16 Youth in the Garden

Severe stomach pains bring me once again to my room.  How long must this go on?  A few weeks ago I suffered from Giardia, but now I don’t know.  It’s just pain.  But now I have time to rest, pray, and read.  Over the weekend I spent a lot of time on the phone, trying to organize for a group of former child soldiers to come down from the remote village of Abim and join me in traveling to Jinja – back to the Retreat Centre called Mto Moyoni.  A few key community leaders needed to have airtime sent to them, so they could call the youth, or money for a piki (motor-cycle) so they could ride out to the homes of the youth.  By Monday morning, a number was confirmed... there would be 16 youth coming and 5 leaders from Lotuke and Abim.

Tuesday morning, I awoke at 6:08 am to the first phone call coming from Abim.  8 youth had slept in the town centre, and were ready when the private hire (a small lorry truck) came to pick them up.  As the truck was driving away on muddy roads, two youth ran after the vehicle and jumped aboard.  They wanted to come to the retreat centre also, but they didn’t know the plan.  They were only wearing the clothes on their back.  Then another phone call at 6:35 am, saying that the youth in Lotuke were only 5, instead of 8.  No worries, I would just do a head count when the whole lot arrived in Soroti.

I went to town at 9 am and arranged for the youth to have hot tea and chapattis when they got to town.  I bought two boxes of water for our journey, and ran a few other errands.  I decided this time I was going to remain peaceful about what time we made it all the way to Jinja.  Only God is in control of African time.  The youth stepped off of the truck at 10:30 am and I led them to a tiny restaurant so they could take tea.  Then I walked to the bus station to make sure there was still another bus traveling that day that could carry all 22 of us.  Yes, the 1 pm bus.

After tea and a rest, the youth walked with me to the bus station.  At 6:15 we finally arrived at our drop off point; a mere 215 km from Soroti.  There I arranged for 12 pikis to carry all of us and our luggage.  After being robbed by 2 of the drivers, we made our way into the gorgeous and peaceful retreat centre.  A hot meal was waiting for us.  The youth remained quiet – not knowing what to expect.

Then I showed them to their rooms and they settled in for a night of rest.  In the morning they woke up to the Nile River, monkeys swinging in the trees, and a beautiful flower garden.

The past two days have been filled with time of teaching and prayer.  11 out of the 16 youth are complete orphans, meaning they have no mother or father.  But they have been learning about the Heart of our Father God.  Many of them were abducted by Kony’s rebels, and even today struggle with forgiving themselves or others... for murdering, stealing, raping, being raped, and carrying heavy loads.  Again, they are listening to the voice of God saying that He had them in His heart before the creation of the world and that He cares for them.  5 young girls stepped up to receive Christ in their hearts yesterday.  I have been praying with these youth and trusting in God to guide us all.

In the evening we played sports, shared a meal, and then I showed them the cartoon video called “Joseph, King of Dreams” and they were all amazed at what Joseph went through to remain faithful to God.  So far the retreat is a blessing and I look forward to being with these former children of war until Friday night, when we hope to arrive back in Soroti.

Monday Mania

Before I even opened my eyes this morning, I could tell the day was going to be busy.  I had to rush back to my old house to return some sheets I had washed and make sure the house is ready for the landlord to occupy this weekend.  I had swallowed my malaria tabs before biking over to the house, but when I got to the house, I remembered that I had forgotten to eat breakfast with the pill and ended up throwing up in the garden.  But no worries, I ate a few African donuts on the side of the road while waiting for my house helper to come from the village... I needed to lead her to my new home, so she could help me out there occasionally.
Back at the house, I collected the water bill and a list of other things to do in town - Another ten minute bike ride out to Nakatunya where I went to help a friend repair lawnmower, and then collected papers from the fida office.  I need to deliver those papers to the youth leaders of the kids I am taking to Mto Moyoni again this week.  Okay, now I'm starting to think that you won't even know how to read this post, since I am naming off agencies and places you have never heard of before, but just bare with me.
My friend Helen called, she wanted me to escort her and her baby to the hospital for immunizations... it was my first time in the main hospital and the children's ward is super busy.  Just place your card on the pile and wait until your baby's name gets called.
Then for another hour I raced all around town trying for find transport for the 20 LRA youth I am taking to Mto Moyoni... no such luck to get a private hire.  Hopefully we can find a bus that will hold all of us at the same time tomorrow.  I grabbed a rolex to eat from a street vendor and made my way over to a team-mates for a meeting at 1:30.  (A rolex is an fried egg, with a few veggies, wrapped inside of a chapati - "rolled eggs") 
The meeting took an hour and a half - to discuss our security plans - for medical, political, personal, etc emergencies.  We clearly went over who to call, all of our embassy contacts, the doctors and police numbers to have in our phone, what to do during a hostage or evacuation/relocation situation, where to keep our passports etc.  Now, don't get me wrong - Soroti is a very safe place... it's just policy to have these things in place.  But after 5 years of being on the mission field... I also know that they are necessary. 
From there I raced to the bank to see if I could get enough shillings out to help pay the bill for this week's spiritual retreat with the former child soldiers, and I tried one more company with a vehicle for hire.  No such luck.
Since I've moved, I don't have a fridge or stove yet, so I've been eating lousy - I can tell that my iron is low... but instead of taking a good meal, or iron supplements, I opted for a power nap.  Only to wake up to play with neighbourhood children and meet with a young man who has a heart for orphans.  I ended up buying street meat for dinner and added that to a package of ramen noodles that I can make with water from my electric kettle. 
Now I'm spending the evening packing and trying to set my paper work in order.  And praying - trusting that God will clearly open the doorway for easy transport tomorrow.
Good night friends.

