So let me take some time to wrap up the month of November as well as a little bit of what has been going on in this month of December. Ok, so here we go.
Thanksgiving!!- we celebrated Thanksgiving American style with American football, turkey, and pumpkin pie! Unfortunately during the American football game I was hit in the head and got a concussion. Consequently, I can only vaguely remember what happened the rest of the night. Everyone was super great about helping me out…I think. I guess I was pretty out of it and loopy, which some found to be quite entertaining. Kurty would be one of them :P She has a post up about the continuation of this story from a coherent perspective so if you want the rest go to kurtyjoy.blogspot.com and you can get the rest of the story (it should bet put up some time this week).
Pudding- Steph and I made our family an American meal. Macaroni and cheese with tomatoes, pudding, and orange-tangerine-something kool-aid. The pudding turned out a little chunky, but they tried it and most of them liked it all right. Now they ask us over and over when we will be making them another American meal for them. They ask for tacos and then laugh hysterically because it means butt in Luganda. You got to love word translation.
Moving- so within my father’s church the provost was promoted to bishop, the vicar was promoted to provost, and consequently my father was given the vicar’s old house to live in. It’s about a half a mile from our original house and so when we returned from our rural home stays he informed us we’d be moving in December. Well, when December came he said that we’d be shifting from Sunday to Tuesday. Slowly by slowly as the saying goes. Sunday came and I asked with him and he confirmed with me that Steph and I would probably be moving our stuff on Tuesday and just helping some the other two days. Two hours later my father comes rushing into the home and says he has called his friend with a truck and we should hurry pack because we are moving in an hour at 9pm…what then followed was one of the craziest, most hectic, stressful, unbelievable, funny, and most whirlwind times I’ve spent here so far. We moved everything from house to house in 3 hours and the trunk turned out to be a massive dumptruck. Only in Africa do you just spontaneously decide to move everything when you haven’t even begun to pack.
To help with the stress and our unbelief of the whole event, Steph and I had a dance party while we packed and had a lot of good laughs. We also took turns hiding amongst all the piles of things and taking pictures. We didn’t end up eating until midnight and I didn’t get to sleep until 3am because they had put all the beds and junk up so they could sleep. What an event!
Host Brothers- one day on the way home from school I ran into Elisha heading out to the market to get some milk so I joined him and walked into town. At night the crowds are a little sketchier and much more forward than during the day and there were many groups of men who were shouting at Elisha and I and just plain being stupid. They’re the worst in groups. It was starting to get a little frustrating and then all of a sudden Elisha turned around and started laying into them in Luganda while moving me in front of him so he could protect me. When I asked him what he said he wouldn’t tell me all of it, but he did say that he told them I wasn’t their sister and to leave me alone. I wanted to give Elisha a huge hug and it made me miss my brother because that would be something he would do.
My other host brother, little two year old Enoch, has been trying to learn my name all semester and we’d gotten him to say something like “shoochin,” for my name. However, apparently because I would call him “big boy” when I would see him he has turned it around and now thinks that’s my name. So when I get home every day he greets me by saying “Big Boy, jangu!” Jangu means come here. I’m not sure what to do about it since there is only a week left, but I’m glad that he is calling me something now even if it does refer to someone of the opposite gender.
Camping- for our final weekend we took a trip with 11 people from our group to camp on Ssese Island in Lake Victoria. We took a 3 hour ferry ride out to the island and then took a small wooden boat to the resort site. It had white sandy beaches, a volleyball net, and we were the only people at the resort! We played football, beach volleyball, Frisbee, cards, had a campfire, made s’mores, swam, and did every other relaxing thing you’d do when you camp on a beach. It was a fantastic weekend and was super relaxing before this week of finals and papers.
This next week will be relaxing and stressful all at the same time because we don’t have classes, which gives us time, but at the same time a lot of our grades depend on these final papers and tests, but this is the last hurrah as far as this trip goes so were making as many memories as possible all the while dieing to be able to tell them to you all in person!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
Monday, 8 December 2008
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
I Love the Littlefields!!!!!
Allison! I just received the package you sent me today and it was super incredible! And I just want everyone to know how much I love and appreciate the Littlefield's!
For everyone else reading this blog let me just explain something. This past summer I worked at Camp Fair Haven in Brooks, Maine and on most weekends we would stay with Kurty's cousin Al, her husband Cliff, and their boys Tommy and Luke. This family is so much fun and I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to stay with them. They were so generous to open up their home to the three (Kirk being the third) of us counselors and let us terrorize their kids and their home. Little Tommy was a blast to play with and brought me so much joy.
Inside the package were wonderful things like coffee singles, tea, and chocolate, but the best part about the whole thing was the letter, picture, and present from Tommy. Al sent me a little race car in the package for my host brother Enoch. In the letter she followed it up with making sure I didn't give it to him "if he still puts stuff in his mouth- the wheels are small." You are so great Nurse Alison! Don't worry he's past that stage so the car is perfect! The second great thing about it was the picture of Tommy and Luke in their matching Carhart overalls. I can hear the collective "ahhh" from across cyberspace :). It made me miss you guys a lot! The final thing in the package that made my week was a present from Tommy. He sent me a piece of his most prized possession, (maybe after his peter pan outfit) his blanky! Talk about melting my heart! It definitely made me tear up and want to fly out as soon as possible to see that little monster! It was probably one of the coolest things I've ever received. Al, please tell Tommy I say thank you so much and give him a hug and tell him I'm excited to see him again and play with him. Thanks to you too. The package was great.
This also makes me want to thank all of you for the letters, emails, messages, packages, and especially prayers. I am so appreciative of the prayers especially. It's something that I've been realizing more and more how much prayer can connect us as the body of Christ. It's some powerful stuff. So thank you all for your prayers and for going to battle for me as I live life out here. I wish I repay you all for that incredible service so thanks. I love you guys!
Oh and Al, Kurty's has not quite come yet so don't worry she will rejoice probably louder than I soon! And if you didn't send her one because you like me better :) I'll help convince her it just got lost in the mail!
For everyone else reading this blog let me just explain something. This past summer I worked at Camp Fair Haven in Brooks, Maine and on most weekends we would stay with Kurty's cousin Al, her husband Cliff, and their boys Tommy and Luke. This family is so much fun and I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to stay with them. They were so generous to open up their home to the three (Kirk being the third) of us counselors and let us terrorize their kids and their home. Little Tommy was a blast to play with and brought me so much joy.
Inside the package were wonderful things like coffee singles, tea, and chocolate, but the best part about the whole thing was the letter, picture, and present from Tommy. Al sent me a little race car in the package for my host brother Enoch. In the letter she followed it up with making sure I didn't give it to him "if he still puts stuff in his mouth- the wheels are small." You are so great Nurse Alison! Don't worry he's past that stage so the car is perfect! The second great thing about it was the picture of Tommy and Luke in their matching Carhart overalls. I can hear the collective "ahhh" from across cyberspace :). It made me miss you guys a lot! The final thing in the package that made my week was a present from Tommy. He sent me a piece of his most prized possession, (maybe after his peter pan outfit) his blanky! Talk about melting my heart! It definitely made me tear up and want to fly out as soon as possible to see that little monster! It was probably one of the coolest things I've ever received. Al, please tell Tommy I say thank you so much and give him a hug and tell him I'm excited to see him again and play with him. Thanks to you too. The package was great.
This also makes me want to thank all of you for the letters, emails, messages, packages, and especially prayers. I am so appreciative of the prayers especially. It's something that I've been realizing more and more how much prayer can connect us as the body of Christ. It's some powerful stuff. So thank you all for your prayers and for going to battle for me as I live life out here. I wish I repay you all for that incredible service so thanks. I love you guys!
Oh and Al, Kurty's has not quite come yet so don't worry she will rejoice probably louder than I soon! And if you didn't send her one because you like me better :) I'll help convince her it just got lost in the mail!
The Weight Doesn't Have to be Heavy
Last night as Kurty and I walked home we did what we normally do after each day. We debriefed about the different things we had talked about and discussed in class. The topics last night were things like war, pacifism, and God’s calling. We discuss the stuff that is presented to us in class and then weigh in with each other the things we were thinking or have thought about since the class. This is great for me because I struggle to contribute much to the discussions because I think things through a lot slower than the class pace goes. Also, a lot of times I want to talk about something that would probably get us way off topic. Being able to talk to Kurty about it all helps me to grasp the concepts and my opinion as well as the practical application it may have for me. That is what I love about talking with Kurty. She and I always get to the point of what does any of it mean for me, how should it change my behavior, or affect my lifestyle when I return home specifically to our environment.
I realized that I’ve been presented with enough heavy and controversial issues this semester to fill a swimming pool. It’s all a bit heavy and a bit overwhelming trying to store it all in my head and figure out my stance and response to every thing. I understand why they say re-entry is harder than entry. It makes coming back seem to loom larger every time I look ahead, but as my mom has said, “knowing that possibility is half the battle.” I've realized for me to look at it as this burden I have to sift through and drag around in is skewed. What an opportunity I have! God has blessed me with these tough issues to struggle through so that I can respond. Heck yea!!
I have a feeling that all I’ve been learning here will really come clear in the months after I return. It’s hard to put a finger on life lessons I’ve learned or how I’ve grown and changed since being here. I think those closest to me will be able to see those things better than even I will. I can say for sure however, that I have definitely grown. In maturity, understanding, wisdom, and truth (not to mention waist size with all those carbs!). It’s like I can feel this next layer of growth being put on me. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel it because how can you come to something like this and not change.
I know I've been severely blessed through this opportunity and I don't want to miss using what I've learned and how I've changed to glorify God. It is exciting for me to come back and see where God is wanting me to go to or change or become. It's all so exciting too because I know that God is pumped about it all and about me continuing to grow and learn from him! As Kurty always says, "we're just living the GRAND ADVENTURE." It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it that way. It makes me want to take every next step with Him. Hallelujah!
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble (or adventures) of its own. Matthew 6:33-34
I realized that I’ve been presented with enough heavy and controversial issues this semester to fill a swimming pool. It’s all a bit heavy and a bit overwhelming trying to store it all in my head and figure out my stance and response to every thing. I understand why they say re-entry is harder than entry. It makes coming back seem to loom larger every time I look ahead, but as my mom has said, “knowing that possibility is half the battle.” I've realized for me to look at it as this burden I have to sift through and drag around in is skewed. What an opportunity I have! God has blessed me with these tough issues to struggle through so that I can respond. Heck yea!!
I have a feeling that all I’ve been learning here will really come clear in the months after I return. It’s hard to put a finger on life lessons I’ve learned or how I’ve grown and changed since being here. I think those closest to me will be able to see those things better than even I will. I can say for sure however, that I have definitely grown. In maturity, understanding, wisdom, and truth (not to mention waist size with all those carbs!). It’s like I can feel this next layer of growth being put on me. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel it because how can you come to something like this and not change.
I know I've been severely blessed through this opportunity and I don't want to miss using what I've learned and how I've changed to glorify God. It is exciting for me to come back and see where God is wanting me to go to or change or become. It's all so exciting too because I know that God is pumped about it all and about me continuing to grow and learn from him! As Kurty always says, "we're just living the GRAND ADVENTURE." It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it that way. It makes me want to take every next step with Him. Hallelujah!
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble (or adventures) of its own. Matthew 6:33-34
Monday, 24 November 2008
If You Fall Out, Hold On….or You’re Dead!
6 hours on the Nile: super sun-burned thighs. Class 5 rapids: swallowed gallons of water. Feeling like you went through a human sized washing machine: priceless!
What an unbelievable experience rafting the Nile turned out to be! We went rafting in Jinja with a company called Nile River Explorers. On Saturday we got up and left for breakfast at 8:30 where we had coffee (which I found out was actually not needed when I got out in the rapids!) and a light breakfast and had our quick briefing and then loaded up in open bed trucks to head to the drop in point. In my raft there were 7 of the USP students (including Kurty and Justin Lane), which was nice because we all knew each other so that made the whole experience even more exciting. Our river guide was called Alex and he was….basically crazy, but I suppose that’s sort of a prerequisite for this sort of thing. He looked African, but sounded Australian so go figure that one out. He was very blunt, but also very entertaining. The name of the blog is a quote of his. When we got out in the water we were taught all of the commands and what to do in different situations and then he let us swim/float down a class 1 rapid, which initially scared me (and I’m sort of embarrassed about that) until later when we went through class 4 and 5 rapids. Floating around in the river made me think of Minnesota and I tried to close my eys and picture it…that is until I’d hit a wave and get water up my nose. It reminded me of tubing down the St. Croix with camp.
Anyways, enough reminiscing. The trip took about 6 or so hours to do and the day was absolutely beautiful for being out on a river. I’ll hit a few of the highlights for you or else Kurty might say I’m long-winded again (which I know I am and am probably already guilty of). At one of the rapids we went down a waterfall backwards and Justin, deciding to do something exciting for the video camera, stood up in front of me and then fell back on me and sat on my face…haha, that sounds funny to write. I smashed down on my paddle and bit a chunk into my lip, but it was well worth the adventure and the worst of any injuries.
Immediately following that we went down a rapid called Chop Suey (I would love to have a job of naming the rapids because they’re so fun). Our guide pretty much purposefully flipped us and we were under the water for probably the longest amount of time during the trip…maybe 4 seconds or so before our life jackets would pop us back up and the kayakers would paddle us back to our boat. I wish I could better describe to you the sensation of being told “get down” as you drop into the rapid and then see a wall of white, angry water about to crash down on you and knowing that the angle you are at means you will thrown into it, where you will be churned around for a while not quite knowing where up is until it pops you out and you start laughing and shouting at everyone and as soon as you get back in the boat everyone is relaying their grand experiences (how’s that for a sentence ☺). It’s unbelievable fun! It was just a great day to be alive. Kurty and I had a phenomenal time out on the Nile.
On Sunday we did some relaxing and went into Jinja. We took Boda-Bodas (mini motorcycles) into town because of the distance and that was quite the experience. I’m not exactly one for those types of things so I was a bit nervous, but ended up liking it quite a bit. We shopped around, played some cards, and then came back where we listened to our home churches sermon on my computer in the bathroom because it was about 20 degrees cooler in there! It was great to have that time to relax since in the next two weeks I have 5 papers, a project and presentation, and two final tests to prepare for. I would love your prayers for all of that because it’s a bit overwhelming especially when you pair that with the fact that we only have about 25 days left to soak up all Uganda and the people we’ve met here have to offer. Ahhh!!!
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! Matthew 8:27
What an unbelievable experience rafting the Nile turned out to be! We went rafting in Jinja with a company called Nile River Explorers. On Saturday we got up and left for breakfast at 8:30 where we had coffee (which I found out was actually not needed when I got out in the rapids!) and a light breakfast and had our quick briefing and then loaded up in open bed trucks to head to the drop in point. In my raft there were 7 of the USP students (including Kurty and Justin Lane), which was nice because we all knew each other so that made the whole experience even more exciting. Our river guide was called Alex and he was….basically crazy, but I suppose that’s sort of a prerequisite for this sort of thing. He looked African, but sounded Australian so go figure that one out. He was very blunt, but also very entertaining. The name of the blog is a quote of his. When we got out in the water we were taught all of the commands and what to do in different situations and then he let us swim/float down a class 1 rapid, which initially scared me (and I’m sort of embarrassed about that) until later when we went through class 4 and 5 rapids. Floating around in the river made me think of Minnesota and I tried to close my eys and picture it…that is until I’d hit a wave and get water up my nose. It reminded me of tubing down the St. Croix with camp.
Anyways, enough reminiscing. The trip took about 6 or so hours to do and the day was absolutely beautiful for being out on a river. I’ll hit a few of the highlights for you or else Kurty might say I’m long-winded again (which I know I am and am probably already guilty of). At one of the rapids we went down a waterfall backwards and Justin, deciding to do something exciting for the video camera, stood up in front of me and then fell back on me and sat on my face…haha, that sounds funny to write. I smashed down on my paddle and bit a chunk into my lip, but it was well worth the adventure and the worst of any injuries.
Immediately following that we went down a rapid called Chop Suey (I would love to have a job of naming the rapids because they’re so fun). Our guide pretty much purposefully flipped us and we were under the water for probably the longest amount of time during the trip…maybe 4 seconds or so before our life jackets would pop us back up and the kayakers would paddle us back to our boat. I wish I could better describe to you the sensation of being told “get down” as you drop into the rapid and then see a wall of white, angry water about to crash down on you and knowing that the angle you are at means you will thrown into it, where you will be churned around for a while not quite knowing where up is until it pops you out and you start laughing and shouting at everyone and as soon as you get back in the boat everyone is relaying their grand experiences (how’s that for a sentence ☺). It’s unbelievable fun! It was just a great day to be alive. Kurty and I had a phenomenal time out on the Nile.
