.. I was hanging out this past weekend with a group of college kids after a screening.  The next morning we ended up going to brunch together.  I was talking with one girl named Steph, she was asking where I graduated from.  I said Northwestern.  Then she proceeds to ask me: "Do you know a girl named Alyssa Barr??"  My response with a shocked face... "that's my sister!"  So it turns out that this girl I had been hanging out with all weekend was my sister's roommate from Russia!  Talk about a small world!  I love it.

The past two days have been absolutely insane.  And actually the hardest for me since starting this experience.  It has been so good.. but I am also realizing how draining it can become so easily.  We are constantly with new people all the time, who want to get to know you (which is wonderful!) - but that means you are telling people your life story all the time.  Then we leave that city/school and move on to the next.  In the meantime, I am trying to keep in touch with people we've met at our last locations, do my job at our present location, and contact people to get details finalized for our future locations.  It is proving to be quite the task.  

I'm still apologize for not being in touch as much as I'd like to.  It is hard to find time to sit down and write/call, but i miss you all so much and i hope that you are doing wonderful!  I would love to hear about your life, so please email me!  We leave Ft. Worth on Thursday and head to Abilene, Lubbock, and ODessa Tx.  Love to you all!

Meet the team!

Britta, Will, Allison (office rep), Amy, Jared, and Lauren (regional manager)

Texas.. we arrived!

We made it to Texas!  It is good to be here!  I am so excited to be starting our tour.  The last week has been a crazy blur.. with little sleep and emotions running in all directions.  There was a lot to be done in the last week getting ready for tour - we ended up training for many hours a day, finished booking our tour, packing, etc.  Not to mention saying goodbye to nearly 50 housemates who i've grown close with.  

We had a send-off dinner earlier in the week, in which we were affirmed and encouraged to go out and do whatever we can to be a light to others and change the world one person at a time.  Then we had our launch party on Thursday morning, saying way too many goodbyes to dear people.  It was a weird feeling having all of the teams go their separate ways after so long.  The hardest part of the week was leaving one of our dear teammates behind.  Will has pneumonia and was unable to launch on tour with us.  He is staying at home to rest and get better and will fly out to meet us in Texas in a couple of weeks as soon as he is better.  Along with that, I am now the only driver on my team (only person over 21), so that becomes a challenge.

I have attached a picture (hopefully it works) of my teammates.  Its funny because it is said that the four of us on the road will be married to each other for the next three months.  I am realizing this is true.  I am so excited for the upcoming months, and at the same time, I am slowly realizing how hard and challenging it is going to be as well with not having a place to call home, living by such a tight schedule, and driving a massive van in crazy cities (in which texas roads make absolutely no sense i am slowly finding out).

All in all, so much more to say, but so little time.  We leave Austin tomorrow and head to Dallas.  Our first day of screenings is Monday!  Will update again soon.

Love!

Tour Schedule

Thursday is the day that my team and I head out to Texas to live travel through Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico for three months.  I am so excited!  Some of you all have been asking where I will be when, so I wanted to give you a schedule of our locations.  

Feb 7-10 ~ En route to Texas

Feb 11~ Dallas, TX

Feb 12-15 ~ Denton, TX

Feb 16-17 ~ Arlington, TX

Feb 18-20 ~ Fort Worth, TX

Feb 21-24 ~ Abilene, TX

Feb 25 ~ Plainview, TX

Feb 26-27 ~ Lubbock, TX

Feb 28 ~ Odessa, TX

Feb 29-Mar 4 ~ San Antonio, TX

Mar 5 ~ San Marcos, TX

Mar 6 ~San Antonio, TX

Mar 7-10 ~ Spring Break (in Austin, TX)

Mar 11-13 ~ Houston, TX

Mar 14-23 ~ Austin, TX

Mar 24 ~ Houston, TX

Mar 25-27 ~ College Station/Bryan, TX

Mar 28-31 ~ Houston, TX

Apr 1 ~ Huntsville, TX

Apr 2 ~ Lafayette, LA

Apr 3-5 ~ Baton Rouge, LA

Apr 6-9 ~ New Orleans, LA

Apr 10 ~ Ruston, LA

Apr 11-14 ~ Dallas, TX

Apr 15-16 ~ Austin, TX

Apr 17 ~ San Antonio, TX

Apr 18 ~ Corpus Christi, TX

Apr 19-22 ~ El Paso, TX

Apr 23 ~ Las Cruces, NM

Apr 24 ~ Socorro, NM

Apr 25 ~ NM (somewhere?)