Second Season
The Rainbird
Issue II //August 2022
It's now reached August, and I've been in Uganda for 9 months. This wasn't my first time to come to the Pearl of Africa but it is my longest stay. In my last post, I said I would try to update the blog a few times a month. I think [realistically] I will be doing it once or twice a month. It's strange how time passes - whether we feel like we're doing a lot or not much is going on, the day ends, the week finishes, and before long a new month has passed. However, the more activities we're involved in, the quicker these seasons change. Before I realized that it had really started, dry season ended. And now the rains pour.
I have yet to hear the rainbird; but that hasn't stopped these heavens from opening in a tropical downpour. I hope it will also cool the minds and clear the heads. Last week the opposition party planned protests against the rising prices of everything. The plan was for three days, specifically targeting the fuel. They told everyone to stay home, don't use any fuel for transport, the taxi vans were used to block the road, stones were thrown at passing cars who disregarded the protest, and people on motorcycles were hit or harassed for not showing their solidarity. Our village was quiet, and we decided it would be wisest to stay put. I cancelled my nearly hour-long boda ride to the midwifery clinic - it involves crossing the Nile River, and the bridges tend to be a big point of attacks during periods of unrest. As the government had heard of the impending protests, the army and police were deployed beforehand to "keep the peace." All protests and riots were dealt with on the actual day. They surveyed the cameras and spent the next few days rounding up (mostly) youth from the streets who had been seen in the middle of the protests. Let us hope and pray that our leaders worldwide will make wise choices for their people as these problems just seem to keep growing.
The big outburst never came as we expected, and we're back to life as normal. A transformer burst, and our power went out for a couple of days (we put the gas stove to good use). We discovered that our abnormally high water bills have been a result of a leakage and the meter needs to be replaced. The crops were harvested on our farm, and they're preparing to plant again as this new season begins. The construction workers finished laying the concrete bricks around the house, and our home is at peace once again. And I'm excited about not having to navigate the mud leading up to our home any longer, just in time as the second rainy season of the year begins.
Prior to these rains, we had gone weeks without a drop from the sky. The dust was visibly hanging all around the town and villages - filling your eyes, nose, and mouth with every breath. Riding on a motorcycle is usually nice, until you're stuck on a mountain road behind a sugarcane truck that's expelling exhaust every few feet and escorting you forward with a huge cloud of dust. So I'm thankful for this rain. We may be living just about 31 miles (49 km) north of the equator, but the temperature sure can drop when the clouds cover the sun. One moment you're removing your sweater to feel the sun's rays. Then suddenly you feel a chill in the air, the dust hangs, just suspended, and in the next moment rainwater is drenching everything! I lost my Pacific Northwest "cold durability." In our current temperature of 72 F (22 C), I'm wearing jeans and a sweater at my desk in the YWAM office. When I step out into the sunlight, I may lose the sweater momentarily, but I know it will soon be back on. The temperature here stays around 65 to 85 F (18 to 29 C) throughout the year, and the warmth has gotten into my blood. On a side note, the sun rises and sets at 6:30 throughout the year as well. And a further side note, there is no autumn or winter or the like in Uganda. We have about three months of rainy season, three months of dry season, and then it repeats over the next six months. Harvest time comes around twice a year, just before the next rains begin.
We settled into our new routines, again. It seems like every few months one (or both) of us starts serving in a new aspect of ministry, and sometimes it's a completely new ministry. I guess we change with the seasons. And with every switch, our schedules get rearranged and resettled. Actually, it's not so much about switching, but more adding to our current missions. Our plates are not yet full, and we're becoming more and more flexible as we stretch. The need is too great, the harvest is too ready, and the workers are not enough. We can't do it all, but Sam and I both want to serve as much as we can in whatever capacity God calls us. Discipleship is the greatest need, especially in the youth. It takes a long time to see changes in people's lives; it takes real relationships. So this is what we're investing into: using our time, talents, and openness to reach people right where they are and walk with them. People are messy and chaotic (including us), but we do see positive changes as people begin to see themselves as valuable and loved by God, and they understand that they have a higher purpose and calling for their lives. We hope to instill a desire to improve their communities within each person that we serve. Just pray that we can live as good examples ourselves - we want to walk out every word that we talk, not just hearing or speaking, but also doing.