On Sunday we did some relaxing and went into Jinja. We took Boda-Bodas (mini motorcycles) into town because of the distance and that was quite the experience. I’m not exactly one for those types of things so I was a bit nervous, but ended up liking it quite a bit. We shopped around, played some cards, and then came back where we listened to our home churches sermon on my computer in the bathroom because it was about 20 degrees cooler in there! It was great to have that time to relax since in the next two weeks I have 5 papers, a project and presentation, and two final tests to prepare for. I would love your prayers for all of that because it’s a bit overwhelming especially when you pair that with the fact that we only have about 25 days left to soak up all Uganda and the people we’ve met here have to offer. Ahhh!!!
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! Matthew 8:27
Luweero
We embarked on our final IMME trip this past weekend. Our destination was a district called Luweero. It was the closest of all our tips so we only sat on the bus for a little over two hours.
When we got there we immediately went to the Anglican Bishop of Luweero’s home to speak with him. He was an extremely welcoming man and invited us into a beautiful home. It was probably the nicest home I’ve been in since being here in Uganda. It felt sort of weird to look around at all these things and hear him talk about how he grew up in poverty and so understands the needs of the poor and knows the value of sharing what you have. It was just sort of weird to me when he was obviously living much better than those around him. I understand that it’s hard and he probably does do a lot for his community. It was just hard to follow him when he talked about the poverty in Africa and look around at all these lavish decorations. He spoke English very well and had been to America before so he had fun stories. We were also given refreshments of juice, hot cocoa, popcorn, and fried cassava. I love fried cassava or in English, fried root. It’s the root of a bush, but I think it tastes like popcorn and fries when they fry it! Yumm!
We stayed at an Anglican guest house and it was really nice…ok, except that we’re pretty sure that Kurty and our other roommate, Kamanha, had company as they slept!...Bed bugs!!! It gave a whole new meaning to the rhyme “good night, sleep night, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” We didn’t really discover until after the weekend and it wasn’t too bad, just annoying. It was made up for however (Kurty might disagree since I escaped the weekend without any bites) when we were able to take extremely hot showers!!! It felt fantastic! I let it get almost to the point where I couldn’t bear it just to remember what it felt like.
On Saturday we went to a place called the Mirembe Resource Center to share time and fellowship with the children and families that were supported there. The organization was started by a local couple who saw the need in their community to address the needs of the families effected with HIV/AIDS. There is an incredible stigma here against people with HIV. They are almost immediately ostracized from a community when it is discovered that they have contracted it, whether it was their fault or not. I was sort of surprised by this and during my time there and I saw how important it was to give these people their dignity back. It is great that there are programs that address the poverty of HIV and offer medical assistance, but it is almost more crucial to return their dignity back to them. Especially in a culture where being a part of the community is pivotal.
This organization helped out about 8 families. One was a child headed household, one had a grandmother as its head because the parents had died, and another was completely rejected from the rest of the family because the mother bore a child who was disabled. This young 7 year girl who was disabled was named Christine and she was born without clavicles so her arms are useless, but she is miraculous with her feet. She immediately stole my heart and I played soccer and talked with her for a while.
We were told that these kids look forward to this day when we come and play with them every semester. When we arrived we started out the day by introducing ourselves and getting a quick introduction from the staff and then were told, “ok, here are some games and toys. Go play.” Are you kidding me?!? I actually get to go play with them instead of just sitting and listening to a speaker!?!? Not to say that speakers are bad, but I mean really, let me at those cute kids! We played for over an hour with them. Soccer, balloon animals, games with the massive parachute, volleyball, and tons of other hysterically fun adventures! The only low light was when I was playing keep away with a younger girl and Justin Lane and he thought it would be fun to bounce the volleyball off my face from 2 feet away! No worries, no broken nose, but we’re still trying to work out our differences. It was actually pretty funny. We had lunch with them and then shared songs and skits with each other as a big group. They sang a few songs and danced for us and we sang them a few songs (banana song, Jesus loves me remix, father Abraham, and others). What a rewarding time spent to see the smiles and laughter. I think this might possibly be the highlight of my time here in Africa. It was so refreshing.
Later that night we met with a Catholic priest from the area named Father Jerry. He was a nice guy, pretty young. It was a pretty casual meeting and he just shared stories with us about his ministry, especially with HIV/AIDS, and different people he’s helped. I really like speaking with him because he was one of the first people I met who talked about his own weaknesses and shared about his wonderings and doubts about God. He really struggled with the injustice and seeming unfairness of God. I just really appreciated his honesty and the fact that he was thinking critically about himself and his community, which is a trait that I haven’t really experienced very much here because of how the schools teach by way of wrote memorization.
We went to his church the next day. I had never been to a Catholic service before so it was interesting. It was in Luganda though so it was tough to know what was going on. It was a pretty big church too. I think their dedication to ritual is admirable and Father Jerry was extremely relatable with his congregation. It was a good experience and I appreciated the look into a different denomination within Uganda.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
When we got there we immediately went to the Anglican Bishop of Luweero’s home to speak with him. He was an extremely welcoming man and invited us into a beautiful home. It was probably the nicest home I’ve been in since being here in Uganda. It felt sort of weird to look around at all these things and hear him talk about how he grew up in poverty and so understands the needs of the poor and knows the value of sharing what you have. It was just sort of weird to me when he was obviously living much better than those around him. I understand that it’s hard and he probably does do a lot for his community. It was just hard to follow him when he talked about the poverty in Africa and look around at all these lavish decorations. He spoke English very well and had been to America before so he had fun stories. We were also given refreshments of juice, hot cocoa, popcorn, and fried cassava. I love fried cassava or in English, fried root. It’s the root of a bush, but I think it tastes like popcorn and fries when they fry it! Yumm!
We stayed at an Anglican guest house and it was really nice…ok, except that we’re pretty sure that Kurty and our other roommate, Kamanha, had company as they slept!...Bed bugs!!! It gave a whole new meaning to the rhyme “good night, sleep night, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” We didn’t really discover until after the weekend and it wasn’t too bad, just annoying. It was made up for however (Kurty might disagree since I escaped the weekend without any bites) when we were able to take extremely hot showers!!! It felt fantastic! I let it get almost to the point where I couldn’t bear it just to remember what it felt like.
On Saturday we went to a place called the Mirembe Resource Center to share time and fellowship with the children and families that were supported there. The organization was started by a local couple who saw the need in their community to address the needs of the families effected with HIV/AIDS. There is an incredible stigma here against people with HIV. They are almost immediately ostracized from a community when it is discovered that they have contracted it, whether it was their fault or not. I was sort of surprised by this and during my time there and I saw how important it was to give these people their dignity back. It is great that there are programs that address the poverty of HIV and offer medical assistance, but it is almost more crucial to return their dignity back to them. Especially in a culture where being a part of the community is pivotal.
This organization helped out about 8 families. One was a child headed household, one had a grandmother as its head because the parents had died, and another was completely rejected from the rest of the family because the mother bore a child who was disabled. This young 7 year girl who was disabled was named Christine and she was born without clavicles so her arms are useless, but she is miraculous with her feet. She immediately stole my heart and I played soccer and talked with her for a while.
We were told that these kids look forward to this day when we come and play with them every semester. When we arrived we started out the day by introducing ourselves and getting a quick introduction from the staff and then were told, “ok, here are some games and toys. Go play.” Are you kidding me?!? I actually get to go play with them instead of just sitting and listening to a speaker!?!? Not to say that speakers are bad, but I mean really, let me at those cute kids! We played for over an hour with them. Soccer, balloon animals, games with the massive parachute, volleyball, and tons of other hysterically fun adventures! The only low light was when I was playing keep away with a younger girl and Justin Lane and he thought it would be fun to bounce the volleyball off my face from 2 feet away! No worries, no broken nose, but we’re still trying to work out our differences. It was actually pretty funny. We had lunch with them and then shared songs and skits with each other as a big group. They sang a few songs and danced for us and we sang them a few songs (banana song, Jesus loves me remix, father Abraham, and others). What a rewarding time spent to see the smiles and laughter. I think this might possibly be the highlight of my time here in Africa. It was so refreshing.
Later that night we met with a Catholic priest from the area named Father Jerry. He was a nice guy, pretty young. It was a pretty casual meeting and he just shared stories with us about his ministry, especially with HIV/AIDS, and different people he’s helped. I really like speaking with him because he was one of the first people I met who talked about his own weaknesses and shared about his wonderings and doubts about God. He really struggled with the injustice and seeming unfairness of God. I just really appreciated his honesty and the fact that he was thinking critically about himself and his community, which is a trait that I haven’t really experienced very much here because of how the schools teach by way of wrote memorization.
We went to his church the next day. I had never been to a Catholic service before so it was interesting. It was in Luganda though so it was tough to know what was going on. It was a pretty big church too. I think their dedication to ritual is admirable and Father Jerry was extremely relatable with his congregation. It was a good experience and I appreciated the look into a different denomination within Uganda.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
Monday, 17 November 2008
I'd Rather Measure Life in Laughter
The week after rural home stat week just happened to be my birthday week. And as it goes with birthday weeks everything is just more exciting and special. Plus the birthday feel often lingers for a few days after the actual date. I will relay to you all the events related and unrelated to my birthday during that glorious week,
I received, via snail mail, a package from my grandmother that contained leaves!! Real fall leaves that had held onto their beautiful reds, yellows, oranges, and golds. They were a big hit with all the students who live in places where the change of colors happens. We even taped some up in the IMME study room! Thanks so much grandma! They are much appreciated.
On my birthday I received two phone calls from my grandparents who kept the singing of happy birthday over the phone tradition alive. They wished me Happy Birthday on the Ugandan birthday and on my American birthday! It was very fun. I also was able to talk to my parents and my sister, which was super wonderful as well. My brother had wished me a happy birthday via the computer two days prior because, to quote him, the chances of him “actually remembering to tell me on the actual day was about as good as the Vikings winning the super bowl.” Got to love a packers fan!
Kurty surprised me with real chai tea! I savored every sip! Thanks so much Jane for sending those out. It was a comforting experience of home. I can’t wait to drink some while being all bundled up looking out at snow! Mmmmmm!!!
I was treated to lunch and also received four pineapple pops and a bag of corn nuts! The Justin’s were responsible for those gifts! The IMME group also had brownies made for the occasion!
My birthday was a bit overshadowed by the fact that Mr. Barak Obama decided to go and get himself elected as president. You would have thought it was the second coming the way Africa celebrated! Kenya had a national holiday declared and every baby born that day was either named Barak Obama or Michelle Obama. It got a little exhausting to have that be the only topic of conversation from people who only know that the reason they like him is that he has connections to Africa and not because of any of his policies.
That night at home because I had gotten Elisha with water on his birthday (since that is the tradition among the youth) he came in after supper with a cup full, sang me happy birthday, and tossed it right in my face! I’m glad he’s not shy around me anymore ☺
On Friday that week we had a missionary dinner to go to. It was with an older couple who have been in Uganda four about 3 years now named Alan and Heather Hall. On our way we ran into a biker who flew out in front of us. Right before that I had been wondering how we were not witnessing any accidents because of how crazy the traffic is and then, smack, there goes the biker. He actually didn’t fall off or anything and he just kept biking away, but both Kurty and I were holding our breaths! Anyways, Alan was not a shy man and I think we only asked a couple questions because we shared most everything with us. His wife grew up in South Africa and her father was a Brit. They had been married for 4 years and were doing ministry in Uganda and living off of his social security check. He had a neat conversion story about how God spoke to him. He was an interesting man and before we left he anointed with oil from the Holy Land so we could go on and bless others. My favorite thing about the whole night was probably the pasta and incredible marinara, meat sauce! Yum yum yum!
On Saturday, Kurty and Justin Lane took me to Kampala to extend my birthday celebrations. They took me first to eat breakfast at a more American restaurant and I ate, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, and a toasted bagel and butter! I also got to sample Justin’s banana pancakes! We played some cribbage while we waited and I won both games. I could have stopped there and been satisfied, but then we went to these fun craft shops and I loved looking around for fun Christmas gifts! After that we went to get ice cream and watch more of the Vikings game! The Vikings game didn’t actually play, but it was still great. Kurty and Justin did a great job surprising me with the different activities. Before we left Kurty and I bought a basketball so we wouldn’t have to always run around at school trying to find one. Good purchase!
On Saturday there was also a futbol match with that I played a bit in, which was fun and gave me great memories of playing in high school. The best part about it all was not that we had great orange jerseys, even though that was great, but that there was a goat roast after and they decided to kill the goat on the edge of the field…the man walked by me with machete in one hand and the goat in the other. After it’s last cries they strung it up between two poles and skinned it. Only in Africa.
On Sunday Kurty and I were able to download some sermons from our home church and listen to them. We missed it a lot and were like little kids in a candy store listening and taking notes. It has been frustrating for us with the church experiences we’ve had here. The sermons we listen to are not exactly challenging or engaging because most of the congregation can’t handle anything deeper. Christianity, especially in the cities, is just the thing to do on Sundays. It seems pretty shallow. There doesn’t seem to be much conviction past that during the week. I miss people who are passionate about Christ. It just feels spiritually dead most places I’ve been. My host father is a perfect example of that. I know God can speak to you in every situation, but it’s hard to listen to someone preach to you about how we need to love each other. Kurty and I were just craving something deeper.
I also received all of the birthday cards that people sent me. Thanks to Marilyn, Nancy, Great Gma Charlotte, Gma Jean and Gpa Milt, Gma Nancy and Gpa Thor, Annika, and Mom and Dad. Annika we play your card for people and surprise everyone with its contents every so often. It was a great choice on your part! I got all 8 cards in one day! Talk about exciting and everyone being jealous of me!
Update on No-Shave-November—I look like I have man legs ☺
My birthday week was wonderful and I thank everyone for wishing me a happy day of my birth!
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
I received, via snail mail, a package from my grandmother that contained leaves!! Real fall leaves that had held onto their beautiful reds, yellows, oranges, and golds. They were a big hit with all the students who live in places where the change of colors happens. We even taped some up in the IMME study room! Thanks so much grandma! They are much appreciated.
On my birthday I received two phone calls from my grandparents who kept the singing of happy birthday over the phone tradition alive. They wished me Happy Birthday on the Ugandan birthday and on my American birthday! It was very fun. I also was able to talk to my parents and my sister, which was super wonderful as well. My brother had wished me a happy birthday via the computer two days prior because, to quote him, the chances of him “actually remembering to tell me on the actual day was about as good as the Vikings winning the super bowl.” Got to love a packers fan!
Kurty surprised me with real chai tea! I savored every sip! Thanks so much Jane for sending those out. It was a comforting experience of home. I can’t wait to drink some while being all bundled up looking out at snow! Mmmmmm!!!
I was treated to lunch and also received four pineapple pops and a bag of corn nuts! The Justin’s were responsible for those gifts! The IMME group also had brownies made for the occasion!
My birthday was a bit overshadowed by the fact that Mr. Barak Obama decided to go and get himself elected as president. You would have thought it was the second coming the way Africa celebrated! Kenya had a national holiday declared and every baby born that day was either named Barak Obama or Michelle Obama. It got a little exhausting to have that be the only topic of conversation from people who only know that the reason they like him is that he has connections to Africa and not because of any of his policies.
That night at home because I had gotten Elisha with water on his birthday (since that is the tradition among the youth) he came in after supper with a cup full, sang me happy birthday, and tossed it right in my face! I’m glad he’s not shy around me anymore ☺
On Friday that week we had a missionary dinner to go to. It was with an older couple who have been in Uganda four about 3 years now named Alan and Heather Hall. On our way we ran into a biker who flew out in front of us. Right before that I had been wondering how we were not witnessing any accidents because of how crazy the traffic is and then, smack, there goes the biker. He actually didn’t fall off or anything and he just kept biking away, but both Kurty and I were holding our breaths! Anyways, Alan was not a shy man and I think we only asked a couple questions because we shared most everything with us. His wife grew up in South Africa and her father was a Brit. They had been married for 4 years and were doing ministry in Uganda and living off of his social security check. He had a neat conversion story about how God spoke to him. He was an interesting man and before we left he anointed with oil from the Holy Land so we could go on and bless others. My favorite thing about the whole night was probably the pasta and incredible marinara, meat sauce! Yum yum yum!
On Saturday, Kurty and Justin Lane took me to Kampala to extend my birthday celebrations. They took me first to eat breakfast at a more American restaurant and I ate, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, and a toasted bagel and butter! I also got to sample Justin’s banana pancakes! We played some cribbage while we waited and I won both games. I could have stopped there and been satisfied, but then we went to these fun craft shops and I loved looking around for fun Christmas gifts! After that we went to get ice cream and watch more of the Vikings game! The Vikings game didn’t actually play, but it was still great. Kurty and Justin did a great job surprising me with the different activities. Before we left Kurty and I bought a basketball so we wouldn’t have to always run around at school trying to find one. Good purchase!
