Withywindle Wanderers

...I've finished walking in her shoes. Yet, as a wealthy Westerner, can I EVER really walk in her shoes? I had 3 days off over the last 7 days. On one of them, my ten thousand steps involved ambling southwards with Benjamin along the Withywindle in the morning, and northwards with Bens, Eowyn, Coco, Mateja and Maia in the afternoon. On another of my days off, I wandered through the forest to Seren and Jonathan's, and then walked with them at a leisurely pace. Yesterday, I walked along lovely trails and through Princes' Park to a tranquil Taize meditation on Jesus' death and resurrection. My line in the liturgy was 'Can we enter with Jesus into his pain? Can we enter with others into their pain? Can I embrace my own pain?' I remember my first day in Kirema, Uganda, Mrs Sewagoma dancing along the path, smiling and talking with me and laughing. It all seemed so amazing, this new place, the lush, green tropical beauty. I tried to imagine what it must be like to...

Hello! It's the last day of my tricky little scheme! I had planned to walk this morning to church , however was running late, so biked with my lovely little family down the Withywindle. It is a rainy Sunday afternoon, the kind where snuggling in bed or on the couch or in the bath with a good book is a heavenly activity to undertake. that's what the rest of my little family are doing! The icecream truck has just been, Bens has a loaf of bread baking, & Coco is working out how to manufacture her very own crisps! I, on the other hand, am obliged to fulfill my commitment to walking ten thousand steps a day. So I am going out for a walk. In the rain. For a very long time.

Oops, I've been forgetting to blog. I haven't been forgetting to walk, although I must confess to doing so somewhat begrudgingly! There was a message today from Care, the people who are organising this endeavour, saying that we (you, my team, and me!) have raised enough money to provide a well for a village, and to teach them how to maintain it, and provide the tools. This gave me shivers. Real people in the real world are going to have water, because of our partnership!!!! This morning I walked rather than ran. It was cold and windy, and dark when my alarm clock went off, today being the autumnal equinox here in the southern hemisphere. As I walked, I thought about Mrs Cate Sewagoma in Uganda. Her husband had been tortured to death, in her presence, during the terrifying era when Milton Obote was in leadership. She lives in the village of Kirema, caring for 5 orphans, whose parents were killed during the civil war. Her hut is very brown, and had no roof, as the rains had wa...

I'm really not sure what this project is officially called, so I shall rename it each day - I like naming! This morning Coco was sick, with a sore tummy. As I made her toast with vegemite, and peppermint tea, I thought to myself "This is more like the lives of my African sisters." Coco's face looking up at me was so trusting and loving. She didn't want me to leave, and we did meerkat kisses and horse kisses and dinosaur kisses. Eowyn and Benjamin are also unwell, however, not being morning people, their farewells were somewhat sleepy! As I ran out into the sunny, cool morning, I realised, with a little shame, that when an impoverished woman's child is sick, it often means they will soon die. I remember, conducting the antenatal clinic at Kirema in Uganda, almost every woman who came to me, pregnant, had lost at least one child. "On the first day, she cried all the time, and was hot. On the second day, she was quiet. On the third third day, she died,...

Here's the link to my fund raising page, if you are interested in making a donation! THANK YOU!!!!!! So, here I am at the office, after a long hard day at work, anticipating my walk/run home with an exhausted and somewhat crestfallen anticipation. Perhaps this is a little bit more what it is like for my sisters who are very poor, around the world. I lost a lot of blood giving birth to Eowyn, and felt weak afterwards and was given blood transfusions. There are many mothers in developing countries walking around with very low haematocrit (from losing blood giving birth and NOT getting to have a blood transfusion, and from a diet low in iron and vitamin C and other nutrients). Their energy levels would be way lower than mine after a long day at work - I have a great diet, I'm healthy, I'm fit, I'm strong. I'm going to enter into the sense of exhaustion and lethargy I have, as a means to feel connected to those for whom I am undertaking this endeavour. Thanks for r...

Hello readers! Today I began a seven day challenge, to walk 10 thousand steps per day, in solidarity with the impoverished women in the world who have to walk an average of just that, every day, to get water and firewood and such. I ran out our driveway with a delightful Coco cheering and clapping, and waved to her as I bounced along. A beautiful rainbow encircled my way, reminiscent of the rainbow picture of Venice at 'Radiance - the Neo-Impressionists' which I indulged in yesterday, by Cross or Signac or somebody... As I ran, I thought about the women in Uganda who would walk to get water. The path was muddy, and the big oblong plastic containers of water were muddy. They balanced them on their heads, with the most amazing, agile posture, necks like swans, queenly amidst poverty and dirt. Their feet were bare, with a little line around the side of dried mud. Some had babies wrapped around their backs in large squares of cloth. The babies would peep out at me, contented ...