A Typical Day in Uganda

does not exist. I'm convinced that nothing we have done since we've been here is "normal", at least in the eyes of most Westerners. I'm finding that everyday is an adventure, quite literally.

Of course getting here was quite the adventure-a lot of flying, a lot of layovers, a lot of driving and little sleep. Since arriving in Mbarara on Wednesday I have eaten a grasshopper, milked a cow, cut a banana leaf with a panga and shucked beans. I experienced an earthquake the other night (don't worry, don't worry-it did zero damage: just rattled the windows a bit, but we didn't even feel it). It's rained everyday we've been here, which means a lot of mud. Everday we drive reminds me of being in the desert of New Mexico, only there we would offroad for fun, here it is a part of life. I've also learned far more than I could ever share.

Since the first day we've arrived, we have been in intensive training-meeting the team and learning their roles, learning the culture, talking about evangelism in ways that are appropriate with the culture, and diving into the language with 1.5 hour sessions everyday.

I am convinced that this is not just another STM (short term mission) trip. I am so thankful and pleased with the emphasis on learning and studying above any "doing". The long-term team here is fabulous and care for us so much. I've rarely felt hospitality like this.

I would share a typical day here with you, but so far I have not had one.

uganda time (for real this time.)

Sitting in Detroit waiting to board the plane to amsterdam. From there we head to Entebbe, then to Kampala for the night at Dr. K's then to Mbarara. Once in Mbarara we dive into intensive training-language, culture, etc. Then we'll have a job fair to see where we'd like to be placed for the summer.
In Uganda the local time is 1250 am. We're all feeling the effects of little sleep. Some are sleeping on the floor, others are in their own little world and others are slap happy, giggling hysterically.
I don't have much else at the moment. Were boarding now. I'm looking forward to sleeping on this stretch of the trip and getting further into the Screwtape Letters.

Uganda Time.

In just 3.5 hours I will be waking up to go to the airport. It's crazy to think that it's finally happening. I've been preparing for this trip for months now and I can't believe it's nearly here. I'm so excited to see what challenges, adventures and joys lie ahead of me these next 10 weeks. I will definitely be posting as I get the opportunity.

Downsizing

Moving out always makes me realize how much I have. I'm the last one left in my room (tear) but there's still so much clutter.

So I've decided to downsize. By half.

It's just stuff after all isn't it? Clothes I never wear, movies I never watch, a guitar I never play, books I've already read. Stuff. Crap, really.

I don't know when people decided we needed more stuff to make us happy. I've been finding that the more I have, the more stressed out I get-more things to lose, more to be responsible for, more to find places for. I just don't need it.

So my goal is to get rid of half of it. Now that I have the room to myself, I think I'm going to take this time to take inventory of what I have and get rid of it. I want to be able to fit everything in the 3 bins I'm allowed to store at Covenant and the 2 suitcases I have. (Obviously things like the guitar, tv dinner table, tv stand, the carpet and my chair won't fit in those bins, but everything else should be able to.)

We'll see how it goes. I know it's going to be a big project and it will probably be difficult, but I think it needs to happen.

Creation, Fall, Redemption

Here at Covenant, everywhere we turn we hear about the Creation, Fall, Redemption framework. It's next to impossible to draw connections between at least one of the aspects and everyday life and almost all teachers, regardless of the field, assign papers or reading relating to it.

Because it's drilled into us so much, we like to have fun with it. For example, after the controversial cremation chapel talk, Dr. Kapic appeared in the faculty quote of the week saying “Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation. HA! Things around here now are more like: Cremation, Fall, Redemption, Constipation.”

In less than 2 weeks I've included this framework in 3 papers, so I draw connections almost effortlessly. I'll just share one that my life demonstrated today:

Creation- me. I was born 20 years ago today.
Fall- Stats. I really pooped up on my Statistics final.
Redemption- CHOW. I pretty much dominated my Cultural Heritage of the West final.

This is definitely one of those things that makes Covenant extra nerdy isn't it?

Currently:

Watching the sunrise, listening to Explosions in the Sky and writing a paper about something I love--life.is.beautiful.

I recommend

Sigur Rós - Góðan Daginn

I've been listening to Sigur Ros a lot lately-particularly this song. Perfect for studying and writing papers.