On Saturday there was also a futbol match with that I played a bit in, which was fun and gave me great memories of playing in high school. The best part about it all was not that we had great orange jerseys, even though that was great, but that there was a goat roast after and they decided to kill the goat on the edge of the field…the man walked by me with machete in one hand and the goat in the other. After it’s last cries they strung it up between two poles and skinned it. Only in Africa.
On Sunday Kurty and I were able to download some sermons from our home church and listen to them. We missed it a lot and were like little kids in a candy store listening and taking notes. It has been frustrating for us with the church experiences we’ve had here. The sermons we listen to are not exactly challenging or engaging because most of the congregation can’t handle anything deeper. Christianity, especially in the cities, is just the thing to do on Sundays. It seems pretty shallow. There doesn’t seem to be much conviction past that during the week. I miss people who are passionate about Christ. It just feels spiritually dead most places I’ve been. My host father is a perfect example of that. I know God can speak to you in every situation, but it’s hard to listen to someone preach to you about how we need to love each other. Kurty and I were just craving something deeper.
I also received all of the birthday cards that people sent me. Thanks to Marilyn, Nancy, Great Gma Charlotte, Gma Jean and Gpa Milt, Gma Nancy and Gpa Thor, Annika, and Mom and Dad. Annika we play your card for people and surprise everyone with its contents every so often. It was a great choice on your part! I got all 8 cards in one day! Talk about exciting and everyone being jealous of me!
Update on No-Shave-November—I look like I have man legs ☺
My birthday week was wonderful and I thank everyone for wishing me a happy day of my birth!
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
Debrief at Sipi and Soroti
After our rural experiences we were picked up and drove out of the mountains and went to the plains of Soroti to meet up with the other part of our group that did their rural home stays there. We stayed at a hospital and the mosquitoes were the absolute worst I’ve experienced yet, but I made it through with only 1 bug bite, which my bite ridden counterparts marveled at. The purpose was to see where they lived, debrief out times, and hear from a group called TEDDO who was involved in championing for peace in the area. Let me share a few of my experiences of these few days.
First of all, when our IMME group was reunited before we headed down to meet the other group we were incredibly loud and boisterous! It was so fun to everyone talking a mile a minute sharing stories. That is of course what happened when Kurty and I met up again. We were so pumped to see each other and we launched at each other and gave new definition to the term “big bear hug!” We took turns reading our journals to each other on the ride down and laughing hysterically about each of our experiences.
At debrief we shared stories about our experiences and I wanted to share a few with you. A couple girls witnessed a tornado destroy part of there village from up on a cliff (thank the Lord I had no idea this was going on because I am extremely afraid of tornadoes!). One of the guys shared his bedroom with pigeons, cockroaches, bats, and a lizard (needless to say he was somewhat pleased to be done with all that). He also was given a chicken uterus to eat (the part with all the partially developed eggs attached) since he was the guest of honor. Kamahna had a funny experience at church when they were all introduced. The pastor said that they should pray for America and the election and then said they should pray for their sister from Asia (Kamahna is often associated with the entire continent). He then said “I actually spoke with Asia this morning on the phone and was told they are doing well. So there are no problems in Asia. They are doing just fine.” Hahahaha
At Sipi we played a lot of rook again with Justin Lane and he went fishing within our group for some more, how should I put it, competitiveness…someone explain to me the attitude that you only play to enjoy and don’t care if you win!! Anyways, Lane was successful and found a partner, Justin Struik, who was able to propel him to a 5-3 record over the week. His overall record still being 18-6 there seemed to be light on the horizon! Kurty and I remembered what the sting of losing felt like again and the burning to crush them in the next opportunity.
We met with TEDDO and the Peace Promoters and learned about the problems between the Karamojong and the Ateso. The Karamojong are cattle raiders and it was only recently that the government stepped in to disarm them and try and bring peace. These average members of the community were trying to promote peace and dispel the hatred between the two neighboring tribes. It was interesting because it was all such a recent thing.
Ok, so in my last blog I shared about how I hurt my shoulder throwing my little brother up in the air and spent the rest of the time compensating for it, which in turn hurt my back. My back got worse and all of the muscles on the right side of my spine were really tight and every time they were rubbed out would shoot sharp pains up into my neck and shoulder and down my back. I figured that I would just keep mooching off people for back rubs and it would get better because my shoulder was feeling great. The first night in Soroti I woke Kurty up in the middle of the night because I was whimpering. She came over to my bed to check up on me and that’s when I woke up to incredibly painful back spasms and Kurty holding my hand and telling me to breath. It was, to put it mildly, a rude awakening and I freaked Kurty out pretty bad. Not only because she was worried about me, but also because she realized that if she needed to go get help she would have to run out in her nightgown! I had spasms every night for about a week and one during the day after I went on a long hike. It was frustrating because it was of course painful, but it wasn’t getting better and I kept waking people up at night...mostly Kurty. Kurty, thank you so much for holding my hand and stroking my head until they stopped and showing me so much care and concern. I’m sorry for interrupting your nights sleep so often!
One night we were told to come outside because there was a very cool lightning storm going on. It was absolutely incredible. We lay on the ground and watched this incredible lightning storm going on in the clouds. We sang hymns and other songs that praised God in his mightiness and it was one of those moments where you hope you feel that way forever.
The second part of debriefing was to head back up to Kapturwa and a resort (this is a very loose term although it was very nice) near Sipi falls (a succession of 3 beautiful waterfalls). We got to eat pancakes!! Even though there was no syrup they had a hint of cinnamon and tasted delicious!
On the way we stopped at these rocks and climbed around and saw ancient rock drawings. Pretty sweet and we also went climbing around and into places that weren’t probably meant for humans to access without difficulty, but it was fun.
On Saturday we were given the option to go on an all day hike to see each one of the falls. I wasn’t going to miss out on that even though my back was still being stupid and I did pay for it later by having spasms about an hour after getting done and two during the night. Brutal, but I think worth it. Yes, I know I was thinking as a dumb, invincible young person possibly, but that is who I am right now so I thought I’d fulfill that roll to a T. No worries, even though some of you may think I risked paralysis, the spasms have since decreased and my back is not as tight anymore. On the hike though I was doing great and watched people slip and fall left and right without falling myself (I know, that’s quite the feat for me). The first two falls were beautiful, but the last fall was the biggest and coolest, but it required an extremely slippery hike down. This is where Kurty and I had our one and only wipe out. Kurty on a root and me on my back. When we fell two things happened: 1. Little boys came out of the bush to grab our hands and “help” us down the mountain…there help was pretty darn annoying because how is a nine year old really going to keep me standing if I’m on my way down and they all just wanted us to pay them for their “services.” They also gave me three walking sticks on the way down, two of which I threw in frustration. 2. Justin Lane came flying down the mountain risking his own stability in order to get pictures of us. What a dork. I believe that one of my sticks was flung in his direction if I remember correctly. When we finally made it down to the fall we had to put on raincoats because the spray from this thundering fall was soaking us. It was a neat feeling.
That pretty much sums up the second half of the rural home stay experience. It was a great and hard week and I’m so grateful for all the experiences and great memories.
Shout to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Isaiah 12:5
First of all, when our IMME group was reunited before we headed down to meet the other group we were incredibly loud and boisterous! It was so fun to everyone talking a mile a minute sharing stories. That is of course what happened when Kurty and I met up again. We were so pumped to see each other and we launched at each other and gave new definition to the term “big bear hug!” We took turns reading our journals to each other on the ride down and laughing hysterically about each of our experiences.
At debrief we shared stories about our experiences and I wanted to share a few with you. A couple girls witnessed a tornado destroy part of there village from up on a cliff (thank the Lord I had no idea this was going on because I am extremely afraid of tornadoes!). One of the guys shared his bedroom with pigeons, cockroaches, bats, and a lizard (needless to say he was somewhat pleased to be done with all that). He also was given a chicken uterus to eat (the part with all the partially developed eggs attached) since he was the guest of honor. Kamahna had a funny experience at church when they were all introduced. The pastor said that they should pray for America and the election and then said they should pray for their sister from Asia (Kamahna is often associated with the entire continent). He then said “I actually spoke with Asia this morning on the phone and was told they are doing well. So there are no problems in Asia. They are doing just fine.” Hahahaha
At Sipi we played a lot of rook again with Justin Lane and he went fishing within our group for some more, how should I put it, competitiveness…someone explain to me the attitude that you only play to enjoy and don’t care if you win!! Anyways, Lane was successful and found a partner, Justin Struik, who was able to propel him to a 5-3 record over the week. His overall record still being 18-6 there seemed to be light on the horizon! Kurty and I remembered what the sting of losing felt like again and the burning to crush them in the next opportunity.
We met with TEDDO and the Peace Promoters and learned about the problems between the Karamojong and the Ateso. The Karamojong are cattle raiders and it was only recently that the government stepped in to disarm them and try and bring peace. These average members of the community were trying to promote peace and dispel the hatred between the two neighboring tribes. It was interesting because it was all such a recent thing.
Ok, so in my last blog I shared about how I hurt my shoulder throwing my little brother up in the air and spent the rest of the time compensating for it, which in turn hurt my back. My back got worse and all of the muscles on the right side of my spine were really tight and every time they were rubbed out would shoot sharp pains up into my neck and shoulder and down my back. I figured that I would just keep mooching off people for back rubs and it would get better because my shoulder was feeling great. The first night in Soroti I woke Kurty up in the middle of the night because I was whimpering. She came over to my bed to check up on me and that’s when I woke up to incredibly painful back spasms and Kurty holding my hand and telling me to breath. It was, to put it mildly, a rude awakening and I freaked Kurty out pretty bad. Not only because she was worried about me, but also because she realized that if she needed to go get help she would have to run out in her nightgown! I had spasms every night for about a week and one during the day after I went on a long hike. It was frustrating because it was of course painful, but it wasn’t getting better and I kept waking people up at night...mostly Kurty. Kurty, thank you so much for holding my hand and stroking my head until they stopped and showing me so much care and concern. I’m sorry for interrupting your nights sleep so often!
One night we were told to come outside because there was a very cool lightning storm going on. It was absolutely incredible. We lay on the ground and watched this incredible lightning storm going on in the clouds. We sang hymns and other songs that praised God in his mightiness and it was one of those moments where you hope you feel that way forever.
The second part of debriefing was to head back up to Kapturwa and a resort (this is a very loose term although it was very nice) near Sipi falls (a succession of 3 beautiful waterfalls). We got to eat pancakes!! Even though there was no syrup they had a hint of cinnamon and tasted delicious!
On the way we stopped at these rocks and climbed around and saw ancient rock drawings. Pretty sweet and we also went climbing around and into places that weren’t probably meant for humans to access without difficulty, but it was fun.
On Saturday we were given the option to go on an all day hike to see each one of the falls. I wasn’t going to miss out on that even though my back was still being stupid and I did pay for it later by having spasms about an hour after getting done and two during the night. Brutal, but I think worth it. Yes, I know I was thinking as a dumb, invincible young person possibly, but that is who I am right now so I thought I’d fulfill that roll to a T. No worries, even though some of you may think I risked paralysis, the spasms have since decreased and my back is not as tight anymore. On the hike though I was doing great and watched people slip and fall left and right without falling myself (I know, that’s quite the feat for me). The first two falls were beautiful, but the last fall was the biggest and coolest, but it required an extremely slippery hike down. This is where Kurty and I had our one and only wipe out. Kurty on a root and me on my back. When we fell two things happened: 1. Little boys came out of the bush to grab our hands and “help” us down the mountain…there help was pretty darn annoying because how is a nine year old really going to keep me standing if I’m on my way down and they all just wanted us to pay them for their “services.” They also gave me three walking sticks on the way down, two of which I threw in frustration. 2. Justin Lane came flying down the mountain risking his own stability in order to get pictures of us. What a dork. I believe that one of my sticks was flung in his direction if I remember correctly. When we finally made it down to the fall we had to put on raincoats because the spray from this thundering fall was soaking us. It was a neat feeling.
That pretty much sums up the second half of the rural home stay experience. It was a great and hard week and I’m so grateful for all the experiences and great memories.
Shout to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Isaiah 12:5
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Sunsets and Lightning Storms Over the Banana Trees
This is the second section about my rural home stay experience.
Activities
Coffee Harvesting- My family had a smaller garden compared to some of the ones I’ve heard about. I learned how to pick coffee with them though and when we first got to the garden Solomon taught me the proper technique for picking and then informed me, sort of off hand, that I was “standing in a hill of biting ants.” Thanks Solomon. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day slapping at imaginary ants. I also went along to the second stage of coffee harvesting, called pulping. There’s a crank machine they use to pop the beans out of their outer case. It was hard work constantly turning the crank and it made me pretty tired. Also, let me just tell you that coffee does not smell good until after it has been roasted! For all of you who know that I struggle with smells understand how sucky that was.
Dodgeball- this term is a little misleading, but let me explain. The family had a ball that was pretty deflated and one time we were throwing it around and playing catch, but it then morphed into I would stand in the middle of our yard and huck the ball at one of the kids. It started out with just Solomon, Selestine, and Abida and then all of a sudden there were about 10 more neighbor kids. There was so much giggling. I’ve never enjoyed pelting people so much in my life!
Chores- I helped peal matooke (really hard and I cut myself…big surprise there!), shell ground nuts (exactly like peanuts at a ball game), fetch water (why do rivers have to be down in the valleys so you have to walk up), de-kernalizing (Kurty’s word) corn (mom, what would the term actually be for that?), and digging in the garden (six blisters from only 15 minutes with a hoe ☹).
Food- So I ate a ton all the time, but there are a few specific dishes I want to share with you. One morning, in between picking coffee my mom brought out a mug of “porridge” for me to eat. It contained maize flower, millet, rice, milk, and water…it looked like paper mache mix or “camel snot” as my dad calls it for his art classes. It was all right and I only gagged once because of the texture, but I ate all of it…ok, not all of it, I threw a couple spoonfuls into the bush when no one was looking more because I was full than didn’t like it. There was however something I met with that caused me to get the closest I’ve gotten to throwing up because of something I was eating or in this case drinking. One night my mom asked me if I liked milk to which I of course replied to in the positive. She brought in a glass of it and I took a sip…it was warm, chunky, very sour, and it smelled. It was something they appropriately call “sour milk” and is made by mixing milk and ash together and then letting it sit in a gourd four a couple days! They love this stuff and I watched my whole family chug it. It was the single most disgusting thing I’ve ever had and I was oh so close to puking everywhere! The rest of the meal I tasted it every time I took a bite and even after brushing my teeth twice I could taste it. It was that potent. The last food I’m going to talk about is the sugar cane I got to eat. Sugar cane is fun to eat. You rip off a piece with your teeth and the chew and suck on it until the sugar is gone and then spit it out. The taste and the smell reminded me of my brother and camp. It tasted and smelled like the sweet corn we used to sneak in and swipe out of the freezer at camp and take fishing with us. What a great memory!
Murdering a Chicken- I was given the opportunity to kill a chicken for supper. Let’s just say that the knife was dull and required a lot of sawing….and at one point I hit a nerve so it flinched and I freaked out and stepped off the wing so it splattered me with blood. What an experience. I got to pluck all the feathers off and when we gutted it we found a fully formed egg (which we ate later) and tons of others at various stages of development. It was fascinating.
Church- I went to my father’s church on Sunday, but the night before he spent about an hour with me writing out a script in the local language, kupsabene, so that I could introduce myself in church to everyone without a translator. I practiced really hard because I wanted to be able to offer this to the people in his congregation because I knew they would appreciate it. It went pretty well and they laughed and applauded my attempt a lot, but it was really fulfilling to connect with them like that! My father also bought me an avocado at the end of the service where they auction off the offering items. He bought it for me because when he asked me if I’ve ever eaten it I couldn’t understand what he said so I just said no…oops, but good thing I love avocado!
Meetings- I went to a couple women’s meeting with my mom and learned about how they pool their money to take care of each other in their community when it’s needed. It was cool, but I didn’t understand any of it for the most part besides when they would say muzungu every so often. I just played with the kids..that is f they weren’t afraid of me. Once when my mother turned on the flashlight on her phone a young boy kept trying to blow it out because he thought it was a candle. Very cute!
Glowstick Bracelets- I brought along some bracelets that, when you crack them, light up and glow in the dark for a period of time. I brought them out for each one of my family members and they loved them. They were amazed by them and we went outside and played around with them. We tried to take pictures, but it was a bit difficult. It was really fun to see their fascination with it all.
