Discouragement is looking at the contents of my room and wondering how in the name of all things I'm going to fit all of it into my suitcase. It's miserable. To make matters worse Laura is blasting Taylor Swift from the other room.
On a happy note, we made the most delicious mocha frappuccinos today.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Countdown
Ever since we had 4 weeks remaining Laura has been counting down the days til we come home. I don't like it one bit. As much as I tried to be in denial though, I'm starting to feel like it's about that time. I think a lot of it had to do with saying goodbye to Auntie Jill and Uncle Joel yesterday. When they nailed down their departure date about 2 months ago I knew we'd only have a short time left once they had gone. We had a goodbye party for them yesterday (which was a nice excuse to kill and roast that dang pig that had been squealing like a little girl right outside our house) and they left this morning. I absolutely hated saying goodbye to them. Partly because I know it's just the first of many goodbyes in my near future, but mostly just because they are fabulous people that I love and adore and who have, in the least cheesy and non cliche way possible, changed me. I cried and became slightly less social, but I'm just trying to convince myself that I'll see them in the States when I go home.
The end of GETS is also a contributing factor to feeling like my time is almost up. We have a small ceremony for them today and they will most likely be going back to their homes on Wednesday. They have become my friends more than anything else, so saying goodbye to them won't be fun at all.
Though Laura has been counting down for ages now, I tried to refrain as long as I could, but even I can't help but think that I've only got 11 more days in Uganda, 8 more days in Mbarara, 3 more days with the GETS girls and 1 more team meeting. I'm trying to think of all the last minute things I need to do-people I need to see, pictures I need to take, gifts I need to buy, questions I need to ask..the list goes on. It's unbearable.
As hard as it will be to say goodbye though, I feel like it's about time to go home. I'm thankful for the wonderful family and friends I have that will care to hear about my stories and share in this part of my life with me.
The end of GETS is also a contributing factor to feeling like my time is almost up. We have a small ceremony for them today and they will most likely be going back to their homes on Wednesday. They have become my friends more than anything else, so saying goodbye to them won't be fun at all.
Though Laura has been counting down for ages now, I tried to refrain as long as I could, but even I can't help but think that I've only got 11 more days in Uganda, 8 more days in Mbarara, 3 more days with the GETS girls and 1 more team meeting. I'm trying to think of all the last minute things I need to do-people I need to see, pictures I need to take, gifts I need to buy, questions I need to ask..the list goes on. It's unbearable.
As hard as it will be to say goodbye though, I feel like it's about time to go home. I'm thankful for the wonderful family and friends I have that will care to hear about my stories and share in this part of my life with me.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Land of a Thousand Hills
I went to Rwanda earlier last week. My surrogate father Dale is the unit leader for the team here in Mbarara and the team in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. He needed to pay the Rwandan team a visit, so Laura, Josh, Jason (another short termer who arrived recently) and I decided to come along.
We started our trip on Monday, left about an hour later than we had planned on, our van overheated about 2 hours in, and I used someone's pit latrine on the side of the road (I'm getting much better at that than when I first got here...I can almost get it all in the hole). We ate lunch in Kabale, a town at the bottom of Uganda, crossed the border and drove to Kigali. The drive was stunning. Beautifully cultivated hills spanned the country side. The contrast from Uganda to Rwanda was almost immediate. The roads are nicely paved and litter free. In fact, it's illegal to bring plastic bags into the country. I'm a fan of that.
We checked in at our hostel and went to a missionary couple's house for dinner. They're from New Zealand and the husband looks just like Mr. Bean (in fact, he often gets shouts and inquisitive looks from strangers and passerbys). After dinner and an amazing cup of tea, we watched a film entitled "As We Forgive". It's about the reconciliation after the genocide 16 years ago. This was a good preface for our activities the following day.
