Thursday-
It’s our last day here, and I have simon promised for his full attention right after breakfast. He and I walk over to the younglife office (after he procure 4 more boxes of water for us) and we have a discussion about NGOs and the lack of regulation of them- that there is no accountability, and it’s hard because there are so many assumptions about younglife because it’s a NGO (greed, corruption, false fronts.) When simon and I got to the office, we sat down, and set up his budget- as he was getting the hang of entering expenses, the younglife prayer crew showed up, and prayed over the younglife house. I joined them, because simon was doing fine, and I needed to create an inventory worksheet for all of the stuff we just gave them. Foster ended up staying and counting things with me, which was welcome company. I enjoy him, and that he is completely comfortable with who he is.
Then back to the hotel for lunch under the mango tree, and an adventure at 2 pm. We weren’t told anything about it, other than it was thought up in combination by the hotel staff here, simon, and eric, the UN representative here, and we needed closed toed shoes, hats, water and sunscreen. so we piled into taxis, and headed out. First, we met a man named Wilson who showed us his property, which backs up to a boulder mountain. And he took us up on a hike to see some caves. He told us that about 7 years ago there was fighting here, and when the rebels would come, they would sleep up in the caves at night or they would be killed in their beds. It’s the same conflict that is going on now, but they have been beaten back, up to the north.
After the caves, we drove to the lake- but you couldn’t drive up to the lake. We got into fishing boats, and were rowed through the reeds- it was sooo jungle cruise from Disneyland. Except that there was a good chance of tipping over, or sinking- one boat started too. Ours had about an inch of boat above water where Casey and I were sitting,
And we got wet.
After the lake, we had the choice of walking through the villages or going back to where the caves were and hiking up the mountain. Many of us wanted to hike, including me. While we were waiting for the boats to come back, Eric, the UN guy comes up to a group of us and says “does anyone know how to drive a stick shift car?” since no one else was answering, I said “I do”. And he hands me the keys to his car, and asks if I will follow the taxis back to where we will all end up. Heck yes I will drive in Uganda! So foster is brave, and asks to ride shotgun. It was a piece of cake, except that the driver is on the right side, which means the gearshift is on the left. Totally weird. And I had to back up for 100 yards or so right off the bat, and backing up isn’t my strongest skill. It was complicated by the fact that if I went off the road on either side, I’d be in the swampy part of the lake, there were about a hundred or so people milling around to not hit, plus some goats and cows, and I wasn’t very good at doing the light “beep beep” on the horn that the taxi drivers do so well. Foster offered to shift for me. Since it’s on the right (and right) side for him.
Then we climbed the mountain. It was pretty cool. The view was breathtaking- you could see forever.
On the way home, there was a conflict with the taxi driver stemming from some miscommunication, and I got my first taste of the way Africans communicate- voices get raised and tones are firm immediately. It’s not comfortable- it feels like I’m the girlfriend at a family dinner where everyone’s fighting.
We stopped to see the younglife center potential site, and pray over it. That was cool.
more later- to be finished and ethiopia added after some sleep!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Wednesday 7/25
Wednesday-
This is from memory, because my computer was locked up downstairs in 101 (the room we stored everything in, and almost a codeword of ours), so I didn’t get to write. Yesterday many many things happened. Of course the morning meant a team going to the widow’s house. But it also meant that we sorted medical supplies and took them to the dispensary, we visited the hospital and prayed over patients, we visited schools where the volunteer younglife leaders taught, and I worked on creating spreadsheets for simon.
Simon keeps his budget on scraps of paper and in a notebook, and does the math with his cell phone calculator. This is the system he knows, but when we saw it, we thought we could give him better tools- especially since one of the things we donated was a lap-top computer with Microsoft office on it. The ability to sort expenses on a simple spreadsheet will do wonders in setting a budget and being able to communicate with donors- simon will know that they need this much money a month for food, or for transportation, or for special projects. He will be able to communicate that they give this much money to the poor in the community in these ways.
We went out to the work site for a lazy lunch, and had a good time of fellowship with all who were there. We had ridden bikes out, but ended up walking back, and we stopped by the dispensary (like a clinic) to drop off a suitcase full of medical supplies.
On the way back from the dispensary, we ran into simon on the road, and he asked if he could show us the younglife property, because as providence would have it, it was right near where we were, and simon had arranged for the owner of the land to meet with him right then. He had stopped by the hotel to see if Michele was there, but heard that we were on the road.
The property is a bit off the road, through a couple of little house clusters, to a wide open field of crops. The space is in between most of the schools, and simon has a vision to have a playground there. Someone has already donated a large tent to have as a first structure, where they will do tutoring after school, and hope to build a large youth center with some housing for their leaders. It’s quite a vision. And we don’t have the property yet- it’s around $30,000 american, and they have no money and no real way to raise it.
We came back to the hotel, and I got to sit with Steve and hear his story. It is truly a story of redemption. We talked of the church, and how it sometimes gets things right, really right, and sometime gets it wrong, really wrong. Then showers and on to dinner. Lovely as always.
We had worship and community time with our team, which was lead at first by Riley, then we had a great discussion on the fruit of the spirit, and Michele read from the message, and from Mike Yacconelli’s book- Messy Spirituality. I need to get that when I get home. We then got to share with our prayer partner, and affirm them on which fruit we have seen in them, and tell them which fruit we’d like to see more of in our own lives. Michele affirmed me as having a peace about me that can’t be shaken, and having a calming effect on situations that she truly values, especially on this trip. I told her I want to be more gentile and kind- I don’t handle people softly, I tent to poke fun and joke and have sharp sarcastic wit. I would rather be gentile and kind.
This is from memory, because my computer was locked up downstairs in 101 (the room we stored everything in, and almost a codeword of ours), so I didn’t get to write. Yesterday many many things happened. Of course the morning meant a team going to the widow’s house. But it also meant that we sorted medical supplies and took them to the dispensary, we visited the hospital and prayed over patients, we visited schools where the volunteer younglife leaders taught, and I worked on creating spreadsheets for simon.
Simon keeps his budget on scraps of paper and in a notebook, and does the math with his cell phone calculator. This is the system he knows, but when we saw it, we thought we could give him better tools- especially since one of the things we donated was a lap-top computer with Microsoft office on it. The ability to sort expenses on a simple spreadsheet will do wonders in setting a budget and being able to communicate with donors- simon will know that they need this much money a month for food, or for transportation, or for special projects. He will be able to communicate that they give this much money to the poor in the community in these ways.
We went out to the work site for a lazy lunch, and had a good time of fellowship with all who were there. We had ridden bikes out, but ended up walking back, and we stopped by the dispensary (like a clinic) to drop off a suitcase full of medical supplies.
On the way back from the dispensary, we ran into simon on the road, and he asked if he could show us the younglife property, because as providence would have it, it was right near where we were, and simon had arranged for the owner of the land to meet with him right then. He had stopped by the hotel to see if Michele was there, but heard that we were on the road.