The Cliff- My father took me on a walk to a place they call “the cliff” one evening. The cliff sounded sort of ominous to me, but on the way we walked through a massive sunflower field that was absolutely breathtaking so I figured it couldn’t be that bad…I was definitely right about that! We walked out of the field and I could see for miles! It was an overlook where I could see all the way to Soroti, which was about 2 hours drive from Kapturwa. It was really clear and the sun was even setting! Talk about drop your jaw and rub your eyes! We stood and Bonifas pointed out all the different sites and landmarks to me. It was one of my favorite moments.
Playing with Abida- After Abida got over his fear with me he started playing with me a lot. One specific game we played was where I would count to 3 and throw him into the air and then catch him again (a very important part of the game). It was probably his favorite game and he would run up to me and hold out his arms to show me he wanted me to throw him. At one time however, I was throwing him up and I felt something shift in my shoulder :s and I almost didn’t catch him again. My shoulder feels fine now, but it bothered me a lot then and has caused other problems especially in my back because I kept trying to compensate for my shoulder. I’ll explain all those consequences in the next blog.
Before I end this blog I want to explain the title of this blog and share a few things I appreciated during my 5 day with my rural family.
As for my title, one evening I was hanging out at the home and looked out over the top of our banana trees and saw a lightning storm on one end of my horizon and a beautiful sunset on the other end. Both of these contrasting pictures that I saw on my horizon were both incredibly stunning. It was a captivating sight and I could see God for those few moments. The sunset exuded God’s beauty and majesty while the lightning storm showed off God’s incredible strength and power! His character was there, on one skyline for me. I could go into more about what God was speaking to me about, but I don’t have the room and that is the main point anyways.
As for what I appreciated about it all, I really enjoyed having a mom present. I missed that. My family was very active in caring for those in their community and sphere of influence. I loved seeing that. I like working with them to produce something. I like learning from Bonifas about the culture. I appreciated the slow down and the time to interact. And I liked the kids :) Always my thing!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has been clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Psalm 93:1
Activities
Coffee Harvesting- My family had a smaller garden compared to some of the ones I’ve heard about. I learned how to pick coffee with them though and when we first got to the garden Solomon taught me the proper technique for picking and then informed me, sort of off hand, that I was “standing in a hill of biting ants.” Thanks Solomon. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day slapping at imaginary ants. I also went along to the second stage of coffee harvesting, called pulping. There’s a crank machine they use to pop the beans out of their outer case. It was hard work constantly turning the crank and it made me pretty tired. Also, let me just tell you that coffee does not smell good until after it has been roasted! For all of you who know that I struggle with smells understand how sucky that was.
Dodgeball- this term is a little misleading, but let me explain. The family had a ball that was pretty deflated and one time we were throwing it around and playing catch, but it then morphed into I would stand in the middle of our yard and huck the ball at one of the kids. It started out with just Solomon, Selestine, and Abida and then all of a sudden there were about 10 more neighbor kids. There was so much giggling. I’ve never enjoyed pelting people so much in my life!
Chores- I helped peal matooke (really hard and I cut myself…big surprise there!), shell ground nuts (exactly like peanuts at a ball game), fetch water (why do rivers have to be down in the valleys so you have to walk up), de-kernalizing (Kurty’s word) corn (mom, what would the term actually be for that?), and digging in the garden (six blisters from only 15 minutes with a hoe ☹).
Food- So I ate a ton all the time, but there are a few specific dishes I want to share with you. One morning, in between picking coffee my mom brought out a mug of “porridge” for me to eat. It contained maize flower, millet, rice, milk, and water…it looked like paper mache mix or “camel snot” as my dad calls it for his art classes. It was all right and I only gagged once because of the texture, but I ate all of it…ok, not all of it, I threw a couple spoonfuls into the bush when no one was looking more because I was full than didn’t like it. There was however something I met with that caused me to get the closest I’ve gotten to throwing up because of something I was eating or in this case drinking. One night my mom asked me if I liked milk to which I of course replied to in the positive. She brought in a glass of it and I took a sip…it was warm, chunky, very sour, and it smelled. It was something they appropriately call “sour milk” and is made by mixing milk and ash together and then letting it sit in a gourd four a couple days! They love this stuff and I watched my whole family chug it. It was the single most disgusting thing I’ve ever had and I was oh so close to puking everywhere! The rest of the meal I tasted it every time I took a bite and even after brushing my teeth twice I could taste it. It was that potent. The last food I’m going to talk about is the sugar cane I got to eat. Sugar cane is fun to eat. You rip off a piece with your teeth and the chew and suck on it until the sugar is gone and then spit it out. The taste and the smell reminded me of my brother and camp. It tasted and smelled like the sweet corn we used to sneak in and swipe out of the freezer at camp and take fishing with us. What a great memory!
Murdering a Chicken- I was given the opportunity to kill a chicken for supper. Let’s just say that the knife was dull and required a lot of sawing….and at one point I hit a nerve so it flinched and I freaked out and stepped off the wing so it splattered me with blood. What an experience. I got to pluck all the feathers off and when we gutted it we found a fully formed egg (which we ate later) and tons of others at various stages of development. It was fascinating.
Church- I went to my father’s church on Sunday, but the night before he spent about an hour with me writing out a script in the local language, kupsabene, so that I could introduce myself in church to everyone without a translator. I practiced really hard because I wanted to be able to offer this to the people in his congregation because I knew they would appreciate it. It went pretty well and they laughed and applauded my attempt a lot, but it was really fulfilling to connect with them like that! My father also bought me an avocado at the end of the service where they auction off the offering items. He bought it for me because when he asked me if I’ve ever eaten it I couldn’t understand what he said so I just said no…oops, but good thing I love avocado!
Meetings- I went to a couple women’s meeting with my mom and learned about how they pool their money to take care of each other in their community when it’s needed. It was cool, but I didn’t understand any of it for the most part besides when they would say muzungu every so often. I just played with the kids..that is f they weren’t afraid of me. Once when my mother turned on the flashlight on her phone a young boy kept trying to blow it out because he thought it was a candle. Very cute!
Glowstick Bracelets- I brought along some bracelets that, when you crack them, light up and glow in the dark for a period of time. I brought them out for each one of my family members and they loved them. They were amazed by them and we went outside and played around with them. We tried to take pictures, but it was a bit difficult. It was really fun to see their fascination with it all.
The Cliff- My father took me on a walk to a place they call “the cliff” one evening. The cliff sounded sort of ominous to me, but on the way we walked through a massive sunflower field that was absolutely breathtaking so I figured it couldn’t be that bad…I was definitely right about that! We walked out of the field and I could see for miles! It was an overlook where I could see all the way to Soroti, which was about 2 hours drive from Kapturwa. It was really clear and the sun was even setting! Talk about drop your jaw and rub your eyes! We stood and Bonifas pointed out all the different sites and landmarks to me. It was one of my favorite moments.
Playing with Abida- After Abida got over his fear with me he started playing with me a lot. One specific game we played was where I would count to 3 and throw him into the air and then catch him again (a very important part of the game). It was probably his favorite game and he would run up to me and hold out his arms to show me he wanted me to throw him. At one time however, I was throwing him up and I felt something shift in my shoulder :s and I almost didn’t catch him again. My shoulder feels fine now, but it bothered me a lot then and has caused other problems especially in my back because I kept trying to compensate for my shoulder. I’ll explain all those consequences in the next blog.
Before I end this blog I want to explain the title of this blog and share a few things I appreciated during my 5 day with my rural family.
As for my title, one evening I was hanging out at the home and looked out over the top of our banana trees and saw a lightning storm on one end of my horizon and a beautiful sunset on the other end. Both of these contrasting pictures that I saw on my horizon were both incredibly stunning. It was a captivating sight and I could see God for those few moments. The sunset exuded God’s beauty and majesty while the lightning storm showed off God’s incredible strength and power! His character was there, on one skyline for me. I could go into more about what God was speaking to me about, but I don’t have the room and that is the main point anyways.
As for what I appreciated about it all, I really enjoyed having a mom present. I missed that. My family was very active in caring for those in their community and sphere of influence. I loved seeing that. I like working with them to produce something. I like learning from Bonifas about the culture. I appreciated the slow down and the time to interact. And I liked the kids :) Always my thing!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has been clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Psalm 93:1
Living on the Side of a Mountain
We headed to our rural homestays in Kapturwa, which is in eastern Uganda on the border to Kenya on October 24th. Kapturwa is a town set up in the mountains! Mt. Elgon is right near there. As we drove through the plains of the Soroti district (think Iowa flat and farmland) we could see the shadows of them in the distance and then we began to climb them. We went up for a while and saw many waterfalls and the more we drove the prettier the view over the plains we had left behind. Everyone was getting pretty anxious and excited to meet there families. We began the drop offs and one by one tossed out one student after another. The roads started getting more and more interesting including a section over three logs spanning a river…we all prayed and thought very light thoughts as we drove over it. Eventually I went with Kamahna (another IMME student) and a driver named Michael to get dropped off at our home stays. We introduced ourselves and he could not pronounce my name so he called me something like “juice-sten.” I tried to help him wrap his mouth around the syllables of my name so I just left it, but Kamahna thought it was hysterical and we laughed until we cried about it. I’m so thankful for that moment though because it really took away a lot of the tension and anxiety I was feeling. Anyways, after driving through the banana tree garden we reached my house and I started the fun!!
My Family:
It’s incredibly ironic how many similarities my family in Mukono and this one in Kapturwa have in common.
Bonifas Chemwenon: my father, who is also a mid-30’s Reverend at the local Anglican church. He was about a head shorter than me. I spent a lot of my time with him during the evening meal because he would always be out being busy doing reverend type things during the day. I really enjoyed the times I got to talk with him and I learned so much from him.
Irene Chemwenon: my mother who has the same name as my mother in Mukono! I spent most of my time with Irene and helping her with all the daily chores. She had a job as a field officer for the local coffee growing society or something, but was only gone one day for that. She was very nice and found me to be very funny…eventually ☺ The two comments I think she made to me most often were “you are tired” and “eat more.” I felt very mothered by her and it was nice. I realized how much I missed that.
Abida: my four year old brother. When he found out that a visitor was coming to stay with them he was so excited, but when, expecting an African, I showed up he ran and cried to his parents about it. Needless to say it was somewhat of a rocky start for us, but by the end he cried because he didn’t want me to leave. I broke through to him by whipping out my camera so for a while he would be friends with me if I’d get that out. Baby steps right?! By the end of the time he and I were good buddies and I was sad to say good bye to him.
Enoch: God blessed me again by having an adorable little two year old brother in this second home. He also took a little while to warm up to me, but eventually would even let me hold him and play with him. He was an absolute joy. He played so hard every day and was probably the dirtiest boy I have ever seen. My favorite thing was to watch how he would greet people: give them a good punch ☺
Jocelyn, Solomon, and Selestine: the house help I guess you could call them. Jocelyn was 25 and ran the place when mom and dad were at work and did a lot of the chores. She was a wonder woman! Solomon was one of my favorites. He had the most stunning smile I’ve ever seen. He was about 16 and Bonifas and Irene had taken him in when his parents divorced. He did a lot of work for them and stayed and ate with them. I think they also paid for his schooling. He was so very helpful at teaching me to do everything around the house. Selestine also helped out and I think she was a niece (it’s so hard to tell relations here in Uganda). She was often gone at school.
The Good ol’ Homestead:
The house was made of mud and timber like the house we made with the pygmies. It was nice. It was rectangular and had an entry way that splits into the two main rooms of the house. One was the dining/sitting room and the other a storage room with a small bedroom attached where Abida and Enoch sleep. Attached to these main rooms was a smaller bedroom. My bedroom was off the sitting room and my parents bedroom was off the storage room. My room was about 5 feet by 7 feet. The bed was super comfortable and being up in the mountains meant that I got to use the thick comforter because it was wonderfully cool! Glorious! The floors of the house were made of a mixture of cow dung and ash…yes, I walked over cow crap every day! They re-cover the floor every week. I got to watch my mom mix and cover it as while I was there! The ash gets rid of any smell, but I found it crazy. My favorite part of the house was that my father decorated the walls with wallpaper for my arrival. He used old UCU newspapers to cover the walls so I would have something familiar while I was there. My room and the sitting room were covered in them. I did some crosswords on my wall in my room before I’d go to sleep and there were pictures and articles of some of my teachers in the sitting room so if I ever was eating alone I’d chat it up with them.
There were two other buildings on our land that were both circular mud huts with grass roofs. One was the kitchen, but I couldn’t spend much time in here because it filled with smoke and my eyes are “very weak” according to my mom and would start watering. The other hut was a bedroom for Solomon and I’m not sure who else. The place that I bathed had rocks all over the floor and 3 walls that were not porous…the fourth offered a reasonable view for anyone wishing to see if I was actually white all over. Don’t worry most of the time I bathed at night or hung my towel in the way. The latrine was actually one of the nicer ones I’ve used, but I only saw two other people use it besides me. I found out that they only use it to go #2 (I felt weird using the actual word) and go out in the woods to do the other. They must have thought I had to go #2 all the time because I used it more than I think I’ve ever used it in my life. I probably went about 8 times a day. That’s because they fed me and gave me so much to drink I think I must have gained 5 pounds!
Before we went to our homestays we were warned that we may only get to eat 2 times a day. That is false! I had tea at least 2 if not 3 times a day and was made to drink at least two full cups. The first time I was served supper I was waiting for the whole family to come in to eat because their was that much food, but I found out it was just for Bonifas and I!! And they said at least 4 times a meal that I must take more! I always felt like I was going to explode and I can eat a lot, but they were even pushing my limits! The food was pretty good though and I was able to sample a lot of the different foods they have, many of which they get from their garden.
I had a good time and it was a wonderful experience. I'm going to post another blog after this one that outlines those experiences and shares a bit about what I learned. This one is already too long. As my parents know I have a hard time condensing things. I remember at supper times back with the fam we'd go around sharing our highs of the day and my family would always say "Kiersten, try and share the Reader's Digest version" because I was so long winded. I can't help it so for those of you who trudge through the entirety I salute you!
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
My Family:
It’s incredibly ironic how many similarities my family in Mukono and this one in Kapturwa have in common.
Bonifas Chemwenon: my father, who is also a mid-30’s Reverend at the local Anglican church. He was about a head shorter than me. I spent a lot of my time with him during the evening meal because he would always be out being busy doing reverend type things during the day. I really enjoyed the times I got to talk with him and I learned so much from him.
Irene Chemwenon: my mother who has the same name as my mother in Mukono! I spent most of my time with Irene and helping her with all the daily chores. She had a job as a field officer for the local coffee growing society or something, but was only gone one day for that. She was very nice and found me to be very funny…eventually ☺ The two comments I think she made to me most often were “you are tired” and “eat more.” I felt very mothered by her and it was nice. I realized how much I missed that.
Abida: my four year old brother. When he found out that a visitor was coming to stay with them he was so excited, but when, expecting an African, I showed up he ran and cried to his parents about it. Needless to say it was somewhat of a rocky start for us, but by the end he cried because he didn’t want me to leave. I broke through to him by whipping out my camera so for a while he would be friends with me if I’d get that out. Baby steps right?! By the end of the time he and I were good buddies and I was sad to say good bye to him.
Enoch: God blessed me again by having an adorable little two year old brother in this second home. He also took a little while to warm up to me, but eventually would even let me hold him and play with him. He was an absolute joy. He played so hard every day and was probably the dirtiest boy I have ever seen. My favorite thing was to watch how he would greet people: give them a good punch ☺
Jocelyn, Solomon, and Selestine: the house help I guess you could call them. Jocelyn was 25 and ran the place when mom and dad were at work and did a lot of the chores. She was a wonder woman! Solomon was one of my favorites. He had the most stunning smile I’ve ever seen. He was about 16 and Bonifas and Irene had taken him in when his parents divorced. He did a lot of work for them and stayed and ate with them. I think they also paid for his schooling. He was so very helpful at teaching me to do everything around the house. Selestine also helped out and I think she was a niece (it’s so hard to tell relations here in Uganda). She was often gone at school.
The Good ol’ Homestead:
The house was made of mud and timber like the house we made with the pygmies. It was nice. It was rectangular and had an entry way that splits into the two main rooms of the house. One was the dining/sitting room and the other a storage room with a small bedroom attached where Abida and Enoch sleep. Attached to these main rooms was a smaller bedroom. My bedroom was off the sitting room and my parents bedroom was off the storage room. My room was about 5 feet by 7 feet. The bed was super comfortable and being up in the mountains meant that I got to use the thick comforter because it was wonderfully cool! Glorious! The floors of the house were made of a mixture of cow dung and ash…yes, I walked over cow crap every day! They re-cover the floor every week. I got to watch my mom mix and cover it as while I was there! The ash gets rid of any smell, but I found it crazy. My favorite part of the house was that my father decorated the walls with wallpaper for my arrival. He used old UCU newspapers to cover the walls so I would have something familiar while I was there. My room and the sitting room were covered in them. I did some crosswords on my wall in my room before I’d go to sleep and there were pictures and articles of some of my teachers in the sitting room so if I ever was eating alone I’d chat it up with them.