We started out our morning visiting the genocide museum. This provided us with a great deal of information and context through to view the culture. Prior to my visit, I knew little of of the conflict and what I did know was very general knowledge or came from the movie Hotel Rwanda. The museum was nicely laid out and did a great job explaining the events that led up the '94 genocide. We spent a total of 3 hours there, reading the info., watching shorts, hearing stories, etc. There was one room that had clothes of some of the victims hung up behind glass. I was shocked at how modern these clothes were (ie-GAP) and it struck me that this was so recent-in my lifetime even. It was powerful to say the least.
Certainly even more powerful was the church we went to visit next. The priest of the church had told his congregation that they could seek refuge there. 5,000 Tutsis crowded into the building, only to have the priest betray them. Grenades came in through windows and cracks and eventually the doors were broken down. Children were beaten against the walls and families were brutally attacked with pangas. The church is now a memorial-heaping piles of the victims' clothes cover the pews and outside are mass graves that you can walk down into. There you find rows and rows of skulls and piles of bones, often cracked or shattered-the remains of the victims. My heart was wrenched out. There's a visual that isn't likely to leave my mind any time soon.
Driving back into town, eyes filled with tears, I listened to Sigur Ros thinking of the overwhelming weight of sin in this world. I felt burdened by the lack of attention/aid from the international community and couldn't help but think of the situation in central Africa right now with the LRA. When all is said and done will we regret our lack of interest in this conflict? I'm praying not and the passage of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act is a step in a positive direction.
Pray for Rwanda and those affected by the genocide. With a population of only 8 million in which 1 million had died, I'd be surprised if it were even possible to find a single person not affected in some way.
On a more cheerful note, the rest of our trip was nice and relaxing. Minus the fact that we ran out of gas on our way home and stopped by yet ANOTHER backyard pit latrine.
We started our trip on Monday, left about an hour later than we had planned on, our van overheated about 2 hours in, and I used someone's pit latrine on the side of the road (I'm getting much better at that than when I first got here...I can almost get it all in the hole). We ate lunch in Kabale, a town at the bottom of Uganda, crossed the border and drove to Kigali. The drive was stunning. Beautifully cultivated hills spanned the country side. The contrast from Uganda to Rwanda was almost immediate. The roads are nicely paved and litter free. In fact, it's illegal to bring plastic bags into the country. I'm a fan of that.
We checked in at our hostel and went to a missionary couple's house for dinner. They're from New Zealand and the husband looks just like Mr. Bean (in fact, he often gets shouts and inquisitive looks from strangers and passerbys). After dinner and an amazing cup of tea, we watched a film entitled "As We Forgive". It's about the reconciliation after the genocide 16 years ago. This was a good preface for our activities the following day.
We started out our morning visiting the genocide museum. This provided us with a great deal of information and context through to view the culture. Prior to my visit, I knew little of of the conflict and what I did know was very general knowledge or came from the movie Hotel Rwanda. The museum was nicely laid out and did a great job explaining the events that led up the '94 genocide. We spent a total of 3 hours there, reading the info., watching shorts, hearing stories, etc. There was one room that had clothes of some of the victims hung up behind glass. I was shocked at how modern these clothes were (ie-GAP) and it struck me that this was so recent-in my lifetime even. It was powerful to say the least.
Certainly even more powerful was the church we went to visit next. The priest of the church had told his congregation that they could seek refuge there. 5,000 Tutsis crowded into the building, only to have the priest betray them. Grenades came in through windows and cracks and eventually the doors were broken down. Children were beaten against the walls and families were brutally attacked with pangas. The church is now a memorial-heaping piles of the victims' clothes cover the pews and outside are mass graves that you can walk down into. There you find rows and rows of skulls and piles of bones, often cracked or shattered-the remains of the victims. My heart was wrenched out. There's a visual that isn't likely to leave my mind any time soon.
Driving back into town, eyes filled with tears, I listened to Sigur Ros thinking of the overwhelming weight of sin in this world. I felt burdened by the lack of attention/aid from the international community and couldn't help but think of the situation in central Africa right now with the LRA. When all is said and done will we regret our lack of interest in this conflict? I'm praying not and the passage of the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act is a step in a positive direction.
