The time has come, yet again for me to write and update my dear friends, and whomever else might be interested in the adventures and misadventures of a young lady and her friend in Africa.
I preface the following with this: Please excuse grammar, punctuation or completely nonsensical strings of words, if they indeed be found, the elves sometimes get on the computer whilst the downloading is taking place, thus making it all go awry.
2009 is indeed at hand, all around us here in Africa. The immense dust clouds issuing from the tail end of our vehicles tell of the dry season we have been experiencing. The dry/summer months are culminating. As the black thundering skies roll in, bursting their contents onto the parched soil and vegetation, storm spillage converts the roadways into rivers of chocolate milk and cinnamon pudding, leaving behind irregular, Martian-esque, chasms to traverse in their stead. The communities are stirring in preparation for the New Year of school, which begins in just one week. Many parents and relatives send off their students in anticipation of their prosperity and bringing back the skills and new ideas for a bright future.
Change is in the air, no doubt, even for me. My time as the camp orchestrator at the orphanage is coming to a close, as the kids prepare for their transition into a new class and growing in knowledge and understanding. Our time together was precious and the essence of invaluable. Eight hours a day together, with emotions covering the spectrum from joy to tears, one could say we have become close. They call me Auntie Sadie (often pronounced Say-lee or Say-bee) and I have a few nick names for them as well. One morning I slipped, not quite intentionally, into a thick Spanish accent and, to my delight, captured the kid’s attention in such a way as to make them smile, laugh AND attentively carry out whatever I had to say! Since this amazing discovery I have been Senorita Sadie whenever chaos pays us a visit, inciting riotous behavior into the lovely children, and this, coupled closely with prayer, gives chaos the boot! I think of these words: “Every good thing and every perfect gift is from above …” “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose”: God knew that I needed something to get these Kid’s attention and He gave it!
As we all transition, we are also having a blast for the last weeks of camp. We went to the zoo on Wednesday in Entebbe with the 4-10 year olds and 4 of the older teenagers as helpers. We were blessed with safe travel and no rain while we were walking around the zoo. We had a tour guide who gave interesting facts about the animals and saved us from mal-navigation amongst the botanical, animal labyrinth. Having grown up with the San Diego zoo and Wild Animal Park a regular part of family outings, this was a change indeed. The thick, pestering fog of Nile lake flies was one contrast, but the most noted difference was the lack of substantial barriers between animal and persons. Separated by a chain link fence we enjoyed ganders at, a lion, hyenas, Serval cats, and monkeys. With only a concrete half wall and a small hedge of shrubbery between the Rhino, and a moat for the chimpanzees. Excited squeals and hand squeezes together with the beauty of God’s Creation were all worth the trip. We were not five minutes on the road back toward home, when the lighting flashed and the *boda men got a shower.
Speaking of Boda men, (who, by the way, are mo-ped taxis), Megan and I have been having a fun time with this cultural experience of public transportation. Last weekend we took a boda ride several kilometers out of town to spend the day with some missionary friends. Usually Megan and I ride together on one boda in order to save time, but we decided to ride separate this time in order to provide evidence for you all that we did indeed have fun adventures while we were in Africa. Megan took pictures of me and I of her. As I sat on the back I suddenly realized that there lie 18 speed bumps between me and my desired destination. Then I realized that we were going to have to traverse these, in the same manner I had seen countless bodas do so in the past; that is with their lives, no doubt, flashing before their eyes as they sail up into the air whilst their passenger goes for an unintentional rodeo ride while balancing a basket on their head. As we neared the first speed bump I imagined a crowd cheering for me, the amazing ‘Bodeo’ champion, with my imaginary fruit basket delicately balancing on my head as I landed with grace and charisma on the other side of the humps. We hardly even hit the humps in reality, we just skirted in between the curb in the three inches of space provided, my fans would have to wait for another hump. Several klicks(kilometers) down the, now dirt, road we came into the last set of speed bumps. This time I would make my debut! We had met up with our friends on the way, who were also riding bodas, now I had a real live audience. As we hit the bump Ann turned around with the camera, ’look no hands!’ and I put my hands in the air just as the boda man read my mind a popped a ten foot wheelie. We pulled a tandem superman, never before done! We swapped spots in the air, landing me driving with the fruit basket still on my head! Ok, ok, so we didn’t do the wheelie (though it was invigorating pretending to soar through the air) but I did do the no hands part! We made it safely, all of us, and spent a lovely day together. In fact, on that day we had several opportunities to share about our faith with some business people and also meet people from five different missionary groups.
