no real title for this weird one

So, I figure I should blog since it’s been about 10 days since my last posting. It’s hard because every time I think of blogging, all I can think to write are things that I think would bore you to read. We are now in the process of fine-tuning the Epoh project, figuring out meticulous calculations, processes, timelines…etc. Our days are consumed with running errands, meeting with people, paperwork, and decaling beads, and figuring out how to do our job. This is all stuff that I’m pretty sure would tempt you to start skimming my blog instead of losing yourself in it for the moment (huh, I think I just accidentally quoted Eminem right there).

I hope once we have some more fine-tuning in place, we will be able to have some more exciting encounters with the people here and maybe I’ll have more to tell you. However, I also have an expectation that our entire time here is indeed “fine-tuning,” which I’m afraid will render my blogging unexciting and weird.

Thank God for the hysterics that go on in this house that keep us falling in love with Betty, Sharon and Kimby. Today we were teaching Kimby how to dance. I managed to get a small bit of him on this video, but he didn’t dance as much when I was filming. But, you’ll see I did get some sweet footage of Betty and Sharon shakin’ it!

Randy and I are here with only one volunteer, Heather. Soon, very soon, the house will be full of volunteers and the dynamic will change drastically. We’re excited for that, but also enjoying the peacefulness of a somewhat empty house for now.

A lot of you know that I am a bit of what some may call a “clean-freak.” I’m not ashamed, but it can be a little time consuming to be a clean-freak. On my day off last Sunday, I spent hours going through things that had been in this house probably since Dave and Morgan got this house way back when. I threw out expired medications, lotions, vitamins; I organized all the DVD’s (which none of them were in their correct boxes…..hate that); organized the art supplies; organized the books, organized the misc. stuff and organized the bathrooms.

One of these days when the power goes out again, I’m going to completely face-lift the fridge and freezer b/c they are not looking pretty. The freezer is so overgrown with frost you can’t even put anything in it. Then, I also plan to go through all the kitchen cabinets and clean and organize. I aim to get these things done before the slew of volunteers come through. If you’re a clean-freak, then you know I will probably achieve my goal.

And finally, to end this completely random and scattered blog, I will tell you this:

My experience this year in Uganda is completely different than last year. I have responsibilities, goals, expectations, and people I am responsible for. My agenda this time around is to better things for LGH on the Africa side of things. My goal last year was to learn the culture, the people, the lifestyles, the climate, the joys, angers, sadness, hope and pain and of course, the dancing! I’m thankful I had last year to jump in with both feet having little to no responsibility, it has allowed me to feel grace to be alright with not fully doing that this time. I guess I just didn’t expect it to be so different (should’ve guessed it, but didn’t expect it). So, day by day we are getting things done and those moments of diving in the culture will become more frequent, I’m trusting they will and deeply hoping they will.

All that said, God has been sweet to work in to each day ways that make me LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being here. For instance, being on a pikki ride (motorcycle) at night, feeling the wind in my face, closing my eyes and completely trusting this complete stranger to safely take me to my destination; dancing (with or without others); Sharon's contagious laugh; Kimby calling his mother by her name, "beeeettty"; the Nile River; visiting women in their villages; free movie night at a local coffee shop; the glorious, and I mean glorious mornings on the front porch with the comfort of coffee; introducing Randy to everything and everyone I know here; Diane, the one who ones a shop on main street and helps me with the language here; and of course, the village children - so easily entertained they are, love 'em! I've quickly recognized my good fortune in being here and the experiences I'm having and have yet to enjoy are straight from the hand of God.

So, in future blogs, lets hope for your sake and mine that I am more coherent and fluid because not unlike this blog I've posted, I am all over the place and grasping for my senses. :)

greetings to dave and morgan

greetings to dave and morgan

Just some visuals

This first picture if for those of you who didn't believe me when I said they have "blue balls"
These are some amazing flowers that cusp the Nile River!
This is Randy and my feet after walking to the villages and back.
And this is Betty, her son Kimby, and Sharon - the amazing people we live with.

raindrops

It rained this morning. I woke up and stayed in bed listening to it’s gentle pounding for over an hour. There’s something about rain that encourages freedom in me to slow down and just be. As I lay there thinking how wonderful this rain is going to be for the gardens here, I remember this rain means more to the women I know here. It means they are on their way to their gardens to dig because now the soil is soft. When cooking food and rolling beads may have been on their agenda this morning, digging now takes precedence. It means hope for their crops, which have suffered from the heat and dry climate from the last few months.
As I continue to be introspective listening to the rain and recognizing that rain is perhaps the only thing that can create this response in me this early in the morning, I become very thankful for my circumstances. I’m in Africa I’m thinking; Who gets to do this? For 5 more months I am here in this beautiful country with these beautiful women and children. My husband is here and I am living an opportunity that many only dream of. My thoughts circulate between thankfulness for being here, thankfulness for the rain, and the stark contrast of my morning next to the morning my Ugandan friends. Then I realize that this perspective, the one I get and am reminded of by being here, is one of the most important things I will take away from being here. And as I roll myself out of bed, I think to myself I hope it rains tomorrow!

Back to the East

So, we’re finally here. It feels good to be back but I cannot seem to wrap my mind around being here until January. It’s an amazing and rare experience to be here for this length of time but I am definitely, and perhaps wrongfully, allowing my heart to pull towards the things and people I am missing at home.
This time here is different. It’s different because Randy is here and he is able to see and experience things I could only tell him about before. It’s different because I’m not volunteering, I’m on staff and have a lot of work to do over the next several months. It’s different because the women in Suubi have rotated out and new ones are here. It’s different because there are new people living in the house. And it’s different because it’s not new, things are familiar and people are familiar.

I feel that my heart was much better prepared for my time in Uganda last year than now. I feel a bit disheveled with my spirit, my emotions and my preparations. I’m hoping to soak in every moment I’m here and truly live while accomplishing everything I need to here.

I definitely feel that I am walking into an exciting opportunity that God has so lavishly put in front of me and for that I am so grateful. I never want to take this time for granted or be jaded by people and the pace of Africa. I love it here, the women are heartwarming and the land is breathtaking!

Since we’ve been here for two days now, we’ve been learning all the responsibilities the staff here does. I’m feeling a tid bit overwhelmed, but I guess I knew I would feel this way. Our 2 main luggage bags are taking longer to get to us than we thought - I’m borrowing people’s clothes and I haven’t shaved since last Friday (ugh).
The smells are as pleasant and as nasty as I remember and the noises come as early and as loud as I recall. These are the things that I appreciate now but I’m sure in a few months will detest. So, the journey has begun and Randy and I are jumping in with both feet for whatever lies ahead! We’ll take this whole thing a step at a time and hopefully soak it in moment by moment. I’m excited to know the stories we will be living over the next several months!


I’ve attached pictures of everyone living at the house currently. I’ve also attached pictures of our new Epoh project and the building we just rented for the tailors. It’s been good to put faces to all these people I have been hearing about from Joe and Melissa (the staff that is leaving on Monday).