Sandra: Can you help me find a frog auntie??
Me: Huh? (thinking to myself…did I just hear her correctly!)
Sandra: Can you help me find a frog?
Me: (hum…I guess I did hear her right) Why are you looking for a frog?
Sandra: I need it for school
Me: (humm…she doesn’t seem like the kid that would put a frog in someones shirt…) Why?
Sandra: I need it for class
Me: Did your teacher ask you to bring it?
Sandra: Yes, we are doing an experiment tomorrow and every student has to bring a frog
Me: Okay…what happens if you don’t find one?
Sandra: We will get a punishment
Me: And you only have one day to find it??
Sandra: Yes…
Mind you…its dark at this point…BUT…it’s not an impossible task…
You see we have a little frog that lives in our training room…He’s often found in the sink or in the water purifier tank or in the jerry can we use to fetch water…so I knew right where to go first…
SO we get there…and we look in Mr. Froggy’s hiding spots and there was NO little frog…
Humm..where to look next…well lets go to the water tap…
Off we went, flashlights in hand…standing by the water tap and what do I see but a baby frog…at this point both Sandra and I realize that neither one of us have anything to catch this frog with…who at this point is quite aware that we are trying to catch him and starts hopping all over the place.
We eventually caught him and carried him back to my house where we put him in a plastic bottle and carried him back to Sandra’s house to await his fate tomorrow in class…
So here I am...back in the family group and I get a tap on the back…
“Auntie, Can you help me find a frog?”
Okay…I'm thinking…what happened to the first one…did he die? Did he escape?? When I turn around and see that Zam Zam is now the one asking for help, not Sandra…
At this point, I already know why she needs one and I accept the challenge AGAIN.
This time we went straight to the water tap…and guess what…NO FROGS!
My second thought….I wonder if the Institute Frog has wandered back inside…in the sink, in the water purifier or in the jerry can?
So inside we go and guess what…there was my little frog friend…sitting in the sink right where he usually is...waiting to watch me brush my teeth...
So tonight I managed to catch not one, but two frogs, and it had to be a GOd thing because I have never caught a frog in my entire life until tonight....all I have to say is...
Goodbye my little frog friends!
Tomorrow you will meet your fate BUT tomorrow our water purifier will be free from all your little frog germs!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
An Offer...
Uncle Keith: "How's the new place?"
Me: "Well...Its not bad...there is a larger insect presence in this one compared to the old one I was in though..."
Uncle Keith: "It is the oldest house we have at the institute..."
Me: "Well...its okay...don't worry about it"
Uncle Keith: "If the bats in the roof are too noisy and you can't sleep we can always hire someone to come and get rid of them"
Me: "Okay...I will let you know"
Me (thinking to myself): "The bats are fine BUT can we hire someone to get rid of the guy with the large speakers who drives around town and announces the Muslim call to worship at 5am...cause he's the one that is really disturbing my sleep!"
Ahh...Uganda...You gotta love it!
Me: "Well...Its not bad...there is a larger insect presence in this one compared to the old one I was in though..."
Uncle Keith: "It is the oldest house we have at the institute..."
Me: "Well...its okay...don't worry about it"
Uncle Keith: "If the bats in the roof are too noisy and you can't sleep we can always hire someone to come and get rid of them"
Me: "Okay...I will let you know"
Me (thinking to myself): "The bats are fine BUT can we hire someone to get rid of the guy with the large speakers who drives around town and announces the Muslim call to worship at 5am...cause he's the one that is really disturbing my sleep!"
Ahh...Uganda...You gotta love it!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Love In Actions and In Truth
1Jn 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Mama Jane came back to New Hope yesterday (Sunday) after being gone for one week when her father passed away.
I was so excited to see her at church that when it was over I went straight to her and gave her a bear hug.
Mama Jane is the best bear hugger around these parts and wow it was great!
I have seen her two more times since then and she has bear hugged me both times then too…
But the bear hug is not the only thing…each time she smiles at me…says my name and then in her best English says “my daughter, I love you!”
