Just another day...

Friday in the office one of the staff came to my desk wanting to ask me something.  The conversation went a bit like this...

Mike (staff member): "Excuse me teach.  They have left for me some bricks just there at mile nine.  But the springs on the truck have broke so they can't bring them here.  I was wondering if you could help me and use your car to go pick them?"

Me: (a bit confused by the randomness of this conversation) "Ok, how many are there?"

Mike: "About 40."

Me: (Thinking how bricks are a bit heavy and though I can't really gauge how much 40 bricks weigh, they might be too much for my car) "Ok, well can't you wait for the small truck to come back from shopping and pick them up?"

Mike: "No, if I leave them, the people might steal them."

Me:  (hesitant but wanting to help) "Well, ok.  Let's go then."

I brought the tarp and laid it in the "boot" of my car and we headed off.

In the car I asked the normal things- about his home, about how his family is.  Then I asked, "So what are you building?"

Mike: "Sorry.  I did not get you."
Me: "What are you building?"
Mike: (with a great look of confusion and concentration trying to understand me) "I don't know what you are saying."
Me:  "Building.  What are you going to build with 40 bricks?"

Well, it turns out I misunderstood.  We were not going to pick 40 bricks...

But rather 40 loaves of bread that were meant to be delivered to LCH.  Instead we found them under the trees by the signpost at the main road.  

Oh Uganda... your randomness continues to amuse me :)

Our country in 50 years.

 A day in the life...

The other day I stopped by the post office to buy stamps.  But they didn't have any in stock.  So, I went to the gas station to get some gas.  But they were out of gas.  So, I went to another station.  But they too were out of gas.  Luckily, the 3rd place I stopped I found they had fuel so decided to fill up.  As we say, TIA.

This week Uganda celebrated it Jubilee Independence of 50 years.  The newspaper has been running a competition in its weekly kids magazine for children to design and send in the Uganda they want to see in 50 more years to come.  Lulwanda Children's Home has had some shining stars.

These are the two Faith's listed above.  We have also had 2 other winners.

A kitchen tale...

A long, long, time ago… in a Mzungu kitchen in a far off land…

Where organic produce was the only option,

And grew bigger than to be expected.

Where dinner is often cooked by solar power lights because of the shortage of electricity,

And herbs are grown in the garden outside…

Were three housemates cooking dinner.

Each busy with their part of the preparations,

In a kitchen where a gas powered stove and oven are a MUST (due to the previously mentioned power outages).

This normal night, one housemate went to do the normal task of lighting the oven.

Noticing that the knob was slightly turned, she thought nothing of it and proceeded in lighting the match and carefully tossing it into the little hole that ignites the burner.

But this was no normal night…

As the match flame neared the small hole, a surprising fireball spit out of the mouth of the oven, seemingly engulfing the match-lighter.

Stunned and in disbelief the match-lighter slapped her face asking the other two, “Am I ok??”

Their response, “Yeah.  But ARE you ok?”

“Yeah.  So I am not on fire?”

“No.”

But the stench of burnt hair lingered in the air as the match-lighter realized ALL of the hair on her right arm had been scorched off.

And proceeding to the mirror, the match-lighter, rejoiced at the sight of her eyelashes and eyebrows.  Knowing that they only barely escaped, seeing that they had been slightly singed.

And the three housemates in the kitchen decided not to use the oven that night and gave thanks to the Lord for his GREAT protection.

I had the opportunity to take two children to Kampala with me this week.  Though I would never think to make an 8 hour round trip journey in one day in the States, in Uganda it is not uncommon.  People do it all the time.  So, when in Uganda do as the Ugandans.

Having left super early, Fatuma was tired and quickly fell asleep in the car.  As we approached into Jinja (the midway point of our journey), Siraji tapped my shoulder from the back seat and said, "Teacha, Fatuma has been taken by sleep this whole time.  She is missing all the places I have longed to see."

The journey continued with an entertaining and educational commentary from Siraji:

Siraji: "Teacha, is this River Nile?"  

Me: "Yes" 

S: "River Nile is the longest river in the world.  It also runs north." 

Me: "Do you know why it runs north?"

S: "Yes, because Uganda is higher than Egypt."

S: "Oh we are now entering into Mabira forest.  Teacher Amos tells us that it is 400 miles long."

Me: "400 miles?  Or maybe 400 square kilometers?"