There were two other buildings on our land that were both circular mud huts with grass roofs. One was the kitchen, but I couldn’t spend much time in here because it filled with smoke and my eyes are “very weak” according to my mom and would start watering. The other hut was a bedroom for Solomon and I’m not sure who else. The place that I bathed had rocks all over the floor and 3 walls that were not porous…the fourth offered a reasonable view for anyone wishing to see if I was actually white all over. Don’t worry most of the time I bathed at night or hung my towel in the way. The latrine was actually one of the nicer ones I’ve used, but I only saw two other people use it besides me. I found out that they only use it to go #2 (I felt weird using the actual word) and go out in the woods to do the other. They must have thought I had to go #2 all the time because I used it more than I think I’ve ever used it in my life. I probably went about 8 times a day. That’s because they fed me and gave me so much to drink I think I must have gained 5 pounds!
Before we went to our homestays we were warned that we may only get to eat 2 times a day. That is false! I had tea at least 2 if not 3 times a day and was made to drink at least two full cups. The first time I was served supper I was waiting for the whole family to come in to eat because their was that much food, but I found out it was just for Bonifas and I!! And they said at least 4 times a meal that I must take more! I always felt like I was going to explode and I can eat a lot, but they were even pushing my limits! The food was pretty good though and I was able to sample a lot of the different foods they have, many of which they get from their garden.
I had a good time and it was a wonderful experience. I'm going to post another blog after this one that outlines those experiences and shares a bit about what I learned. This one is already too long. As my parents know I have a hard time condensing things. I remember at supper times back with the fam we'd go around sharing our highs of the day and my family would always say "Kiersten, try and share the Reader's Digest version" because I was so long winded. I can't help it so for those of you who trudge through the entirety I salute you!
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Before I Fall off the Face of the Earth...
I just wanted to drop you all this note to bid you farewell before I head off into the countryside for a week. I'll be staying with a family in the rural of Uganda in order to get a picture of what that lifestyle is like since right now I live more in what is considered the city. I'm sure there will be many stories following it so be looking for that to be posted soon after. Kurty is pumped because she feels like she' going home and she's done such a good job converting me from the suburban individual I once was into one who can't wait to embrace country living at every opportunity that I'm super pumped as well. I feel like my 10 years of living at a summer camp has tainted any city-ness I may have and allows me to say that I'm not completely through and through one of those "city folk." Well, either way I'm excited!
The other day I received a package from my dad and opened it to find the best surprise in the whole wide world for me at this point. He had put to DVD a Vikings game so I could watch my favorite sport that I miss so very much! I almost started crying when I started playing it and heard the music! Oh how glorious it was! Dad, that was the best surprise ever! I haven't yet finished it, but it's like a little treat every day :) Now if only someone could send me sweatpants and fall weather in a package! And while there at it stick my family in there too! :)
I am so appreciative of all your prayers and I would appreciate them for this coming week as well. So this is me signing off until November!!! Enjoy Halloween for me!!
The other day I received a package from my dad and opened it to find the best surprise in the whole wide world for me at this point. He had put to DVD a Vikings game so I could watch my favorite sport that I miss so very much! I almost started crying when I started playing it and heard the music! Oh how glorious it was! Dad, that was the best surprise ever! I haven't yet finished it, but it's like a little treat every day :) Now if only someone could send me sweatpants and fall weather in a package! And while there at it stick my family in there too! :)
I am so appreciative of all your prayers and I would appreciate them for this coming week as well. So this is me signing off until November!!! Enjoy Halloween for me!!
Monday, 20 October 2008
What is your best food?
There are many things that I miss from home. Family and friends of course, sweatpants!, football, fall weather, ice in my milk, basketball, Hope church, and machine washed clean underwear! I am excited to have these things once again when I return, but I’ve also realized that I will miss some of my favorite things from here when I am home. So in the words of the wonderful Maria again, “ these are a few of my favorite things.” The title of this blog is how Africans ask what your favorite thing is. Best means favorite.
"I'm gonna get grape or cherry. They're both favorites. Grape's a little more favorite, but if they don't have grape then that's fine because cherry's a favorite anyway. It's like another favorite, but not as much. Not as much favorite, but they're both good. They're both good."
-Brian Regan
FAVORITES
Food- Irish potatoes with curry and vegetables. Oh my lanta, I go to bed looking super pregnant on the nights we have this because I eat so much and stretch my stomach way out.
Fruit- pineapple, it is so much sweeter here then at home. I hate pineapple in America.
Drink- instant coffee (reminds me of camp) or cold Mirinda pineapple pop (scrumptious!)
Snack- bread and Blue Band butter, or shortbread cookies and peanut butter. Kurty and I go through a loaf of bread in about 3-4 days!
Class- This is a tough one because I have such a hard time with the classes so I’d probably say the informal class Kurty and I hold after class where we discuss everything we talked about in class. I learn so much more then.
Day of the Week- Thursday!! I only have class until noon and then I go home with Kurty to her house to hang out with Stella and anyone else who is home and have lunch! It’s so relaxing and I love her family! Plus it’s nice to get away from school.
Skirt- My white skirt with pink/purple flowerish designs on it that just hits my knees…I know that that description sucks, but I’m not a huge fan of skirts so when I get home I probably will only wear this one from the trip so you’ll have a chance to see it.
Squatty Story- There are so many so I will pick a few. One was the skinny hole in the ground, with no door, and someone’s math homework in a basket to wipe with. I can just hear the student saying, “stupid math” as they rip out a page! The other was probably in Rwanda when we had to take turns being the door because the entire village was running up to see us.
View- Watching a distant lightning storm above the Rwenzori mountains at the safari or the overlook of Mount Elgon with a rainbow in front of it.
Speaker- Probably Chris Page who talked to us about his businesses and his stories of incredible Christ followers. His quote about God not calling the qualified, but qualifying those he calls will probably stick with me the rest of my life.
Activity/Hobby- Rook and blogging! Being a dominant force is therapeutic I think and it’s so satisfying when one of the people we beat consistently is super competititve (Justin Lane).
Ugandan- Excluding anyone under the age of 10 it would have to be my brother/uncle Elisha and Kurty’s sister/cousin Stella. They are so much fun to be around and we’ve gotten to the point where we can play jokes on each other.
Luganda Word- Chamuka! (go crazy) and Kwebaka (sleep!) I am in either one of these two states in my life at any given moment. There often doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of middle ground ☺
Quote- “If you believe something, passionately, people will follow you.” Donald Miller. There are so many, but this is just one that was handy while I was writing this ☺
American Moment- Drinking a chocolate, peanut butter milkshake at one of our American professor’s homes!
“These are a few of my favorite things. When the mosquito bites, when the latrine stinks, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad.” ☺
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
"I'm gonna get grape or cherry. They're both favorites. Grape's a little more favorite, but if they don't have grape then that's fine because cherry's a favorite anyway. It's like another favorite, but not as much. Not as much favorite, but they're both good. They're both good."
-Brian Regan
FAVORITES
Food- Irish potatoes with curry and vegetables. Oh my lanta, I go to bed looking super pregnant on the nights we have this because I eat so much and stretch my stomach way out.
Fruit- pineapple, it is so much sweeter here then at home. I hate pineapple in America.
Drink- instant coffee (reminds me of camp) or cold Mirinda pineapple pop (scrumptious!)
Snack- bread and Blue Band butter, or shortbread cookies and peanut butter. Kurty and I go through a loaf of bread in about 3-4 days!
Class- This is a tough one because I have such a hard time with the classes so I’d probably say the informal class Kurty and I hold after class where we discuss everything we talked about in class. I learn so much more then.
Day of the Week- Thursday!! I only have class until noon and then I go home with Kurty to her house to hang out with Stella and anyone else who is home and have lunch! It’s so relaxing and I love her family! Plus it’s nice to get away from school.
Skirt- My white skirt with pink/purple flowerish designs on it that just hits my knees…I know that that description sucks, but I’m not a huge fan of skirts so when I get home I probably will only wear this one from the trip so you’ll have a chance to see it.
Squatty Story- There are so many so I will pick a few. One was the skinny hole in the ground, with no door, and someone’s math homework in a basket to wipe with. I can just hear the student saying, “stupid math” as they rip out a page! The other was probably in Rwanda when we had to take turns being the door because the entire village was running up to see us.
View- Watching a distant lightning storm above the Rwenzori mountains at the safari or the overlook of Mount Elgon with a rainbow in front of it.
Speaker- Probably Chris Page who talked to us about his businesses and his stories of incredible Christ followers. His quote about God not calling the qualified, but qualifying those he calls will probably stick with me the rest of my life.
Activity/Hobby- Rook and blogging! Being a dominant force is therapeutic I think and it’s so satisfying when one of the people we beat consistently is super competititve (Justin Lane).
Ugandan- Excluding anyone under the age of 10 it would have to be my brother/uncle Elisha and Kurty’s sister/cousin Stella. They are so much fun to be around and we’ve gotten to the point where we can play jokes on each other.
Luganda Word- Chamuka! (go crazy) and Kwebaka (sleep!) I am in either one of these two states in my life at any given moment. There often doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of middle ground ☺
Quote- “If you believe something, passionately, people will follow you.” Donald Miller. There are so many, but this is just one that was handy while I was writing this ☺
American Moment- Drinking a chocolate, peanut butter milkshake at one of our American professor’s homes!
“These are a few of my favorite things. When the mosquito bites, when the latrine stinks, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad.” ☺
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
Sunday, 19 October 2008
The Circumcised One - An African Musical
Well, I went on a class field trip this past weekend...I don't know how to start or how to follow that or how to wrap it up...but in the words of one of my all time favorite woman, "Let's start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start!" Oh Maria, you are a woman after my own heart! All your climbing of trees, scraping of knees, making clothing from curtains, and singing so as to make your life into a musical just inspires me. *Sigh Well, that is besides the point, except that I am going to attempt to relate to you all my weekend in musical format just because I think it will be fun!
The scene opens with me toiling up the mountainous hills to get to school with a quiet and beautiful instrumental. I of course have my beautiful skirt and blouse on and I stop occasionally to fuzz a child’s head or gracefully stoop to pick a flower (ok, so I know some of this is contrary to my nature, I probably tripped or sprained an ankle crossing a ditch, but this is my musical so go with it!).
I arrive at school and sing a few stanzas of the Newsies “Arise and Sieze the Day,” while Kurty backs me up and we break into wild dance attempting to spur our fellow students to do the same. It breaks off when, as I’m attempting to open our can of jam to eat the all-important meal of the day, at the climax of the song I slice my thumb trying to rip off the top! All stops as I yell at the top of my lungs (which is actually close to the truth). As I’m lamenting that I’ve lost my thumb and it will have to be amputated Kurty sings soothingly and bandages my hand…oh wait, that’s way not realistic. She actually probably, tells me to “suck it up drama queen” with a smile (don’t worry I’m not offended because as the star of this musical I have a gentle and loving heart). Side note: The cut wasn’t that bad and is healing pretty well and Kurty did a fantastic job being my nurse.
Ok, while this is fun to write in this way it’s kind of hard and I’m not sure how to dramatically put to song my victory in cribbage against Justin Lane and Kurty in cribbage on the way up to our class field trip. Plus there just isn’t a whole lot of drama when all that is said for a while is 15 for 2 and a pair makes 4… I’m sure someone could do it, but I’m just not up for the task. But I did have a dramatic come from behind victory in cribbage that left Justin in the stink hole and Kurty two away from it. If this makes no sense to you just know that it was epic!
Our class field trip for African Traditional Religions took us to Mbale to watch a ceremony we’ve been learning some about in class. The Bagisu tribe practices a little something called circumcision as a means to travel into manhood. :s
To start off Saturday we had a Reverend who was from this tribe come and explain the entire process and ceremony to us. I was grateful for it all because when we actually were there witnessing it we understood what was going on for the most part. It is super community oriented and really emphasizes the males upcoming responsibilities. When we met the group in the village it was extremely evident that the whole community was out to be present for the couple of boys who were to be eventually circumcised. They were around the ages of 18-20. If a member of the tribe does not get circumcised they are considered to be a boy even if they are 40 years old. The actual ceremony was surreal. Most of the village turned out for it, which was a blessing because even though they tried to give us the best seats in the clearing (yikes!) there were so many people smooshing in to see it made it quite difficult to get a clear view of anything. Many of the kids climbed trees and I was scared they were going to fall when the wind started blowing! As I was standing there I could see the boys face during the process and it was amazing to me how still and calm he seemed during it all. I was blown away by how important this ceremony was for this tribe. There was so much esteem and emphasis put on this boy not showing any emotion. It was hard for me to even understand the why.
At one point, and I’m not sure why it was in that moment in particular, but I had the realization that I was watching a pagan ceremony. They were appeasing the spirit of circumcision and I wondered where Christ should fit in all of this. I wondered how the church handles this or how it should be handled. The act isn’t bad, but it’s not necessary and the appeasement of the spirit is also misplaced. How do you integrate Christ into all that knowing all that? This is a ceremony that has been central to this tribe for decades and probably longer. If I believe that Christ is already present wherever I go how would I engage that. Our speaker even said that as a Christian in this tribe there is so much pressure to do this. Many have it done, but forego any of the ceremonial elements and many choose not to have it done and then are shunned.
It was a very poignant example of what we had been talking about in many of our classes. Especially missions. I gained a whole lot more respect for the early missionary’s that encountered dilemmas with polygamy and other such things that might contradict their faith.
I felt exhausted after our time there because of the weight of everything that was going on. As we drove back we were given an incredible view of Mt Elgon and a rainbow and I tried to soak up this incredible view because I felt stifled while being down in the crowd watching this ceremony that I don’t feel like was honoring God at all. My spirit was heavy.
Good thing God blessed me with Kurty, a resilient heart, and being in a group of 30 other Christians because it made it easy to reflect and discuss and move ahead. Another round of Rook dominance helped as well ☺ Kurty and I are now 12 and 1.
To finish off my weekend I went home and discovered that Enoch had learned that when he needs to pee he goes outside, pulls down his pants and pees off the step! Hallelujah, God does work miracles! What progress even if he does still let it dribble some all on his pants! Later at night, when Steph and I were brushing our teeth outside, Enich came running out naked and peed off the step, but then stayed out and laughed and ran around with us for about 20 minutes as Steph sang “brush your teeth, brush your teeth, do it every day!” Lots of jumping, dancing, and twirling was involved and Enoch was dieing with laughter and loved the random dance party! It was funny to see this little black body running around laughing in the dark so all I could really make out were his white teeth and his blue flops. It was so fun and it’s great to watch him grow up.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 15:13
The scene opens with me toiling up the mountainous hills to get to school with a quiet and beautiful instrumental. I of course have my beautiful skirt and blouse on and I stop occasionally to fuzz a child’s head or gracefully stoop to pick a flower (ok, so I know some of this is contrary to my nature, I probably tripped or sprained an ankle crossing a ditch, but this is my musical so go with it!).
I arrive at school and sing a few stanzas of the Newsies “Arise and Sieze the Day,” while Kurty backs me up and we break into wild dance attempting to spur our fellow students to do the same. It breaks off when, as I’m attempting to open our can of jam to eat the all-important meal of the day, at the climax of the song I slice my thumb trying to rip off the top! All stops as I yell at the top of my lungs (which is actually close to the truth). As I’m lamenting that I’ve lost my thumb and it will have to be amputated Kurty sings soothingly and bandages my hand…oh wait, that’s way not realistic. She actually probably, tells me to “suck it up drama queen” with a smile (don’t worry I’m not offended because as the star of this musical I have a gentle and loving heart). Side note: The cut wasn’t that bad and is healing pretty well and Kurty did a fantastic job being my nurse.
Ok, while this is fun to write in this way it’s kind of hard and I’m not sure how to dramatically put to song my victory in cribbage against Justin Lane and Kurty in cribbage on the way up to our class field trip. Plus there just isn’t a whole lot of drama when all that is said for a while is 15 for 2 and a pair makes 4… I’m sure someone could do it, but I’m just not up for the task. But I did have a dramatic come from behind victory in cribbage that left Justin in the stink hole and Kurty two away from it. If this makes no sense to you just know that it was epic!