The “I love you” started at her father’s burial ceremony BUT the “my daughter” started yesterday, the first time I saw her after her father’s burial…it is a sweet friendship that we have…one that is not based on words…but based on action.
I wish I could understand more of her words, but for now, I am enjoying the smiles, the hugs, the laughter, and just spending time with her.
It’s a special bond…one that is only possible with Jesus.
Mama Jane came back to New Hope yesterday (Sunday) after being gone for one week when her father passed away.
I was so excited to see her at church that when it was over I went straight to her and gave her a bear hug.
Mama Jane is the best bear hugger around these parts and wow it was great!
I have seen her two more times since then and she has bear hugged me both times then too…
But the bear hug is not the only thing…each time she smiles at me…says my name and then in her best English says “my daughter, I love you!”
The “I love you” started at her father’s burial ceremony BUT the “my daughter” started yesterday, the first time I saw her after her father’s burial…it is a sweet friendship that we have…one that is not based on words…but based on action.
I wish I could understand more of her words, but for now, I am enjoying the smiles, the hugs, the laughter, and just spending time with her.
It’s a special bond…one that is only possible with Jesus.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Water Hole Frenzy
So on Wednesday our water tap ran dry....apparently we haven't had enough rain to keep up with the water demand so...
Wednesday - Dry
Thursday - Dry
Friday - Dry
Saturday - Dry
By Saturday night we were trying to squeeze every drip of water from our drinking filters but we were getting THIRSTY!
Each of us was able to get one cup full of water by Saturday night and that was it...
By this point we were asking what we would do today (Sunday) without any water to drink...I think some desperation was starting to set in.
In addition to the water system, many of our light bulbs were out and so not only were we out of water but we were also out of light...not a pretty situation when the night lighting scares away the large roaches that frequent the latrines at night...
But I digress...
Saturday night we got a good rain...and by 9am this morning the water tap was alive and well!
Needless to say, everyone on the compound grabbed every jerry can we could find to fill them up...we filled up about 10 cans and refilled all three of our drinking water filters so when we run dry again, hopefully we wont be in the mess we were in this past week!
Now all we need are lights and we're golden!!
Wednesday - Dry
Thursday - Dry
Friday - Dry
Saturday - Dry
By Saturday night we were trying to squeeze every drip of water from our drinking filters but we were getting THIRSTY!
Each of us was able to get one cup full of water by Saturday night and that was it...
By this point we were asking what we would do today (Sunday) without any water to drink...I think some desperation was starting to set in.
In addition to the water system, many of our light bulbs were out and so not only were we out of water but we were also out of light...not a pretty situation when the night lighting scares away the large roaches that frequent the latrines at night...
But I digress...
Saturday night we got a good rain...and by 9am this morning the water tap was alive and well!
Needless to say, everyone on the compound grabbed every jerry can we could find to fill them up...we filled up about 10 cans and refilled all three of our drinking water filters so when we run dry again, hopefully we wont be in the mess we were in this past week!
Now all we need are lights and we're golden!!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Are you feeling spicy??
How would you respond if you were sitting around a large table and someone asked you that question??
Believe it or not I was asked that question tonight by one of the girls in my family group…but it was innocent enough…
You see…there are these little red peppers that the boys in the family have been daring people to eat…they are no bigger than half an inch and are bright red…pretty much the smallest pepper I have ever seen. When you ask the kids what kind of pepper it is, they just laugh and say it is a pepper!
So the first night I simply watched as they challenged Uncle Cody to put two of the pepper seeds in his posho and beans. He did and he was sweating! He said his lips were on fire and his throat was burning…this coming from a Texan, I believed that the peppers must be awfully hot.
The second night I watched as Cody once again took the pepper challenge. Complaining because he accidentally touched his eye after touching the pepper…not a really wise move.