Pray for Rwanda and those affected by the genocide. With a population of only 8 million in which 1 million had died, I'd be surprised if it were even possible to find a single person not affected in some way.
On a more cheerful note, the rest of our trip was nice and relaxing. Minus the fact that we ran out of gas on our way home and stopped by yet ANOTHER backyard pit latrine.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
World Cup, Bugs, Muchomo,
Heads up: this post is very hodgepodge, but I wanted to take advantage of the internet opportunity.
There's something really exciting about watching the World Cup while it's taking place on this very continent. I've never been one to really care about soccer, except when Covenant plays (We are the Scots and we come from the Mountain!) and even then I'd only really attend the big games. But I've rather enjoyed watching various games here. I've gotten to experience several ambiances-Africans watching South Africa, Brits watching England, Germans watching Germany and Americans watching the US. It's been fun to be in a room with so many different countries represented for the various matches.
On an unrelated note, I've been getting these mysterious bug bites on my right arm. I've gotten them on 4 separate occasions-always in patches of at least 10-20 bites. We've ruled out mosquitoes, fleas, and bed bugs. We started to realize that they always showed up after I sat in the wicker chairs at Dale and Kathy's. They knew that bugs sometimes reside in there and that they don't like varnish so after the fist 2 attacks we got the couch and 2 chairs varnished. But the other night, after watching Night at the Museum 2, I found a good 13 more and last night I got even more while I was reading. If the bites were indeed coming from the chairs, then I couldn't figure out why I was the only one out of the multitudes of people that come through this house to get bitten. When I got home today Micah told me that they found the bugs living in the chair and they "doomed" them. Apparently he and Kathy abandoned homeschooling and get to the bottom of this. They tipped over one of the chairs and shook and shook and shook. Hundreds of little black bugs and spiders and larva and dust came tumbling out. Most of the bugs had died thanks to the varnish, but some were still living. They shook all the furniture and sprayed gallons of Doom on them. Oh the joys of life here.
On a less gross and more cheerful note, we had muchomo for dinner and s'mores for dessert. We have a fire pit in our front yard and the boys love to roast things on it. (This is where they took care of that rooster that used to crow outside our window.) So tonight they roasted beef, which may have been one of the best things I've eaten yet and then we went through 2 bags of marshmallows making s'mores. Less sarcastically, oh the joys of life here.
Tomorrow I'll be going to Ntare School (where President Mussevini attended) to help the girls in their computer skills. Mike will be teaching his hermeneutics class, which is fabulous and then Laura, Emily (a new arrival), and I will be "hosting" the All Saints youth group, which could possibly mean "leading/teaching" the youth group. Only time will tell.
There's something really exciting about watching the World Cup while it's taking place on this very continent. I've never been one to really care about soccer, except when Covenant plays (We are the Scots and we come from the Mountain!) and even then I'd only really attend the big games. But I've rather enjoyed watching various games here. I've gotten to experience several ambiances-Africans watching South Africa, Brits watching England, Germans watching Germany and Americans watching the US. It's been fun to be in a room with so many different countries represented for the various matches.
On an unrelated note, I've been getting these mysterious bug bites on my right arm. I've gotten them on 4 separate occasions-always in patches of at least 10-20 bites. We've ruled out mosquitoes, fleas, and bed bugs. We started to realize that they always showed up after I sat in the wicker chairs at Dale and Kathy's. They knew that bugs sometimes reside in there and that they don't like varnish so after the fist 2 attacks we got the couch and 2 chairs varnished. But the other night, after watching Night at the Museum 2, I found a good 13 more and last night I got even more while I was reading. If the bites were indeed coming from the chairs, then I couldn't figure out why I was the only one out of the multitudes of people that come through this house to get bitten. When I got home today Micah told me that they found the bugs living in the chair and they "doomed" them. Apparently he and Kathy abandoned homeschooling and get to the bottom of this. They tipped over one of the chairs and shook and shook and shook. Hundreds of little black bugs and spiders and larva and dust came tumbling out. Most of the bugs had died thanks to the varnish, but some were still living. They shook all the furniture and sprayed gallons of Doom on them. Oh the joys of life here.