Gnuts and What-Nots

Last week I was struggling with a bad bout of Giardia, then the internet was out for a few days... and now there is so much to tell you, and yet I'm exhausted and just want to climb onto my bed on the floor.  Three days ago I moved to my  new home - wonderful neighbours, peaceful space, and very close to Soroti's downtown area.  I can now walk to all the places I love!  My new home doesn't have the kitchen ready though, so I am eating dry cereal in the morning, and eating out for the other meals.  In June I will be getting a fridge and stove and that will make life much easier.

Yesterday I went "deep" to three villages with Fida International.  We went with the intention of distributing Gnuts (ground nuts, aka peanuts) to a newly identified group of CAAF.  CAAF = Children Affected by Armed Forces.  Some of these youth just returned from Central Africa, after escaping Kony's rule.  So Fida is starting again - with a week long psycho-social training next week.

 When in the village of Obalanga, I took time to walk past the mass grave site... strong memories from 2009 flooded me as I remember hiking through fields and collecting corpses of war victims.  It's great to see there is some closure for this community now.

 Here are some sacks of Gnuts, waiting to be distributed - for planting and income generation.

These are the youth in Omoro village, excited to receive their gnuts.

Confusion at the Temple

Yesterday morning I hopped on my bike to run a bunch of errands around town.  When I was finished I went over to the Sikh temple to visit my beautiful friends.  While inside the home of the priest and his family, the son was out in the small compound riding my bicycle in circles.  Lunch was prepared, and together we shared chapati and lentils before deciding that the girls were going to come to my house to take a shower... since there is no water in town for a few days now.  I was going to carry one of the young ladies on my bike while the other one took a "boda boda" - a bicycle taxi. 

Walking out of their home, my bike was not where I originally parked it.  I thought maybe the young boy was hiding it from me, but when he noticed that it wasn't in it's location, he too started to panic.  Before I knew it, Punjabi was being spoken very fast and people were getting upset.  My bike had been stolen.  The priest went to talk to the other tenants in the compound - most of them work for a security company and they were also shocked to hear the bike was gone because they too had seen the young boy riding it around. 

It almost felt like it was out of my hands.  Anger and yelling as people chaotically interviewed the shop owners next to the temple, and the head of security tried calling a few of the guards that left for a lunch break.  I texted 3 people to say my bike was stolen, and one reported back that she would pray for the situation.  It was finally decided that I would go home, so I called a dear friend to come and pick me with his motorcycle.

While waiting on the sidewalk, a young man, rode up on my bicycle, ready to report for work after his lunch break.  He had no idea that he had "stolen" my bike.  He thought it belonged to those living in the temple compound and was just borrowing it.  Before I knew it, a mob started to gather.  Everyone was yelling at this young man for stealing my bike.  The sweat started to collect on his forehead... I could see that he honestly was just borrowing it... we just didn't know he had taken it.  The head of security was yelling at this boy: "Why didn't you answer your phone?  Why would you take a bike if you didn't ask the owner?  This is embarrassing and you've done these kinds of things before.  After you are caned today, you will collect your salary and be finished with your job at the security company."  I felt horrible, especially since the security company wanted me to take this man to the police station. 