The property is a bit off the road, through a couple of little house clusters, to a wide open field of crops. The space is in between most of the schools, and simon has a vision to have a playground there. Someone has already donated a large tent to have as a first structure, where they will do tutoring after school, and hope to build a large youth center with some housing for their leaders. It’s quite a vision. And we don’t have the property yet- it’s around $30,000 american, and they have no money and no real way to raise it.
We came back to the hotel, and I got to sit with Steve and hear his story. It is truly a story of redemption. We talked of the church, and how it sometimes gets things right, really right, and sometime gets it wrong, really wrong. Then showers and on to dinner. Lovely as always.
We had worship and community time with our team, which was lead at first by Riley, then we had a great discussion on the fruit of the spirit, and Michele read from the message, and from Mike Yacconelli’s book- Messy Spirituality. I need to get that when I get home. We then got to share with our prayer partner, and affirm them on which fruit we have seen in them, and tell them which fruit we’d like to see more of in our own lives. Michele affirmed me as having a peace about me that can’t be shaken, and having a calming effect on situations that she truly values, especially on this trip. I told her I want to be more gentile and kind- I don’t handle people softly, I tent to poke fun and joke and have sharp sarcastic wit. I would rather be gentile and kind.
tuesday 7/24
Tuesday-
Today was mostly light and joyful. I am finding that this trip is becoming less and less about what we’re doing, and more and more about the conversations with people, the relationships built, the people we are becoming. Well, maybe the trip was always about that, but we needed the tasks to get us to understanding that. Not to say that there aren’t tasks- there are, and they are valid, and they are being accomplished. But something more important is happening too.
The morning started with breakfast- a slightly smaller group as four of us had already headed to the widows house, which is actually beginning to look like a house! Well at least you can picture it- the bricks are coursed to about waist high. They needed to set before we went higher at this point. And when I say we, I mean they, because I was part of the office team this morning. We also sent some people to the “growing God’s way” garden.
At breakfast, Alex told us about his dream from last night, and it was amazing. Many of us have been having strange dreams due to our malaria meds, but Alex’s was fantastic. Even though this is mostly a journal to share with you all what I am learning and processing, I am going to briefly retell the dream because it’s so great, and alex is great, and I want to remember it forever. Alex starts by asking if we know what magic, the gathering is (it’s a card game, sort of). I ask alex if he plays it, and his response was “I used to….. and I still do”. So in the dream, he is going to a magic tournament, and he is facing his rival, but it’s $300, and he has to make some money. Luckily he works at a bank and can get screen names and passwords, (at this point, I ask if his plan was identity theft, to which he said “yes”) so he goes to start that, then leaves for his other job, which is as a bicycle inspector. And if he fails your bike, you can’t ride your bike at all. So his rival, who, as it turns out, is John Goodman, is in line, and alex has this moral dillema about whether to pass or fail John Goodman. He decided to fail him, because John Goodman is his rival, and he doesn’t like him. So John Goodman puts a hit out on alex, because he can’t come after him, since he can’t ride his bike. Somehow there’s a casino in the story as well. But anyway, when he’s running from John Goodman’s hitman, he get’s on a bus that has a sign that says “no card needed” which is important, since he left his wallet on the plane (in real life). And people come and get him and start interrogating him about his computer use at college, and when he’s in the middle of that, he flashes back to 1936. and then he wakes up, so we’ll never no why. And if john goodman’s hit man gets him, and if he wins the magic tournament.
So. Like I said, I was part of the office team. We had heard that the shelves were put up, so we decided it was time to start filling them with the donations that we have. So we sorted and packed up and headed over to the office. Well, some of the shelves were done. One set. In the back room. This is Africa- and how it goes. But we decided to put things up on those shelves. And we went back and forth another time, with a decent amount of sitting and resting in between because it was a hot day. Then we had to figure out how to get to the widow’s house for lunch. We talked our way into a ride with the lunch in the back of the pick up truck, which was an adventure, sitting on the rails and holding on for dear life.
In the afternoon, Michele and I sat down to figure out the money situation- what we’ve spent where. We’ve got it mostly figured out. Then she, Foster and I walked over to the library to check our email. It’s not so exciting for me, since I’ve prepped everyone that I’ll be out of the country and not able to get email- except that I found out that my harry potter book and my swim suit have both shipped, which is fun. Of course, on the way to the library, we picked up a few kids, and so while we were waiting for computers, we sat and read stories to them. As I was attempting to catch the attention of one young boy with the story I am reading, I notice foster next to me has gotten a math book that he’s reading to a couple of little boys. And then they all went and got math books to look at. It was so very funny. And in the mean time Michele is reading goodnight moon to the boy on her lap and getting him to repeat each word. I am having much less luck with the hungry caterpiller, and it’s more fun to listen to Foster anyway.
The last few hours of the afternoon were spent in conversations- I feel like I am getting to know matt and ari better, which is fun. I feel kindred to levi, and I’d like to get to know steve better. I just really like foster and taylor, and want to know mary and tasha more, because I feel like they bring a lot to the table that is outside of my experience.
Tonight, our community time was discussing the beatitudes (Matthew 5). It was a great discussion- I am working on the idea that the American idea of blessing and the “blessings” in this passage are two very different things. And that maybe we are blessed in some ways, especially with resources, but not for our own benefit- it’s for the benefit of the whole church. But it’s too easy to set ourselves down and say look how much favor God has on us, and then do nothing further. It’s also hard to shake the notion of the amount of things that we have is proportionate to God’s love for us- it’s a very ingrained in the way we interact in relationship. But it’s not necessarily correct. Even categorizing blessing, and comparing may be a wrong mindset. It’s so hard to pick apart what I think about things and evaluate it- what is worthy, what is off.
Today was mostly light and joyful. I am finding that this trip is becoming less and less about what we’re doing, and more and more about the conversations with people, the relationships built, the people we are becoming. Well, maybe the trip was always about that, but we needed the tasks to get us to understanding that. Not to say that there aren’t tasks- there are, and they are valid, and they are being accomplished. But something more important is happening too.
The morning started with breakfast- a slightly smaller group as four of us had already headed to the widows house, which is actually beginning to look like a house! Well at least you can picture it- the bricks are coursed to about waist high. They needed to set before we went higher at this point. And when I say we, I mean they, because I was part of the office team this morning. We also sent some people to the “growing God’s way” garden.
At breakfast, Alex told us about his dream from last night, and it was amazing. Many of us have been having strange dreams due to our malaria meds, but Alex’s was fantastic. Even though this is mostly a journal to share with you all what I am learning and processing, I am going to briefly retell the dream because it’s so great, and alex is great, and I want to remember it forever. Alex starts by asking if we know what magic, the gathering is (it’s a card game, sort of). I ask alex if he plays it, and his response was “I used to….. and I still do”. So in the dream, he is going to a magic tournament, and he is facing his rival, but it’s $300, and he has to make some money. Luckily he works at a bank and can get screen names and passwords, (at this point, I ask if his plan was identity theft, to which he said “yes”) so he goes to start that, then leaves for his other job, which is as a bicycle inspector. And if he fails your bike, you can’t ride your bike at all. So his rival, who, as it turns out, is John Goodman, is in line, and alex has this moral dillema about whether to pass or fail John Goodman. He decided to fail him, because John Goodman is his rival, and he doesn’t like him. So John Goodman puts a hit out on alex, because he can’t come after him, since he can’t ride his bike. Somehow there’s a casino in the story as well. But anyway, when he’s running from John Goodman’s hitman, he get’s on a bus that has a sign that says “no card needed” which is important, since he left his wallet on the plane (in real life). And people come and get him and start interrogating him about his computer use at college, and when he’s in the middle of that, he flashes back to 1936. and then he wakes up, so we’ll never no why. And if john goodman’s hit man gets him, and if he wins the magic tournament.
