"Cultural Moments"

There are still moments, despite the 3 years I have spent in Africa, that I am still caught off guard by the sheer difference in culture or reality (in comparison to how I have grown up knowing life). For those who have been here awhile and “ culture shock” has ideally warn off, we call these times of realization, “cultural moments”. Really, I think they are one in the same. And if I am honest with myself, I pray that I will never grow immune to these “cultural moments”. I don’t want things to be too normal or unmoving because then I am less likely to be seeing the hand of God.

I had one of these moments last week. I was visiting a friend from church at her home for the first time. (Side note- my car is SUCH a blessing and allowing me the freedom of mobility to do things that I have been wanting to but not easily able to because of transport). Anyways, I had called my friend, Agie, because she had been telling me that she wanted some time to meet with me and speak about something. As I drove up to our meeting location, I fully expected to pick her up and take her out for a soda while we talked. But, as I have notice many times being here, people want me to see where they stay. So, I parked my car at the petro station and we proceeded though a group of houses, past the grazing chickens, beyond the boys practicing their dance moves, and into another section of housing that was squared off into a courtyard setting. I shook hands with 5 dusty little kids shouting, “Mzungu! Mzungu! Mzungu! How are you?” and ducked under some sheets hanging on the clothes line to dry. Then we had reached Agie’s home. She welcomed me and I entered in behind her, removing my shoes at the door. She dusted off a wooden stool for me to sit on, as she sat of a yellow piece of furry fabric below me.

With one hand out and the other hand touching the extended hand’s forearm, she shook my hand and said, “You are most welcome. Thank you for coming to visit me in my home.”

As we sat discussing the day and moved into deeper topics, I began to have my “cultural moment”. There I was, on the ONLY proper “seat” in the “house”, talking with this woman about a business venture to sell bags of charcoal. There I was, graciously welcomed into her home that was a single room, not more than 15ft by 15ft. Actually, the house had 2 “rooms”- the bedroom and the sitting room/kitchen area/play room- partitioned by a sheet hanging over a string. I was humbled. Lord, who am I that you would choose me to be in such a place and have the blessing of visiting this friend?

It was once her 4 children came in and greeted me one by one- the girls kneeling down and shaking my hand in respect, that I thought to myself, “So, where do the kids sleep? Surely not on the twin bed in the “bedroom”.” I then noticed the stained mattress leaning against the wall of the “sitting room”, ready to be put down that night for all 4 kids to sleep on.

Again, Lord who am I that I have anything of spiritual worth to encourage this sister of mine. She could teach me so much about contentment and God’s provision and how to live out the verse, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worries of its own.” My friend Agie lives moment by moment with the Lord. He is the one who sustains her. He is the one who protects her and her kids. He is the one whose thoughts towards her are precious and more numerous than the grains of sand in the sea.

I will admit it was a bit overwhelming. To understand that God is near, in such material poverty, because my Ugandan brothers and sisters are rich in experiences that cause them to trust that the Lord is their Shepherd, they shall not want. I am grateful for these “cultural moments” because they open my eyes to the heart of the Father.

August in Uganda

I feel like the month has flown by already. Wow.

When I first arrived, two of my dear college friends were already at LCH with a team. Stephanie and Connie (along with our clinical officer) conducted hearing screenings for all of our children and staff. They also were able to move out of the hotel and into my house for the remainder of their trip. It was SO wonderful to have them with me. Although most of our time was at LCH, we were also able to visit the village where one of Stephanie's friends lives and travel to Sissyi Falls to trek up to the very top.

At the top of the waterfall looking down.

The children finished Term 2 on Aug. 13th. This whole year, our P7 class has been busy preparing to take the national examinations held in November. They sat with other children from the sub-county and took mock-examinations. In District Mocks, six of our students ranked in Division II (the second highest). Overall, Anthony Wanzala came on top with the most points at LCH in both mock-examinations. Please continue praying for our students as they bear the pressure of this test (determining if and which secondary school they can go to).