On a different note, someone asked me what we do for fun, and I drew a blank. But fear not, we do actually have a lot of fun! We both love socializing, and all of our ministries involve times of just chatting with those around us (or jazzing as they say here). We've had a evening barbecue with our good friends, with pork and glowsticks. We've celebrated birthdays and even a Boy Scouts graduation, always with dance parties. We walk to the Busoga palace gardens and have picnics as we enjoy the beautiful views from the top of the hill. During the hotter months, we would go swimming in pools around town. One of my mission's ladies fellowships has started field trips. We have been visiting different ministry sites to see the work of each group and learn how we can support one another, or see the resources available when we see someone with a need [Like our friends who built a hospital in the deep village and have served many people who can't afford the trip and the prices in town. Some of the ladies on the visit even got treatment themselves!] As in the name, every field trip is full of lots of fun fellowship and connections. We started painting again, and brought it as an activity in our Daze of Glory group (young ladies at/around YWAM). Family Fun Night at YWAM is also a great evening - games, singing, dancing, and delicious food! We love our different communities here, and always enjoy our time with them.
Thanks for reading this update of our lives. I hope the next one will appear before the month is over. May God bless you all!
P.S. Next time, I'll also ask Sam to add at least a paragraph, so you can get his perspective. Or maybe he can just take over the whole post!
morning views of the foggy Mwiri Hill from our gate
my coffee now gets an African twist with ginger, cinnamon leaves, and tea masala
evening walks
water borehole down the street
Lots of cool flowers/ plants
It's now reached August, and I've been in Uganda for 9 months. This wasn't my first time to come to the Pearl of Africa but it is my longest stay. In my last post, I said I would try to update the blog a few times a month. I think [realistically] I will be doing it once or twice a month. It's strange how time passes - whether we feel like we're doing a lot or not much is going on, the day ends, the week finishes, and before long a new month has passed. However, the more activities we're involved in, the quicker these seasons change. Before I realized that it had really started, dry season ended. And now the rains pour.
I have yet to hear the rainbird; but that hasn't stopped these heavens from opening in a tropical downpour. I hope it will also cool the minds and clear the heads. Last week the opposition party planned protests against the rising prices of everything. The plan was for three days, specifically targeting the fuel. They told everyone to stay home, don't use any fuel for transport, the taxi vans were used to block the road, stones were thrown at passing cars who disregarded the protest, and people on motorcycles were hit or harassed for not showing their solidarity. Our village was quiet, and we decided it would be wisest to stay put. I cancelled my nearly hour-long boda ride to the midwifery clinic - it involves crossing the Nile River, and the bridges tend to be a big point of attacks during periods of unrest. As the government had heard of the impending protests, the army and police were deployed beforehand to "keep the peace." All protests and riots were dealt with on the actual day. They surveyed the cameras and spent the next few days rounding up (mostly) youth from the streets who had been seen in the middle of the protests. Let us hope and pray that our leaders worldwide will make wise choices for their people as these problems just seem to keep growing.
The big outburst never came as we expected, and we're back to life as normal. A transformer burst, and our power went out for a couple of days (we put the gas stove to good use). We discovered that our abnormally high water bills have been a result of a leakage and the meter needs to be replaced. The crops were harvested on our farm, and they're preparing to plant again as this new season begins. The construction workers finished laying the concrete bricks around the house, and our home is at peace once again. And I'm excited about not having to navigate the mud leading up to our home any longer, just in time as the second rainy season of the year begins.
