A new season begins

Lendell is back from his work trip, we've finally gotten sand for Naomi's sand pit (who knew that would be so difficult?) and the whole family is getting some sleep. All of this in the background of the build-up to presidential elections in Uganda scheduled for February 18. Tension seeps into most discussions about February and contingency plans are being concocted for families, organizations, communities. I always find elections exciting in their purest form: celebrating a day where people are free to exercise choice and have a voice in government. An environment where all is possible. These days, however, elections often bring more threats of violence and potential backlash than nuggets of peace and possibility. In these past nine months, I've been incredibly impressed with many services and programs of the current government. Many Ugandans feel that this government, formed from an independence movement many decades ago, is working for their interests. Others oppose the current government and want to bring about change with a new direction for the country and a new leader. We hope the events in Uganda in mid-February come and go in peace and bring an era of improved government service delivery (it can always get better, I say!) and representation of the peoples' interests. And that someone fills in and repairs that enormous pothole on Impala Avenue!