JUMP THE NILE!!!

Friday, November 06, 2009

(FYI – Writing the latter half of this on Saturday cuz I was just way too tired Friday to do anything with writing….considering most of my day, my day off mind you, was spent at Café Larem reading, emailing and talking….my energy was spent. But…)

I HAVE A BED!!!

Oh, goodness am I happy!!! I got a better mattress since I will be here for awhile…YAY!
I also moved some stuff in the house. Found out they will not refund me my prepayment here at the hotel – so I will lose out on two day since I am leaving for a training Monday. Win some and lose some.

Side note, still pray for Lady, the housekeeper here. She is smiling today but when I asked her how she was really doing she lowered her eyes and said ok. I think I am going to invite her over for dinner at the house once I get settled in. Also, Walter…he seems so sad lately and responds that he is ok. Which isn’t like him.

It rained almost all night up until 7ish this morning. Everything is nicely packed down. The dust was getting bad…however, the mosquitoes are out. Grr.
Today, my study finished Genesis 40 and into 41. About Joseph being forgotten and then remembered of at God’s perfect timing. It made me think of all times I have felt forgotten by people and yet, God brings them back in time. It helped realize even more God’s timing. I am beginning to feel more peace about long term things…in general, nothing specific. But waiting on the Lord…boy, will He renew my strength and will I fly on wings like eagles…I feel it now. The soaring affect of trusting my God is exhilarating…I am beginning to truly appreciate His timing and especially, His pace.

Talking to so many people I love today made my heart even happier!!! I was able to talk briefly to my mom, then a nice chunk of time with Bobby and Noah, Sarah and then Stacy, Ben and Miles – and see Will!! I love seeing Noah and Miles…to hear them say Cioci makes my heart SKIP!!! I actually “made” myself stay long at Larem because of the major down pour. It is nice to see rain…we need it here! Thank you LORD!!!

Saturday, November 7, 2009


I love my job. Is it really a job? Do I really have co-workers or are they family? Are the kids really someone elses' or are they mine?




This morning, I sat down at a table to eat breakfast. The American guy asked if he could sit with me. Found out his name, what he is doing, how long he will be here, etc. Quite honestly, I was surprised at how friendly and nice he was! Yes, I was still a bit intimidated (he is PhD candidate at Duke! Yikers, smart dude alert!) but it was nice to talk to a fellow American not in the missionary field, if that makes sense. I am tempted to just pick his brain some time and ask if he wants to go for coffee…but I don’t want him to think I am asking him out – AKWARD SALMON! His work sounds fascinating and I would like to learn more about Malaria issues since it is really big at Tegot right now and we recently lost one of our little ones to the disease. Pray for an open door – he made mention of some religious stuff (nothing offensive) but I don’t think he is a believer.

At Tegot today, we tried a new format for Saturday Club. I have yet to find an exact template of how the program should be run (topics, yes, but schedule….no). As I observed the past few weeks I took notes and thought of some things that could help. Simon and I talked about it and we came up with a slightly different plan of attack. In the beginning while we wait for everyone to show up, we will have small projects for them to do for the sponsors – we will call it sponsor portfolios. Students will have time each week to work on something special and meaningful to collect when done and neatly prepared to give to their sponsors…maybe every other month or so. First up, coloring…we have some awesome artists! Want to engage their creativity as possible. Also, during this time I (or anyone else who wants to, but right now…me. PG a nurse was accepted as a missionary with ECM!!) will do basic first aid. We put a suitcase full of basic supplies in the van because our little pack was just not helpful. So I attended to Anena Scovia’s leg wounds (pray the get better quick! The top one is good but the one on the shin and heel is still bad) and Ogen Emmanuel’s head wounds. Every time I see him he has liaisons on his scalp and flies are ALWAYS around him, sitting on his head, etc. So I cleaned it out and put some stuff on it. Let me tell you, it was awesome to not see any flies around him for the rest of the time!

Next, since we have such a wide range of ages it was VERY hard to keep everyone engaged in the bible lesson. We agreed that the children do not have the basics in bible knoweldge. So we split the P1-P3 and the P4-P7. Melissa, Sarah, Mary and I started off with the P1-P3 playing a pretty awesome game of Jump the Nile (aka Jump the Creek). Opiyo Patrick won both times!!!