Our class field trip for African Traditional Religions took us to Mbale to watch a ceremony we’ve been learning some about in class. The Bagisu tribe practices a little something called circumcision as a means to travel into manhood. :s
To start off Saturday we had a Reverend who was from this tribe come and explain the entire process and ceremony to us. I was grateful for it all because when we actually were there witnessing it we understood what was going on for the most part. It is super community oriented and really emphasizes the males upcoming responsibilities. When we met the group in the village it was extremely evident that the whole community was out to be present for the couple of boys who were to be eventually circumcised. They were around the ages of 18-20. If a member of the tribe does not get circumcised they are considered to be a boy even if they are 40 years old. The actual ceremony was surreal. Most of the village turned out for it, which was a blessing because even though they tried to give us the best seats in the clearing (yikes!) there were so many people smooshing in to see it made it quite difficult to get a clear view of anything. Many of the kids climbed trees and I was scared they were going to fall when the wind started blowing! As I was standing there I could see the boys face during the process and it was amazing to me how still and calm he seemed during it all. I was blown away by how important this ceremony was for this tribe. There was so much esteem and emphasis put on this boy not showing any emotion. It was hard for me to even understand the why.
At one point, and I’m not sure why it was in that moment in particular, but I had the realization that I was watching a pagan ceremony. They were appeasing the spirit of circumcision and I wondered where Christ should fit in all of this. I wondered how the church handles this or how it should be handled. The act isn’t bad, but it’s not necessary and the appeasement of the spirit is also misplaced. How do you integrate Christ into all that knowing all that? This is a ceremony that has been central to this tribe for decades and probably longer. If I believe that Christ is already present wherever I go how would I engage that. Our speaker even said that as a Christian in this tribe there is so much pressure to do this. Many have it done, but forego any of the ceremonial elements and many choose not to have it done and then are shunned.
It was a very poignant example of what we had been talking about in many of our classes. Especially missions. I gained a whole lot more respect for the early missionary’s that encountered dilemmas with polygamy and other such things that might contradict their faith.
I felt exhausted after our time there because of the weight of everything that was going on. As we drove back we were given an incredible view of Mt Elgon and a rainbow and I tried to soak up this incredible view because I felt stifled while being down in the crowd watching this ceremony that I don’t feel like was honoring God at all. My spirit was heavy.
Good thing God blessed me with Kurty, a resilient heart, and being in a group of 30 other Christians because it made it easy to reflect and discuss and move ahead. Another round of Rook dominance helped as well ☺ Kurty and I are now 12 and 1.
To finish off my weekend I went home and discovered that Enoch had learned that when he needs to pee he goes outside, pulls down his pants and pees off the step! Hallelujah, God does work miracles! What progress even if he does still let it dribble some all on his pants! Later at night, when Steph and I were brushing our teeth outside, Enich came running out naked and peed off the step, but then stayed out and laughed and ran around with us for about 20 minutes as Steph sang “brush your teeth, brush your teeth, do it every day!” Lots of jumping, dancing, and twirling was involved and Enoch was dieing with laughter and loved the random dance party! It was funny to see this little black body running around laughing in the dark so all I could really make out were his white teeth and his blue flops. It was so fun and it’s great to watch him grow up.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 15:13
Friday, 17 October 2008
Spicing Up the Daily Living!
Most of my blogs normally come after a weekend when a dramatic adventure occurred, which means that you miss out on all the little adventures that happen in between just in my daily life. They are just as fun and exciting as my weekends, they just come in smaller packages and are intermittent. So let me impart to you a few of those moments of spice in my everyday :)
I realized I never really gave much of an explanation as to my American roommate, Stephanie, that I live with at my home stay. She's a fun girl and the first night we spent there we found out we had matching nightgowns...it was obviously meant to be. I play 'knight in shining armor' for her sometimes when the local creatures pay a visit to our room! She is definitely a morning person and she leaves before me every morning to go run at school. I'm not sure how she does it! This quote pretty much describes her personality, "The top of this pineapple would make a great Barbie tree!" Haha, we laugh about that stuff a lot together and it's nice to have another American around who understands all your sayings and jokes!
There is a tradition here that on your birthday your friends will drench you with water and normally in a surprising manner so you just spend the whole day soaked because if you change they do it again. Elisha had his birthday and after Rita told me about it I told him that I had a birthday surprise for him and when he rounded the corner to see what was up I dumped my nalgene on him! Hahaha, everyone laughed super hard and then Elisha came back in still dripping and looked at me and said, "well, I just can't wait for that special day in November to come now" as he looked at me with a knowing grin :s I'm wearing my raincoat that whole day I think!
I took litte Enoch with me into town one day to go to the supermarket and let me tell you, I didn't think I could get any more inconspicuous than just being white, but apparently if you walk around with a little Ugandan baby you're even more interesting!!! I was asked if he was my baby about 12 times so I had to explain that he was my host brother, which lengthened our outing considerably. I was also asked if he was my pregnancy, if I adopted him, and even if I had stolen him! It was quite entertaining!
I introduced the concept of s'mores to my family and my goodness were they a hit! Henry had to declare a two s'more limit in our household a night so we didn't destroy them that night! It was so fun to show them how to cook them and put them together and then see all the marshmallow stick to their cheeks and fingers. Enoch was a mess :)
Last Thursday I spent the night at Kurty's home and when we got their we found that the small rotary club meeting that was being hosted at her home was pretty much a full out party! Including dancing!! We got to help prepare some of the food and then got to serve to all of the members. I love hanging out with the different family members of Kurty's. On of my favorite moments was dancing with her brother, Simon, and sister, Stella. I am learning some new dance moves so watch out Minnesota!
Well, there are many more small instances I could include...shadow boxing with Elisha, getting locked into the shower room by Enoch, traveling to town for chips and chaps, and other such grand moments :) Maybe they'll show up at a later date!
I love and miss you all a lot this week!! Other weeks I rarely think of you at all! Just kidding, but this week has felt the strongest it's ever been. Don't worry I only almost shed a tear and it'll probably be gone by next week :)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord! Ephesians 5:19
I realized I never really gave much of an explanation as to my American roommate, Stephanie, that I live with at my home stay. She's a fun girl and the first night we spent there we found out we had matching nightgowns...it was obviously meant to be. I play 'knight in shining armor' for her sometimes when the local creatures pay a visit to our room! She is definitely a morning person and she leaves before me every morning to go run at school. I'm not sure how she does it! This quote pretty much describes her personality, "The top of this pineapple would make a great Barbie tree!" Haha, we laugh about that stuff a lot together and it's nice to have another American around who understands all your sayings and jokes!
There is a tradition here that on your birthday your friends will drench you with water and normally in a surprising manner so you just spend the whole day soaked because if you change they do it again. Elisha had his birthday and after Rita told me about it I told him that I had a birthday surprise for him and when he rounded the corner to see what was up I dumped my nalgene on him! Hahaha, everyone laughed super hard and then Elisha came back in still dripping and looked at me and said, "well, I just can't wait for that special day in November to come now" as he looked at me with a knowing grin :s I'm wearing my raincoat that whole day I think!
I took litte Enoch with me into town one day to go to the supermarket and let me tell you, I didn't think I could get any more inconspicuous than just being white, but apparently if you walk around with a little Ugandan baby you're even more interesting!!! I was asked if he was my baby about 12 times so I had to explain that he was my host brother, which lengthened our outing considerably. I was also asked if he was my pregnancy, if I adopted him, and even if I had stolen him! It was quite entertaining!
I introduced the concept of s'mores to my family and my goodness were they a hit! Henry had to declare a two s'more limit in our household a night so we didn't destroy them that night! It was so fun to show them how to cook them and put them together and then see all the marshmallow stick to their cheeks and fingers. Enoch was a mess :)
Last Thursday I spent the night at Kurty's home and when we got their we found that the small rotary club meeting that was being hosted at her home was pretty much a full out party! Including dancing!! We got to help prepare some of the food and then got to serve to all of the members. I love hanging out with the different family members of Kurty's. On of my favorite moments was dancing with her brother, Simon, and sister, Stella. I am learning some new dance moves so watch out Minnesota!
Well, there are many more small instances I could include...shadow boxing with Elisha, getting locked into the shower room by Enoch, traveling to town for chips and chaps, and other such grand moments :) Maybe they'll show up at a later date!
I love and miss you all a lot this week!! Other weeks I rarely think of you at all! Just kidding, but this week has felt the strongest it's ever been. Don't worry I only almost shed a tear and it'll probably be gone by next week :)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord! Ephesians 5:19
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
It's Not all Rosy
Uganda is wonderful and I am loving my time here, but there are some things here that I don’t really like and have had real frustration with. I want you to know that there are some things I don’t like and wish I could change. I will share 4 of them with you.
The Mud- I love the rain. I love how it sounds and how it cools everything off, butI hat walking in the mud it creates!! It is one of my biggest pet peeves when I slide around in mud and get it stuck to the bottom of my shoe or when my foot squelches in the mud. Yuck, it makes me cringe thinking about it. There is about a 4 minute stretch of my walk that produces this type of nastynss when it rains. When I am done walking through it I have about 5 inches of mud stuck to the bottom of my heal and mud all over my feet and calfs. I hate it!
The Lines- I appreciate my kindergarten education so much more after being here because of how much it taught me about sharing and respecting one another. The lack of such a thing as a line is so infuriating. It happens often at lunch when I’m in line to get water and I get cut by 5 guys who budge right past me. I have had to learn to be ruthless when it comes to lines and I’m a totally different person when I enter the scrum; I put my game face on. I don’t really like the way I become about them sometimes, but you gotta do what you gotta do! If I want to stay hydrated or receive any food I have to protect my spot like a child protects its candy after they’ve dropped it in the dirt and the mom tries to take it away.
The Seminar- What is missions? Let’s debate this topic for the next five weeks and throw Bible verses at each other like it’s candy at a Fourth of July Parade! Then let’s discuss all the evils of the colonists and all the problems they caused instead of focusing any where near what could be done to fix them now. Oh, and for icing on a cake let’s dive into the realm of poverty and argue about how much our government should actually spend on the military as if we can waltz up to our nations pocket and divide it out. I hope that didn’t come out too bitterly.
The style of learning that I experience in about half of my classes is the seminar style. This means that we sit in a circle and talk through different issues that we’ve read a couple articles on and our teachers somewhat facilitate the debate. Not a bad idea…but I have a harder time with that style of learning because I don’t process fast enough to keep up with the conversation. The biggest reason I don’t really like it, however, is that I have a hard time with the fact that we spend so much time in the theoretical. I think learning about the theoretical and such has it’s place, but I just get super frustrated when I don’t feel like anything we discuss in class I can apply or will ever use outside of the class. I’m not saying that the discussions we have our pointless becsaue there are some very knowledgable people in our class, but when we don’t move past the theoretical that’s when I get frustrated. It bothers me too that we talk about all these things (like poverty) as if we know everything about it or what it’s like and then also bash our own culture every time. Let me clarify that this may be a bit harsh and it doesn’t happen all the time. It helps to be able to talk with Kurty about it all afterwards and filter through our frustrations and find the practical application in it all.
The Familial Structure- So I love the opportunity to stay with my host family here and I really enjoy each of them when I get to interact with them. The part that has become frustrating is my father’s lack of involvement and the heavy patriarchal lean my family has. When my dad gets home from work he greets quickly and then almost immediately retreats into his room to watch TV until supper and then immediately returns to his room after. It’s frustrating mainly because I don’t feel like he wants to get to know me or engage with me. I feel like a burden to him. I don’t do well when I don’t feel like people like me and I really don’t do well when I feel like I’m a burden to people. It makes me sad, but I’m really thankful that I get along super well with Elisha. He and I have gotten to be really good friends and I love coming home and joking around with him and playing tricks on each other. Also, Rita is fun to be around as well and Enoch always brings me joy. My home stay just feels more like a dorm setting than a family because there seems to be only the teenagers and me and Steph (my roommate).
The other thing that bothers me is how patriarchal my family is. Rita serves Henry at all times of the day. Whenever he calls from the room she has to come running. If Enoch is being too loud and he can’t hear the TV she has to come quiet him. If Henry decides to stay in his room for supper because he’s not up to joining us Rita must serve him there and then when he wants more he clangs his spoon on his bowl indicating that he would like more. Rita is sent on all errands and I’ve only ever seen Henry help cook once because Elisha had to go to the clinic for medicine. My favorite was one night Henry said he was tired and didn’t want to be bothered and went to bed, but when a male visitor showed up he was Mr. Engaged. He introduced me proudly as his daughter and then shouted out to Rita that she needed to hurry and make tea, which is definitely African hospitality, but it just contrasts so sharply with the everyday I was bothered.
Well, if there is one thing that I’ve learned in my life it is to “roll with the punches” and find that ray of sunshine in every situation. Joy abounds everywhere, but it is up to us to search and discover where it lives. What an exciting task! Lucky me that all the farther I have to search is simply between my first and last name ☺
Consider it pure joy my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
The Mud- I love the rain. I love how it sounds and how it cools everything off, butI hat walking in the mud it creates!! It is one of my biggest pet peeves when I slide around in mud and get it stuck to the bottom of my shoe or when my foot squelches in the mud. Yuck, it makes me cringe thinking about it. There is about a 4 minute stretch of my walk that produces this type of nastynss when it rains. When I am done walking through it I have about 5 inches of mud stuck to the bottom of my heal and mud all over my feet and calfs. I hate it!
The Lines- I appreciate my kindergarten education so much more after being here because of how much it taught me about sharing and respecting one another. The lack of such a thing as a line is so infuriating. It happens often at lunch when I’m in line to get water and I get cut by 5 guys who budge right past me. I have had to learn to be ruthless when it comes to lines and I’m a totally different person when I enter the scrum; I put my game face on. I don’t really like the way I become about them sometimes, but you gotta do what you gotta do! If I want to stay hydrated or receive any food I have to protect my spot like a child protects its candy after they’ve dropped it in the dirt and the mom tries to take it away.
The Seminar- What is missions? Let’s debate this topic for the next five weeks and throw Bible verses at each other like it’s candy at a Fourth of July Parade! Then let’s discuss all the evils of the colonists and all the problems they caused instead of focusing any where near what could be done to fix them now. Oh, and for icing on a cake let’s dive into the realm of poverty and argue about how much our government should actually spend on the military as if we can waltz up to our nations pocket and divide it out. I hope that didn’t come out too bitterly.
The style of learning that I experience in about half of my classes is the seminar style. This means that we sit in a circle and talk through different issues that we’ve read a couple articles on and our teachers somewhat facilitate the debate. Not a bad idea…but I have a harder time with that style of learning because I don’t process fast enough to keep up with the conversation. The biggest reason I don’t really like it, however, is that I have a hard time with the fact that we spend so much time in the theoretical. I think learning about the theoretical and such has it’s place, but I just get super frustrated when I don’t feel like anything we discuss in class I can apply or will ever use outside of the class. I’m not saying that the discussions we have our pointless becsaue there are some very knowledgable people in our class, but when we don’t move past the theoretical that’s when I get frustrated. It bothers me too that we talk about all these things (like poverty) as if we know everything about it or what it’s like and then also bash our own culture every time. Let me clarify that this may be a bit harsh and it doesn’t happen all the time. It helps to be able to talk with Kurty about it all afterwards and filter through our frustrations and find the practical application in it all.
The Familial Structure- So I love the opportunity to stay with my host family here and I really enjoy each of them when I get to interact with them. The part that has become frustrating is my father’s lack of involvement and the heavy patriarchal lean my family has. When my dad gets home from work he greets quickly and then almost immediately retreats into his room to watch TV until supper and then immediately returns to his room after. It’s frustrating mainly because I don’t feel like he wants to get to know me or engage with me. I feel like a burden to him. I don’t do well when I don’t feel like people like me and I really don’t do well when I feel like I’m a burden to people. It makes me sad, but I’m really thankful that I get along super well with Elisha. He and I have gotten to be really good friends and I love coming home and joking around with him and playing tricks on each other. Also, Rita is fun to be around as well and Enoch always brings me joy. My home stay just feels more like a dorm setting than a family because there seems to be only the teenagers and me and Steph (my roommate).
The other thing that bothers me is how patriarchal my family is. Rita serves Henry at all times of the day. Whenever he calls from the room she has to come running. If Enoch is being too loud and he can’t hear the TV she has to come quiet him. If Henry decides to stay in his room for supper because he’s not up to joining us Rita must serve him there and then when he wants more he clangs his spoon on his bowl indicating that he would like more. Rita is sent on all errands and I’ve only ever seen Henry help cook once because Elisha had to go to the clinic for medicine. My favorite was one night Henry said he was tired and didn’t want to be bothered and went to bed, but when a male visitor showed up he was Mr. Engaged. He introduced me proudly as his daughter and then shouted out to Rita that she needed to hurry and make tea, which is definitely African hospitality, but it just contrasts so sharply with the everyday I was bothered.
