Side Note

              This past week has been so full of finding joy in fellowship. Making friends in a new context is not easy. It was a flashback to college; when I moved out of my parent’s house and into an apartment close to UNC. I found a Christian group right away, but it is always uncomfortable when you first walk into a group of people you don’t know. The passing of time comes with the relationships and the slow process of becoming a part of the family. It takes perseverance, enduring awkwardness, friendliness of others, and coming up with questions to ask them. It has been an encouragement to know that “sticking around” the same people reaps a lasting family who care about you even if you are the outsider.

                Being around the directors and volunteers of the Compassion International center at the church on Kyambogo’s campus last week has left me feeling so blessed. God placed them in my life at the right time when I arrived on January 16^th, and they have cared for me since. I have helped a little with the elementary age students on Saturdays; singing songs, passing out chai and bowls of food, smiling with them, and keeping them occupied. This last week, though, was the program for the secondary students (middle school/high school) before they go off to school.

                Monday morning started off a routine for the whole week. I would go see my friend at the post office and she would give me my Luganda phrase for the day. Then I walked to the church, greeted the cooks, and then entered the Compassion office where I was directed to the same chair. My “brother” would tell me (not ask me) that I was going to have chai; he brought me tea and something to eat. Then we would travel up to the room were the students would be and the program would start. First devotions, then a conversation with questions to understand the world and see what the Bible has to say about that subject. Students would trickle in as the day progressed – there is no hurry in Africa, so it is difficult to get people in one place at one time – and eventually lunch would be served. There is a lot of rice or posho (like ugali – corn flour boiled until it has a playdough like consistency), cabbage, and this week they would have either beans or meat (beef or fish). Ugandans usually have one big meal at lunch time after a small breakfast and maybe followed by a light dinner. They eat a lot at lunch. We would joke about how small my stomach is as I struggled to finish my food. “Melissa, pray for faith enough to move that mountain from the plate to your stomach!” I am still treated like a visitor, so I pray that my relationships will grow enough to disappear that view. In time.

                Being with them has brought me much joy inside. They care for me and it shows. I was so privileged to be allowed to fellowship with them and build relationships with the young girls, answering their questions and encouraging them with every ounce I had. God also gave me great opportunities to encourage the staff/volunteers and express how blessed they have made me. They work hard for Compassion…to keep the older kids involved and the program running. Their dedication shows how much they love the kids and it spills over to the volunteers who have been there since they were young.

                This week, I will be again exploring the campus, finding a vegetable market, hopefully moving to my permanent apartment before another group occupies this guest house, and seeing what conversations God has in store for me each day. Compassion International is keeping me involved for now, but I know it is not the reason I am here. It is a great family foundation for me to hold on to as I start teaching for the year. It is a side note in my ministry that I have been abundantly blessed with.

Prayers:

                See the previous post.

                Also, for me to allow God to address those dry spots in my relationship with Him.

Highlights:

               - Had traditional Ugandan food for lunch all week.

               - Had Talappia three times – what?! Once in the form of fish and chips.

                -Gave my first “word” – sometimes you are just asked to give a little sermon or Bible lesson on the spot…without notice. Thankfully, I had hours to prep mine….this time.

                -Met my lizard friend in the house. He eats the bugs for me and keeps me company when I get lonely in the evenings.

                -Played Netball and football (soccer).

                -Made a cake without a recipe...and it worked!! Thank you, Mom for all of those cooking lessons!

                -Had a sleepover with my AIM Special Education team leader and two other girls working in the Kampala region under special education. Made delicious food, brownies, and went to church the next day together.

                -Traveled by taxi (14 ish passenger vans full of people, cheapest transport) to downtown Kampala to meet said team leader and girls. All. By. Myself. Felt pretty accomplished.

                -Must remember that God is the one making all of these highlights happen.

                

Language:

                Webale (thank you) 


Pictures: 

My bananas and my mango are better than yours... Sorry.

Some of the girls from Compassion International at the football match. 

Nothing beats that. Glory to God. 

 

Being a Learner

                Sometimes those who look at the African continent see only destitution, famine, anger, hurt, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, dry desert, and primitive people living primitive lives, sheltered from the Western world. It is not hard to do. I understand. I was there too. With “feed children” commercials, news stations proclaiming the happenings of war and riots, disease, bombings… It is true. There are parts that are not good. But when that is all people understand about this continent, it makes me a little sad. Africa has much more to offer. It can teach us in more ways than I can even understand. It is still teaching me.

               Africa. My new home. After spending time here, I have seen the ugly and the beautiful. This Africa. The slow life lived in community. People always having time for people. Conversations all around. Laughter heard from each corner. Never in a rush – always time for people. Greetings. Handshakes. Always asking “how are you”. Family taking care of family. Joyful faces of people who have to walk many kilometers for water and to try and save for school fees. Beautiful scenery. Hopeful faces of those without families. Hospitality, giving most of what they have to everyone who comes to the front door. Songs of praise being lifted up to God for the one meal received that day. Just “being”.

               Now, living here as a very single, very white, very womanly woman, there many things and people I have to guard myself against. However, I have seen that showing I am willing to learn from the people here and to just “be” with them in community, it can bridge some cultural barriers. Relationships. That is what I am learning as God is shaping my perception on missions. Loving people. Being in relationship with them. Shouldn’t we all being doing that wherever we are? That is how we are a light; illuminating Jesus by the way we are “being” with people and learning from them.