By night three my curiosity was killing me…I had to try it…so as Cody once again dished out two seeds to mix into his beans, I took my fork and put one seed on it…then ate it! I didn’t mix it into anything just went cold turkey and you know what I found out?? Cody has some seriously WEAK taste buds! It was GOOD!
Since then the kids have been asking me if I will put the whole pepper in my posho…So I do…pretty much every night now and it makes posho and beans WAY more tolerable!
SO you see…the "do you feel spicy?" question…was actually a funny question…
Cody asked her to clarify what she said and well here is what she said:
The pepper was spicy and Auntie Lena ate the pepper so now Auntie is Spicy!
Don’t you just love how kids reason!?
Good night…from one “Spicy” missionary
Believe it or not I was asked that question tonight by one of the girls in my family group…but it was innocent enough…
You see…there are these little red peppers that the boys in the family have been daring people to eat…they are no bigger than half an inch and are bright red…pretty much the smallest pepper I have ever seen. When you ask the kids what kind of pepper it is, they just laugh and say it is a pepper!
So the first night I simply watched as they challenged Uncle Cody to put two of the pepper seeds in his posho and beans. He did and he was sweating! He said his lips were on fire and his throat was burning…this coming from a Texan, I believed that the peppers must be awfully hot.
The second night I watched as Cody once again took the pepper challenge. Complaining because he accidentally touched his eye after touching the pepper…not a really wise move.
By night three my curiosity was killing me…I had to try it…so as Cody once again dished out two seeds to mix into his beans, I took my fork and put one seed on it…then ate it! I didn’t mix it into anything just went cold turkey and you know what I found out?? Cody has some seriously WEAK taste buds! It was GOOD!
Since then the kids have been asking me if I will put the whole pepper in my posho…So I do…pretty much every night now and it makes posho and beans WAY more tolerable!
SO you see…the "do you feel spicy?" question…was actually a funny question…
Cody asked her to clarify what she said and well here is what she said:
The pepper was spicy and Auntie Lena ate the pepper so now Auntie is Spicy!
Don’t you just love how kids reason!?
Good night…from one “Spicy” missionary
Thursday, July 23, 2009
New Hope Institute
How can I describe it??
I can't really...it's indescribable...but it is awesome!
Some of my fellow Ugandan classmates were trying to describe the Institute the other day...these are some of their descriptions (Imagine them being said in a Ugandan accent!
I can't really...it's indescribable...but it is awesome!
Some of my fellow Ugandan classmates were trying to describe the Institute the other day...these are some of their descriptions (Imagine them being said in a Ugandan accent!
- It's like having open heart surgery without any anesthesia
- It's like having a wound that you didn't know you had and someone has pointed it out to you and starting to pick at it and scrap off the scab
- It's invaluable - worth all the time and the money
- It's like they are cutting your heart in half, laying it on the table and then putting it back together
- It's good
- It's challenging me
- It will transform you and free you...you won't ever be the same
And for me...I just say ditto and am watching God work in this place. I think He knew I needed to be here and it is amazing.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Mama Jane
Mama Jane….ahh…I love her!
She works in the kitchen here at the New Hope Institute.
She is an older woman…how old I am not quite sure…not old by US standards but old by Ugandan standards for sure….Anyways…our interactions are so sweet.
Why do I love her...I'm not sure...I just do! She gives the best bear hugs…and for some reason we have taken to each other…strange since we really don’t understand what each other are saying…we speak totally different languages and so the extent of our conversations are:
"How are you?"
"I am fine."
"How are you?"
"I am fine"
at that point we bear hug each other and smile. Most of the time I have spent with her is just sitting down next her in the kitchen. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with her…just sitting…not saying anything but spending time with her…
Today was different, she didn’t come to work…which is not like Mama Jane at all…
I found out later, that her father in law died last night and was being buried today. No one knows if he was a Christian or not…which made the event a sad one indeed.
