Creatures to "The Hills"

So, ever since Alex and Rebecca have arrived, we’ve encountered many insects that are Egyptian African HUGE. One night, we came across the big guy in the pic with the fisted hand. He wouldn’t move off this pillow. Rebecca threw shoes at it; Alex tried lighting a match by it and still nothing. It was clinging to that pillow as if it was a part of him. It was huge and ugly.

Then we went to the pool on Sunday and came across this fugly centipedish thing. He appeared under my bag at the pool and one crawled over Kates foot….ewey. He doesn’t look that big but he’s about 6 inches long without stretching him.

Then the other night this huge praying mantise I guess flew into our house. It was also huge but probably pretty harmless.

Then one night after we were all freaking each other out because of some drama with the teenage girls living with Betty, we decided to pray and then distract our thoughts by watching episodes of season 1 from “The Hills” (don’t judge me please). The picture of all of us on the couch watching the computer depicts our "movie cinema experience" in Africa. So, the Hills has now become a bit of a routine every few days. This is us intensely watching the drama of rich teenagers unfolding from a scripted “reality show”. There couldn’t be a show more contradicting to what is going on everyday around us here in Uganda. It does seem a little sacrilegious to watch it at all, let alone here. However, it’s our escape for now and when the entire town of Jinja shuts down after dark (unless you’re one to get drunk), you get creative with things to do when the sun goes down. We’ve spent hours talking with Betty, George, Nancy and Sharon and playing with Kimby; we’ve played bad mitten using the coffee table as our net; we’ve had worship/nooma nights; movie nights; game nights; dance parties; baking nights; chill reading nights; and soon to come “make-over night!” I want to do makeovers on all the girls (again, don’t judge me please).

We’ve got quite an amazing LGH volunteer crew and I’m so thankful that everyone appreciates each other and the time we have here in Africa together. What would we (LGH) do without volunteers and what would I (selfishly) do without the fun they bring? Thanks volunteers for sacrificing and being who you are!

New Blood

New Blood

So, this is one of my favorite things about my job so far, guiding volunteers, getting to know them and showing them the world I love here in Uganda. Perhaps some other job aspects get put on the back burner for the first few days volunteers arrive, but I think I’ve realized that’s needed and it’s okay (especially because Randy does a phenomenal job at picking up my slack).

Rebecca and Alex are two new volunteers that just arrived yesterday. I’m having a great time getting to know them and so appreciative for the fresh joy they bring to the house. We said goodbye to Heather and Ryan today so as two left the house, two fresh ones came! Today I showed Alex and Rebecca around town and introduced them to some local Ugandan food as well as the ever-daunting “central market.” They did quite well taking it all in and enjoying the experience. They came along with me as I collected instruments for dancing with the Suubi women. We are going to start dancing the last meeting of every month but the women had no instruments to dance with/to. I had Heather pick up some Kalabashes (half gourds that are hard and you bang on them with thick wires) from Gulu when she last went. Then today I bought drums, a whistle and endeges (noise making anklets for stomping). So, the collection is complete and dancing will be done……glorious!!

Last week we went to Messessi to help an organization called “Serving His Children.” Basically we helped feed 1000 kids in the slums of the village. It took us about an hour to prep and then 2 ½ hours to feed the 1000. Renee is the young girl that started this organization (she is pictured with Kate and I). It’s pretty phenomenal that such a young girl (I think she’s only 20) has taken on feeding 1000 kids twice a week. We’re hoping we can help her out more while we are here.

And then this past Sunday we went jumping in the Nile River. Who does that? That sentence just makes me sound cooler doesn’t it? “I jumped in the Nile!” Love it!