Other End of Term 2 Results (Class Ranking):

Top Class:
1- Samwiri
2- Davis
3- Flavia

P1 Class:
1- Norah
2- Gift
3- Phoebe Nambozo

P2 Class:
1- Moses
2- Sarah Kainza
3- Andrew Masiga

P3 Class:
1- John Mustoshi
2- Anthony Wojjambuka
3- Doreen Namasaba

P4 Class:
1- David Yeko
2- Malvin
3- Andrew Dezi

P5 Class:
1- Dinah
2- Brenda Babirye
3- Chrispus


So now that we are on holiday, I have been having fun with the kids... games, puzzles, felt Bible story pictures, football matches, and crafts.

We had visitors from a local bank come to do a charity project at LCH. They helped repaint the outside kitchen and bath houses. I pray that God would use these news friends to be advocates for our kids.

God is good in Uganda

I truly had a wonderful, restful, fun, and refreshing trip to the USA- mainly Austin, Texas. Seeing as time was short, I didn't travel more than an hour outside of Austin, which made for plenty of time with family and near-by friends. I will post pictures later about my adventure in Greece (before I arrived in the USA) and around Austin.

But, I wanted everyone to know that I have now been in Mbale for over a week. I was really glad and eager to come back. I don't know if you should expect reverse culture-shock when you go back to America, but I know last time I came back, I was just memorized by all the options of things that you can get here and how easily accessible things are. So, i guess I expected sort-of the same feelings for this trip home. That was not the case though. It His own gentle and loving ways I feel like God spoke to my heart and said, "See, you are not missing out on anything in Texas. The reality that you thought was, is not really reality. So, you are free to fully embrace Uganda." Not that I wasn't embracing it, but I think like anyone would when living oversees and having left all family and friends behind, you just wonder if you are missing out on everyone you love's lives. So, I was glad for this lesson- that I can fully embrace Uganda- and am eager to see what more God will show me in this direction.

Now, I imagine that this might lead you to think the most frequent question I was asked when I was home... "So, how long do you think you will be in Africa?" And my answer... I don't know. As long as God has me here. My heart is willing to stay however long, but I am also not opposed to go back to America. I just want to be where He wants me. That is the safest and most peaceful place to be.

Otherwise, I found the kids getting ready for holidays (they break for a month holiday on Friday). I have slowly been getting stories and updates on what has been happening. It is surprising how much you can miss in one month. Unfortunately I do not have photos, but here is a brief update of LCH for July:

- The school participated in Music Competition again, where they sang and danced to traditional songs, original composition, and sight read a western piece. They sang wonderfully and got 3rd place out of 9 schools. This is a huge jump from last year (as they were 7th), so we pray that God would enable us to be #1 next year.

- Kids also went for football and netball competition at the subcounty level. A good number of our students were selected for the county level: Emma O, Ivan K, Kamadi, Namakoye Brenda, Sarah Khainsa, and Aida. In the end, the boys were all chosen to represent Mbale District at Nationals in Arua (northern Uganda). But due to the necessity to take mock-examinations for the exit level exams, Emma and Ivan stayed behind. Kamadi will leave on Saturday with Teacher Nathan to play football for the Mbale team. Please pray for their travels and time there.

- Thanks to a team that just came, all the students and staff have now had their hear tested.

- And as I said before, Term 2 is ending this week and the kids are eager for holidays to begin.



AND..... SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE!!!!

God is so good. I am almost without words to
express how humbled and overjoyed I am at the
Lord's provision. Wow. There are many awesome testimonies to how God provided. But the one I want to boast in how He has shown me a new aspect of Himself as a Father. We all have needs and wants. I won't say that the car was a
need. Rather I will say it was it was a practical, useful, and would be VERY helpful want. And I have seen that the Lord does not just come through for the big things, when we are desperate. But He loves me specifically and generously and desired to give me this blessing, just as my earthly father would have seen my practical want and helped me. I don't feel like my words adequately expressed what I am trying to say, but I will leave it at that. Hopefully you get the gist.