So. Like I said, I was part of the office team. We had heard that the shelves were put up, so we decided it was time to start filling them with the donations that we have. So we sorted and packed up and headed over to the office. Well, some of the shelves were done. One set. In the back room. This is Africa- and how it goes. But we decided to put things up on those shelves. And we went back and forth another time, with a decent amount of sitting and resting in between because it was a hot day. Then we had to figure out how to get to the widow’s house for lunch. We talked our way into a ride with the lunch in the back of the pick up truck, which was an adventure, sitting on the rails and holding on for dear life.
In the afternoon, Michele and I sat down to figure out the money situation- what we’ve spent where. We’ve got it mostly figured out. Then she, Foster and I walked over to the library to check our email. It’s not so exciting for me, since I’ve prepped everyone that I’ll be out of the country and not able to get email- except that I found out that my harry potter book and my swim suit have both shipped, which is fun. Of course, on the way to the library, we picked up a few kids, and so while we were waiting for computers, we sat and read stories to them. As I was attempting to catch the attention of one young boy with the story I am reading, I notice foster next to me has gotten a math book that he’s reading to a couple of little boys. And then they all went and got math books to look at. It was so very funny. And in the mean time Michele is reading goodnight moon to the boy on her lap and getting him to repeat each word. I am having much less luck with the hungry caterpiller, and it’s more fun to listen to Foster anyway.
The last few hours of the afternoon were spent in conversations- I feel like I am getting to know matt and ari better, which is fun. I feel kindred to levi, and I’d like to get to know steve better. I just really like foster and taylor, and want to know mary and tasha more, because I feel like they bring a lot to the table that is outside of my experience.
Tonight, our community time was discussing the beatitudes (Matthew 5). It was a great discussion- I am working on the idea that the American idea of blessing and the “blessings” in this passage are two very different things. And that maybe we are blessed in some ways, especially with resources, but not for our own benefit- it’s for the benefit of the whole church. But it’s too easy to set ourselves down and say look how much favor God has on us, and then do nothing further. It’s also hard to shake the notion of the amount of things that we have is proportionate to God’s love for us- it’s a very ingrained in the way we interact in relationship. But it’s not necessarily correct. Even categorizing blessing, and comparing may be a wrong mindset. It’s so hard to pick apart what I think about things and evaluate it- what is worthy, what is off.
Monday 7/23
Monday-
Levi’s fever broke! And he was feeling better and came down for breakfast, but threw up before because he took his malaria pill and some pepto pills with no food. So he got to rest some more for the morning, but the group that stayed back got to join up at lunch, so it all worked out.
Today we got a taxi out to the widows house and they were just finishing leveling the foundation trenches, and starting to make cement, so we were filling the wheelbarrows with the aggregate that we pounded on Saturday, to mix with the cement and sand and water. Once they got the trench level, we started filling it with one brick’s depth of cement. As we were waiting for that to set up, some of us went to get more water, this time at the pump well, which was closer, but harder to get the water out of. Elena and I carried it back on our heads. We’re totally getting it. When we came back, everyone was in a big line to pass bricks from the pile and distribute them around the perimiter. Simon estimated that we’d need 3000 bricks, and the load we had today was 1000, and we used less than half on the foundation. Once the cement had set enough, (really it should set for 2-3 days, especially since it rained in the middle of the process, and it will rain more, but in 3 days we won’t be here anymore) simon worked a crazy rig to square the corner stones (crazy theological implications there) and once those were in place, they started laying the brick. They tought Taylor and Matt how, but really there were only 3 or 4 trowels so the rest of us didn’t have a whole lot of “work” to do. I was sitting under the edge of a hut after taking Michele and her sons to go get water (Michele and Casey carried it on their heads!) and chatting with Levi and Foster and Matt, and somehow there grew to be a great crowd of kids around us. No kidding, there were like 50 all pressed in and staring. And I was just singing the Tee-Pee Villiage song to Levi, because we were comparing kid camp songs, and the kids repeated the “wa-oonga” part. So all of the sudden I was teaching them the wa-oonga part. And 50 little Ugandan kids were pressing in and singing with me. Then I didn’t know what to do next, so steve suggested from the back that we sing B-I-N-G-O, so we sang that. And then there were a couple of other camp songs. And Matt and Levi got called away to work, so it was just me and Foster. Foster is a trooper. Seriously. We just kept making things up. And then it was time to go, and while we were singing, they were able to lay 4 courses of brick, and after the majority of us left, taylor and matt stayed to fill in the foundation trenches. It was pretty amazing. Tomorrow, only 6 go back to work on the widows house, which is a little sad, but also, more effective since most of us stand around anyway, and there might be something more useful for us to do here.
So when we got back, I came up and showered right way, and feeling clean was amazing. I took my blanket and went and laid on the grass outside to read. And then I was struck with how safe I feel here in Pallisa. Really, this isn’t the norm. Yet we really can go wherever we want here without too much concern. The hotel is especially safe. Although the children are getting bold- because we have played with them on the back lawn, some of them know we are here and have come into the compound, and even into the hotel, which upsets the hotel staff. So we should figure out a way to deal with that.
Then there was dinner, and after dinner some team community time and worship. It was really cool. Riley and Steve lead the singing part, and then there was some great time in prayer, and we got to talk with our prayer buddies about where we are. Some things I am processing are all of the paradoxes all around. Levi and I were talking earlier about how rich the faith and community and love of the Christians here is, but they don’t have running water. It’s sort of the opposite of America- we have, so often, a shallow spirituality and faith and love, but we have the necessary things to sustain ourselves. And Michele and I were talking about how we want to bring grace and walk along side of the Christians here, but it’s almost like they want us to save them. How do we bring grace without becoming a savior? Something to wrestle with. And the faith of the people here strikes me as very real, and very emotional. My faith is very real, but I don’t know if you would know it by looking at me, because it’s not very emotional. The depth is in the intellect- I interact with God most in hymns and reading and thinking things through. I see what they have, and want it, but it feels awkward on me- like ill fitting clothes.
That’s another thing Michele and talked about. I was struck today at the widow’s house that Africans just don’t seem to be made for clothes. Especially western clothes, which they wear some semblance of, for the most part. It makes no sense. Who told them that they were poor, I wonder? Because in their little communities they have food and shelter and contentedness, and yet someone came in and convinced them that they need clothes and things and strip malls (or the palissa version of- shops in a row) and the trappings of the west, and somehow they now believe that this is what they want. They want to create a little britian, a little America, that this is somehow ideal. That we, somehow, are ideal. But really, we’re not the answer. You can be greedy with a lot or with a little. Having a lot doesn’t solve it, and having nothing doesn’t solve it.
