Stray cows

This afternoon I was sitting at my table writing letters when, to my surprise, I looked up and saw two cows chewing the grass in my yard. Huh? I went outside and saw that the small door to my gate was open and these two lost cows were just making themselves at home. It was starting to rain, so there were no people around. Thankfully these two bulls had a long rope tied to one of their feet, so I just grabbed the ropes and started pulling them towards the gate. As they got closer to the door they started to complain and that made some kids look out to see what was going on. Laughter erupted as the princesses saw I was struggling with these cattle. Soon the children ran over and grabbed tree branches to shoo them out of the yard while I opened the big gate for easier access. I thought my dowry was arriving early, but the only thing I was allowed to keep were a few piles of dung. Aaah, all in a day's work.

Loving a Child

This dear little boy follows me every where and is often waiting by my gate to welcome me home. He gives me the sweetest hugs and he gets so excited when I visit him and his family. Last night his mother said to me, "Karen, thank you for loving my son. You have really shown me what it means to love. I see you hugging him, playing with him, enjoying him. And there are some days I can hardly say that I love him. I have three children, but I don't always love them, but you have shown me that I should. You have shown me how much joy I can find in playing with them, and how precious it is for them in return."
I tell you, the tears were in my eyes! LOVE!

One Final Request

I humbly request that if anyone feels called to continue supporting me one final time, donations are very welcome in my name with International Teams. I would love for you to partner with me still, as I continue working with some wonderful Ugandan people. Together we can make a difference.
For Canadians, please send a cheque to:
International Teams
1 Union Street
Elmira, Ontario
N3B 3J9
and make sure that you write "Karen Lubbers" on the memo line.

or you can donate on-line at:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2172974

For Americans to donate with a cheque:
International Teams
Attn: Receipting Department
411 W. River Road
Elgin, IL
60123

You can also donate online at:
http://www.iteams.org/index2.shtml Then click on the GIVE button. In the where to give box, type Karen Lubbers.

Thank you so much for making a difference in Soroti, Uganda.

Echoes of Thunder

At our last Bible study, the Princesses asked if they could have a small good-bye party at my house on Monday. At first they were thinking of juice and popcorn and inviting their boarding house parents. On Sunday I received an official invitation to attend the party at my house and they asked me to be the Master of Ceremonies. (Is it still master if I AM WOMAN?)
On Monday they started coming over at 11 am with arm loads of stuff. I don't know where the girls got the budget from, but there were chickens, potatoes, flour, cabbage, a charcoal stove, trays, a crate of soda, and more.
Some of the girls worked very hard in the kitchen. Below you see a shot of dough that will turn in to Chapatis, or Indian flatbread.

The girls also made paper decorations and hung balloons all over my dining room and living room. Chairs were lined up. It was going to be yet another formal party.

The girls that I had weekly Bible studies with also put together a small choir, called "Echoes of Thunder" and they sang a few beautiful numbers during the program.

The hard rains delayed the party from 3 pm til 6:30 pm, but that didn't damper it at all. A pastor came to encourage the girls, the boarding house parents and guard all said a few words, Scripture was read, songs sang, and yummy food was eaten.

Much to my surprise the evening ended up being a blessing to me as well. Such encouraging words from the girls, and their respected elders, that I knew without a doubt God has used me this year.

Introduction in Tororo

On Saturday I went with my friends, Lawrence and Thomas to an Introduction in Tororo. Tororo is about three hours away. An Introduction is sort of like an engagement party, but it's also the day when the dowry or bride price is discussed between both sides of the family. The boys wore ephods, or kanzus, to keep up with the Buganda traditional dress.
The groom had rented a bus to take some of his guests from Soroti to the festivities.

When we got there at 4:30 in the afternoon, the men lined up and the women lined up, and then together we marched onto the bride's homestead and found a place to sit under a large white canopied tent. I even helped some of the ladies carry gifts to the brides family - gifts of soda, meat, jewelry, etc. Goats and bulls decorated the driveway as well. Thankfully it had already been discussed how much the bride is worth, because I don't think I could handle that talk.

For entertainment, between all the speeches and discussions, there were some very traditional dancers. Wow, these people could truly roll their stomachs energetically.

The lady below is the oldest lady in Lawrence's family clan. The groom is a cousin to Lawrence. I'm sure that this lady is over 100, but no one quite knows her real age. A very precious lady. I tried to communicate with her while sitting on the bus, but her Enlish is non-existent, and so is my understanding of her language.

By 8 pm we were all sharing a meal together and then we loaded back on to the bus and headed back to Soroti. Now there is only one more cultural celebration that everyone tells me I need to attend, and that is a wedding. Cheers.

Slumber Party

Yesturday afternoon I was writing more of my Christmas letter, some of the neighbour kids came over to play. Henry, Lydia, and Winnie love playing in my house. Later in the evening I packed my bright pink suitcase with a game of Bingo, a pillow, blankets, water bottle, toothbrush and paste, Bible, and a book and marched across the street to where Henry lives.
His parents run a hostel for 68 village girls who need boarding while they attend high school in Soroti. And this is where my 14 Princesses reside. I was invited for a slumber party.

Just after arrival we all sat down on the bedroom floor to share a meal of beans and posho (white corn bread). Somehow a chicken leg also appeared in my dish. I think it was a gift from the hostel owners. :) After dinner I introduced the girls to Bingo. They loved the game!
It was a rainy night, so we hung around inside the room, talking, singing, and laughing. They were so excited to see my teddy bear in their room and wanted to hear more of "Bones'" stories of adventure. In this particular room, which they called "I don't care" there were 4 triple-decker bunks. Occasionally girls from the other rooms, "Queens" or "Warriars", etc would drop by to chat.
I also joined the whole group in watching a Nigerian film on a tv where the colour is mainly green. It was a good story, for once, about a blind boy who prayed for his family, and after 2o years his father finally came to know the Lord. Really inspiring actually.

I climbed in to bed around 11pm. Thankfully they gave me the bottom bunk. This was the view when I looked up. :) At 8 am we started to greet the day, in song. Slowly we took bucket baths and ate cassava chips and posho porridge for breakfast. And again, this time an orange was sitting in front of me on the floor. The father of the hostel was so proud to have a mzungu stay with the girls. I finally crossed the dirt road back to my house at 10:30 am. A very fun night!

Kampala Photos

Sarah, Josiah, and I took time to be tourists for one day. My friend Ben took us around Kampala.We visited the National museum, and my favourite part was exploring the model huts from the different tribes.

Here I am in front of a Karamajong home.

Josiah, Sarah, and myself... the only International Team Beyond team-mates left in Uganda at the moment. We miss the Sliedrechts and the Shaardas.

It's a hard life in a typical African home.

Sarah and I in front of the kings palace, the biggest grass hut in the world. 9 1/2 meters high and 31 meters wide.

Josiah, Sarah and I went to the kings tombs. We sat with the tour guide and heard some history from the Buganda tribe.

Anything you would like to buy is available on the streets.

Market streets in Kampala.

Here we are, trying to maneuver our way through traffic. You squeeze in where you can until you get through the intersection.

This is a small view of the taxi park in Kampala.