It has been enlightening (in the non new-agey sense of the word) seeing how God is working in so many facets and lives throughout Africa. There are as many different ministry opportunities as there individuals (all over the world). One may think they have come to Africa to help the orphans and end up leading a tour guide to Christ, or helping a missionary through a hard time. We, or at least I, tend to put parameters on what God’s plan is, but He never fits into the plans I have, as it says “His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways higher than my ways”, I think He wants to do this, be He ends up using me for something completely different. Life with Christ is the most amazing adventure anyone could ever have! Wherever He leads He always has something planned, even in the smallest, seemingly insignificant encounter, He is doing something. For that reason I am striving to take full advantage of every relationship that God brings my way while I am here, in order to cultivate and assimilate that attitude into my lifestyle permanently and walk in the ‘good works He has prepared’ for me.
I must conclude this update for fear of carrying on too long, therefore risking the boredom of my dear reader. There is so much going on, of which I cannot completely grasp nor comprehend, nor communicate. I do hope that you have some glimpse of life on this side of the world for me at the time being. I know that there are equally amazing things going on in each individual life that reads or does not read this posting. I pray that God will continue to enlighten your heart with more and more knowledge of His power, understanding of His love and the reality of the hope that is found in Christ (c.f. Eph. 1:18) Until next time… your friend, sister and random rambler, Sadie
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Pass the potatoes . . . I mean bananas!
Hello, All!
Well, things have been going along pretty smoothly around here for the past week or so. I’m getting into the swing of things with school, and really enjoying re-learning all the things I skimmed over in high school (I’m pretty sure I’m having more fun in class then the boys). Little miss Lynnsi Ray is working up to a full school day too (we’re completely trouncing her math!). The culmination of a school day is when, if there aren’t any appointments that afternoon, we put away all of the school books, write out the homework lists, then move over to the couch and put in some time reading Fellowship of the Ring out loud. For those of you who really know me, you understand what a sacrifice I’m making in reading that book . . . not!
Anyway, enough of that, for now. I wanted to take some time to share my food experiences here in Uganda so far. I expected eating out to be different, so I was prepared for the frothy cup of flavored milk as a milkshake, and the discovery that most salads didn’t include lettuce, but it was the mixture of familiar and unfamiliar things in shopping and cooking at home that kind of caught me off guard.
I think it’s the semi-familiar things that throw me most (a lot more than the completely new foods). I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch with the kids today, and realized how different it was! The jelly was plum jam (the most available fruit spread, as opposed to American grape jelly) and it came in a little tin instead of a glass jar. This can be disconcerting to a habbit-formed “jelly-from-a-jar” girl like me! It’s true that Sadie and I had an opportunity to buy familiar peanut butter, but the expiration date was almost up on it, and, never having run into an expired jar of peanut butter, I never want to, so we went with the Kenya-manufactured brand. When I opened it, it wasn’t entirely mixed and instead of the usual peanut oil on top, there was a thick, white lard-like layer. I managed to scrape most of it off, leaving the peanut butter somewhat thick and dry, but somewhat less worrisome to consume. Just about all of the bread I’ve encountered in Uganda has been pretty dry, with a very hard crust, so even the bread was different (and that’s not even going into the varying thicknesses of the slices).
Speaking of the bread, there are a lot more “from scratch” foods around here, which Sadie and I are really enjoying. Fresh bread making is next on my agenda (something I enjoy and haven’t done in a while). We’re also forgoing the store-option of long-life box milk and buying fresh milk that we have to boil and separate the cream from.
I’m also slowly learning more in the way of local dishes. I’ve already told you about African tea, but I’ve also been learning about how to make tortillas (soon I’ll try the African Chapati), spicy peanut sauce, and matoke (a banana-looking fruit that tastes like and is cooked like potatoes). Whenever I go out to the orphanage (or any other more Ugandan or rural meal setting), a plate of beans is usually served, with either rice or Posho (cooked maze meal, like thick, dry mashed potatoes). Posho can also be served for breakfast as a liquidy porrage, accompanying a snack of “g-nuts” or peanuts as we know them.