YES!! Praise the Lord! I picked up my new car Monday and was able to drive it to LCH yesterday!!! It was so fun to arrive and see the joy and excitement of everyone. They danced and shouted and jumped and hugged. It was awesome. It really showed me what rejoicing with those who rejoice means.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for praying God's provision with me AND for responding to my special project. Again, I am humbled and overjoyed. Thank you.

PS- so this is so silly, but I think my plate number was made just for me. Or the extra icing on the cake from Him. It is UAN 171W. My explanation of why it is just for me... UA (all cars start with this). N-- for Natalie. 1-- January, 7- my birthday (January 7th), 1- could be interpreted for a lot of things but my favorites are first born or God is #1. Then the W-- worship, wow, worthy, wonderful... you choose your adjective :) Silly, I know.

Special Project

To my friends, ministry partners, and blog followers,

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. What a wonderful God we serve! It is almost beyond my comprehension that I have lived in Uganda for close to three years. How faithful He has been.

I have seen the hand of God over and over in the lives of the children and staff at Lulwanda Children’s Home and in my own life. I count it an honor and privilege to have been deemed of use in the work God is doing in Mbale, Uganda.

As many of you know, for the past two years I have been serving at Lulwanda Children’s Home Primary School as the phonics teacher.

I have seen great fruits from my labor; students in the upper classes are now able to sound out and read any word they come across, even if it was not a rote memory word from their earlier years of study.

I am also pleased to let you know about a new opportunity to switch from teaching phonics to taking on new responsibilities. I have accepted the position of Program Coordinator for LCH. I will be playing a more active role in collaborating and organizing different programs for the school, home, and clinic. In addition, I will take on a larger role of hosting visitors and keeping sponsors connected. I am very excited to see what God has planned for me in this new position.

In light of this new position and a deepening commitment to call Uganda home, I now have a need for my own car. I am inviting you to be a part of this special fundraising project. In order to get a trustworthy and durable car, I am aiming to raise $13,000.

As many of you experience everyday, a car would allow me the freedom of mobility. I would use it to travel the 25 minutes to work, to run work-related and personal errands, to travel to church and other ministry activities, and it would make evening-time discipleship and fellowship possible with other households in the missionary community. In addition, my own car would decrease/eliminate my dependency on the transportation of others, of the overcrowded van, and of public means, therefore allowing me a more reliable, safe, and time-conscious means of transport.

I have committed to the next step of being a long-term missionary and feel that my own car is necessary to aid me in fulfilling my duties. Would you prayerfully consider joining me financially in this special fundraising project?

Thank you for all your prayers and support. May God bless you.

Faithfully serving,

Natalie Rolfe


To partner with me in this special fundraiser, please make checks out to MBC with “Natalie Rolfe-car fund” in the memo line. You may mail your check to:

Midland Bible Church
2800 N. A St.
Midland, TX 79705


or drop it by the church office. Your gift is tax-deductible. Thanks again!

St. Kizito's baby home

First off, how can you resist a face like this??
Simple answer... you can't. Everyone loves a baby- from child to grandparent, there is just something about babies that take us all captive. I recently had the opportunity to escort a team and some of our LCH kids to St. Kizito's Baby Home. I have written about it before, but as a recap: This home is under the Catholic church and is run by some wonderful sisters and staff members who take in abandoned babies or those whose parents are in extreme poverty and cannot manage to care for the baby. There are currently around 50 babies, ages newborn to 4 years old living at St. Kizito. Truely, God's hand is upon these children because without the care receive here, they would likely not make it through their first days or weeks of life.

One of the first children we met at the home was wearing a shirt that our LCH kids had donated to the home. They were surprised and happy to see that although they too are orphans, they were making a difference in other orphans' lives.