On a less gross and more cheerful note, we had muchomo for dinner and s'mores for dessert. We have a fire pit in our front yard and the boys love to roast things on it. (This is where they took care of that rooster that used to crow outside our window.) So tonight they roasted beef, which may have been one of the best things I've eaten yet and then we went through 2 bags of marshmallows making s'mores. Less sarcastically, oh the joys of life here.
Tomorrow I'll be going to Ntare School (where President Mussevini attended) to help the girls in their computer skills. Mike will be teaching his hermeneutics class, which is fabulous and then Laura, Emily (a new arrival), and I will be "hosting" the All Saints youth group, which could possibly mean "leading/teaching" the youth group. Only time will tell.
Monday, June 21, 2010
African Lady
I've acquired a new name with the GETS girls-African lady.
Why?
Because someday I should be an African..at least that's what they say. They say that I've done a good job engaging the culture and I'm willing to try new things. I think they are referring to the fact that I've had to basin bathe for the last 2 weeks, that I put up with things like rats (did I tell you I found a dead one in my purse last week?!), and that I attempt the language (though my words are limited and often mispronounced). I also "forget" to take/wear my boda helmet, I'll sleep without a net if I have a bed to myself and I eat mangos from the tree. (I can hear my mother gasping in horror right now-don't worry ma, I'm still being safe!)
They also said that I joke like an Ugandan. They tried to give me the name African queen, but I told them I wasn't fit for a queen because I say words like ekibunu (which I thought just meant "butt", but apparently has a stronger, more offensive meaning..oops) and I sometimes wear trousers.
I've loved getting to know these girls and laughing with them. We've laughed and laughed, to the point that the muzee in the compound have often asked if they were safe. They were.
The program ends soon and it will be sad to see them go, but I'm thankful for the time I've had with them so far.
Why?
Because someday I should be an African..at least that's what they say. They say that I've done a good job engaging the culture and I'm willing to try new things. I think they are referring to the fact that I've had to basin bathe for the last 2 weeks, that I put up with things like rats (did I tell you I found a dead one in my purse last week?!), and that I attempt the language (though my words are limited and often mispronounced). I also "forget" to take/wear my boda helmet, I'll sleep without a net if I have a bed to myself and I eat mangos from the tree. (I can hear my mother gasping in horror right now-don't worry ma, I'm still being safe!)
They also said that I joke like an Ugandan. They tried to give me the name African queen, but I told them I wasn't fit for a queen because I say words like ekibunu (which I thought just meant "butt", but apparently has a stronger, more offensive meaning..oops) and I sometimes wear trousers.
I've loved getting to know these girls and laughing with them. We've laughed and laughed, to the point that the muzee in the compound have often asked if they were safe. They were.
The program ends soon and it will be sad to see them go, but I'm thankful for the time I've had with them so far.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Everyday...more or less
I've been getting complaints that I'm not sharing enough of my day to day activities. Keep in mind that everyday is very different. But I'll try to do a better job at sharing what life here for me actually looks like.
I moved into the GETS (Girls Empowered to Serve) home last Monday. Since that is my primary area of ministry, we felt like it would be a good thing for me to spend more time with the girls. GETS is a discipleship program for young women who have completed secondary school and in the waiting period before university. They typically have different Bible studies or book studies and they are taught life skills as well as domestic skills (cooking, cleaning, hosting, etc.)
I am leading a class Wednesday afternoons going through a book called Obeying Jesus. I'm not a huge fan of the book itself, but it has definitely spurred on some excellent conversation and questions. Apart from that, I take each girl into town once a week individually to give them a chance to get away from the home for a few hours. So far it's been a great time to just hang out casually and get to know them each better. So a lot of time is spent getting to know the girls better. Mike, Susan, Mable and special guests lead lessons that I try to attend when I can.