In front of everyone - shop keeper, the priest's family, and the security company (plus on-lookers), I looked at the boy and kindly said, "I am just glad that my bicycle was not stolen.  Thank you for bringing it back.  With me, you are forgiven."  Then I decided it was time for me to get out of the situation, because the mob was just too big.  I told the girls I would bike home to get my car and then pick them up so they could bathe at my house. 

Arriving back at the temple 15 minutes later, the crowd was gone.  I noticed the young man was sittingat the back of the compound.  The security officer came up to me and said, "Mam, I am so embarrassed by what happened here today.  But since you forgave the young man, the priest decided to also forgive, and so have I.  He will keep his job today."  I was so grateful! 

Pure Joy

The other day I received a phone call from a beautiful young couple... that their baby girl was born.  They wanted to name the baby after me, or at least have me name the baby.  I went to their hut the next day and held this precious little girl.  Her three year old sister was running around with excitement - saying that her sister was a mzungu because the baby had such fair skin colour.  :)  The sister's name is "Divine Grace", but they call her Grace.  While I was holding this tiny bundle, I thought about grace, peace, love, and joy - JOY!! Yes, Joy would be a great name.  I didn't want to give the baby the name of Karen, because it is not so Ugandan, but Karen means "pure" - and the parents had learned that just a few days prior, but Pure Joy would be perfect.  The parents loved the idea and two days later they went to sign the birth certificate with Pure Joy as her name.  Too precious!

March Madness

There are times in my life when I don't have time to write, or don't feel like writing anything at all... and then I remember that this is one of the ways the world keeps up with me.  So, here is a short list of all that has been happening in the past few weeks.

• I have been following up with a few of the church leaders who attended the "17 Stories" training and have been interviewing children on the knowledge of the Bible.  I was surprised to see some children put Jesus into every story.  Jesus told Abraham he was going to have a son.  Jesus gave Moses the power to separate the Red Sea... etc... so it didn't surprise when I asked the kids to put the story pictures in chronological order that the life of Jesus came before all the Old Testament stories.
• I traveled to Iganga for a two night getaway to attend the wedding of a good friend.  The outdoor reception started in the pouring rain, but that didn't stop the ladies from trilling or the music from playing.  I loved being away for a little breather and enjoyed being with friends that I haven't seen for three years. 
• On that day my car also had to spend some time in the garage since I drove over a cement culvert, on top of a hill, that had the road wash away on the other side.  I needed 10 guys to push my car off the cement hump (after much discussion that I wasn't going to pay them each a dollar for 20 seconds worth of work) and then with a few friends, we crawled my car to the garage about 25 km away.  Thankfully a major fix was repaired for about $60.
• For about a week and a half I was struggling with cultural stresses and misunderstandings.  Thankfully through much prayer and humility, I am once again excited to live and serve here.  I am glad that God teaches us how to forgive!!
• I have been volunteering in a small stationary shop - helping the owner to organize the shelves and get a price list together.  The owner is so grateful - as it shows the customers that his prices are honest, and with the great inventory system, the business can remain even more sustainable.  Besides all that... we have wonderful discussions about God and His church!  I love the hands on work.
• I have found a new home (I think and pray) so many things have changed in the place I am staying out now.  The dog - Pal - and the chickens moved out to the village today.  My room-mate Beckie, is in the process of packing up everything before she moves out on Saturday (as she is first going home to the US for 3 months) and I am starting to put together a shopping list of all the things I will need to settle in my new home, since the house I am now in is a furnished place.  I have to move by May 11th or life could become adventuresome for me.
• Good Friday I went to a local church for a very uplifting service, but it sure did make me miss the somber services back home.  A quiet day to remember Jesus' death.  A few of my team-mates gathered together on Friday night to share a Passover Meal together and to join in a quiet time of worship.
• On Sunday I loved going to a Ugandan church in the morning and then meeting with my team in the afternoon for a delicious meal, a "chocolate" hunt, a time of worship - with great music,  choreographed dancing, a monologue (which I did), and a mini-sermon.  We finished the day with an attempted volleyball game in a freak hail storm, and decided to warm up by the barbeque as a monitor lizard was being cooked for the evening snack.  A great celebration!

Well, that's my life in a nutshell at the moment, although there is probably so much more to tell!

Easter Lizard

Easter Sunday, Tim brought out the monitor lizard road kill that he had been saving in his freezer.  Beckie lit the charcoal and an hour later we were all chowing down on this delicious reptile.  I had fun peeling the meat off the tail!

(I stole these pictures from Mandy's blog since I didn't have my camera that day.)