Mary playing with Sebastian

Mukasa and Derrick pushing scooters around with their new friends.

Again, everyone loves a baby. These girls (Florence, Mary, and Peace) could not get enough of this little one.

Derrick and his new friend.


Who can stick their tounge out the farthest?



Peace and Mary giving some love to these little one.

The bright little girl with the beautiful smile is Nakito. She was my favorite little one. As soon as she saw me enter the room she would waddle over with her arms wide open for a hug. Ibelieve the Sisters said these two are twins.

Florence pushing the baby on the swing.

more swinging



Florence and Peace

All the LCH kids with Sister Mary.
(Mary, Florence, Mike, Mukasa, Derrick, and Peace)

We pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen these babies and the workers who tirelessly effort to give them more than they would have in "the real world". We also pray that as the babies are in the home, their parents (if they are there) would be wise and responsible with their money that they may become financially stable and ready to recieve their child back into the home once they reach the age of four.

Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white. They are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

I spoke too soon...

No need to fear, but sharing so that you can be praying for me. I am sick with Malaria. I didn't feel normal yesterday, got tested, but the test came negative. So, i went home, but over the night I had awful body fatigue and chills. Today, my sweet roommate stopped at the pharmacy to bring me some medicine before church. Better safe than sorry. So, I believe (in Jesus' name) that I am on the road to recovery. It just isn't fun to feel this way. Again, NO NEED TO WORRY. I am being treated and in good hands. Though malaria seems scary from an American perspective, it is VERY common here. Just pray for quick and full recovery.

But it has given me a new perspective and sensitivity to the hundred or thousands that live in the village and are too far from a clinic to get tested or treatment. Lord, have mercy on these people. You alone are the doctor of all doctors and can heal with or without medicine.


On a VERY DIFFERNT NOTE--- but while I am thinking of it...

Please be collecting old (or new) bathing suits for our kids. Specifically, the size for 9-14 year olds. I have enjoyed taking the older kids swimming, and they look forward to it. BUT the hotel has a "strict policy" that the kids must have proper swimming "costumes". I don't know how long I will be able to ride on their grace for the kids to swim in tshirts and shorts. So, as you are wondering what to do with last years suit, think of LCH.

My life...

I appreciate what a friend said once to me when I felt like I was too busy to keep up with blogs and emails. She said that meant that I was fully living and experiencing Uganda. This is true. With what you might ask?? Well here are a few things:

SCHOOL:
We are in the second week of Term 2 of the school year, so my days are busy preparing lessons and teaching the children, as well as the other random tasks that occur within the day at LCH.



I look forward to the children's break and lunch time because I am able to more freely talk with them to see how their day is going and what they have been learning. It is wonderful to get so many, "Good morning, Teacha." and little hugs.


INTRODUCTIONS and WEDDINGS:
I recently got to be part of a wonderful weekend for both of my friends, Sylvia and Eriyakim. Sylvia is a coworker and fellow youth leader with me. It was a wonderful wedding- the most fun I have been to yet in Uganda.



They introduced on Friday and got married on a Saturday (which is very unique). It was an extremely busy and tiresome weekend, but so much fun to get to rejoice with them.


I was asked to be one of the "fake brides" in the introduction and also to be a "sister" that accompanies her out. To be honest, I was more than excited. I have always wanted to be a fake bride in an introduction and this was the best one I could have been in because there were so many of my friends, coworkers, and fellow church members there. It was also very interesting to observe an introduction from the "insiders" perspective, instead of just an invited guest.

The first set of "fake" brides.

Escorting Sylvia (in the pink)

Serving cake to the guests.