Simon taught the P4-P7 of off B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) and introduced the names and orders of the
Old Testament Books. It was great to walk in once and see the kids recite from memory already! As the time came to switch groups, the P4-P7 came out chanting the Old Testament books!!! When we switched, I was hesitant on if the P4-P7 students would play Jump The Nile after their little break of socializing and rope jumping. Was I happily surprised!! They had a blast and it was fun to watch them excited about it all!! Ochira Brian would make these weird huffing grunts, almost like a train ready to take off – it was funny. First winner was Opio Patrick Filda (new sponsored kid) and the second was undecided….The older kids really are awesome and love to laugh and play – they are still so child-like even though they have been through so much. Praise God. Seeing all this jumping ability I might just start a track team!!
After that the students wrote down all the names of the books in the Old Testament and their Acholi name. They washed their hands and got snack. After that we went to new Opio Patrick Filda’s home for a visit. We met his aunt and uncle who he stays with. Such sweet people with so many cares. Auntie made us an amazing lunch (I promise you I get fed WAY too well at these family visits!!) to which afterwards, I was able to pray specifically for the cares this family has. They blessed us with two HUGE Jackfruits and groundnuts. The Acholi just give and give…their cup is so dry unless they have Jesus!



Before we left, we went to the market to say our round of hellos. As we were leaving, Melissa decided we needed to take Laker home with us…and she was ok with it. Simon decided she should go on the top of the van. There she went. She is a riot. She lets us mess with her, of course, she will get us back, but she is such a good sport and a wonderful child. She just makes all of us so happy. Her and her little sassy self.



Laker Lady just chilling on the van...



Simon taking her down...WHAT A SPORT!!


Driving home, Melissa and I talked more in depth of opportunities for ministry. Some of the things we were talking about are the things I am right now specifically praying about. It actually gets me really super excited. One idea, that I would like to share with anyone who loves to build, be outside and show the love of Jesus, is to come out here, as an individual or group, and help build homes for single women head of households who are not able to build a house on their own, therefore, “stuck” at camp instead of moving back home. It is a huge problem with most of our families in Tegot. So if you want to build ot’s (huts) for people to go gang (home) and live back on their ancestral land rather than the dismal IDP camp, please let me know!!!

After Tegot, we went to the Karamunda Grounds for Sarah and Melissa’s motorcycle lessons. You can use a motorcycle to learn to drive around the grounds (kinda like a state fair type grounds...but all grass and dirt…and roaming cows.). One time around is 1,000 Ush. Simon taught Sarah (good job girl!) and Melissa fine tuned her skills. I really wanted to learn but time was short and Simon had scheduled a time to talk to his girlfriend over Skype using my computer. I thought it would bless the two of them to talk and see each other so I offered him my computer earlier this week. He chatted a long time…a very long time. I think they were blessed! He smiles so much when he talks of her. It is really sweet. Pray for their relationship to be centered on Christ and His will….it would be so cool if it worked out and then she could move here. I don’t know her, but any woman he would call his girlfriend I know must be a godly, amazing woman who loves the children of Tegot/Uganda deeply.

We were able to talk to Walter a bit tonight about his family and such…keep that in prayer. But he also told us about Acholi customs…he is not Acholi but his wife is. He share two interesting tid bits. First, when his wife, who was his then girlfriend, came to eat at his house. She wouldn’t start eating until his family put some money under her plate. He doesn’t understand to this day why, but it had to be done. Also, he is never allowed to touch his mother-in-law or interact with her in any way. Again, not sure, but he has to respect that. Interesting.

The other day I thought I heard an ice cream truck. No joke. When I looked out the balcony it was a guy on a bike with a cooler attached to the back. Hilarious! I wanted ice cream then. Now, ice cream is something I have a major weakness for…that and cheese. And of course, it isn’t available much here in Uganda much less Gulu. However, Larem has ice cream that I hear is amazing. I have decided that until I absolutely miss home will I buy ice cream. Reason? Two fold: 1.) I don’t want to waste funds on food 2.) there will come a time where I will desperately miss home…I will need some serious comfort…this will be considered therapy to endure in Gulu. ;)

Today, it is on my heart to be more loving to people fully and genuinely. With a sincere heart single-minded on His kingdom. Please pray for me on that.
Commentary Question Time:

I am in Africa. A place where war and destruction has been rampant for a long time. Healing and progress are being made; however, the luxuries of my home and what I know in the states are like a crazy dream compared to what is available here. People don’t have electricity or running water…heck even food! So, as a missionary to serve them and bring them to a full saving knowledge of their personal savior, do I live the exact life they are living? Meaning, do I go without all I know from the States and live exactly like the people I call home now do? Running water, electricity, restaurants, bottled sodas, extra food items such as ice cream or coffee….even though they are here, do I forgo them because of my new job? Or do I continue using it all hoping that some day, with education and Hope, they, too, will have these things. I would be interested in people’s thoughts.