So I went to the funeral ceremony…I went straight to Mama Jane and gave her a bear hug…knowing that I could only communicate my sympathy that way…I embraced her tightly for a good 2 or 3 minutes…the simple conversation that transpired was sweet…
Mama Jane: how are you?
Me: I’m fine…how are you?
Mama Jane: I’m fine…
Me: I’m sorry
Mama Jane (in her best English she could muster): My daddy dead
Me: yes…I know...I'm sorry
Me: I love you
Mama Jane: I love you
That’s it…
You see...I had to be there…There was no choice to stay home...because here in Uganda, it's all about relationships…it’s all about spending time with people…just sitting…not even talking necessarily but just spending time. I have spent time with her over the last few weeks…and she knows that I love her…even in this short 3 weeks of time that I have known her.
Pray for her…pray for her family…
The one thing that stood out to me during my entire time at Mama Janes home…is that there was not one tear shed. Not one person that came to the ceremony cried…not when they sang, not when the pastor spoke, not when they carried the casket to the backyard, not when they lowered it into the newly dug hole, not when they filled back the dirt, not ever…
Now I am one who understands the whole “not gonna cry” mentality…But there are two times that you are pretty much guaranteed to see me cry…during sappy movies and during funerals…so this response was one that I just didn’t and still don’t understand…
I can’t wait until I know more lugandan and I can ask Mama Jane about it…
For now…please pray for her and pray that as I sit with her, I can continue to be a good friend to my dear sister in the Lord.
She works in the kitchen here at the New Hope Institute.
She is an older woman…how old I am not quite sure…not old by US standards but old by Ugandan standards for sure….Anyways…our interactions are so sweet.
Why do I love her...I'm not sure...I just do! She gives the best bear hugs…and for some reason we have taken to each other…strange since we really don’t understand what each other are saying…we speak totally different languages and so the extent of our conversations are:
"How are you?"
"I am fine."
"How are you?"
"I am fine"
at that point we bear hug each other and smile. Most of the time I have spent with her is just sitting down next her in the kitchen. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with her…just sitting…not saying anything but spending time with her…
Today was different, she didn’t come to work…which is not like Mama Jane at all…
I found out later, that her father in law died last night and was being buried today. No one knows if he was a Christian or not…which made the event a sad one indeed.
So I went to the funeral ceremony…I went straight to Mama Jane and gave her a bear hug…knowing that I could only communicate my sympathy that way…I embraced her tightly for a good 2 or 3 minutes…the simple conversation that transpired was sweet…
Mama Jane: how are you?
Me: I’m fine…how are you?
Mama Jane: I’m fine…
Me: I’m sorry
Mama Jane (in her best English she could muster): My daddy dead
Me: yes…I know...I'm sorry
Me: I love you
Mama Jane: I love you
That’s it…
You see...I had to be there…There was no choice to stay home...because here in Uganda, it's all about relationships…it’s all about spending time with people…just sitting…not even talking necessarily but just spending time. I have spent time with her over the last few weeks…and she knows that I love her…even in this short 3 weeks of time that I have known her.
Pray for her…pray for her family…
The one thing that stood out to me during my entire time at Mama Janes home…is that there was not one tear shed. Not one person that came to the ceremony cried…not when they sang, not when the pastor spoke, not when they carried the casket to the backyard, not when they lowered it into the newly dug hole, not when they filled back the dirt, not ever…
Now I am one who understands the whole “not gonna cry” mentality…But there are two times that you are pretty much guaranteed to see me cry…during sappy movies and during funerals…so this response was one that I just didn’t and still don’t understand…
I can’t wait until I know more lugandan and I can ask Mama Jane about it…
For now…please pray for her and pray that as I sit with her, I can continue to be a good friend to my dear sister in the Lord.
Wide Awake...
I don't know why but I am WIDE awake...I have actually been wide awake three nights in a row now and it is really starting to bug me!
Why am I awake...
Could it be the large glass of water that I drank right before going to bed...the one you drink when you are in the states that doesn't matter because if you do wake up in the middle of the night you can sleepily walk to the bathroom, not think twice, and then sleepily walk back to bed...
