Field Notes Received 3/4/10

Friday, Feb. 26: I was concerned about electrical power today because it was raining when we left but I got through my internet time with no mishaps which was great.
Considering the weather, I was surprised at my good attendance at both classes at Smile Africa, especially the English class. The classes went well. We added more body parts in English, plus 2 verbs: walking and hopping which ended up with much laughter. There was a short graduation ceremony today for a young girl who cried tears of joy. There are 4 young girls Pastor Ruth has taken under her wing, who were all prostitutes supporting parents and younger siblings. With Ruth's help and assistance from the women's program of Hope 4 Kids, these 4 girls are now off the streets, living in a group home and learning new skills to be able to support themselves. One of the other girls was in tears as well by the time the graduate finished her "testimony". It is pretty wonderful work God is doing here through his willing "tools". Leah was quite upset today for several reasons. A child she has become quite attached to is ill. She is not sure what the illness is. He is running a high fever and has diarrhea. It could be malaria but TB in his stomach is also suspected. Leah is also upset because there are no meds to treat the people who need them. Scabies is common here in the children. She has gone several times and purchased scabies powder to treat the children. She now brings it home each night so that she is assured of having it when she needs it.

Saturday - Feb. 27: Today was my "brick wall". This happens to me at least once each trip. Everything, the poverty, the frustrations, the weather, the sickness, the lack of education, the poor quality of things, the language, the accent, the EVERYTHING, becomes over-whelming. I had a difficult time controlling my feelings on the ride to Busowa; why am I here, what good am I doing, is this where God wants me - all the self-doubt. Perhaps it started this morning because I got up early to cook beans I had put to soak last night, I cooked rice, hard-boiled some eggs and boiled a large pot of water to purify. Okay, the beans burned as did the rice. I could salvage some of the beans but had to dump the rice. ANYWAY, the lovely people of Busowa snapped me out of it. The pastor was thrilled because his son had gotten high enough marks on his Senior 6 exams to qualify for a government scholarship to the university. The one person who showed up for my 3rd class did a great job on her homework and was delighted with my praise. The ladies from my English class left with big smiles and I could hear them outside laughing and repeating some new phrases they had learned. Thank you my heavenly Father.

Sunday - Feb. 28: I went to church with Alex this morning at Sacred Heart. Again, I loved the music. It is something really special. I love liturgy and the liturgical forms. Today when the gospel was announced, it was said "Please stand up and welcome the gospel". I loved it!! What a beautiful thing to say, "welcome the gospel." What followed was a gospel procession from the back of the church led by a woman carrying an open Bible on her head on a "tray" decorated with ribbons and flowers. She was followed by a man carrying something, I don't remember what, and about 4 other people. They proceeded to sing and dance their way to the altar. It reminded me of David dancing before/to the temple. It was wonderful!! Peter was 3 hours late picking me up for Juba, but the ladies were waiting and seemed so enthused and glad I got there. They all want their individual attention to their homework at the end of the class. It was all very heart-warming.

Monday- March 1: Yet, my "thin-skin" and my vulnerability to the circumstances remain. These last few weeks may prove to be the most difficult. We had rain again last night. I woke up with mosquito bites this morning. I guess I will have to sleep with my mosquito net. It would help a bit. I will also respray my clothes and start applying the repellent I brought. I am so glad to be taking the Mefloquin to prevent whatever malaria gets into my system to keep it from multiplying so that it dies. On the way to Wikus this morning, Peter, the driver and Pastor David, a Ugandan, had a conversation about witch doctors and how many of them there still are in the countries of East Africa. They talked about the difficulties of the Christians trying to deal with the people's belief in witch doctors. They said (which I had head in July when I was here from a reliable source) that the witch doctors were encouraging child sacrifice (your own child) in order to gain wealth. They spoke of something I had not heard previously. The witch doctors also say that if a person has any part of a human albino stored in their home, they will gain wealth. So albinos have been killed and dismembered to "spread the wealth." Two Americans from Seaside Church in California are here right now. Leah and I had both met both of them previously. We got invited to dinner which was a real treat: to have conversation with other Americans, hear their stories and share ours, AND dinner was delicious. We ate at TLT. I had a fish curry which was very good.

Tuesday - March 2: My morning off - I cooked. I went to Smile Africa - my English ladies did really well. The day there ended with difficulty. Leah and I were waiting for Alex when one of my LS students showed up, an hour late. She had just returned from the western part of Uganda because her daughter had gotten bit by a dog. The story that followed was so awful. The daughter has a severe wound in her thigh which "smells bad" - is septic. She needs treatment. The mother had come back to Tororo seeking help, to check in with me (class) and her computer class. She was dead on her feet but wanted me to check her homework. Under the circumstances, I couldn't believe she'd even care. I am still trying to figure it all out. After she left, Leah told me she had a meeting with Pastor Ruth today who told her one of their students, a little girl, had fallen over dead there yesterday. How do you process that? What are we supposed to do here? What are we supposed to learn? What next? Leah and I are both stuck with these unanswered questions.

Wednesday - March 3: With the rains upon us, the ants have been leaving their huge ant hills. They fly out and after they are outside their hills, they lose their wings. Thus, on our verandah, we have many wings that need to be swept up each day or they get inside on the rug in the living room. The rains are also playing havoc with my class attendance. The women are all concerned about getting their gardens dug and the seeds in the ground. Leah left this morning to go to Kenya for some R&R. She will return on Sunday. I arranged with Pastor Wilbur today, to get Jaja Andera's house fixed so that it doesn't leak. I then ran into her at the clinic. She was very excited to see me. I was able to tell her thought an interpreter that her house would be fixed.

Thursday - March 4: Agnes was a half hour early to class today. It was good, as we had a long private conversation. She shared much about her life, her philosophy and her thoughts on African culture. We had a good Reading class with all in attendance. The bad news - Rita, one of the leaders who look after the widows, come to find me to tell me that Jaja Ander was admitted to the hospital. She is dehydrated, has continuing bleeding from her nose, asthma and malaria. So I had a conference with the doctor. It will be expensive to have her there. I also must give Rita money for food for the Jaja (grandmother). The hospital does not supply food. So I will need to find more money. No one showed for my English class. I think they are all "digging", as they refer to gardening; trying to get the soil tilled while it is soft from the rain and trying to get the seeds in the ground. I also had a nice conversation with Patrick. I like him. He seems to be a thoughtful, modest man. Today he said, "they call me pastor, but I am not prepared for that (role)." He wants to go to Kenya to study theology and Swahili. The problem is the care of his family, should he try to do that. His father was an Anglican clergyman, who had 12 children. Thus Patrick had to leave school after S2 to switch to trade school so he could start earning money. He is a builder. He oversees construction at True Vine, but also functions as interpreter during worship and leads worship in the villages. Patrick said he (himself) is the only one to follow his father's path. He said he thought there were "cults" developing and some ministries diminishing because the "pastors" don't have enough education and are relying only on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Discernment then becomes an important issue. He asked for my prayers. I am forwarding that request to all of you. Thank you.