Riley raised the question tonight that we came here to serve, but they seem to be serving us more than us. Michele mentioned that they are our hosts, and they want to take care of us, and I mentioned that they want to host us with dignity, and Steve said maybe the way we serve them is by accepting their hospitality gratefully.
Levi’s fever broke! And he was feeling better and came down for breakfast, but threw up before because he took his malaria pill and some pepto pills with no food. So he got to rest some more for the morning, but the group that stayed back got to join up at lunch, so it all worked out.
Today we got a taxi out to the widows house and they were just finishing leveling the foundation trenches, and starting to make cement, so we were filling the wheelbarrows with the aggregate that we pounded on Saturday, to mix with the cement and sand and water. Once they got the trench level, we started filling it with one brick’s depth of cement. As we were waiting for that to set up, some of us went to get more water, this time at the pump well, which was closer, but harder to get the water out of. Elena and I carried it back on our heads. We’re totally getting it. When we came back, everyone was in a big line to pass bricks from the pile and distribute them around the perimiter. Simon estimated that we’d need 3000 bricks, and the load we had today was 1000, and we used less than half on the foundation. Once the cement had set enough, (really it should set for 2-3 days, especially since it rained in the middle of the process, and it will rain more, but in 3 days we won’t be here anymore) simon worked a crazy rig to square the corner stones (crazy theological implications there) and once those were in place, they started laying the brick. They tought Taylor and Matt how, but really there were only 3 or 4 trowels so the rest of us didn’t have a whole lot of “work” to do. I was sitting under the edge of a hut after taking Michele and her sons to go get water (Michele and Casey carried it on their heads!) and chatting with Levi and Foster and Matt, and somehow there grew to be a great crowd of kids around us. No kidding, there were like 50 all pressed in and staring. And I was just singing the Tee-Pee Villiage song to Levi, because we were comparing kid camp songs, and the kids repeated the “wa-oonga” part. So all of the sudden I was teaching them the wa-oonga part. And 50 little Ugandan kids were pressing in and singing with me. Then I didn’t know what to do next, so steve suggested from the back that we sing B-I-N-G-O, so we sang that. And then there were a couple of other camp songs. And Matt and Levi got called away to work, so it was just me and Foster. Foster is a trooper. Seriously. We just kept making things up. And then it was time to go, and while we were singing, they were able to lay 4 courses of brick, and after the majority of us left, taylor and matt stayed to fill in the foundation trenches. It was pretty amazing. Tomorrow, only 6 go back to work on the widows house, which is a little sad, but also, more effective since most of us stand around anyway, and there might be something more useful for us to do here.
So when we got back, I came up and showered right way, and feeling clean was amazing. I took my blanket and went and laid on the grass outside to read. And then I was struck with how safe I feel here in Pallisa. Really, this isn’t the norm. Yet we really can go wherever we want here without too much concern. The hotel is especially safe. Although the children are getting bold- because we have played with them on the back lawn, some of them know we are here and have come into the compound, and even into the hotel, which upsets the hotel staff. So we should figure out a way to deal with that.
Then there was dinner, and after dinner some team community time and worship. It was really cool. Riley and Steve lead the singing part, and then there was some great time in prayer, and we got to talk with our prayer buddies about where we are. Some things I am processing are all of the paradoxes all around. Levi and I were talking earlier about how rich the faith and community and love of the Christians here is, but they don’t have running water. It’s sort of the opposite of America- we have, so often, a shallow spirituality and faith and love, but we have the necessary things to sustain ourselves. And Michele and I were talking about how we want to bring grace and walk along side of the Christians here, but it’s almost like they want us to save them. How do we bring grace without becoming a savior? Something to wrestle with. And the faith of the people here strikes me as very real, and very emotional. My faith is very real, but I don’t know if you would know it by looking at me, because it’s not very emotional. The depth is in the intellect- I interact with God most in hymns and reading and thinking things through. I see what they have, and want it, but it feels awkward on me- like ill fitting clothes.
That’s another thing Michele and talked about. I was struck today at the widow’s house that Africans just don’t seem to be made for clothes. Especially western clothes, which they wear some semblance of, for the most part. It makes no sense. Who told them that they were poor, I wonder? Because in their little communities they have food and shelter and contentedness, and yet someone came in and convinced them that they need clothes and things and strip malls (or the palissa version of- shops in a row) and the trappings of the west, and somehow they now believe that this is what they want. They want to create a little britian, a little America, that this is somehow ideal. That we, somehow, are ideal. But really, we’re not the answer. You can be greedy with a lot or with a little. Having a lot doesn’t solve it, and having nothing doesn’t solve it.
Riley raised the question tonight that we came here to serve, but they seem to be serving us more than us. Michele mentioned that they are our hosts, and they want to take care of us, and I mentioned that they want to host us with dignity, and Steve said maybe the way we serve them is by accepting their hospitality gratefully.
sunday 7/22
Sunday-
The best laid plans are often redirected by God. Last night, Lawrence was telling me I should go to his church, and I told him that I grew up in a church where we just stood there, and that now I go to a church where we sometimes clap- and that’s even a stretch for me, so a dancing church might be a little overwhelming. My strategy was to go to the “solom” church, which was the catholic service. It was all working out too- Michele, Riley, Casey, Kendall, Forrest and I were last to leave because Michele and I were trying to get Levi some food. (more on that in a minute) So we were walking out with a different Lawrence to head to the catholic service. But along the way, we ran into Janet, who had no one going with her to church, and we had six, so Forrest and I went along with her to a Pentacostal Villiage church. The church was pretty far back off a path, so most of the people we saw weren’t ones that we’ve seen along our walks all week- there were many stares. That’s ok. The church itself was a big rectangular brick building, with 3 rows of wooden benches, and instead of benches for part of one of the rows there was grass mats where some women and many children were sitting on the ground. It was actually a pretty great experience. When we got there, the first two songs were in English, which went a long way to putting me at ease. Everything was spoken in two languages- English and either Addis (sp?) or Luganda. The songs picked up- which was fun. They asked for visitors to say something, but we weren’t really sure what we were supposed to say. So we stood up, and I introduced us, and said we were there to worship with them, and that we have come to visit the people from younglife here, and bless you in Jesus name. They all seemed like they thought that was the end (I just kept saying things until it seemed like they were satisfied) and so we sat down. At this point, one brave little girl came and sat next to me on the bench. Many many others were staring and giggling through the door right near us. After a while, another girl, who was a little bit bigger came over and sat next to the first girl, but wanted to get her out of the way. There was a bit of wrestling, and the bigger girl tried to throw the smaller one, but the smaller one wouldn’t be moved. Later in the service, the bigger girl was sitting next to me, and the smaller one came back to claim her rightful spot. The bigger girl wouldn’t move, so in the middle of prayer, the smaller girl wiggles her way in and starts throwing elbows into the bigger girls stomach. Yes, that’s right, it’s the first fight I have ever had to break up in the middle of prayer during church.