The best part of all of our food adventures so far has been trying new recipes and new ingredients! The fruit and veggies have been amazing (especially after the expensive and less-than-amazing Alaskan fruit), and Sadie has mastered the fruit smoothie craft (yes, it’s a craft, soon to be ‘art’). There are still adjustments I have to make in my head each time (like looking for “minced beef” at the store instead of hamburger, and having to put the flour in the freezer for a couple of days to kill the bugs in it), but “the kitchen” is slowly becoming “my kitchen” as I become more comfortable in it, and learn the ropes. I can’t wait to bring back the new recipes I’m learning!
Well, things have been going along pretty smoothly around here for the past week or so. I’m getting into the swing of things with school, and really enjoying re-learning all the things I skimmed over in high school (I’m pretty sure I’m having more fun in class then the boys). Little miss Lynnsi Ray is working up to a full school day too (we’re completely trouncing her math!). The culmination of a school day is when, if there aren’t any appointments that afternoon, we put away all of the school books, write out the homework lists, then move over to the couch and put in some time reading Fellowship of the Ring out loud. For those of you who really know me, you understand what a sacrifice I’m making in reading that book . . . not!
Anyway, enough of that, for now. I wanted to take some time to share my food experiences here in Uganda so far. I expected eating out to be different, so I was prepared for the frothy cup of flavored milk as a milkshake, and the discovery that most salads didn’t include lettuce, but it was the mixture of familiar and unfamiliar things in shopping and cooking at home that kind of caught me off guard.
I think it’s the semi-familiar things that throw me most (a lot more than the completely new foods). I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch with the kids today, and realized how different it was! The jelly was plum jam (the most available fruit spread, as opposed to American grape jelly) and it came in a little tin instead of a glass jar. This can be disconcerting to a habbit-formed “jelly-from-a-jar” girl like me! It’s true that Sadie and I had an opportunity to buy familiar peanut butter, but the expiration date was almost up on it, and, never having run into an expired jar of peanut butter, I never want to, so we went with the Kenya-manufactured brand. When I opened it, it wasn’t entirely mixed and instead of the usual peanut oil on top, there was a thick, white lard-like layer. I managed to scrape most of it off, leaving the peanut butter somewhat thick and dry, but somewhat less worrisome to consume. Just about all of the bread I’ve encountered in Uganda has been pretty dry, with a very hard crust, so even the bread was different (and that’s not even going into the varying thicknesses of the slices).
Speaking of the bread, there are a lot more “from scratch” foods around here, which Sadie and I are really enjoying. Fresh bread making is next on my agenda (something I enjoy and haven’t done in a while). We’re also forgoing the store-option of long-life box milk and buying fresh milk that we have to boil and separate the cream from.
I’m also slowly learning more in the way of local dishes. I’ve already told you about African tea, but I’ve also been learning about how to make tortillas (soon I’ll try the African Chapati), spicy peanut sauce, and matoke (a banana-looking fruit that tastes like and is cooked like potatoes). Whenever I go out to the orphanage (or any other more Ugandan or rural meal setting), a plate of beans is usually served, with either rice or Posho (cooked maze meal, like thick, dry mashed potatoes). Posho can also be served for breakfast as a liquidy porrage, accompanying a snack of “g-nuts” or peanuts as we know them.
The best part of all of our food adventures so far has been trying new recipes and new ingredients! The fruit and veggies have been amazing (especially after the expensive and less-than-amazing Alaskan fruit), and Sadie has mastered the fruit smoothie craft (yes, it’s a craft, soon to be ‘art’). There are still adjustments I have to make in my head each time (like looking for “minced beef” at the store instead of hamburger, and having to put the flour in the freezer for a couple of days to kill the bugs in it), but “the kitchen” is slowly becoming “my kitchen” as I become more comfortable in it, and learn the ropes. I can’t wait to bring back the new recipes I’m learning!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Nile, Sunburns and Kids!
Yup, it's been a busy week or so. Right now I'm sitting at the table, sipping a cup of Africa Tea (black tea made in milk and water, with a mix of spices called masala added- like a chai latte), and catching up on my writing. It's fun to think back to Christmas (which already seems long ago) and muse over everything that's happened since.
