Never Forgotten and Forever Remembered

This past week Peace Corps Uganda has been filled with extreme emotions and situations. 

Last week a fellow Volunteer passed away due to injuries after being hit by a vehicle.  Out of respect for this individual and their family and friends, I am going to keep their name and sex anonymous.  Although I’m sure if you really wanted to find out details, the Internet has no restrictions. 

So let’s rewind a week.

I was at Kendra’s village planning and prepping for our World Malaria Day event.  That morning we heard our phones vibrating, clearly telling us that we were receiving text messages.  The numbers were identified as coming from the Peace Corps Staff.   We read them in shock.

The texts went on to explain that three Volunteer’s were walking in the early morning heading to the bus park to travel down towards Kampala for a conference when a vehicle struck them.  One of the PCV’s passed away from injuries, another broke their femur, and the last managed to escape with some scrapes and bruises, but I can only imagine that their emotional state is turned upside down.  

I anxiously started calling my fellow Volunteers, checking in and making sure that they were okay.  As we got to talking it came out that this apparently occurred around 6a and the driver of the vehicle did not have their lights on and was possibly intoxicated.  I have not heard whether or not this is true so I don’t want to be responsible for spreading misinformation.  Nonetheless, this is a tragedy and the service of us Volunteers in Uganda is forever changed. 

As Kendra and I sat, speechless, watching the sunrise, my mind went to the deceased’s family.  To that phone call that must have woken them up notifying them that their child and sibling would never return back from their service. 

This event could have happened anywhere and it just highlights that even though I am in a country across the world from my home, some of the same problems exist.  I ask for you to send your prayers and thoughts to this Volunteer’s family.

May this PCV know that they will never be forgotten and forever remembered.

R.I.P.