There may have been praying in tongues, however, it could have just been their own language. There was a sermon, and I am pretty sure the point was to step out in faith and the Lord will provide for you. There was more singing, and much dancing, and several more announcements. The service was about 2 and a half hours all said and done, which was pretty reasonable. On the way back, janet took us to the library to check our email. It was a slow process, but it was nice to connect, even if briefly.
At lunch we were talking about our experiences at church. Michele said that it was really apparent to her that the statistic of more than 50% of Uganda is under the age of 15 is true. Julie said that during the offering, there was a bag of rice and a bag of peanuts that got “auctioned” off, and so she asked grace what was happening, and grace said that some people don’t have money, and they brought those as their offering, so they are selling them. That’s pretty cool. Steve and Ari and Matt went on bike to a village church that was about 12 people in a grass hut.
I spent my Sabbath afternoon napping and reading. It was pretty great. And needed for this introvert.
At about 6 we started over to the younglife office for worship with the volunteers. It was really neat to hear Simons story, and to sing along side our African brothers and sisters. When we came back to the hotel, they had put together a barbeque out in a corner of the property, with a bon fire. It was pretty cool. And we had marshmallows that were brought for a club game, but not used, so we showed the hotel staff how to roast marshmallows.
Levi. Poor levi. The guy is sick. And he’s such a trooper. He was puking all night long last night, and so Michele had him start on cipro. Today he thought he felt better, but then he got a pretty bad fever. He’s having fitful sleep. Tonight we laid hands on him and prayed for healing. I hope he feels better soon. He really doesn’t want to stay in bed.
The best laid plans are often redirected by God. Last night, Lawrence was telling me I should go to his church, and I told him that I grew up in a church where we just stood there, and that now I go to a church where we sometimes clap- and that’s even a stretch for me, so a dancing church might be a little overwhelming. My strategy was to go to the “solom” church, which was the catholic service. It was all working out too- Michele, Riley, Casey, Kendall, Forrest and I were last to leave because Michele and I were trying to get Levi some food. (more on that in a minute) So we were walking out with a different Lawrence to head to the catholic service. But along the way, we ran into Janet, who had no one going with her to church, and we had six, so Forrest and I went along with her to a Pentacostal Villiage church. The church was pretty far back off a path, so most of the people we saw weren’t ones that we’ve seen along our walks all week- there were many stares. That’s ok. The church itself was a big rectangular brick building, with 3 rows of wooden benches, and instead of benches for part of one of the rows there was grass mats where some women and many children were sitting on the ground. It was actually a pretty great experience. When we got there, the first two songs were in English, which went a long way to putting me at ease. Everything was spoken in two languages- English and either Addis (sp?) or Luganda. The songs picked up- which was fun. They asked for visitors to say something, but we weren’t really sure what we were supposed to say. So we stood up, and I introduced us, and said we were there to worship with them, and that we have come to visit the people from younglife here, and bless you in Jesus name. They all seemed like they thought that was the end (I just kept saying things until it seemed like they were satisfied) and so we sat down. At this point, one brave little girl came and sat next to me on the bench. Many many others were staring and giggling through the door right near us. After a while, another girl, who was a little bit bigger came over and sat next to the first girl, but wanted to get her out of the way. There was a bit of wrestling, and the bigger girl tried to throw the smaller one, but the smaller one wouldn’t be moved. Later in the service, the bigger girl was sitting next to me, and the smaller one came back to claim her rightful spot. The bigger girl wouldn’t move, so in the middle of prayer, the smaller girl wiggles her way in and starts throwing elbows into the bigger girls stomach. Yes, that’s right, it’s the first fight I have ever had to break up in the middle of prayer during church.
There may have been praying in tongues, however, it could have just been their own language. There was a sermon, and I am pretty sure the point was to step out in faith and the Lord will provide for you. There was more singing, and much dancing, and several more announcements. The service was about 2 and a half hours all said and done, which was pretty reasonable. On the way back, janet took us to the library to check our email. It was a slow process, but it was nice to connect, even if briefly.
At lunch we were talking about our experiences at church. Michele said that it was really apparent to her that the statistic of more than 50% of Uganda is under the age of 15 is true. Julie said that during the offering, there was a bag of rice and a bag of peanuts that got “auctioned” off, and so she asked grace what was happening, and grace said that some people don’t have money, and they brought those as their offering, so they are selling them. That’s pretty cool. Steve and Ari and Matt went on bike to a village church that was about 12 people in a grass hut.
I spent my Sabbath afternoon napping and reading. It was pretty great. And needed for this introvert.
At about 6 we started over to the younglife office for worship with the volunteers. It was really neat to hear Simons story, and to sing along side our African brothers and sisters. When we came back to the hotel, they had put together a barbeque out in a corner of the property, with a bon fire. It was pretty cool. And we had marshmallows that were brought for a club game, but not used, so we showed the hotel staff how to roast marshmallows.
Levi. Poor levi. The guy is sick. And he’s such a trooper. He was puking all night long last night, and so Michele had him start on cipro. Today he thought he felt better, but then he got a pretty bad fever. He’s having fitful sleep. Tonight we laid hands on him and prayed for healing. I hope he feels better soon. He really doesn’t want to stay in bed.
saturday 7/21
Saturday.
My goodness today was long- it seems like the things we did this morning were about 2 days ago. But they weren’t, so lets start there. Today we went out to start building the widows house. For most of us (all but 4) this was the first time we’ve seen simon’s house, and the first time we’ve been to the widow’s place. Simon’s house is pretty great, by African standards- he’s got a nice size main house, then a sort of back structure, where they do the cooking, and it looks like they store some things. There were a few tiny goats out front, and a lot of chickens running around, plus he seems to have some decent space for crops, so I think he does ok. From there, we walked probably about 100 yards along paths around crop parcels to the widows place. It was part of a small village of huts that in other places housed students. Her hut was round, about 5 feet across, and housed her and her two children. Normally people have a second hut to cook in, but she doesn’t, because her husband was unfaithful to her, and when he realized that he was dying from AIDS, he began selling off his property to live well in his last days. She was helpless to stop this, and now has very little property, and almost none to grow crops on, which is her livelihood. So we are building her a house. And that is something.
Not that any of us have any idea how to build a house in Africa- the same rules don’t apply. Sometimes I think that we are looked upon as magicians, or miracle workers- that somehow we have answers and can do anything, because we’re from America. The thing is, many of our American answers and solutions don’t work here. We’ve got some guys who’ve worked in construction, but construction in America means calling a supply company and backing a dump truck up to pour a foundation. Today we found out that in Africa it means an enormous pile of boulders that need to be broken up into golf-ball sized aggregate, a pile of sand (that got there somehow, before we did) and hauling about 30 jugs of water (probably 4-5 gallons each?) from a well that’s a 15 minute walk away, unladen. So we broke rocks. We had one sledge hammer to break the boulders into smaller rocks, and several hoes to use the back end of the metal part to smash the smaller rocks repeatedly until they were small enough. In the beginning there were not enough hoes and not enough jobs, so some of us went to the other side of the pile and began throwing boulders and smaller rocks at each other to get them to break. It sort of worked. Steve and I came up with a method where I would put a rock or a boulder on another boulder, and he would smash down on it with the biggest rock he could lift.
