Yes, I live in a van.

My home for the next few months!

So, in case you missed the memo, I currently live in a van. Yes, I said that correctly, I live in a van. Right now, my home is parked in front of Mrs. Potter's Coffee shop in Louisville, Ky. We are still here tearing up the town and spreading the word about Invisible Children. I never stop thinking it is funny when we get weird looks from drivers on the freeway when they see our van. I can only imagine what they are thinking when they see the words "Invisible Children." Someone told me that while they were on the road last spring, a woman asked her if the van was parked in front of the church to "abduct our children." I like to think I would have replied with a simple, "Yes ma'am. I am here to abduct your children, where are they so I can throw them in my van." But, I doubt I would have the courage. I can still pretend.

This past weekend my teammates and I stayed in the most amazing, beautiful house I have ever seen. It was built long ago, AND was part of the underground railroad. Does it get any cooler than that? The family that we stayed with was so kind! They took us out to dinner, bought us ice cream and even let us do our laundry there! Did I mention that they have a hot tub...with a TV built in! Amazing. We watched part of the Notebook while we were relaxing in it. I love my job.

On Saturday my teammates and I had the chance to clean our van out. It took us about four hours...and we were working the entire time. I think that is a testimony to how messy the van was...BUT! It is clean now, and that is all that matters!

Last night we stayed at the home of a student who attends University of Louisville. His name is Eric, and he made us some delicious burritos for dinner. He was busy writing a paper last night, so my teammates and I got a chance to catch up on some work, and watch "Garden State." I have never seen the movie before, it was interesting. I love the soundtrack though, great music. We woke up at 6:15 this morning to get to a screening at J. Graham Brown School (or just Brown School). I met a senior, (Alec) who is interested in studying Social Science at a University in New York City, and he wanted to know everything I knew about going to college. He impressed me by saying that he had read some Paulo Freire's "Pedagogy of the Oppressed"...I have only read short excerpts from it, and I am a teacher!!! I told him he needs to become a teacher because he loves Political Science so much, and cares so much about other people. After we left the screening I was really excited about working for Invisible Children again because I still get to be a teacher in many ways!

Does this look familiar? When I was at Lacor Secondary School a student told me that he was afraid of my Blue Invisible Children bracelet. He said it was "witchcraft." I thought it was funny, and laughed it off. I went to a museum one day in Kampala and found this. It was supposed to bring healing to the person who wears it. I had no idea that bracelets were actually modeled after a Ugandan style.

I do believe that this sign says "Do not go beyond this point." Andrew and Josiah must have missed the memo. This is at Murchison Falls in Uganda. Right now, it is the most powerful waterfall in the world.

This is a video of the women from the Mend factory singing a "Welcome" song to us. We had the honor of visiting them, and listening to them sing! Enjoy, I love it!

Mend is an amazing program that Invisible Children has in Gulu, Uganda. There are roughly 13 women employed by Invisible Children to make our handbags and messenger bags. The premise of mend is that the women are "mending their hearts while they mend bags." All of the women who work for Mend were abducted at one point, and became child mothers (this means that they became a mother before the age of 18). Somehow, these women managed to escape and came home to seek refuge. Unfortunately, they were unable to find that because people looked down on them for having "Rebel" or "Bush" babies. No one will marry them because they are tainted, or seen as unworthy.
Invisible Children has helped them by teaching them seamstress skills, and investing our love and resources in them! While they work for Invisible Children they receive savings, investing and budget training. These are skills that will allow them to continue to provide for their children, even after they leave employment with Invisible Children. The women of Mend are beautiful, dedicated mothers who want a chance at success like everyone else. Check out mend.invisiblechildren.com for more details. After November 1st, you will be able to watch a video on the websitie about each woman and learn her story!