Hello again. Due to poor Internet connections, we were unable to send the pictures that were to accompany the last update where we wrote about our experiences beating swords into plowshares.  Now we have some pictures to share to go with the story. Protests started up in the fall with a march to Parliament by students and staff of the area universities - Dan and I observed along with dozens of newly trained Peace Justice Witnesses. Police showed up in riot gear, and unfortunately there were several injuries and arrested students at the end of the day. Dan helped with night shifts at several universities that struggled with unrest and private security terrorizing the resident population. Below are pictures of one of the many damaged buildings, and just a few of the rubber bullets one could find after an evening of "containment." PJWs were asked to "lend an eye" to events, especially when security showed up in droves. This picture of our presence at a solidarity concert at our nearest University, you can see one of the white private security trucks (looks like a tank) in the street behind Kathryn. The Khayelitsha pastors that joined the night shifts and then took it over as part of the peace negotiations with the mediators are heroes in their own right. They prayed with students as they walked around the campuses, and offered a calming presence after the private security left.

Dan working as a Peace Justice Witness during a protest march on Parliament.

Police in riot gear to control crowds at the Parliament protest march.

Kathryn holding rubber bullets picked up on one of the university campuses.

Church leaders from Khayelitsha who prayer-walked the campuses at night. Pastors Majambe; Moss; Tyeke; Hlobo and Woman Pastor Nonjola.

Kathryn as Peace Justice Witness during protest concert in Stellenbosch.

Front view of one of the university dormitories.

We had a beautiful visit to Kampala and then Kitgum, Uganda for Christmas. We took a lot of pictures, and just share a few here. If you would like to see more, just let us know!

An important to-do in Kampala was to visit the hospital where John-Clair was born - here is a picture of our family in the actual birthing room.

In Kitgum we found a lot of previous co-workers, friends, and our host family. It was truly amazing. Here's a picture of me with one of my old choir students - he is now the director of the Cathedral choir! He still remembers the staff notation I taught him.

Some members of our host family from CamCam - their ability to smile after everything they've been through is humbling, and the warm hugs we received the entire trip buoyed us for our ongoing, difficult work in South Africa.

Bishop Ochola was same playful and yet serious at the same time self - he gave us six hours undivided attention, and never tired. He was our direct supervisor most of our time in Uganda, and we were honored to be with him all over again. He is still hard at work in ecumenical peace work, retired means nothing...

Sun and clouds over Padibe, where displaced persons campus have finally been cleared and everyone is finding their feet at farming again.

Co-workers from the Diocese brought us up to speed, sharing the joys of relative peace now that the LRA are elsewhere, but also the difficulties of reorganizing the land after a generation has been in the camps. Rev Samuel is trained as a peaceworker and mediator, and he uses his skills regularly to deal with land disputes.