I took a break to drink some water, and Michele handed me Theophylis (pronounced theo- fill-is), who is simons 7 month old, who is adorable and happy and has a mo-hawk, just like me. She was so sweet, and with my swaying and patting, she promptly fell asleep, and then I had a sweet sleeping baby. Until one of the people who know the family saw, and ordered a sibling to take her for her nap- the sibling just tossed this baby I had been so gently patting over her shoulder and was off. Theo didn’t notice at all.
One thing about the babies in Africa- they learn very early to hold on. I suppose you have to when you’re being carried around by a 4 year old. And the children in Africa, so grown up- they have independence far beyond what we expect or allow of our children- I would be truly heartbroken (instead of just mostly) if I didn’t see that they still get to also be children and still have at least some of their innocence.
I mentioned that I went to fetch some of the water, but I didn’t mention that I gave it a go of carrying it on my head like the African women leaders did. They were very gracious in my attempts, and didn’t laugh at all, or call me a failure when I could only carry it for 5 minutes or so. It’s hard to balance, and to be confident in balancing, even with the banana leaf ring to steady it on my head. I had to use my arms to keep it balanced, and they tired quickly.
Not long after we got back, it was time to start moving back towards the hotel for lunch and to prepare for club. We were putting on club in Uganda, not that the Ugandans needed us to- they do an excellent job of it on their own.
I spent the afternoon preparing for my first club talk on another continent. And really, what analogies do you use when talking to people so far out of your context? I was thinking of one of the stories where people had heard that Jesus was coming, and went out to find him, because of our experience on the first day (and really every day) where we were walking somewhere, and adults stop and look, and the children (who are always bolder) come running from their homes to check it out, and end up walking with us, holding hands. Wherever the muzungu go, we draw a crowd. Zacceus was the natural parallel, but I really felt God impressing on me to talk about where Jesus heals the guy at Capernaum, where his friends lower him from the roof. So that’s the talk I prepared.
So, we head over to the younglife office at 4, getting there at 4:15, which we assum is ok because everything we do here is late, but simon was just about to set off to find us. We finally got club going at 4:30, and stared with splitting into 3 groups in 3 separate parts of the compound, each with their own part of the Toyota song. Then we got together outside to compete, to see which parts song and dance moves (changing each round) was best. Just as we were wrapping this up, the thunderstorm began rolling in- first sprinkling, but quickly progressing, so the younglife leaders herded everyone into the club room as quickly as was possible, and while that was happening, we changed plans to have the Ugandan leaders lead in a couple of songs, and then do the club talk, and hopefully the storm will have passed by then, and then we could finish the rest of the club plans. The Ugandan club songs were fun and loud and rowdy and dancy, and everything you would expect from singing in Africa. The only problem was that it seemed like several people were leading it- which was great- but each time we’d communicate that after this song we should do the talk, someone else would start another song. Eventually it was time for me to do the talk. And as soon as we were inside, I had understood why God had picked the Capernaum story for me to talk about- here we were in a cramped crowded (stinky) room, with barely any room to move- waiting to hear what this strange person who they had heard rumors about speak.
I am not sure how many kids understood the talk- I can’t help but speak American English, and it has taken all 3 days we’ve been here for the Ugandan leaders and us to start understanding each other. But regardless, for me it was a spirit moment- that God orchestrated a Capernaum experience for a Capernaum story. And that God cleared up the rain by the time I was done, so we went outside and had the rest of club, and I think kids had fun! Although, it’s pretty hard not to have fun at younglife. During the outside part, there were several (15ish?) little kids, under 6, there, who mostly just wanted candy. To distract them from that, I started a rousing game of ring around the rosie, which they didn’t know, but really liked the “all fall down” part, and would have played as long as I kept singing it to them, but really, my pants were soaked through from the wet ground, and my shirt was muddy, so it was time to switch to duck duck goose. The best thing about duck duck goose, is that the game doesn’t make much sense anyway, but really ducks and geese are words that they just don’t have any context for, because there are no geese or ducks here. so the kids say “duck, duck, duck, DUCK!” and you run after the last duck. Except one girl, who says “duck, duck, duck, toose!”.
After club, at about 6, we came back here and had dinner and prepared to host the volunteer leaders for camp counselor training, that was supposed to happen last night, but didn’t because of the storm. It was amazing. Not so much what we had to share, although that was important, because they are about to have their first camp ever in Uganda and it’s good to prepare them. But because there were 28 or so volunteers there to be trained- that simon said that they could use a hundred volunteers, and it still wouldn’t be enough to reach the kids. Also because once we had said our part, which was good- but we quickly found out it wasn’t the point of the meeting. The question and answer time was profound. The problems that they have here are so very different and also exactly the same. The first question was about what to do with a kid who is a headache, over and over, and comes but never follows the rules. The second question was about what to do when a kid asks for money, or food, or tuition because they’re about to be kicked out of school. There were others, all good- all that need to have answers figured out here in Africa- our American solutions won’t work. A point that was raised over and over was to give what you can, but remember it’s not your job to be the savior- there is only one Savior. Which is a lesson I have had to learn myself over and over in the states.
After the training, we went over to the bar, for a beer. It seemed an appropriate way to process. I got to talk with Levi a bit, and it turns out we like to read the same things- Lammott, Miller, Manning and others. I like Levi a lot- who he is and what he stands for. I am glad that we have connected. And then I came up here, to my room to journal, as many of the college kids sat on the porch and played and sang some worship songs. It was nice to have them gently wafting in the room.
All in all, a good day.
My goodness today was long- it seems like the things we did this morning were about 2 days ago. But they weren’t, so lets start there. Today we went out to start building the widows house. For most of us (all but 4) this was the first time we’ve seen simon’s house, and the first time we’ve been to the widow’s place. Simon’s house is pretty great, by African standards- he’s got a nice size main house, then a sort of back structure, where they do the cooking, and it looks like they store some things. There were a few tiny goats out front, and a lot of chickens running around, plus he seems to have some decent space for crops, so I think he does ok. From there, we walked probably about 100 yards along paths around crop parcels to the widows place. It was part of a small village of huts that in other places housed students. Her hut was round, about 5 feet across, and housed her and her two children. Normally people have a second hut to cook in, but she doesn’t, because her husband was unfaithful to her, and when he realized that he was dying from AIDS, he began selling off his property to live well in his last days. She was helpless to stop this, and now has very little property, and almost none to grow crops on, which is her livelihood. So we are building her a house. And that is something.
Not that any of us have any idea how to build a house in Africa- the same rules don’t apply. Sometimes I think that we are looked upon as magicians, or miracle workers- that somehow we have answers and can do anything, because we’re from America. The thing is, many of our American answers and solutions don’t work here. We’ve got some guys who’ve worked in construction, but construction in America means calling a supply company and backing a dump truck up to pour a foundation. Today we found out that in Africa it means an enormous pile of boulders that need to be broken up into golf-ball sized aggregate, a pile of sand (that got there somehow, before we did) and hauling about 30 jugs of water (probably 4-5 gallons each?) from a well that’s a 15 minute walk away, unladen. So we broke rocks. We had one sledge hammer to break the boulders into smaller rocks, and several hoes to use the back end of the metal part to smash the smaller rocks repeatedly until they were small enough. In the beginning there were not enough hoes and not enough jobs, so some of us went to the other side of the pile and began throwing boulders and smaller rocks at each other to get them to break. It sort of worked. Steve and I came up with a method where I would put a rock or a boulder on another boulder, and he would smash down on it with the biggest rock he could lift.