When I'm not at the house or with the girls, I'm either at Matt and Crystal's or with my team. Crystal is pregnant and on bed rest for a few weeks and has 2 toddler boys running around the house. So I go over on Tuesdays (and whenever I get an emergency call to come) to hang out with the boys and help around the house. It's been a neat unexpected surprise to be able to encourage her in this time. Yesterday Laura and I spent a good part of our day cooking lasagna and tuna casserole to freeze so that they have some easy meals after the baby is born and last Saturday we had a movie night with her. I've loved having conversations with Crystal and getting to know her better. She's got such a beautiful spirit!
It's hard to really say exactly what else I do here. I do a lot of talking and a lot of listening and a lot of observing. I do a lot hanging out and getting to know people. I've done a few dance parties and movie nights. I've watched a few World Cup games (which is quite exciting since we're on the same continent as the tournament and since we have Brits on the team whose whole life is "football"). I've eaten a lot and drunk tons of African tea. I've been encouraged a lot and hopefully encouraged a lot. People being people with people-that's what I've been doing here. I've learned a lot, grown a lot, been challenged a lot.
We have 5 weeks left from yesterday and honestly, I'm sad to think that our time here is halfway over. I keep waiting for things to get unbearable, to get so frustrated that I want to go home...but it just hasn't happened yet. Sure I've had bad days here, but I can count them on 2 fingers. And of course I've been frustrated, but even on my worst days nothing has made me feel like I'm not supposed to be here, nothing has made me throw my hands up and say "enough!" Maybe it's because of my family here who constantly helps me process through things and encourages me. Maybe it's because the overwhelming love and support from my family and friends back home. Maybe it's because I know God has me here for a plan and purpose. I think it's all three. I'm so grateful for that.
I moved into the GETS (Girls Empowered to Serve) home last Monday. Since that is my primary area of ministry, we felt like it would be a good thing for me to spend more time with the girls. GETS is a discipleship program for young women who have completed secondary school and in the waiting period before university. They typically have different Bible studies or book studies and they are taught life skills as well as domestic skills (cooking, cleaning, hosting, etc.)
I am leading a class Wednesday afternoons going through a book called Obeying Jesus. I'm not a huge fan of the book itself, but it has definitely spurred on some excellent conversation and questions. Apart from that, I take each girl into town once a week individually to give them a chance to get away from the home for a few hours. So far it's been a great time to just hang out casually and get to know them each better. So a lot of time is spent getting to know the girls better. Mike, Susan, Mable and special guests lead lessons that I try to attend when I can.
When I'm not at the house or with the girls, I'm either at Matt and Crystal's or with my team. Crystal is pregnant and on bed rest for a few weeks and has 2 toddler boys running around the house. So I go over on Tuesdays (and whenever I get an emergency call to come) to hang out with the boys and help around the house. It's been a neat unexpected surprise to be able to encourage her in this time. Yesterday Laura and I spent a good part of our day cooking lasagna and tuna casserole to freeze so that they have some easy meals after the baby is born and last Saturday we had a movie night with her. I've loved having conversations with Crystal and getting to know her better. She's got such a beautiful spirit!
It's hard to really say exactly what else I do here. I do a lot of talking and a lot of listening and a lot of observing. I do a lot hanging out and getting to know people. I've done a few dance parties and movie nights. I've watched a few World Cup games (which is quite exciting since we're on the same continent as the tournament and since we have Brits on the team whose whole life is "football"). I've eaten a lot and drunk tons of African tea. I've been encouraged a lot and hopefully encouraged a lot. People being people with people-that's what I've been doing here. I've learned a lot, grown a lot, been challenged a lot.