Well, if there is one thing that I’ve learned in my life it is to “roll with the punches” and find that ray of sunshine in every situation. Joy abounds everywhere, but it is up to us to search and discover where it lives. What an exciting task! Lucky me that all the farther I have to search is simply between my first and last name ☺
Consider it pure joy my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Monday, 13 October 2008
Simba and Nala are Wonderful Hosts
So this past weekend I got to experience the Circle of Life! I went to Queen Elizabeth National Park near the Congolese border. We left early on a Friday morning and arrived in the afternoon. The trip was comfortable and the only excitement to note during our travels was when our can of strawberry jam exploded in our bag of snacks! It was a nasty, sticky red mess! But we hardly noticed because about the same time we noticed we had just entered the park and saw an elephant off in the distance! You would have thought the Vikings had won three consecutive games ☺ (that is if the van would have been full of Minnesotans) by the way everyone cheered and celebrated the sighting.
The park was absolutely gorgeous! It is adjacent to the Rwenzori Mountain range, which was indescribable! The flatness of the plain all of a sudden juts up into the clouds and it’s such a sudden change it surprises your eyes. There were two huge, beautiful lakes (George and Edward) near where we were staying. It was all so stinkin’ picturesque! When we were setting up our camp there were a couple neighboring warthogs hanging out nearby and one of them came over and snatched a girls bag and started dragging it away! After we rescued the bag I was told by our driver Francis to arm myself with a stick (it was about as long as my forearm and I seriously doubted it’s effectiveness against a big Pumba!) and guard the bags. The second neighbor we met that night was a massive hippo that walked about 30 yards away from our tents. We all were so enthralled that we started to walk over to get good pictures until someone reminded us that they are really dangerous and can run faster than us so we backed away and said a silent prayer that we wouldn’t get trampled in our tents :P
Later that night Kurty and I got the opportunity to continue our dominance in Rook. We are pretty much unbeatable so anyone wishing to challenge us when we get back start practicing now ☺ We played against Justin Lane (our fellow Bethel man) and John Riley (from Gordon College) out under the stars. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. We did it two nights in a row. It was incredible to be under the night sky and hear hippos, warthogs, bush buck, and even a lion! Yes, lion. It was farther away, but obviously not that far away because we could hear it. We think it killed something to eat so we felt good about it having a full stomach for the night! The whole time playing cards in that park provided endless moments where you just sat back and said, “Holy Moses, I’m in Africa!” It also helped the mood that Kurty and I went 3 and 0, and sometimes in dramatic fashion!
On Saturday we went on two sessions of safariing, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. We saw a hippo’s backside from far away, many more of Pumba’s relatives, and an antelope with cancer. Haha We also saw elephants up super close, bush buck, water buffalo, and lions! In the afternoon we go to be in the van that had a top that popped up so we could sit on the roof and see everything. This little adjustment made the safari immensely more enjoyable. The view improved greatly and Kurty and Megan and I had a great time taking pictures and joking with each other. I almost fell off a couple times because of how far our van titled on the road, but that just added to the excitement. We saw lions again this time and they had little cubs! We were probably about 40-50 yards away. It was glorious! On the way back to the campsite we had to stop for a crossing of about 5 elephants and when we looked around we saw that there were about 6 more in the bushes. I was in awe at the size of them and also at the realization that if they charged I wouldn’t be able to do much.
In between the safari’s Kurty and I went to the lodge to write a history paper and we walked into a completely new world. It was probably the nicest resort I have ever been too. The lodge was unbelievable. It was gorgeous and I felt super out of place in my shorts and cutoff. We each got a pop, mine was a pineapple Mirinda, which is the best pop I’ve ever had, but it was out of this world cold! It tasted amazing! Later when we lost focus we watched Remember the Titans and had coffee (I had three cups, which is maybe why the second safari was so enjoyable because I was wired!).
At supper that night we ate at a buffet and I left about 12 pounds heavier! There was cooked vegetables, fruit salad (with passion fruit seeds that crunch, mmmmm!), noodles, chicken, and irish potatoes. I even tried a gizzard! It actually tasted fine. Mama, you can start cooking me up some of those at home ☺ We sat with our other driver Vincent and all laughed soo hard. He is a great guy and at one point we were
talking about why he was named his name and we then got on the subject of what he would name each of us. He gave Kurty a name that meant beautiful and me a name that meant one who shows love to everyone. I like Vincent ☺
The ride home was a little less enjoyable. I got pretty sick because of some intense smells that my sensitive nose picked up and made me nauseous. Also, I had a moment of intense homesickness when I was reading for class and stumbled upon a word that reminded me of home. I haven’t experienced that intense emotion here yet so it shocked me a bit. I felt kind of dumb because I’m doing great, but mostly because the word that set it off was “wantonness” and I have no idea why that triggered anything. I have no idea what the significance of that is…I don’t think I’ve ever used it, or heard anyone in my family use it. I’m wondering if the feeling and the word are at all correlated…?? Maybe it was just coincidence. Anyways, despite this small set back I had a wonderful weekend!
How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24
The park was absolutely gorgeous! It is adjacent to the Rwenzori Mountain range, which was indescribable! The flatness of the plain all of a sudden juts up into the clouds and it’s such a sudden change it surprises your eyes. There were two huge, beautiful lakes (George and Edward) near where we were staying. It was all so stinkin’ picturesque! When we were setting up our camp there were a couple neighboring warthogs hanging out nearby and one of them came over and snatched a girls bag and started dragging it away! After we rescued the bag I was told by our driver Francis to arm myself with a stick (it was about as long as my forearm and I seriously doubted it’s effectiveness against a big Pumba!) and guard the bags. The second neighbor we met that night was a massive hippo that walked about 30 yards away from our tents. We all were so enthralled that we started to walk over to get good pictures until someone reminded us that they are really dangerous and can run faster than us so we backed away and said a silent prayer that we wouldn’t get trampled in our tents :P
Later that night Kurty and I got the opportunity to continue our dominance in Rook. We are pretty much unbeatable so anyone wishing to challenge us when we get back start practicing now ☺ We played against Justin Lane (our fellow Bethel man) and John Riley (from Gordon College) out under the stars. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. We did it two nights in a row. It was incredible to be under the night sky and hear hippos, warthogs, bush buck, and even a lion! Yes, lion. It was farther away, but obviously not that far away because we could hear it. We think it killed something to eat so we felt good about it having a full stomach for the night! The whole time playing cards in that park provided endless moments where you just sat back and said, “Holy Moses, I’m in Africa!” It also helped the mood that Kurty and I went 3 and 0, and sometimes in dramatic fashion!
On Saturday we went on two sessions of safariing, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. We saw a hippo’s backside from far away, many more of Pumba’s relatives, and an antelope with cancer. Haha We also saw elephants up super close, bush buck, water buffalo, and lions! In the afternoon we go to be in the van that had a top that popped up so we could sit on the roof and see everything. This little adjustment made the safari immensely more enjoyable. The view improved greatly and Kurty and Megan and I had a great time taking pictures and joking with each other. I almost fell off a couple times because of how far our van titled on the road, but that just added to the excitement. We saw lions again this time and they had little cubs! We were probably about 40-50 yards away. It was glorious! On the way back to the campsite we had to stop for a crossing of about 5 elephants and when we looked around we saw that there were about 6 more in the bushes. I was in awe at the size of them and also at the realization that if they charged I wouldn’t be able to do much.
In between the safari’s Kurty and I went to the lodge to write a history paper and we walked into a completely new world. It was probably the nicest resort I have ever been too. The lodge was unbelievable. It was gorgeous and I felt super out of place in my shorts and cutoff. We each got a pop, mine was a pineapple Mirinda, which is the best pop I’ve ever had, but it was out of this world cold! It tasted amazing! Later when we lost focus we watched Remember the Titans and had coffee (I had three cups, which is maybe why the second safari was so enjoyable because I was wired!).
At supper that night we ate at a buffet and I left about 12 pounds heavier! There was cooked vegetables, fruit salad (with passion fruit seeds that crunch, mmmmm!), noodles, chicken, and irish potatoes. I even tried a gizzard! It actually tasted fine. Mama, you can start cooking me up some of those at home ☺ We sat with our other driver Vincent and all laughed soo hard. He is a great guy and at one point we were
talking about why he was named his name and we then got on the subject of what he would name each of us. He gave Kurty a name that meant beautiful and me a name that meant one who shows love to everyone. I like Vincent ☺
The ride home was a little less enjoyable. I got pretty sick because of some intense smells that my sensitive nose picked up and made me nauseous. Also, I had a moment of intense homesickness when I was reading for class and stumbled upon a word that reminded me of home. I haven’t experienced that intense emotion here yet so it shocked me a bit. I felt kind of dumb because I’m doing great, but mostly because the word that set it off was “wantonness” and I have no idea why that triggered anything. I have no idea what the significance of that is…I don’t think I’ve ever used it, or heard anyone in my family use it. I’m wondering if the feeling and the word are at all correlated…?? Maybe it was just coincidence. Anyways, despite this small set back I had a wonderful weekend!
How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Pygmies, Monkeys, and Squatties!
I took a trip to Bwendi this weekend with my IMME group to visit with some people in the town of Buhoma. It is really close to the border of Congo and at one point we were walking up one hill and looked over to the neighboring hill, which was Congo. It was not nearly as far as the trip to Rwanda, but it took almost as long (and longer, but I’ll explain that later) because the roads were so bad for the last part of the journey.
We left on Friday morning at 7am for our 12 hour bus ride. As a side note, for some reason every time we are about to embark on an extensive bus ride it always seems to be that time of month…rough, but I have learned to be a trooper and just “go with the flow” like my little brother Enoch! I really feel like having that attitude on life makes everything more enjoyable and less stressful! It is also a necessary quality to have in cross-cultural experiences!
So we rode and rode and slept and slept and played a little cribbage. Then, and this story is for you Dad, at one stop we went to go use the restrooms, but there was only one and apparently it was for both genders…at one point the girls tried to block off the door so all the girls could quick go, but as it so often goes with Africans in lines the guys just waltzed right on past. You had to walk past the urinals to get to the toilets so I ended up having to cover my eyes to create tunnel vision as I walked past them to get to the toilet. The guys in our group were great, they tried to protect us as best they could and give us more privacy. Oh Uganda. When we finally reached our destination we found out we were staying on the edge of a forest of gorillas and that the resort we were at led gorilla tracking expeditions!! Fun, but there were no actual sightings of any gorillas by our group. We had spaghetti with red sauce and chocolate cake for dinner (those terms are a little misleading, but it was still good) and it was glorious for a moment to break up the monotony of rice and matoke.
On Saturday we went to visit a hospital compound and missions organization started by a man named Scot Kellerman. He wasn’t actually there, but we me with a Ugandan named Richard who worked with him. They told us a quick bit about the place and we fed a few monkeys bananas!!! and then we packed up and headed out to go to a village. On the way our tire got a flat (this is important for later) so we ended up walking to the base of the mountain we had to climb. We climbed for bout 30 minutes and saw a gorgeous view. Our destination was a village of pygmies from the Batwa tribe! We were coming up to help them build a mud hut for one of the villagers. They really are pretty darn short and it was fun to get some pictures standing next to them. They were extremely fun to work with and even though we didn’t know their language we still goofed around with them. A couple started posing for my camera and one saluted me so I called him general and we kept saluting each other the rest of the day. The frame of the house was already up when we got there so we helped tie up cross supporting sticks. It was a quick learn and our group swarmed the house and toasted that work extremely quick. Later after lunch we helped start the mudding process! They made mud right near the home and then formed a fire brigade line and passed up the mud to begin building in between the cross supports we tied. The guys were tossing the mud up the line as fast as they could trying to cause the next one to miss the toss. They were all having such a good time playing with mud! Most of this time I took pictures for people and at one point had five cameras around my neck. Including a couple really nice ones that made me feel like someone on National Geographic and I had to try really hard not to covet! ☺ It was such a cool opportunity and so incredible to watch our progress. It was nice to get a chance to actually do something tangible like that instead of just listening to what is being done within a mission from a speaker. What amazed me the most was that everyone within this village was there to help. The women and younger children included. Even with a baby on their back they were tieing and throwing mud. The project was important to the whole community to get this man a house. I realized that this was a phenomenal example of community! I wanted to be a part of it and not just an outsider. There have only been a few times when I've felt more like a tourist than a student and that was one of them. I looked around and thought that I could do that type of work. I loved the area as well. When we had to leave they did their tribe's dance for us and had us join in, which was super fun! It includes a lot of stomping and stepping and I think it is probably my favorite dance of the three I’ve seen and participated in so far. It was all a phenomenal experience. We got a chance to see what some of the people were still living in hoping to get a house as well. It was a tent like structure built out of leaves and sticks and was supposed to house five people, but I have no idea how they all fit in it. It made me catch my breath because it was so sad and see the importance of that ministry.
On Sunday we went to a church that was about a 45 minute hike up a mountain and I thought at one point I would die. I was sweating so much, enough to sweat through my skirt! On the way up we stopped in a little village to wait for some stragglers and had a spontaneous dance party with the kids who came to stare at us ☺ We would sing some songs and then they would sing some to us. It was so much fun to be a part of their community for a short bit. The parents and older villagers got a kick of all our antics, and I love making people laugh! Dad, this next little tidbit of the story is also for you…when I went in to use a squatty potty at one point I found it had no hole to pee into and I found out you just pee on the rocks! I could write a story about all toilets and squatties I’ve used here! It's always an adventure!
The church was pretty small and pretty liturgical. My favorite part about it was this little boy who was in a suit coat and matching trousers that were about 3 sizes too big, wearing oversized green muck boots that made him a little tipsy :) After church we danced a little bit with the kids again until it started raining and everyone scattered. It was incredible! One drop and the place was cleared out! The other highlight of the night was destroying a couple of our fellow students in rook with Kurty. Thor4, I'm getting better..almost to the point where you might even want to be my partner! That when I was falling asleep I experienced an earthquake!! It shook my bed and then swayed for a little bit afterwards. I wanted to get all excited about it with my roommates, but no one woke up so I silently celebrated. Later in the night I got extremely cold and tried to snuggle in with Kurty, but in her sleep she fought me out of her bed. She kept rolling into the spot and literally pushing we away! Eventually I just gave up and shivered myself to sleep! Funny funny.
We left for home on Monday for our 12 hour ride that ended up taking 18!!!! We stopped at our bus drivers house for lunch and ended up being there for a couple hours, which didn't set us back too bad, but then later we blew our tire that went flat earlier in the weekend and had to stop and put on our spare in the pouring rain, with a jack that was made for a small car, on ground that turned to soupy mud! It took quite a while and then we had to limp into town and get a new one. Vincent's (our driver) family gave us a ton of bananas to take home with us and it was a great provision because we didn't get to stop for supper because we got set back so badly. I think I ate about 12 bananas! I had potassium coming out of my ears!!! I got home about 1:15 am and had a short night so I slept through the next day pretty much and I'm still recovering. Thank goodness for instant coffee!
One of the things that made me really excited was I got a chance to quick talk to Scott Kellerman before we left on Monday and I've been actually wondering about my major and the extra schooling i have to go for after undergrad and I've been wanting to talk to someone about occupational therapy on a missions setting. When I asked him where he saw any of that working he got really excited and said that there is huge need for OT's in the hospitals here. When he said that my stomach felt like was on a roller coaster and just dove down the next dip! I had been praying some about it and I still have questions, but I felt that was just for me. Scott wasn't even supposed to meet us and he was only there for 20 minutes to say hello and I only had time to ask him one question.
Well, I'm sorry if these are a bit boring...sometimes it's hard to spice it up when you are so cramped for time. I miss you all.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
We left on Friday morning at 7am for our 12 hour bus ride. As a side note, for some reason every time we are about to embark on an extensive bus ride it always seems to be that time of month…rough, but I have learned to be a trooper and just “go with the flow” like my little brother Enoch! I really feel like having that attitude on life makes everything more enjoyable and less stressful! It is also a necessary quality to have in cross-cultural experiences!
So we rode and rode and slept and slept and played a little cribbage. Then, and this story is for you Dad, at one stop we went to go use the restrooms, but there was only one and apparently it was for both genders…at one point the girls tried to block off the door so all the girls could quick go, but as it so often goes with Africans in lines the guys just waltzed right on past. You had to walk past the urinals to get to the toilets so I ended up having to cover my eyes to create tunnel vision as I walked past them to get to the toilet. The guys in our group were great, they tried to protect us as best they could and give us more privacy. Oh Uganda. When we finally reached our destination we found out we were staying on the edge of a forest of gorillas and that the resort we were at led gorilla tracking expeditions!! Fun, but there were no actual sightings of any gorillas by our group. We had spaghetti with red sauce and chocolate cake for dinner (those terms are a little misleading, but it was still good) and it was glorious for a moment to break up the monotony of rice and matoke.