Let's see, first there was the adventure of white water rafting down the Nile River!!!!!! It was super fun! We'd been told about the trips before we even came, and were pretty sure that we'd have to end up doing it (who could resist saying that they'd rafted down the Nile?), but I'd expected it to be months from now. Well, there were a bunch of missionaries going on this trip, several of whom were leaving shortly after, so it turned out to be the perfect opportunity. It was about 6 hours of a trip, with lunch on an island and 11 rapids (grades 3-5), but one of my favorite parts was the calm stretches, where we just paddled, talked and laughed with our guide, or jumped out to swim/float down the Nile for a while. It was by far the warmest water I'd ever been in outside, and the rapids were great! Yes, we got flipped over, knocked overboard and even stuck on a rock at the top of a 16 ft. waterfall!
The only letdown to the whole trip didn't happen until we got home. SUNBURN!!!!!! Sadie and I didn't leave the house the next day, it hurt so bad and was soooo red! I was wearing capris, but my arms and my face were pretty well roasted. Poor Sadie's legs got fried! It wasn't until this past week that I realized how –completely subconsciously—I had been relying on my appearance to make a good impression with all the new people I was meeting, and then here I was with a swollen, red nose and a scabby face. The only reason I can talk about it now is that it's almost over. *brave sniff*
I've had the opportunity to do some more work out at the orphanage with Sadie! On an orphanage day, the alarm clock goes off at 5:45, in order to have breakfast and gather up everything we'll need for the day, and then walk into the bus stop in town to be picked up by the Good Shepherd's Fold van (which would fit in nicely out East End Road). The ride out into the villages and through the sugar cane fields is so fun, and so different, even from Jinja. You can tell that it's a completely different world in the villages; a much harder one. Once we reach GSF, we get to walk through the house yards greeting the kids and letting them know what activities are happening that day. I'm beginning to be able to put the right name to the right face, and I think I'll have them all straight just about when the other half of the kids come home from Christmas Holiday with relatives. They're all so much fun, and I can't help bursting into a smile whenever I hear a little accented "Aunt Megan!" coming at me. One of the best parts has been finding both kids and adults at the orphanage who remember my Dad's trip last spring! They all have such wonderful things to say about him as a friend, teacher and helper, and I'm so proud and encouraged about wherever it is that God is leading our family (I'm telling you, Dad, you've no idea how much you were used!).
New Years' Day was both fun and relaxing. Sadie and I went to Johnny and Jacob's neighborhood football game, got to cheer them on, and join with the other ladies there in mystified discussions about personal fouls and pass interference (which we were supposed to be watching for and calling). In the middle of the game, I had my first Ugandan thunder storm, which was beautiful, cool, and WET!!! The wind actually knocked a tree down in the back yard of the house we were playing at, and the boys loved getting dirty, wet and hardcore! That night Sadie and I had Stoney ginger soda, ice cream and homemade brownies, and stayed up until midnight to watch the beautiful fireworks display over the Nile (about two blocks away). After that was the perfect time to call the family back home (12 hours behind us) and let them know that I was in another year! Hehehe. I got to talk to my engaged sister Molly for a while, and she said that she was glad I was coming home before our birthday, because that would mean that I'd be turning 23 ten hours before her, instead of her having her annual 2-hour older-sister experience.
And finally, the most recent and very exciting news: I started teaching school today! It was just the two 9th grade boys, so I've still got to start with little 3rd grade Lynnsi, but it went really well (despite my suppressed fears), and I'm excited about becoming more familiar with the schedule and curriculum!!! Now, I'm finally settling in, not only to a new house and new people and . . . oh yeah, a new continent, but to a new job, and being useful! I can't wait to give God and these kids my all (Colossians 3:23+24), trusting Christ that it will be good enough.
Well, my tea is cold, which isn't entirely unpleasant, given the climate, but it's probably a sign that I've gone on long enough. Anyway, to save another thousand words I'll close with a picture of Sadie's and my week.
Thanks for all your prayers, and please continue to lift us up, as we settle in and begin to look around us, ready for what God has next. Happy New Year to you all!!!!!