I took a break to drink some water, and Michele handed me Theophylis (pronounced theo- fill-is), who is simons 7 month old, who is adorable and happy and has a mo-hawk, just like me. She was so sweet, and with my swaying and patting, she promptly fell asleep, and then I had a sweet sleeping baby. Until one of the people who know the family saw, and ordered a sibling to take her for her nap- the sibling just tossed this baby I had been so gently patting over her shoulder and was off. Theo didn’t notice at all.
One thing about the babies in Africa- they learn very early to hold on. I suppose you have to when you’re being carried around by a 4 year old. And the children in Africa, so grown up- they have independence far beyond what we expect or allow of our children- I would be truly heartbroken (instead of just mostly) if I didn’t see that they still get to also be children and still have at least some of their innocence.
I mentioned that I went to fetch some of the water, but I didn’t mention that I gave it a go of carrying it on my head like the African women leaders did. They were very gracious in my attempts, and didn’t laugh at all, or call me a failure when I could only carry it for 5 minutes or so. It’s hard to balance, and to be confident in balancing, even with the banana leaf ring to steady it on my head. I had to use my arms to keep it balanced, and they tired quickly.
Not long after we got back, it was time to start moving back towards the hotel for lunch and to prepare for club. We were putting on club in Uganda, not that the Ugandans needed us to- they do an excellent job of it on their own.
I spent the afternoon preparing for my first club talk on another continent. And really, what analogies do you use when talking to people so far out of your context? I was thinking of one of the stories where people had heard that Jesus was coming, and went out to find him, because of our experience on the first day (and really every day) where we were walking somewhere, and adults stop and look, and the children (who are always bolder) come running from their homes to check it out, and end up walking with us, holding hands. Wherever the muzungu go, we draw a crowd. Zacceus was the natural parallel, but I really felt God impressing on me to talk about where Jesus heals the guy at Capernaum, where his friends lower him from the roof. So that’s the talk I prepared.
So, we head over to the younglife office at 4, getting there at 4:15, which we assum is ok because everything we do here is late, but simon was just about to set off to find us. We finally got club going at 4:30, and stared with splitting into 3 groups in 3 separate parts of the compound, each with their own part of the Toyota song. Then we got together outside to compete, to see which parts song and dance moves (changing each round) was best. Just as we were wrapping this up, the thunderstorm began rolling in- first sprinkling, but quickly progressing, so the younglife leaders herded everyone into the club room as quickly as was possible, and while that was happening, we changed plans to have the Ugandan leaders lead in a couple of songs, and then do the club talk, and hopefully the storm will have passed by then, and then we could finish the rest of the club plans. The Ugandan club songs were fun and loud and rowdy and dancy, and everything you would expect from singing in Africa. The only problem was that it seemed like several people were leading it- which was great- but each time we’d communicate that after this song we should do the talk, someone else would start another song. Eventually it was time for me to do the talk. And as soon as we were inside, I had understood why God had picked the Capernaum story for me to talk about- here we were in a cramped crowded (stinky) room, with barely any room to move- waiting to hear what this strange person who they had heard rumors about speak.
I am not sure how many kids understood the talk- I can’t help but speak American English, and it has taken all 3 days we’ve been here for the Ugandan leaders and us to start understanding each other. But regardless, for me it was a spirit moment- that God orchestrated a Capernaum experience for a Capernaum story. And that God cleared up the rain by the time I was done, so we went outside and had the rest of club, and I think kids had fun! Although, it’s pretty hard not to have fun at younglife. During the outside part, there were several (15ish?) little kids, under 6, there, who mostly just wanted candy. To distract them from that, I started a rousing game of ring around the rosie, which they didn’t know, but really liked the “all fall down” part, and would have played as long as I kept singing it to them, but really, my pants were soaked through from the wet ground, and my shirt was muddy, so it was time to switch to duck duck goose. The best thing about duck duck goose, is that the game doesn’t make much sense anyway, but really ducks and geese are words that they just don’t have any context for, because there are no geese or ducks here. so the kids say “duck, duck, duck, DUCK!” and you run after the last duck. Except one girl, who says “duck, duck, duck, toose!”.
After club, at about 6, we came back here and had dinner and prepared to host the volunteer leaders for camp counselor training, that was supposed to happen last night, but didn’t because of the storm. It was amazing. Not so much what we had to share, although that was important, because they are about to have their first camp ever in Uganda and it’s good to prepare them. But because there were 28 or so volunteers there to be trained- that simon said that they could use a hundred volunteers, and it still wouldn’t be enough to reach the kids. Also because once we had said our part, which was good- but we quickly found out it wasn’t the point of the meeting. The question and answer time was profound. The problems that they have here are so very different and also exactly the same. The first question was about what to do with a kid who is a headache, over and over, and comes but never follows the rules. The second question was about what to do when a kid asks for money, or food, or tuition because they’re about to be kicked out of school. There were others, all good- all that need to have answers figured out here in Africa- our American solutions won’t work. A point that was raised over and over was to give what you can, but remember it’s not your job to be the savior- there is only one Savior. Which is a lesson I have had to learn myself over and over in the states.
After the training, we went over to the bar, for a beer. It seemed an appropriate way to process. I got to talk with Levi a bit, and it turns out we like to read the same things- Lammott, Miller, Manning and others. I like Levi a lot- who he is and what he stands for. I am glad that we have connected. And then I came up here, to my room to journal, as many of the college kids sat on the porch and played and sang some worship songs. It was nice to have them gently wafting in the room.
All in all, a good day.
friday 7/20
Friday-
Today we got up with the intention of planning. The things on our agenda at the beginning of the day: survey the site at the widows house, and come up with plans for a new house for us to build, take some measurements at the younglife office to build them some shelves, and see and pray over the site for the new youth center, and eventually do some cleaning.
So we eat breakfast at eight and wait for Simon at nine. At around 9:30, Simon comes around, and wants to take us to the library, because we have some books to give. The library was pretty great- it was one room, with some shelves down the middle, and some couches in front of them, and a bank of probably about 6 computers (3 of which work). And they have internet now! Most days, anyway. One of the biggest problems is that electricity is hard to come by. They have 2 generators, but somehow that’s not a good solution (I am guessing it’s the price of gas, which is crazy expensive.) the town clerk, and another important man (I forget why) came out to greet us, and tell us the story of the library. What the library needs most is solar power.
After the library, a few of us stayed there to work on organizing the books, and the 4 people who are planning the widow’s house went to see the site (simon hired a car for them, because it’s a 45 minute walk), the people who are planning club for tomorrow night went back to the hotel to work on that, and those of us on the office team headed to the younglife office to get an idea of what they needed there.