               Just yesterday, I was wandering around Kyambogo campus, waiting for someone to catch my eye so I can greet them with my new Luganda phrase. A girl my age immediately stopped, greeted me back, and proceeded to tell me about how pleased she was that I was trying to learn the language. She blessed me head to foot as she encouraged me and loved me with her words. God knows exactly what I need.

                Being in my temporary housing (the guesthouse) alone, it has been a bit lonely.  I have been craving community, and God has placed many opportunities in my lap. My goal for each day is to learn one phrase of Luganda and to get out of the house twice. Those have been so helpful as it gives me a purpose each morning. I have met some lovely people and I know where to find them. Unexpectedly, my unit leader and I came across a Compassion International center at the church on campus. Compassion is based out of Colorado Springs and they deal with child sponsorships all around the world; helping many children get through school and learn about Jesus. I have built relationships with the volunteers and the director; already learning a lot from them about their program and Ugandan culture. Each Saturday they have worship, classes, and food for the kindergarten/elementary school aged children, and this week they are working with the high school aged youth before the school term begins next week. Because I won’t have much to do before term starts, I am able to help a little with both of those programs, thus fighting off the feelings of loneliness. God has surely blessed me with this little “side note” in my ministry. I have been able to abide in Him and in fellowship with people who already care for me as a sister, and with people who continue teaching me many things each day.

Prayers:

                Permanent housing – unknown when I can move in, lots of things need to happen before and we are on a time crunch.

                Praise God for the fellowship I have stepped into, but pray that I continue building relationships with others…that I will use the time before schools starts wisely.

                Protection in general. Close walk with Jesus.

                Peace about housing and about my teaching situation (handling a special education program that is not well developed is a little daunting).

                Practice with Luganda and culture – that I will work through the times I am overwhelmed.

Luganda phrase:

                Greetings are so important. The general greeting in Luganda is:

Oli otya (how are you)

Bulungi (fine)

               

Photos:

Spent first couple days at Matoke guest house.

Matoke (bananas).

Looking over Kampala.

City streets.

Chai = Love

My view of the Kyambogo campus from the guest house.

Kyambogo guest house - my home for a couple weeks.

Laundry day. 

First Steps

                Jumping off a bridge. Heart racing. Nerves surging through your whole body. The feeling that your heart dropped to your trousers. Knowing that to jump, you have to close your eyes and command your body to obey. Knowing that you will miss out on something wonderful if you don’t. That’s the feeling I get when I know what God wants me to do, but it scares me senseless to take those first steps.

                Well, all is well here in Kampala, Uganda. It is hot and damp but not unbearable. There is a breeze and when the clouds sweep up from over Lake Victoria, you have a small number of hours before you are hit by a “light” rain. The palm trees are all around in all shapes and sizes, and the birds’ call is loud. There are a lot of beautiful parts of Kampala and I happen to be living in one of them.

                My plane from Denver to Washington D.C. was tough. Just saying goodbye to family and the seats were not very comfortable. I fidgeted and tried not to worry about my 5 minute allotment to get to my next plane. Thankfully, I made it in one piece and my 8 hour flight to Brussels, Belgium went much faster than expected. I had a seat next to a lady from Nigeria who was a comical relief when I couldn’t sleep. Once getting to Brussels, I meandered through the airport and took a shuttle to find my next gate which took some effort mentally and physically. A girl who would be with me through orientation in Kampala, arrived an hour after I did and we boarded the plane to Entebbe, Uganda together. After stopping in Kigali, Rwanda to drop and pick passengers, we had arrived in Uganda. Our new temporary home.

                Two staff from Africa Inland Mission whisked us away to Kampala the next day. The next couple days were spent at Matoke Inn, a guest house next door to the AIM Central Region office and operated by AIM. I was able to rest, get over jet lag, and get more information at orientation day. A lovely AIM staff member (Ugandan) let my partner and me follow her around downtown Kampala to show us the ropes of taxis (matatus), bodas (motorcycle taxis), and crossing the busy roads on foot. She was such a great teacher; not giving us more than we could remember and giving us tips in case we ever got lost. I observed how much more relaxed town feels compared to Nairobi and I was thankful. Not so overwhelming.

           Our orientation day was full of helpful information and good things to know. I came away from it excited but also nervous and overwhelmed. That next day my partner and I were to be in our different ministry sites and I was feeling a little sad to be apart from her; not only because she is a lovely person, but because she was a security blanket. I am not here to feel comfortable. Reminder.

                My room was not ready at Kyambogo (Chi–am–bo-go) University, so they put me in a 4 bedroom guesthouse with a kitchen and bath that is right on campus. It is a big place when there is only one living there. We (me and AIM staff) are hoping my flat/apartment will be ready within the next couple of weeks so I can completely settle in. Until then, the watchman for this guesthouse seems protective and he is willing to take care of me. There is some unrest here at the University, so he will also keep me informed about the happenings on campus. Students are here taking exams, but the teachers won’t report until term starts the first week of February so I have a couple weeks to build relationships with those around. The autism program I will be helping with/learning from is in one of the three institutions at Kyambogo and I hear there aren’t many children in the program.

             My mission here, though, is to make relationships and be with people. That was a needed reminder. I am praying that God will shape me and mold me to be His light on this campus. The first steps I took outside of the guesthouse my first morning were difficult; to jump in or not to jump in. Because I chose to jump, I have already made friends with a lady who works at the university’s post office and some students/graduates who volunteer at the Compassion International program (also on campus). Praise God for those connections! Even now, I have contacts from church and a girl who is graduating. He placed those people in my life right away as I have been walking around campus. With each day, the steps will get easier as I try to continually focus on the Lord and ask for daily wisdom as I interact with a new culture. Step by step.