(hmm, the photo for the blog didn't come over, so I'll have to send it separately)
Let's see, first there was the adventure of white water rafting down the Nile River!!!!!! It was super fun! We'd been told about the trips before we even came, and were pretty sure that we'd have to end up doing it (who could resist saying that they'd rafted down the Nile?), but I'd expected it to be months from now. Well, there were a bunch of missionaries going on this trip, several of whom were leaving shortly after, so it turned out to be the perfect opportunity. It was about 6 hours of a trip, with lunch on an island and 11 rapids (grades 3-5), but one of my favorite parts was the calm stretches, where we just paddled, talked and laughed with our guide, or jumped out to swim/float down the Nile for a while. It was by far the warmest water I'd ever been in outside, and the rapids were great! Yes, we got flipped over, knocked overboard and even stuck on a rock at the top of a 16 ft. waterfall!
The only letdown to the whole trip didn't happen until we got home. SUNBURN!!!!!! Sadie and I didn't leave the house the next day, it hurt so bad and was soooo red! I was wearing capris, but my arms and my face were pretty well roasted. Poor Sadie's legs got fried! It wasn't until this past week that I realized how –completely subconsciously—I had been relying on my appearance to make a good impression with all the new people I was meeting, and then here I was with a swollen, red nose and a scabby face. The only reason I can talk about it now is that it's almost over. *brave sniff*
I've had the opportunity to do some more work out at the orphanage with Sadie! On an orphanage day, the alarm clock goes off at 5:45, in order to have breakfast and gather up everything we'll need for the day, and then walk into the bus stop in town to be picked up by the Good Shepherd's Fold van (which would fit in nicely out East End Road). The ride out into the villages and through the sugar cane fields is so fun, and so different, even from Jinja. You can tell that it's a completely different world in the villages; a much harder one. Once we reach GSF, we get to walk through the house yards greeting the kids and letting them know what activities are happening that day. I'm beginning to be able to put the right name to the right face, and I think I'll have them all straight just about when the other half of the kids come home from Christmas Holiday with relatives. They're all so much fun, and I can't help bursting into a smile whenever I hear a little accented "Aunt Megan!" coming at me. One of the best parts has been finding both kids and adults at the orphanage who remember my Dad's trip last spring! They all have such wonderful things to say about him as a friend, teacher and helper, and I'm so proud and encouraged about wherever it is that God is leading our family (I'm telling you, Dad, you've no idea how much you were used!).
New Years' Day was both fun and relaxing. Sadie and I went to Johnny and Jacob's neighborhood football game, got to cheer them on, and join with the other ladies there in mystified discussions about personal fouls and pass interference (which we were supposed to be watching for and calling). In the middle of the game, I had my first Ugandan thunder storm, which was beautiful, cool, and WET!!! The wind actually knocked a tree down in the back yard of the house we were playing at, and the boys loved getting dirty, wet and hardcore! That night Sadie and I had Stoney ginger soda, ice cream and homemade brownies, and stayed up until midnight to watch the beautiful fireworks display over the Nile (about two blocks away). After that was the perfect time to call the family back home (12 hours behind us) and let them know that I was in another year! Hehehe. I got to talk to my engaged sister Molly for a while, and she said that she was glad I was coming home before our birthday, because that would mean that I'd be turning 23 ten hours before her, instead of her having her annual 2-hour older-sister experience.
And finally, the most recent and very exciting news: I started teaching school today! It was just the two 9th grade boys, so I've still got to start with little 3rd grade Lynnsi, but it went really well (despite my suppressed fears), and I'm excited about becoming more familiar with the schedule and curriculum!!! Now, I'm finally settling in, not only to a new house and new people and . . . oh yeah, a new continent, but to a new job, and being useful! I can't wait to give God and these kids my all (Colossians 3:23+24), trusting Christ that it will be good enough.
Well, my tea is cold, which isn't entirely unpleasant, given the climate, but it's probably a sign that I've gone on long enough. Anyway, to save another thousand words I'll close with a picture of Sadie's and my week.
Thanks for all your prayers, and please continue to lift us up, as we settle in and begin to look around us, ready for what God has next. Happy New Year to you all!!!!!
(hmm, the photo for the blog didn't come over, so I'll have to send it separately)
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