Today I began editing my footage of Doreen and the orphanage. I've been encouraged by the initial reactions of the faculty and other workshop participants to the images I've captured so far.

The orphanage is a place of beauty and brokenness. Some of the children look healthy and happy. Others still look lost in their nightmares. I know the adults there do what they can. I pray for each one of them that Jesus would make up their lack. I can make most of them laugh by flipping over the viewfinder of my camcorder so they can see themselves. But one little boy just stared into his own eyes with a sadness beyond tears. Lord, please heal these wounded little hearts...

I had lunch today with a wonderful man named Phil Leber. He and his wife Jennifer and their two sons moved here eight years ago to found the Uganda Mission (www.ugandamission.org), which is affiliated with the office of the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda. (There are three times as many Anglicans in this little country than in the entire United States!) Phil teaches on worship at local Christian universities and congregations; Jennifer has a heart for the wartorn northern part of the country and the children there.

Before moving to Uganda, Phil practiced law in the DC area; he and his wife attended The Falls Church. Yes, as everyone keeps pointing out, there's something hauntingly familiar about his story. :) Hearing stories about their sons (now 18 and 21) reminded me of my teenage years in neighboring Kenya.

Phil and Jennifer are thinking about taking a trip to Kitgum in the north. Because of the war, they fly in. I am prayerfully considering their invitation to join them.

One reason to go is the opportunity to visit the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in that region. The IDP camps were created ten years ago by the government after a series of raids on area villages by the LRA rebels. The government was unable to guarantee the safety of the villagers, so they were herded into 150 camps scattered across the northern half of the country, mostly around Kitgum and Gulu. Life in the camps is atrocious; the UN calls it one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies in the world, and it's perhaps the most invisible. In addition to the Lebers' work in the camps, I know there is at least one ministry planting churches among them. What a privilege it would be to shine a physical and spiritual light in such a place.

Tomorrow I will go back to the orphanage to finish shooting and say goodbye to Doreen. I'll try to post again tomorrow.