I was on the office team. Right now they have all three back rooms filled with people living there (it looked like 6 or so), and we had the chance to sit and listen to pastor Michael, who lives there all the time, tell us about the needs. Shelves and office supplies is definitely a need, but there are so many others. They need chairs- they have no furniture, and borrowed several chairs yesterday for when we came around, the need basic cooking utensils and supplies, because they have one sauce pan, and very few things to eat with or to have tea with- and people are over all the time. They need books and games and balls and things to occupy the kids. Volleyball nets to have tournaments with. Younglife T shirts to give kids. Transportation. So much need.
We thanked them for sharing with us, and prayed for them, and headed back to the hotel to sort donations so we could start bringing them over, and to come up with a game plan. We felt the best way to do the shelves was to measure, then hire a local carpenter. In the book we’re reading, it talks about how many nationals appreciate the intent of the groups that come, but really the project could be better completed by locals who know how to work with what is available- and that we also spend money in their economy. Which is great.
We sent Steve and Matt to town to see what was available and get an idea of costs. Foster, Casey and I got bikes and rode back over to the younglife office. We walked into the middle of an impromptu singing and dancing contest- I impressed everyone with my mad dancing skills- and eventually saw where they wanted shelves and got to measure for them. Then we rode back for lunch.
After lunch, we sat around for a while chatting, and eventually got to planning a camp counselor training for tonight. We have some great younglife leaders on our team, and that coupled with the fact that I just taught camp counselor training the day before we left for Africa and made a ton of photocopies, we were set. We had a great time sharing camp stories and talking about the philosophy of camp. At the end of that, it was about 3, and we had plans to play with the kids after school, around 4 ish. I went up for a nap and slept until 5:45 or so, when Chrissy, my roomie, came and showered before dinner at 6, and got me up. When I came out to the field there were probably close to 150 kids of all ages engaged in all sorts of activity- usually with a Muzungu in the middle. 6 o’clock came and went, and we’re all used to Africa time enough that we paid it no mind- at about 6:45, when the Ugandan YL volunteers started showing up for training (at 7) we started asking around about what was going on. Africa, I have found, is not so demanding in the customer service arena. The staff here at the hotel do a great job, and really do want to provide for us well, but they don’t think to confirm dinner times (which when we checked with simon, he said that he told them 6:30, and we knew that he had told us 6.) or mention when dinner will actually be if it’s going to be late (and it’s always going to be late). While we were all chatting outside nicely, all of the sudden the winds picked up and we were in the middle of an amazing thunder storm. It was a novelty at first, but after not too long, it was just wet and windy, so we moved inside to the lobby and dining room. Now at this point there were at least 30 of us with the Ugandans there, and most of us were younglife leaders, so right away, there were a couple of songs led, and a game or two played to occupy the time. Around 8, simon had confirmed that the kitchen was not prepared to accommodate the extra 10-15 folks, and it was solidly dark anyway, so he was going to have the Ugandan volunteers go home, since it had stopped raining. Around 8:30 we had dinner, and it was nice. They do a very good job of feeding us here.
Today we got up with the intention of planning. The things on our agenda at the beginning of the day: survey the site at the widows house, and come up with plans for a new house for us to build, take some measurements at the younglife office to build them some shelves, and see and pray over the site for the new youth center, and eventually do some cleaning.
So we eat breakfast at eight and wait for Simon at nine. At around 9:30, Simon comes around, and wants to take us to the library, because we have some books to give. The library was pretty great- it was one room, with some shelves down the middle, and some couches in front of them, and a bank of probably about 6 computers (3 of which work). And they have internet now! Most days, anyway. One of the biggest problems is that electricity is hard to come by. They have 2 generators, but somehow that’s not a good solution (I am guessing it’s the price of gas, which is crazy expensive.) the town clerk, and another important man (I forget why) came out to greet us, and tell us the story of the library. What the library needs most is solar power.
After the library, a few of us stayed there to work on organizing the books, and the 4 people who are planning the widow’s house went to see the site (simon hired a car for them, because it’s a 45 minute walk), the people who are planning club for tomorrow night went back to the hotel to work on that, and those of us on the office team headed to the younglife office to get an idea of what they needed there.
I was on the office team. Right now they have all three back rooms filled with people living there (it looked like 6 or so), and we had the chance to sit and listen to pastor Michael, who lives there all the time, tell us about the needs. Shelves and office supplies is definitely a need, but there are so many others. They need chairs- they have no furniture, and borrowed several chairs yesterday for when we came around, the need basic cooking utensils and supplies, because they have one sauce pan, and very few things to eat with or to have tea with- and people are over all the time. They need books and games and balls and things to occupy the kids. Volleyball nets to have tournaments with. Younglife T shirts to give kids. Transportation. So much need.
We thanked them for sharing with us, and prayed for them, and headed back to the hotel to sort donations so we could start bringing them over, and to come up with a game plan. We felt the best way to do the shelves was to measure, then hire a local carpenter. In the book we’re reading, it talks about how many nationals appreciate the intent of the groups that come, but really the project could be better completed by locals who know how to work with what is available- and that we also spend money in their economy. Which is great.
We sent Steve and Matt to town to see what was available and get an idea of costs. Foster, Casey and I got bikes and rode back over to the younglife office. We walked into the middle of an impromptu singing and dancing contest- I impressed everyone with my mad dancing skills- and eventually saw where they wanted shelves and got to measure for them. Then we rode back for lunch.
After lunch, we sat around for a while chatting, and eventually got to planning a camp counselor training for tonight. We have some great younglife leaders on our team, and that coupled with the fact that I just taught camp counselor training the day before we left for Africa and made a ton of photocopies, we were set. We had a great time sharing camp stories and talking about the philosophy of camp. At the end of that, it was about 3, and we had plans to play with the kids after school, around 4 ish. I went up for a nap and slept until 5:45 or so, when Chrissy, my roomie, came and showered before dinner at 6, and got me up. When I came out to the field there were probably close to 150 kids of all ages engaged in all sorts of activity- usually with a Muzungu in the middle. 6 o’clock came and went, and we’re all used to Africa time enough that we paid it no mind- at about 6:45, when the Ugandan YL volunteers started showing up for training (at 7) we started asking around about what was going on. Africa, I have found, is not so demanding in the customer service arena. The staff here at the hotel do a great job, and really do want to provide for us well, but they don’t think to confirm dinner times (which when we checked with simon, he said that he told them 6:30, and we knew that he had told us 6.) or mention when dinner will actually be if it’s going to be late (and it’s always going to be late). While we were all chatting outside nicely, all of the sudden the winds picked up and we were in the middle of an amazing thunder storm. It was a novelty at first, but after not too long, it was just wet and windy, so we moved inside to the lobby and dining room. Now at this point there were at least 30 of us with the Ugandans there, and most of us were younglife leaders, so right away, there were a couple of songs led, and a game or two played to occupy the time. Around 8, simon had confirmed that the kitchen was not prepared to accommodate the extra 10-15 folks, and it was solidly dark anyway, so he was going to have the Ugandan volunteers go home, since it had stopped raining. Around 8:30 we had dinner, and it was nice. They do a very good job of feeding us here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)