Visit our Partners at the Amahoro Children's Initiative.
Next Pilgrimage 2024
If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path.
Joseph Campbell
Click HERE to meet previous Pilgrims
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Some pics from the 2015 pilgrimage
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Caleb introducing the Matugga Girls home in 2010.
Apologies for the shaky camera...too much coffee I guess. |
On the ground at the Amahoro Boys Ranch
football at the boys home
A Pilgrim's Journey
On our pilgrimage into Uganda there are no AAA maps with the route highlighted in yellow, no fancy brochures. There are plenty of other resources that are designed for tourists with the way clearly marked out. This is a journey for pilgrims.
The difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is that the pilgrim seeks, while the tourist wants to have an already established point of view confirmed. For the tourist, the place is secondary. It could be New Orleans or New Dehli, Scotland or the Sahara. The name reveals the motive. The tourist tours, from tourn, 'a turn and a circling of something' — not a penetration, little chance for transformation. The tourist is primarily concerned with her or his experience of the place and the people — not the place itself, not the people themselves. After the journey a tourist circles home, possibly refreshed, but with little lasting insight or change.
This Journey is intended to be disruptive. There will be moments of pure joy and laughter as well as times where tears flow. There will be lots of questions and overflowing gratitude. The Journey is designed to penetrate the pilgrim's ordinary way of living to open the possibility of transformation. Whereas a tourist is satisfied by adding one more experience to life, a pilgrim is intentionally on a quest (with lots of questions) for transformation. A tourist gets pampered and tanned, while a pilgrim sparkles with curiosity, spirit and open mind and heart. A pilgrim is open to the sacredness of all people and places and is grateful, while a tourist is often preoccupied and unaware. A pilgrim longs to be in the present moment, growing in the capacities of suspending judgements and relaxing constricting emotions.
Of course we are both tourist and pilgrim without even being aware of it. Rarely do we take the opportunity to make our life a pilgrimage.
Those on the African Pilgrimage will return to the context of their lives changed and bearing many gifts for their community.
Terry and Caleb are Allies and guides for your journey. We will help you tend to the the landscape of the heart—the mind and emotions, synopses and spirit that can be oriented toward that future that is on the move—toward the present.
The difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is that the pilgrim seeks, while the tourist wants to have an already established point of view confirmed. For the tourist, the place is secondary. It could be New Orleans or New Dehli, Scotland or the Sahara. The name reveals the motive. The tourist tours, from tourn, 'a turn and a circling of something' — not a penetration, little chance for transformation. The tourist is primarily concerned with her or his experience of the place and the people — not the place itself, not the people themselves. After the journey a tourist circles home, possibly refreshed, but with little lasting insight or change.
This Journey is intended to be disruptive. There will be moments of pure joy and laughter as well as times where tears flow. There will be lots of questions and overflowing gratitude. The Journey is designed to penetrate the pilgrim's ordinary way of living to open the possibility of transformation. Whereas a tourist is satisfied by adding one more experience to life, a pilgrim is intentionally on a quest (with lots of questions) for transformation. A tourist gets pampered and tanned, while a pilgrim sparkles with curiosity, spirit and open mind and heart. A pilgrim is open to the sacredness of all people and places and is grateful, while a tourist is often preoccupied and unaware. A pilgrim longs to be in the present moment, growing in the capacities of suspending judgements and relaxing constricting emotions.
Of course we are both tourist and pilgrim without even being aware of it. Rarely do we take the opportunity to make our life a pilgrimage.
Those on the African Pilgrimage will return to the context of their lives changed and bearing many gifts for their community.
Terry and Caleb are Allies and guides for your journey. We will help you tend to the the landscape of the heart—the mind and emotions, synopses and spirit that can be oriented toward that future that is on the move—toward the present.
Getting ReadyIn addition to making sure your passport is in order and making a visit to your local travel doctor for vaccinations (You'll need yellow fever at least.) See complete list of things to attend to before the pilgrimage. In addition, we will have monthly ZOOM gatherings beginning Sunday October 13th.
CURRENT PREPARATION CHECK LIST IMPORTANT PREPARATION CHECK LIST HERE Liksten to brief interviews with your fellow pilgrims here. |
Time in UgandaAs pilgrims we will be open to surprise! AND we have a structure that is like a holding space so we can feel safe.
Here is what the Spanish poet Antonio Machado has to say about this kind of journey: Traveller, your footprints are the road, and nothing else; pilgrim, there is no road, the road is made once you walk. By walking the road is made, and when looking back the path is seen that never will be stepped on again. Traveller, there is no road, only ripples on the sea. Pilgrims can access itinerary with their password - HERE |
The ReturnThe Journey does not end when we get home. In some ways it just begins. Before we leave Uganda we'll offer some suggestions regarding reentry into everyday life. You will discover some gifts or 'balm' that you will be called to share with those you love.
In addition you mostly likely will want to stay in touch with your new friends from Africa. New possibilities will emerge for each of us. We will gather for several post pilgrimage gatherings that will serve as "Council Process" - a very intentional way of discernment or sifting though an experience to clarify its meaning and purpose. |