We have 5 weeks left from yesterday and honestly, I'm sad to think that our time here is halfway over. I keep waiting for things to get unbearable, to get so frustrated that I want to go home...but it just hasn't happened yet. Sure I've had bad days here, but I can count them on 2 fingers. And of course I've been frustrated, but even on my worst days nothing has made me feel like I'm not supposed to be here, nothing has made me throw my hands up and say "enough!" Maybe it's because of my family here who constantly helps me process through things and encourages me. Maybe it's because the overwhelming love and support from my family and friends back home. Maybe it's because I know God has me here for a plan and purpose. I think it's all three. I'm so grateful for that.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Meet the Team
This post has been saved in my drafts for about 3 weeks. I knew I wanted to introduce the team, but I didn't want to until I knew them better. So here are some of the people that I've been spending all my time with:
Papa Dale and Momma Kathy
are my host parents. Dale is the team leader for the team here. They have 3 boys Micah, Ben and Zach. The more time I spend at their home the more I admire them. They've already had a ton on their plate without having to worry about our team, but their love and patience has been amazing. I've had pretty lengthy conversations with at least one of them almost every singe night that I've been here. It's been a blast living with them and being welcomed into this family. My little brothers are wild and crazy. We've had several sword fights (I almost always lose) and they have twice now, done us girls a favor by killing and cooking the roosters that would crow right outside our window.
Mike and Susan
Mike focuses on pastoral training. Every time he speaks, I love to listen. He's a wellspring of knowledge and has lots to offer. I've learned so much from him already and can't wait to hear more. Susan is one of the sweetest, most genuine ladies. She is leading a study with the GETS girls that seems to be very helpful for them.
Uncle Joel and Auntie Jill
They quickly became some of my favorite people, despite all the times they pick on me (and I'm not just saying that because I know they'll read this). They are definitely some of the most real, honest, open, casual people I've met in a long, long time. Joel eats napkins-literally. It's a condition. We're praying for him. Nurse Jill is the go-to in te unhappy event I ever get mango flies. (shudder) They've got 2 kids-Dara and Dade-who, for whatever reason, think I'm pretty cool. I'm their favorite, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone.
Zillah
I'm learning loads of new vocabulary from this Brit. She works at the hospital as a physiotherapist. She's had some crazy adventures, including backpacking to northern Uganda with just a change of clothes, hitchhiking in matoke trucks, riding ostriches and climbing Mt. Everest twice...barefoot. When she's not trying to sell me off as a way to fundraiser, she can be pretty fun.
Matt and Crystal
They are very strong people. They are here with Juna Amagara Ministries and started ABIDE, a ministry for young men who are in break between secondary school and university. It's an intensive discipleship program with outreaches to different villages every weekend. Matt and Crystal also foster abandoned babies. Crystal is 7+ months pregnant and has 2 toddler boys and until recently fostered a 3 mo. old baby who was orphaned at birth. They are a beautiful family with gigantic hears.
Seb
Also a Brit, also tries to sell me off, also teaches me new vocab. He's definitely got a sense of humor that can have even the most boring people in stitches/tears. (I've never cried so many times from laughing at the most inappropriate times then when he's around, especially when he and Joel team up.) He works with ABIDE and is here on a 1 year assignment, but has just decided to come back long term to work with teenagers.
Travis
Also works with ABIDE. Travis is here for 6 months. He's pretty much redeemed my view of Canada that Josh has lost. I think we actually became friends when I decided that he, Seb and Dale needed some female company in their car at Queen Elizabeth. We are now at the point where I feel like I can tell him when Quest (or any other animal) drinks from his mug. Once ABIDE is over he'll either be working in Tanzania or Sudan for his last month.
Lou
She just left yesterday to head back to the UK. She worked at the hospital in the lab and also led a session at GETS (that I will be finishing out). She probably had the best fashion of anyone in Mbarara. She is very independent and very adventurous.
Tob
I didn't actually believe that he existed until just recently. he was sick for the first 2 weeks that we were here. He's a medical student from Germany that was working in the hospital but will actually be going back home soon. Once I started to get to know him a bit, I've realized that he is actually very funny.