That same drink here poses a different midnight response....its the thought of...well if I do get up...I have to get dressed first, then I have to find the flashlight and the roll of toilet paper, then I actually have to go outside and shine that light in a dark pit latrine...hope that no flying bug in the latrine likes light, take care of business, find my way back home, then get ready for bed all over again? Lets face it...by that time you are 100% awake and there is little hope of getting back to sleep any time soon...
Could it be the mosquito net that caves in around you while you sleep...the one that makes you feel a little claustrophobic even when you don't struggle with claustrophobia??
Could it be the sound of the bat family living directly above you?? You know...the one that swarms the attic and makes strange squeaking noises?? Or all the noise of the outside world...the strange new bug noises, the owls, the crickets that seem 100 times louder here then they do in the city of LA.
Could it be the thoughts of all I have to do in class.... reading, working, relationships, language learning??
What could it be??
Who knows! All I know is that I can't sleep and it is frustrating me to no end!
Why am I awake...
Could it be the large glass of water that I drank right before going to bed...the one you drink when you are in the states that doesn't matter because if you do wake up in the middle of the night you can sleepily walk to the bathroom, not think twice, and then sleepily walk back to bed...
That same drink here poses a different midnight response....its the thought of...well if I do get up...I have to get dressed first, then I have to find the flashlight and the roll of toilet paper, then I actually have to go outside and shine that light in a dark pit latrine...hope that no flying bug in the latrine likes light, take care of business, find my way back home, then get ready for bed all over again? Lets face it...by that time you are 100% awake and there is little hope of getting back to sleep any time soon...
Could it be the mosquito net that caves in around you while you sleep...the one that makes you feel a little claustrophobic even when you don't struggle with claustrophobia??
Could it be the sound of the bat family living directly above you?? You know...the one that swarms the attic and makes strange squeaking noises?? Or all the noise of the outside world...the strange new bug noises, the owls, the crickets that seem 100 times louder here then they do in the city of LA.
Could it be the thoughts of all I have to do in class.... reading, working, relationships, language learning??
What could it be??
Who knows! All I know is that I can't sleep and it is frustrating me to no end!
Monday, July 20, 2009
My NEW Fam!
So as I mentioned...I am the newest member of the Ebenezer family here at New Hope...
We do chores together, have nightly devotions and worship, dinner and just hang out. I attempt to help with homework but being that I have been out of high school for awhile my poor kids aren't get much help from me :(
Anyways...Friday night we just hung out and took silly pictures...here are a few pics so you get an idea of where I am and the family I am a part of!
Zam Zam is the one on my right...Please continue to pray for her. I found out that she is not yet a Christian so she is not only struggling with the loss of her sister but she is doing it apart from God.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
98%
Wow...I almost couldn't believe my eyes this week when I got my finance report and saw that I am at 98% on my monthly funding!
It is so amazing to see how God provides!
Thank you all who contribute to this ministry in Uganda on a monthly basis! I could not be here without all of your love and support!
THANK YOU!
If you are a new donor, know that you are much appreciated! I brought all of my thank you cards with me and as soon as I figure out how the Ugandan postal service works, thank you notes will be in the mail to you!
Thank you again so very much!
I can't believe only 2% is left to be raised! If you want to contribute...just go to: www.nmsi.org/donate.org to sign up for a re-occurring payment.
And once again...THANK YOU!
It is so amazing to see how God provides!
Thank you all who contribute to this ministry in Uganda on a monthly basis! I could not be here without all of your love and support!
THANK YOU!
If you are a new donor, know that you are much appreciated! I brought all of my thank you cards with me and as soon as I figure out how the Ugandan postal service works, thank you notes will be in the mail to you!
Thank you again so very much!
I can't believe only 2% is left to be raised! If you want to contribute...just go to: www.nmsi.org/donate.org to sign up for a re-occurring payment.
And once again...THANK YOU!
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