tree planting. 12.21.09

The Empower A Child organization recently purchased land about an hour and a half outside of Kampala. The dream is to one day transform the jungle into a campus for primary, secondary, and vocational school buildings and perhaps a heath care center, as well.

Six Ugandans packed into one of the EAC vans in the morning with Beth and me to travel out to Zirobwe. The final stretch of the drive was through a remote area, where dirt roads were barely wide enough for the van to pass. As we were tossed within the van like rag dolls, the car navigated over deep ravines and potholes. Pieces of brush and trees snapped off as the vehicle moved forward, grabbing at the car and reaching through the open windows.

When we finally arrived, we unpacked the contents of the car, along with 230 tiny pine and eucalyptus trees ready to be placed into the ground. Wilson, Empower A Child’s director who is currently living in California, instructed us to plant the trees along the parameters of the land to mark it in the future. Gayan remained behind to prepare lunch as the rest of us began a project that I had significantly underestimated.

Forty acres is a lot of land- especially when performing heavy labor under a merciless sun, deep within the jungle! I graciously thank GOD that I had the last minute thought to clip my water bottle to the belt loop of my jeans, as that was the one source of drink throughout our four hours of work. We carried the trees in a large pan, and a corrugated box; the weight seeming to increase with each step along the narrow path. We rotated positions of digging the holes and planting the tiny trees. Out of breath, and squinty sweat out of my eyes, I’d pass the hoe on to a person willing to dig for while. I did my best to relieve those who were struggling after a long run of breaking the ground, in return.

Thorns and weeds tore at our clothes and skin; soil sprayed over my entire body as I rapidly dug. On a rare occasion we would wade out of the shoulder-height grasses into a cathedral of trees that provides shade from the burning sun, through the ground would be more challenging to find.

We planted about 200 trees before returning to our vehicle where Jayan waited with rice and beans. Francis and I arrived first, around 4:45pm since we did not want to stop and eat jackfruit along the way. I dove into the rice and beans and swallowed with no delay.

By the time everyone else returned with jackfruit, I was teaching a clapping game to one of the shy village children. The others also wolfed down their well-deserved meal and we packed up for a quick departure.