I'm sure you all have heard about what happened in Kampala. The only American who died in the explosion was Nate Henn, a former Invisible Children employee who, like me, went to Uganda early before joining the Invisible Children trip. Because of this, IC cancelled the trip. With everyone worried, I just decided to come home. It stunk to have to end my trip so abruptly and without getting to say bye to everyone (including the kids at Tegot). Still, strangely enough, I am very aware that God is in this. He's already using Nate's death in powerful ways. Just go to natehenn.com.
I had a really good journey home. Your prayers mean more to me than I could express. I know God listened. Keep looking for pictures on Facebook and what not. If you want to hear more about my trip, we'll get together for coffee... or African tea ;)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Chickens galore
The mothers told us they were going to give us chickens as goodbye gifts, and they were not kidding. They did not understand that you can't take them back to America. It's a huge sign of respect in their culture- so humbling. Today I got a chicken with its legs and wings tied. I'm glad PETA and Jomby both were'nt there to see it.
I have been thinking about "praise reports" for this trip and have to praise God for the health of our team. I was sick one day and that's it. I am usually really sensitive to motion sickness, and even though the roads here are terrible, I have not felt sick at all.
Cheryl and Ashley are leaving tomorrow. I will spend this next week with ECM continuing the same work, then meet up with Invisible Children. Be home on the 26th, just in case you were wondering. :)
I have been thinking about "praise reports" for this trip and have to praise God for the health of our team. I was sick one day and that's it. I am usually really sensitive to motion sickness, and even though the roads here are terrible, I have not felt sick at all.
Cheryl and Ashley are leaving tomorrow. I will spend this next week with ECM continuing the same work, then meet up with Invisible Children. Be home on the 26th, just in case you were wondering. :)
Monday, July 5, 2010
misc.
Hey! I’m sure for a long time I’ll be remembering things I forgot to write about.
We’ve been having a lot of problems with our car. The other day while driving on a narrow walking path in the bush, we got a flat tire. Now it’s dead. We don’t know what we’re going to do or how we’re going to afford to get to Tegot without the car. Anyway, the day the car broke down, I asked one of the sponsored kids’ mothers if I could help her cook. It seems like all we do is to eat, because eating is so central to African culture. The Acholi will feel ashamed and worried if they let you leave their house without eating. “We love you! Eat more!” my neighbors always say, no matter how full I am. There is no telling how many pounds (or kg, rather) of rice and beans I have ingested while being here. Anyway, the mother told me I could help her grind seeds to make a paste called odi. Imagine picking peanuts, roasting them on your own, and putting them on a stone surface to hand-grind them with a stone, just to make a plate of peanut butter. It was hard work, and provided a lot of laughs for the women. They appreciated my wanting to learn from them and said I should stay longer so they could teach me how to be a real Acholi woman. This does not appeal to me. I have definitely taken for granted the fact that I can buy food already made.. or at least already picked or killed. The feeling of wasting time is one of the worst ones in the world for me but a virtually foreign feeling to most Africans.
It’s good to be here, because I am learning the reality of missions in a third world country. I know I have long romanticized it, and I know many people who do too. Being here is not sexy. Being one of a few mzungus can make you feel alienated and withdrawn. So you constantly have to keep your head and remember your purpose here. And be sure of your purpose before coming.
Keep praying. I have a week b/w the time that I go with Invisible Children and I’m not sure how I will spend it. I need direction. Also, the other day I saw a man sitting on the street without fingers or toes. I often see people missing limbs who have to use crutches the rest of their lives. It makes me so angry at the LRA. We must keep praying for all of this. These people are our brothers and sisters. It’s so good that people are moving back home and there are no more camps. The health and morale have improved drastically. People are no longer in survival mode, so they can start to enjoy each other.
Other funny things: trying to get an Acholi to pronounce “euphemism.” Also, don’t call someone silly here, because that is a horrible insult. Stubborn is the right word.