On Saturday we went to visit a hospital compound and missions organization started by a man named Scot Kellerman. He wasn’t actually there, but we me with a Ugandan named Richard who worked with him. They told us a quick bit about the place and we fed a few monkeys bananas!!! and then we packed up and headed out to go to a village. On the way our tire got a flat (this is important for later) so we ended up walking to the base of the mountain we had to climb. We climbed for bout 30 minutes and saw a gorgeous view. Our destination was a village of pygmies from the Batwa tribe! We were coming up to help them build a mud hut for one of the villagers. They really are pretty darn short and it was fun to get some pictures standing next to them. They were extremely fun to work with and even though we didn’t know their language we still goofed around with them. A couple started posing for my camera and one saluted me so I called him general and we kept saluting each other the rest of the day. The frame of the house was already up when we got there so we helped tie up cross supporting sticks. It was a quick learn and our group swarmed the house and toasted that work extremely quick. Later after lunch we helped start the mudding process! They made mud right near the home and then formed a fire brigade line and passed up the mud to begin building in between the cross supports we tied. The guys were tossing the mud up the line as fast as they could trying to cause the next one to miss the toss. They were all having such a good time playing with mud! Most of this time I took pictures for people and at one point had five cameras around my neck. Including a couple really nice ones that made me feel like someone on National Geographic and I had to try really hard not to covet! ☺ It was such a cool opportunity and so incredible to watch our progress. It was nice to get a chance to actually do something tangible like that instead of just listening to what is being done within a mission from a speaker. What amazed me the most was that everyone within this village was there to help. The women and younger children included. Even with a baby on their back they were tieing and throwing mud. The project was important to the whole community to get this man a house. I realized that this was a phenomenal example of community! I wanted to be a part of it and not just an outsider. There have only been a few times when I've felt more like a tourist than a student and that was one of them. I looked around and thought that I could do that type of work. I loved the area as well. When we had to leave they did their tribe's dance for us and had us join in, which was super fun! It includes a lot of stomping and stepping and I think it is probably my favorite dance of the three I’ve seen and participated in so far. It was all a phenomenal experience. We got a chance to see what some of the people were still living in hoping to get a house as well. It was a tent like structure built out of leaves and sticks and was supposed to house five people, but I have no idea how they all fit in it. It made me catch my breath because it was so sad and see the importance of that ministry.
On Sunday we went to a church that was about a 45 minute hike up a mountain and I thought at one point I would die. I was sweating so much, enough to sweat through my skirt! On the way up we stopped in a little village to wait for some stragglers and had a spontaneous dance party with the kids who came to stare at us ☺ We would sing some songs and then they would sing some to us. It was so much fun to be a part of their community for a short bit. The parents and older villagers got a kick of all our antics, and I love making people laugh! Dad, this next little tidbit of the story is also for you…when I went in to use a squatty potty at one point I found it had no hole to pee into and I found out you just pee on the rocks! I could write a story about all toilets and squatties I’ve used here! It's always an adventure!
The church was pretty small and pretty liturgical. My favorite part about it was this little boy who was in a suit coat and matching trousers that were about 3 sizes too big, wearing oversized green muck boots that made him a little tipsy :) After church we danced a little bit with the kids again until it started raining and everyone scattered. It was incredible! One drop and the place was cleared out! The other highlight of the night was destroying a couple of our fellow students in rook with Kurty. Thor4, I'm getting better..almost to the point where you might even want to be my partner! That when I was falling asleep I experienced an earthquake!! It shook my bed and then swayed for a little bit afterwards. I wanted to get all excited about it with my roommates, but no one woke up so I silently celebrated. Later in the night I got extremely cold and tried to snuggle in with Kurty, but in her sleep she fought me out of her bed. She kept rolling into the spot and literally pushing we away! Eventually I just gave up and shivered myself to sleep! Funny funny.
We left for home on Monday for our 12 hour ride that ended up taking 18!!!! We stopped at our bus drivers house for lunch and ended up being there for a couple hours, which didn't set us back too bad, but then later we blew our tire that went flat earlier in the weekend and had to stop and put on our spare in the pouring rain, with a jack that was made for a small car, on ground that turned to soupy mud! It took quite a while and then we had to limp into town and get a new one. Vincent's (our driver) family gave us a ton of bananas to take home with us and it was a great provision because we didn't get to stop for supper because we got set back so badly. I think I ate about 12 bananas! I had potassium coming out of my ears!!! I got home about 1:15 am and had a short night so I slept through the next day pretty much and I'm still recovering. Thank goodness for instant coffee!
One of the things that made me really excited was I got a chance to quick talk to Scott Kellerman before we left on Monday and I've been actually wondering about my major and the extra schooling i have to go for after undergrad and I've been wanting to talk to someone about occupational therapy on a missions setting. When I asked him where he saw any of that working he got really excited and said that there is huge need for OT's in the hospitals here. When he said that my stomach felt like was on a roller coaster and just dove down the next dip! I had been praying some about it and I still have questions, but I felt that was just for me. Scott wasn't even supposed to meet us and he was only there for 20 minutes to say hello and I only had time to ask him one question.
Well, I'm sorry if these are a bit boring...sometimes it's hard to spice it up when you are so cramped for time. I miss you all.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
And the Friction Bleeds
The other day I watched a documentary called War Dance with the rest of my program. It was a movie about the atrocities going on in Northern Uganda right now with the LRA. It was an incredibly well made movie. I would make all of you watch it if I could because it is an phenomenal documentary. I won’t tell too much about it because I really think you should see it for yourself (make sure you have a couple of boxes of tissues handy), but hearing these kids stories just tore at my heart. I normally don’t cry that much, but at one point I could feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. During the movie I think I felt some of the truest and deepest emotions I’ve felt yet on this trip. I have a passion for those kids who are fatherless or just unloved. While watching the movie it was like the right note was played and my whole body resonated clearly with it. For the next 24 hours I had this anxiety in me because I’m not sure what God wants me to do with this passion and so I wrote a poem about what I was feeling and thinking about and I wanted to share it with you.
So why am I here?
What should I learn?
I want it to be clear
God, for what purpose do I burn?
You meet me there
Where my passions lie.
A constant heart tear
That triggers my cry
You planted it deep
That small prick in my soul
It’ll push ‘til I leap
Because it threatens my whole
I desire to reach out
To find the dark and be the light
And yet I feel such doubt
As to what to do and where to fight
And the friction bleeds
Because I see the gap
Between my thoughts and their needs
I wonder when is the overlap?
You’ve given compassion
Filled up to the top
And empathy’s been fashioned
To each breath I drop
These gifts have been granted
To pair with my hope
So a mission is planted
To struggle up the slope
I’m not sure how to start
Or where this passion will be placed
I want to be a part
Of every lost, orphaned face
But for now I’ll start small
With learning and prayer
Until the day when his call
Gives a next step if I dare
A father to the fatherless, a defender of the widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5
So why am I here?
What should I learn?
I want it to be clear
God, for what purpose do I burn?
You meet me there
Where my passions lie.
A constant heart tear
That triggers my cry
You planted it deep
That small prick in my soul
It’ll push ‘til I leap
Because it threatens my whole
I desire to reach out
To find the dark and be the light
And yet I feel such doubt
As to what to do and where to fight
And the friction bleeds
Because I see the gap
Between my thoughts and their needs
I wonder when is the overlap?
You’ve given compassion
Filled up to the top
And empathy’s been fashioned
To each breath I drop
These gifts have been granted
To pair with my hope
So a mission is planted
To struggle up the slope
I’m not sure how to start
Or where this passion will be placed
I want to be a part
Of every lost, orphaned face
But for now I’ll start small
With learning and prayer
Until the day when his call
Gives a next step if I dare
A father to the fatherless, a defender of the widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5
Monday, 29 September 2008
The Ants Go Marching Two By Two, Hurrah!!
So the title does not really have anything to do with this post, the song was just in my head.... I'm going to tell you about the past two weekends and all of my fabulous adventures that are going to make you all extremely jealous and cause you to hop on a plane so you can visit me!!!! Yeaaaaaaaa!!
Two weekends ago the IMME group (Intercultural Ministry and Missions Emphasis) took a trip to Jinja the Ninja!! Actually it's just called Jinja, but it's fun to rhyme sometimes! We stayed at a gorgeous resort on Lake Victoria right by the source of the Nile. I pretty much slept a lot! We heard from an extremely cute older couple, Jesse and Beverly, and their prison ministry in Jinja that has expanded into many other incredible projects. I was blown away by the fact that they live off donations solely. Their story was one incredible miracle of God coming through for them at the last minute after another. For example, he couldn't get into the school to study missions unless he showed up at the campus in a week, but it was in Arizona and he was in Colorado and he needed to sell his house in that week. The Friday before having to leave on Saturday his friend called and asked if there were any houses around for sale and he ended up buying Jesse's house and moving in the next day! Crazy!
The next day we went to a cafe in town called The Source and heard from two guys named Bobby and Spencer. They were fun guys and made me excited about the idea of missions. They have this program to save these incredible trees in Uganda called Mvule trees and so they have a website where you can buy a tree and get updates on it's growth and stuff. It sounds incredibly goofy, but it's working. We went on a tour with Spencer after eating a guacomole, chicken wrap!!! It wasn't like a regular tour because Spencer set it up like more of a devotional. It was really neat and I wish I was better at relating what it meant to me, but i didn't really write any of it down. Anyways, later that night we ate at a restaurant and had American food! Sausage pizza, a calzone, strawberry and chocolate milkshakes, and a banana split!! Yes I did eat that all, but I split it with two other girls as well. It was glorious and I was wonderfully full afterwards!
The next day we went to a church and fellowshipped with them. The children's choir sang about Jesus love being like a mango-sweet and sweet, like a circle-big and round, and like a rainbow-colorful. One of my peers gave the sermon and she talked about running the race, faithfully using your gifts, living with joy, and crossing the finish line with a smile. It gave me goosebumps and I almost cried!
This past weekend I slept over at Kurty's home with her crazy family!! They are every bit as incredible as she said they are in her own blog! I had a blast with them. On Saturday, Kurty and I went to the National Dance Competition with her sister, Judith. We were at the competition for 5 hours!!! Our main goal was to watch Kurty's cousin do her solo with her high school, but we found out that we actually missed it after waiting for that long! It was incredible though. They did these dances where they shook their hips for like ten minutes straight and I can't even imagine how much their muscles were burning! I do admit that I fell asleep for a bit while waiting though :S We got hungry so we decided to walk across the street to get something to eat and while we were walking we heard very disconcerting noise...A boda-boda driver lost control and crashed towards us. Judith and I were able to jump sideways, but Kurty couldn't quite get all the way out of the way and the boda man flew off his bike and took her out!! I have not been that terrified in a long while! I thought her knee was going to be messed up again or she was going to crack her head or something. She walked away with a couple scrapes and bruises, but no more worse from the wear. When we were sitting at the restaurant reflecting on the ordeal after we all stopped shaking we realized there were some very funny moments. As Kurty was falling she was holding a soda in her hands and when she fell she made sure to lose as little soda as possible! No worries that she's falling towards the pavement, gotta save the Fruity Mirinda! Also, when I first asked her if she was ok she said "yes, oh man i ripped my pants!" Sometimes I wonder where her head is at! Also, her sister Judith scurried us away across the street as fast as possible...no need to stay at the scene...we didn't even say a word to the driver or see if he was ok (he was). The whole ordeal was just weird!
During the day we had to take Matatu's (taxi's) everywhere and you have to smash in with a bunch of other people and I'm glad we had Judith with us so they didn't try and rip us off. The whole day however, Kurty was hit on by like 5 guys in 5 different ways...a biker gave her a whistle as he swerved near, a boda driver told her he loved her, and a street vendor called her "my size," which means he wants her to be his lover and she's the right size for him. Among other moments, but apparently an American who is taken is more attractive than one who is single because no one hit on me!! hahaha, sometimes it's so easy to make fun of her!
The last thing I want to say about my weekend is that I killed a cockroach as big as my palm!!! It was at Kurty's...I don't have cockroaches at my house, thank goodness!
Well, that's it for now. All caught up on my life. The Ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah, the ants go marching three by three, a little one stops to take a pee, and they all go marching down, to the ground, to get out of the rain, boom boom boom boom......hahaha
You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
Two weekends ago the IMME group (Intercultural Ministry and Missions Emphasis) took a trip to Jinja the Ninja!! Actually it's just called Jinja, but it's fun to rhyme sometimes! We stayed at a gorgeous resort on Lake Victoria right by the source of the Nile. I pretty much slept a lot! We heard from an extremely cute older couple, Jesse and Beverly, and their prison ministry in Jinja that has expanded into many other incredible projects. I was blown away by the fact that they live off donations solely. Their story was one incredible miracle of God coming through for them at the last minute after another. For example, he couldn't get into the school to study missions unless he showed up at the campus in a week, but it was in Arizona and he was in Colorado and he needed to sell his house in that week. The Friday before having to leave on Saturday his friend called and asked if there were any houses around for sale and he ended up buying Jesse's house and moving in the next day! Crazy!
The next day we went to a cafe in town called The Source and heard from two guys named Bobby and Spencer. They were fun guys and made me excited about the idea of missions. They have this program to save these incredible trees in Uganda called Mvule trees and so they have a website where you can buy a tree and get updates on it's growth and stuff. It sounds incredibly goofy, but it's working. We went on a tour with Spencer after eating a guacomole, chicken wrap!!! It wasn't like a regular tour because Spencer set it up like more of a devotional. It was really neat and I wish I was better at relating what it meant to me, but i didn't really write any of it down. Anyways, later that night we ate at a restaurant and had American food! Sausage pizza, a calzone, strawberry and chocolate milkshakes, and a banana split!! Yes I did eat that all, but I split it with two other girls as well. It was glorious and I was wonderfully full afterwards!
The next day we went to a church and fellowshipped with them. The children's choir sang about Jesus love being like a mango-sweet and sweet, like a circle-big and round, and like a rainbow-colorful. One of my peers gave the sermon and she talked about running the race, faithfully using your gifts, living with joy, and crossing the finish line with a smile. It gave me goosebumps and I almost cried!
This past weekend I slept over at Kurty's home with her crazy family!! They are every bit as incredible as she said they are in her own blog! I had a blast with them. On Saturday, Kurty and I went to the National Dance Competition with her sister, Judith. We were at the competition for 5 hours!!! Our main goal was to watch Kurty's cousin do her solo with her high school, but we found out that we actually missed it after waiting for that long! It was incredible though. They did these dances where they shook their hips for like ten minutes straight and I can't even imagine how much their muscles were burning! I do admit that I fell asleep for a bit while waiting though :S We got hungry so we decided to walk across the street to get something to eat and while we were walking we heard very disconcerting noise...A boda-boda driver lost control and crashed towards us. Judith and I were able to jump sideways, but Kurty couldn't quite get all the way out of the way and the boda man flew off his bike and took her out!! I have not been that terrified in a long while! I thought her knee was going to be messed up again or she was going to crack her head or something. She walked away with a couple scrapes and bruises, but no more worse from the wear. When we were sitting at the restaurant reflecting on the ordeal after we all stopped shaking we realized there were some very funny moments. As Kurty was falling she was holding a soda in her hands and when she fell she made sure to lose as little soda as possible! No worries that she's falling towards the pavement, gotta save the Fruity Mirinda! Also, when I first asked her if she was ok she said "yes, oh man i ripped my pants!" Sometimes I wonder where her head is at! Also, her sister Judith scurried us away across the street as fast as possible...no need to stay at the scene...we didn't even say a word to the driver or see if he was ok (he was). The whole ordeal was just weird!
During the day we had to take Matatu's (taxi's) everywhere and you have to smash in with a bunch of other people and I'm glad we had Judith with us so they didn't try and rip us off. The whole day however, Kurty was hit on by like 5 guys in 5 different ways...a biker gave her a whistle as he swerved near, a boda driver told her he loved her, and a street vendor called her "my size," which means he wants her to be his lover and she's the right size for him. Among other moments, but apparently an American who is taken is more attractive than one who is single because no one hit on me!! hahaha, sometimes it's so easy to make fun of her!
The last thing I want to say about my weekend is that I killed a cockroach as big as my palm!!! It was at Kurty's...I don't have cockroaches at my house, thank goodness!
Well, that's it for now. All caught up on my life. The Ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah, the ants go marching three by three, a little one stops to take a pee, and they all go marching down, to the ground, to get out of the rain, boom boom boom boom......hahaha
You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
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