Prior to these rains, we had gone weeks without a drop from the sky. The dust was visibly hanging all around the town and villages - filling your eyes, nose, and mouth with every breath. Riding on a motorcycle is usually nice, until you're stuck on a mountain road behind a sugarcane truck that's expelling exhaust every few feet and escorting you forward with a huge cloud of dust. So I'm thankful for this rain. We may be living just about 31 miles (49 km) north of the equator, but the temperature sure can drop when the clouds cover the sun. One moment you're removing your sweater to feel the sun's rays. Then suddenly you feel a chill in the air, the dust hangs, just suspended, and in the next moment rainwater is drenching everything! I lost my Pacific Northwest "cold durability." In our current temperature of 72 F (22 C), I'm wearing jeans and a sweater at my desk in the YWAM office. When I step out into the sunlight, I may lose the sweater momentarily, but I know it will soon be back on. The temperature here stays around 65 to 85 F (18 to 29 C) throughout the year, and the warmth has gotten into my blood. On a side note, the sun rises and sets at 6:30 throughout the year as well. And a further side note, there is no autumn or winter or the like in Uganda. We have about three months of rainy season, three months of dry season, and then it repeats over the next six months. Harvest time comes around twice a year, just before the next rains begin.
We settled into our new routines, again. It seems like every few months one (or both) of us starts serving in a new aspect of ministry, and sometimes it's a completely new ministry. I guess we change with the seasons. And with every switch, our schedules get rearranged and resettled. Actually, it's not so much about switching, but more adding to our current missions. Our plates are not yet full, and we're becoming more and more flexible as we stretch. The need is too great, the harvest is too ready, and the workers are not enough. We can't do it all, but Sam and I both want to serve as much as we can in whatever capacity God calls us. Discipleship is the greatest need, especially in the youth. It takes a long time to see changes in people's lives; it takes real relationships. So this is what we're investing into: using our time, talents, and openness to reach people right where they are and walk with them. People are messy and chaotic (including us), but we do see positive changes as people begin to see themselves as valuable and loved by God, and they understand that they have a higher purpose and calling for their lives. We hope to instill a desire to improve their communities within each person that we serve. Just pray that we can live as good examples ourselves - we want to walk out every word that we talk, not just hearing or speaking, but also doing.
On a different note, someone asked me what we do for fun, and I drew a blank. But fear not, we do actually have a lot of fun! We both love socializing, and all of our ministries involve times of just chatting with those around us (or jazzing as they say here). We've had a evening barbecue with our good friends, with pork and glowsticks. We've celebrated birthdays and even a Boy Scouts graduation, always with dance parties. We walk to the Busoga palace gardens and have picnics as we enjoy the beautiful views from the top of the hill. During the hotter months, we would go swimming in pools around town. One of my mission's ladies fellowships has started field trips. We have been visiting different ministry sites to see the work of each group and learn how we can support one another, or see the resources available when we see someone with a need [Like our friends who built a hospital in the deep village and have served many people who can't afford the trip and the prices in town. Some of the ladies on the visit even got treatment themselves!] As in the name, every field trip is full of lots of fun fellowship and connections. We started painting again, and brought it as an activity in our Daze of Glory group (young ladies at/around YWAM). Family Fun Night at YWAM is also a great evening - games, singing, dancing, and delicious food! We love our different communities here, and always enjoy our time with them.
Thanks for reading this update of our lives. I hope the next one will appear before the month is over. May God bless you all!
evening walks
water borehole down the street
Lots of cool flowers/ plants
Walking home through the plantains trees
Views from the top of Mwiri Hill
Leather and kitenge bags by SamiPrints
The beautiful grounds of the Alpha Omega Seminary/ School/ church
Can't find the couch you want? Get some stones and make it!
Stopping the erosion after a mudslide
The day was too nice, and we decided to take a swim in the Nile. Thankfully, no one got bilharzia
After the Boy Scout graduation 
Art class with Top Class of the preschool (there is baby class, middle class, and then top class before they enter Primary 1)
Our classroom
One of Sam's dancing classes (he's up to 5, or even more)
Painting evening with Daze of Glory
My product on the left and Sam's on the right
Homemade "Rolex" by chef Sam: chapati with "rolled eggs"
Our landlord had this cement installed
More amazing flowers
Barbecue time
These are my favorite flowers in Uganda, but I've only seen them in pink, with soft orange and yellow inside. This bright orange and yellow combo must be because of the higher altitude on the Prayer mountain or different soil composition or something.
At the Jehovah Rapha clinic (I guess it's hospital now): these are 5 of the 6 babies that were delivered in a 24 hour period
Marshmallow construction challenge
Our pastor dancing with other church leaders at an evening crusade in the Bugembe stadium
Comments
Post a Comment