S: "Oh yes that.  It has equatorial climate.  That is why it gets rain most of the year.  Mbale has tropical climate so it rains and it's dry and it rains and it's dry."

Me: "Is geography your favorite subject?"

S: "Yes."

Me:  "I could tell."

The journey continued with his informative commentary.  And since Fatuma slept through the first passing through the forest, he was stopped her in the middle of singing a worship song on the way back and said, "Fatuma, you see.  This is the forest.  It has equatorial climate.  Feel it (as he rolled down the window)." "But I would not be caught walking on foot through the forest at night."

Me: "Why?"

S: "Wild animals."

Me: "Sure?"

S: "Ahh, you try it and see.  The animals will come and bite your legs."

Me: "You think there are more than monkeys in this forest?"

S: "Ahh Teacha, there are many animals, but even these monkeys can handle you."

Outside of the commentary, I just love the phrases and word choices they use.

The journey continued with all three of us singing sweet songs to our Savior.  It was a precious moment.

And a very successful journey.  Everything we set out to do in Kampala was accomplished.  

AND...  I now have a ticket to the US 

and will arrive in Austin on November 16th!!

(I am still in need of a car to use for part or all of the time I am in the states, so please pray with me)

Waiting for ice-cream at Nat's favorite place in Kampala

Elephants in Kampala?

Can you help?

The Lord has been so good in allowing me to spend every other Christmas holiday in the States/Uganda.  This year, I plan to be back in the States (even hoping to come home a bit early to join in on the Thanksgiving turkey :)

While in Texas I plan to spend time with family and friends and to travel within the state to visit various churches to share all that God is doing at Lulwanda Children's Home.

BUT in order to do this traveling I am in need of a vehicle.  That is where you come in.  Do you have an extra vehicle I could borrow for the whole or part of my time?  Did you just buy a new car and are planning to sell your old one (but could wait on selling, let me borrow it, and then sell it later)?  Does your no-longer-driving grandparent have a car I could borrow?  Will you be on vacation and need a car-sitter?

Here are some of the details:
- I will be based in Austin, Texas with my family
- My hopeful dates in the States are around the 19th Nov - 31st Jan
- I will likely be driving to New Braunfels, Houston area, Dallas area, and around Austin

Please let me know if you might be able to help me get some wheels for part or all of the time I will be home.  Thank you.

natinuganda@gmail.com

Grace

So, I will throw it out their. A slight unveiling of my heart in this season. Having lived in this foreign land I now call home for five years now, I am so grateful the Lord continues to teach me new things about myself, my mission, and who I am in Him.

 My housemate, Tiffany, said something awhile back that is basic, but has stuck with me since then:

"We are here (in Uganda) by God's grace and it's His grace that keeps us here." 

How often do I forget the great gift of grace it is to be here, in a foreign land, serving side by side with His people? What a unique experience that some people only dream of but will never have. It is easy to look at the sacrifices (and I am not discounting that there are great sacrifices) but forget the gift of grace it is to be here.

"It is His grace that keeps us here." - Honestly my first interpretation of that was - "It takes a lot of His grace in me to help me handle all that goes on in living in a different place with a different culture and people."  But I don't think that is what Tiff meant.

Each day I remain in Uganda is the Father's gift of grace to me.  I am receiving what I don't deserve.  And perhaps the second statement is more about the grace manifested in others towards me.

The grace of me in Uganda has nothing to do with me; nothing to do with me manifesting any grace.  But it is poured out on me by my Father in heaven and by the hearts of the people who have allowed me to work beside them and have adopted me into their lives.

Therefore, the only natural and justifiable response back should be a gracious heart.  Does my life reflect the grace poured out on me?

I am afraid the answer is often, "no".

Ann (my middle name) means "full of grace"-  this has been my prayer for months now.  Oh Lord, may I live out the fullness of my name and be full of grace in everything I do.  Help me to walk more in your Spirit.  Let me love and show grace without boundaries.  Amen.

Lip Dub

So, about 2 months ago I hadn't even heard of a "lip dub".  Now, thanks to Sarah H. and Jerad the children at LCH have their own.  And it is SO good!  Click the link below and please feel free to share.

For more information on how to be part of the Father's work of restoring HOPE to His children in Uganda, visit http://www.ugandaorhans.org/

Lulwanda's Lip Dub