Dear Invisible Children This is our first e-mail since our Nation Wide Screening Tour, and let us say that the last two months have been a whirl-wind success: the launch of the website, the benefit concerts, the thousands of house parties and all the other creative ways you've responded to the crisis in northern Uganda. If you are continuing to do cool stuff (i.e. a marathon, a lemonade stand, selling your horse, etc.) film it, and send it to us. Before we go any further, we would like to give a shout out to all the peeps from the East Side to the West Coast and back again, Florida, Arizona, Chicago, New York, Minnesota, DC, Nor Cal, So Cal, Georgia, and of course Texas, which is country unto itself. So we are in Uganda and the power has gone out twice before we had the chance to finish typing this e-mail. So be assured there are two funnier versions, but now we are frustrated so we will keep it brief. Things are going well.

Thanks and see you soon,?

Invisible Children?

Jason Bobby and Laren  

JK?

That's AOL talk for "Just Kidding"

Keep Reading.  

TRIBUTE TO A REALLY FUNNY E-MAIL YOU WILL NEVER READ. ?(because Bits and Bytes internet cafe doesn't have a generator). We have arrived in Uganda, and when we, the trio say "we", we (the trio) mean the greater San Diego area has arrived. Did any one follow us? I mean "we"... never mind. Ok lets start over....

TRIBUTE TO BEING HOT, DEHYDRATED AND APPARENTLY INCOHARENT (@ bits and bytes.com [that's AOL Jargon again (: see that's a side-smiley face (: see?] ) There are a lot of us white folks here in Uganda, 23 to be exact. We are traveling with a load heavier then Moses on our backs. You see, we packed Equipment: toys, camera, film, and thousands of cans of bug spray in which the girls have dispensed faster than Aqua-Net Hairspray in a bad 80's movie - and because of the girls selfish excessive use, Jesse {Laren's male friend} has contracted malaria.:( see, sad-side frown face. Long story short, it's a lot of equipment for 23 camels let alone for 23, make that 22 (sorry Jess) scrawny white people to carry.

Although we have been in Uganda for only one week there are hundreds of stories we could write about, the following are just a few brief highlights with positive and negative AOL indicators:

Noelle got hit by a car :(.? Swam in the Nile :).? Our van got stuck in the mud :(.? Kampala flooded :(.? We've eaten fish eyeballs :). ? Danica and Amy can't stop throwing up :) JK :(.? All the girls have been proposed to at least 5 times :), except Vanessa - her count is 3 (:.

But, in the midst of this chaos we are continuing our work as to why this horrible crisis persists. We've had continued meetings with USAID, World Vision, The Carter Center, World Food Program, International Rescue Committee, and the United States Ambassador to Uganda.

We don't know if it's because those we meet are typically double and on rare occasions triple our age, or if it is the gray hair and the Centrum they take in the morning that gives these people an enthusiasm for correction- but without exception, anytime we meet with an aide worker or a ranking politician, we get schooled. The advice varies from simple observations in the film to our personal hygiene and appearance. Don't get us wrong the advice has benefited us in one way or another. Take ambassador Jimmy Kolker on the topic of our clothing - And when we say our, we do mean Laren, who showed up at the American Embassy to meet the Ambassador with a full seven inches of his attractive knee beaming from his ripped Diesel Jeans. In the meeting at the Embassy, Kolker broke mid conversation on the war to explain that, "Your appearance is perceived differently here in Africa than in America. In America your clothes reflects a personal individualism, while in Uganda it comments on the way you view others." And then it dawned on us… that's why so many Ugandan street vendors are dressed to the 9's - we're talking about suits, ties, and Sunday shoes in the midst of this hot fiery fumed furnace known as the African Continent during the dry season. So we see that Ugandans feel obligated to show their respect, but we didn't get Jimmy's point. Doesn't he realize that Diesel Jeans are one of the most expensive jeans you can buy? - and that Laren is a fashion forward super model? We left it at that, figuring that fashion's difficult to follow in the bush. Kolker, if you're reading this, sorry, we'll see you at the BBQ.

And to all of you, many of whom have inspired this film to become a movement we hope to see you soon as well. Please continue to have House Parties, Mass Screenings, and be creative in your pursuits of making these children visible. We are going up to the North in a day. If you are one to pray, now is the time, being that the rebel activity is increasing. Continue to check the website: invisiblechildren.com for video updates. :?I love this AOL stuff. The Internet is so fun. <3. See, side-heart. <3 see??

Jason, Bobby, and Laren.