OTHER HAPPENINGS:

Baking:

Seeing as can goods or packages are not readily available here, I have been trying out different recipes to find the best ones. I got a brownie recipe from a British friend that had raved reviews from her housemates. After attempting but failing the first time, I decided to go to her house and watch her make them- with the intention of eyeballing the measurements because her recipe came in grams and ounces. The result of her brownies-- delicious. So, I went home and tried again. Still a failure. Maybe I just need to make sure the measurements are correct? So, I borrowed their scale and weighed out all the ingredients and then transferred them into the cups that we use. Result: failure again. Well maybe we are at a higher altitude and I need more flour? Or maybe my baking powder is old? Or maybe the oven isn't really the temperature that the thermometer is reading? So, I checked or corrected these things and tried the brownies again. Result: failure #4. On Monday I borrow a pan that looked more the size of pan my friend used, and I tried again. This time I thought to myself, "They say that insanity is when you try the same thing over and over again- expecting a different result." But I was hopeful that maybe this time my brownies would turn out. Result: failure #5. What the heck? I would have given up long ago that this recipe was bogus, but I tasted them and they were nice. So why can't I make brownies??? Well, I tried for the last time tonight- changing one simple thing. Result: wonderful!!

Lesson of the brownie experience:

DRINKING CHOCOLATE does not equal COCOA

Staying Healthy:

Praise the Lord that I have not had malaria since I have been here. It is only by His protection (literally because I stopped taking preventatives at the beginning of the year). But I was in the clinic the other day when some of the kids were getting their treatments. Derrick had come in because he was not feeling well. Nurse Gertrude gave him a seemingly peculiar malaria test. Curious as to how the test worked (and with the kids prodding, "Teacha, you should try and test," not thinking that I would- or maybe that mzungus would be tested the same way), I was tested for malaria. I asked the nurse if the test could show positive even when someone is feeling bad and she responded that it was possible.

So, we waited for my result... one line... negative! Derrick was also negative for malaria.

Road trip:

I took a road trip to Jinja for the weekend with some friends. My main purpose was to participate in the Source of the Nile Marathon. The race also had a 10 kilometer option, so I went for that. My second agenda was to get away from Mbale and have some good food. It is funny how food can be a motivating factor when familiar home tastes can be rare.

I finished the 10K in right under an hour. To be honest, I surprised myself. This was much faster than I expected. It was a nice race, going through the neighborhoods and downtown Jinja. I have always loved races. There is something about them that connect deeply in my spirit as I compare the physical race to the spiritual race I am in as a believer in Jesus Christ: pressing on toward the goal, sometimes running alongside others and sometimes alone, being encouraged when you feel weary and getting to return the encouragement to others, and the great cheers at the end of the race that pull you in to finish strong and well. Then as you pass through the line, there are so many there- who have gone through the same race- to celebrate your finish with you. It is just so great.

At the end of this physical race, Lissa and Glenn were there to celebrate with me.

We also stopped at this neat weaving factory. They have huge machine that they use to make beautiful wraps, hammocks, purses, bed covers, and many other things.

IN OTHER NEWS:
I am blessed to be able to have a brief holiday out of Uganda to go visit my best friend, Jacquline, who lives in Greece. Even better is that the Lord worked out the timing that our 3rd best friend, Erin, will be ending a mission trip in Mongolia and will meet us there. I can't believe I get to be there with both of them at the same time!! What a great gift from my Father in Heaven (the giver of EVERY good and perfect gift)!!

I will then continue my journey onto Austin, Texas to spend some much needed time with my family. It has been a year and a half since I last saw them and I just can't wait to be home!!

Please pray for journey mercies, safe travel, and no flight complications. Also pray for a rich and refreshing time with friends and family.

I leave Mbale on June 21 and return Aug. 1. So, my next post will likely be of the beautiful island of Lesvos, Greece and of my smiling face with my family at the lake. God is so good!!

Thank you again for your faithful prayers. I have always loved the line in the Ginny Owens song, "I'm not who I was when I took my first step. And I'm clinging to the promise Your not through with me yet." God has been teaching me, keeping me, and refining me. All glory to His name!!