Words could not descibe what this team means to me. They have reshaped my idea of missions-it's not all evangelism and crusades, it's people being people with people. It's messy and hard, but it can definitely be fun too. They have poured themselves into me and opened their homes. I am so thankful for their hearts, hospitality, honesty and humor. I've literally been in tears at the profound way that I've been shown the gospel by them. They have encouraged and challenged me in ways that I'm sure they don't even realize. I am so thankful for my family here.
Papa Dale and Momma Kathy
are my host parents. Dale is the team leader for the team here. They have 3 boys Micah, Ben and Zach. The more time I spend at their home the more I admire them. They've already had a ton on their plate without having to worry about our team, but their love and patience has been amazing. I've had pretty lengthy conversations with at least one of them almost every singe night that I've been here. It's been a blast living with them and being welcomed into this family. My little brothers are wild and crazy. We've had several sword fights (I almost always lose) and they have twice now, done us girls a favor by killing and cooking the roosters that would crow right outside our window.
Mike and Susan
Mike focuses on pastoral training. Every time he speaks, I love to listen. He's a wellspring of knowledge and has lots to offer. I've learned so much from him already and can't wait to hear more. Susan is one of the sweetest, most genuine ladies. She is leading a study with the GETS girls that seems to be very helpful for them.
Uncle Joel and Auntie Jill
They quickly became some of my favorite people, despite all the times they pick on me (and I'm not just saying that because I know they'll read this). They are definitely some of the most real, honest, open, casual people I've met in a long, long time. Joel eats napkins-literally. It's a condition. We're praying for him. Nurse Jill is the go-to in te unhappy event I ever get mango flies. (shudder) They've got 2 kids-Dara and Dade-who, for whatever reason, think I'm pretty cool. I'm their favorite, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone.
Zillah
I'm learning loads of new vocabulary from this Brit. She works at the hospital as a physiotherapist. She's had some crazy adventures, including backpacking to northern Uganda with just a change of clothes, hitchhiking in matoke trucks, riding ostriches and climbing Mt. Everest twice...barefoot. When she's not trying to sell me off as a way to fundraiser, she can be pretty fun.
Matt and Crystal
They are very strong people. They are here with Juna Amagara Ministries and started ABIDE, a ministry for young men who are in break between secondary school and university. It's an intensive discipleship program with outreaches to different villages every weekend. Matt and Crystal also foster abandoned babies. Crystal is 7+ months pregnant and has 2 toddler boys and until recently fostered a 3 mo. old baby who was orphaned at birth. They are a beautiful family with gigantic hears.
Seb
Also a Brit, also tries to sell me off, also teaches me new vocab. He's definitely got a sense of humor that can have even the most boring people in stitches/tears. (I've never cried so many times from laughing at the most inappropriate times then when he's around, especially when he and Joel team up.) He works with ABIDE and is here on a 1 year assignment, but has just decided to come back long term to work with teenagers.
Travis
Also works with ABIDE. Travis is here for 6 months. He's pretty much redeemed my view of Canada that Josh has lost. I think we actually became friends when I decided that he, Seb and Dale needed some female company in their car at Queen Elizabeth. We are now at the point where I feel like I can tell him when Quest (or any other animal) drinks from his mug. Once ABIDE is over he'll either be working in Tanzania or Sudan for his last month.
Lou
She just left yesterday to head back to the UK. She worked at the hospital in the lab and also led a session at GETS (that I will be finishing out). She probably had the best fashion of anyone in Mbarara. She is very independent and very adventurous.
Tob
I didn't actually believe that he existed until just recently. he was sick for the first 2 weeks that we were here. He's a medical student from Germany that was working in the hospital but will actually be going back home soon. Once I started to get to know him a bit, I've realized that he is actually very funny.
Words could not descibe what this team means to me. They have reshaped my idea of missions-it's not all evangelism and crusades, it's people being people with people. It's messy and hard, but it can definitely be fun too. They have poured themselves into me and opened their homes. I am so thankful for their hearts, hospitality, honesty and humor. I've literally been in tears at the profound way that I've been shown the gospel by them. They have encouraged and challenged me in ways that I'm sure they don't even realize. I am so thankful for my family here.
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