Anyways, it was awesome! After a 20 minute drive on quite possibly the worst constructed road on the planet and 4-5 little boys holding a deteriorated piece of string across the road to prevent us from passing (this means they were wanting a monetary toll to allow us to pass, but I new better so we just kept driving), we finally arrived at our destination. We walked down hundreds of steps formed in a huge hill to the bottom where the River Nile created a playground for locals and tourists. Heather, Ryan and Randy were all too quick to jump from the cliff, no fear. It took me a good amount of time to muster up the courage to actually take the plunge. It wasn’t necessarily the height that was freaking me out, which is odd because I suffer from vertigo, but it was the fear of not jumping out far enough to miss the rocks below. After everyone else took the plunge and I counted to 3 about 10 times, I finally jumped screaming the whole way down.

I lived through it and swallowed a mouthful of the Nile…probably not healthy I know. We also went body surfing on the rapids, which sounded like a great idea until I banged my tailbone on a rock, ugh, I hate tailbone bruises, they’re the worst.I took the plunge a second time (I know, I’m so brave), but just before I jumped this guy (the Ugandan pictured here covered in suds) jumped from behind me head first. He had just lathered himself up with soap and was diving off the cliff to rinse off, that’s one way to bathe I guess.

Excited to live more life and write about it, so until then, cheers!

A Time For Words

It’s ironic to be so far from my world in America but still in the middle of all the drama that goes on in that life. On the one hand, I’m grateful to be this far away and be able to focus on the passions I’ve followed here in Uganda. On the other hand, I feel guilty for not being there for people and situations that I would normally be there for (or at least be expected to be there for). My mind, heart and spirit are in a constant limbo between Africa and America. It feels a bit like those parts of me are transporting from one continent to the other. Like my mind, heart and spirit here in Africa will fall numb because I’ve transported/teleported to the messiness of my life in America and then vice-versa. I’ve got to figure this out sooner than later because it’s kind of exhausting me and thoroughly confusing me to be honest.

I ask the same question to God almost everyday, “What is with this timing?” I trust that it is His timing, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t boggle my mind just the same. At least there’s trust, that’s familiar and unfamiliar at the same time due to recent revelations about myself. I can always trust God, that’s familiar. Trusting people is apparently the foreign part for me unfortunately. I’m trying (and failing a lot of the time) to balance disappointment with grace, Africa with America, my mind with my heart, and my passion with my responsibility.

All that said, I’m hugely grateful for more people in the house. Ryan and Kate came to volunteer last week. Kate will be here for 3 months and Ryan only for two weeks. It’s been so great having more people to interact with and to let in on the projects of Light Gives Heat. They’re helping us decal!!!!!!!!!! Randy and I have been placing little “hope” decals on little pink beads for each weeks buying and this will continue ‘till mid-October. Aside from being a tedious task, this one also requires time and patience. We do around 400 decals each week, so having extra hands and patience has been a God-send for sure! I love, love, love having volunteers here! They are life-giving, refreshing and so excited to be here!

Betty, Sharon and Kimby are really starting to feel like family now. They are a comfort to wake up to and to come home to after being out in the villages and in town all day. They too, are God-sends! I can’t help but realize the people I interact with daily here are a saving grace for me in the midst of my “teleportation” awkwardness.

So, now it’s been another day in the one-day-at-a-time perspective I’m trying to embrace! Thanks God for today!

cont'd

Sharon - isn't she stunning? Not only that but she knows how to handle a ponga (machete - ish thingy) like I've never seen before
Kate - a vivacious volunteer that just arrived; She's already taking the load of decaling beads....a tedious and monotonous job (thank you sweet Kate and Ryan for your help!)
I'm pretty sure I found Jay-Z's son and his name is Derek; He lives next door to Agatha, loves big glasses and loves getting his photo taken. Um....H - to - the - izzo, can you bring some coffee hagendaaz ice cream when you come pick up your african seedling?

words are for later

Ryan Andrews- the Chairman of the LGH Board of Directors....a little frightening to say the least; he's wearing teeth that another board member and wife sent to the LGH staff and volunteers here in Uganda (the package only took 6 weeks to get here)

We're all enjoying the horrific teeth. The first time I wore them and showed Betty, she threw her hands in the air and started screaming. It was classic!
Agatha - our scrap cutter for epoh

I'm teaching her how to swim. Kinda funny that she has more legit swimwear than I do.