We’ve been having a lot of problems with our car. The other day while driving on a narrow walking path in the bush, we got a flat tire. Now it’s dead. We don’t know what we’re going to do or how we’re going to afford to get to Tegot without the car. Anyway, the day the car broke down, I asked one of the sponsored kids’ mothers if I could help her cook. It seems like all we do is to eat, because eating is so central to African culture. The Acholi will feel ashamed and worried if they let you leave their house without eating. “We love you! Eat more!” my neighbors always say, no matter how full I am. There is no telling how many pounds (or kg, rather) of rice and beans I have ingested while being here. Anyway, the mother told me I could help her grind seeds to make a paste called odi. Imagine picking peanuts, roasting them on your own, and putting them on a stone surface to hand-grind them with a stone, just to make a plate of peanut butter. It was hard work, and provided a lot of laughs for the women. They appreciated my wanting to learn from them and said I should stay longer so they could teach me how to be a real Acholi woman. This does not appeal to me. I have definitely taken for granted the fact that I can buy food already made.. or at least already picked or killed. The feeling of wasting time is one of the worst ones in the world for me but a virtually foreign feeling to most Africans.
It’s good to be here, because I am learning the reality of missions in a third world country. I know I have long romanticized it, and I know many people who do too. Being here is not sexy. Being one of a few mzungus can make you feel alienated and withdrawn. So you constantly have to keep your head and remember your purpose here. And be sure of your purpose before coming.
Keep praying. I have a week b/w the time that I go with Invisible Children and I’m not sure how I will spend it. I need direction. Also, the other day I saw a man sitting on the street without fingers or toes. I often see people missing limbs who have to use crutches the rest of their lives. It makes me so angry at the LRA. We must keep praying for all of this. These people are our brothers and sisters. It’s so good that people are moving back home and there are no more camps. The health and morale have improved drastically. People are no longer in survival mode, so they can start to enjoy each other.
Other funny things: trying to get an Acholi to pronounce “euphemism.” Also, don’t call someone silly here, because that is a horrible insult. Stubborn is the right word.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
4th of July in Uganda
Yesterday we had a munu bbq at the Foresters (American missionary friends). We even invited the Canadians. Haha :). Since fireworks are taboo here, to celebrate our indepenence, we had to get creative. So we got the little glowy bracelets and people took turns entertaining with light shows to the beat of an African drum. It was hilarious, especially when I thought about what we were actually doing.
Lately the Lord's been doing something in me that i haven't expected. I've had a lot of pride in my heart, and He's chosen this trip to deal with it. Any problem you have will be magnified when you're doing ministry. I have to learn not to say anything when I think Im right. Maybe someday I will realize i'm not always right. Please pray we can get through this and the Lord will simultaneously send some verbal affirmation into my life.
At Saturday club yesterday we taught 250 children about Jesus' kindness and goodness by feeding the multitudes then fed every one of them. Several gave their lives to Christ. It was really special for me to get to hear the young ones crying out to Jesus on their own (we did not get them to repeat a prayer after us).
Lastly, some funny things in Acholi culture that have caused some laughs:
1. Time is measured in 12 hour increments, starting at 7 am. So both 7 am and pm are called Acel, or one in Acholi.
2. They differentiate body parts much differently than we do. It took me several days to figure out why they used the same word for leg and foot and toes. Hahaha.
3. Many Ugandans sincerely believe that the American government only allows its citizens to have 2 children. People here have around 7 children usually.
K time's up. :)
Lately the Lord's been doing something in me that i haven't expected. I've had a lot of pride in my heart, and He's chosen this trip to deal with it. Any problem you have will be magnified when you're doing ministry. I have to learn not to say anything when I think Im right. Maybe someday I will realize i'm not always right. Please pray we can get through this and the Lord will simultaneously send some verbal affirmation into my life.
At Saturday club yesterday we taught 250 children about Jesus' kindness and goodness by feeding the multitudes then fed every one of them. Several gave their lives to Christ. It was really special for me to get to hear the young ones crying out to Jesus on their own (we did not get them to repeat a prayer after us).
Lastly, some funny things in Acholi culture that have caused some laughs:
1. Time is measured in 12 hour increments, starting at 7 am. So both 7 am and pm are called Acel, or one in Acholi.
2. They differentiate body parts much differently than we do. It took me several days to figure out why they used the same word for leg and foot and toes. Hahaha.
3. Many Ugandans sincerely believe that the American government only allows its citizens to have 2 children. People here have around 7 children usually.
K time's up. :)
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