A Tale of Two Rivers

It was a day where all my emotions hit me. Where everything blundered into me. The rain was heavy today for some hours this morning and let up only a little by the time I left my house for school. My brain was sleepy but I was happy to walk in the rain, says the girl from one of the U.S.’s sunniest of states. People here think I am crazy for loving the rain and rightly so; it is the flooding that destroys homes here.

Only two students showed up to school this morning because of the torrents of Kampala rain. Our schedule was disrupted and the afternoon was spent preparing for the end of the school term; writing reports and gathering “data” on the progress our students have made. After the students left, I and Caesar (the only male teacher at ECLAC) remained behind. That was when we were visited by a mother of a child with special needs. I greeted her and Caesar handled her business while I sat and listened. Since her boy is too old for our school, Caesar advised her and referred her to one of the lecturers from Kyambogo University’s Special Education program. He then proceeded to encourage her, letting her know she is not alone, that she should stay strong and continue trying to find the best possible place for her child, and that her boy is a child of God, made in His image. My eyes caught sight of tears on her cheeks as this mother listened, hanging on Caesar’s every word. She gingerly dabbed her eyes dry with her handkerchief as my own eyes welled up. East African’s don’t cry easily in public. My heart broke for her and for every parent like her. What it must be like to live in a country where having a child with special needs comes with many challenges, I can only imagine. How can we be so privileged to have so many resources in the States when mothers here are left without much help – especially those without money? How can these children and mothers be left in the dust? How can the Special Education programs complain about anything in the States when they are more equipped than programs here that are struggling? I don’t fully understand.

I tried to hold back the river of tears as I walked the muddy road home. This is why I am here. This is why I am in Uganda.

Back in my empty house, I was preparing to spend some time with God and wrestle with the heartbreak I was feeling, when I got a phone call. It was a friend from church who I’ve gotten close with over the past couple weeks. A call from her in the evening is not uncommon. I answered expecting the usual short conversation of her checking on me. Instead, I got her weak voice saying, “I’m not fine.” Hearing nothing else, I told her to come over to my house and wondered while I waited for her to come. Her knock brought me rushing to the door and my motherly instincts switched on when I saw her leaning on the wall. I pulled her inside and she collapsed into my chair. It took time for me to investigate the problem – she was weak and shaking, her breath was short and labored, she was writhing in pain, and I was at a loss. Prayer was first to come to my mind. My friend insisted she didn’t need the hospital and after I helped her with her medication, and I agreed to wait for a while to see if the symptoms persisted. Something in my mind told me she would be OK. I sang her songs and prayed more as I waited for my friend to stop struggling in pain in my bed, waited for the meds to work.

I didn’t try to hold the tears back as I held her hand and looked in her dazed eyes.
It sure hurts to love someone sometimes.

A phone call to her sister, a call to my watchman so he could escort us in the dark, and a walk to take her to the boda stage later, I gathered all the pieces of the event. It was an asthma attack. She didn’t remember calling me, her phone had no credit to call me but somehow the call went through, she didn’t remember coming to my house, or even having strength to get to my house…. I just witnessed the hand of God tonight. Only by His grace and mercy is my friend alive with her family right now. There is no other way to explain it. The realization brought me to my knees.

This world is full of pain and evil, sickness and disasters. I have all of these in front of my nose living in a developing country bursting with corruption and dishonesty – it is becoming apparent with each passing day. I’ve seen more disturbing things than I ever thought I would see before my 25^th birthday. My dependence upon the Lord is growing by the hour. I need Him. We need Him…. Will you admit that you need Him too?
                 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”    Revelation 21:1-4 NIV

At the end of all things, this is what God promises to those who choose to follow Him; no more tears or pain or unfair treatment. What is your choice? Do you want to trust a God who will ultimately make all things new and who will dwell with those who choose to trust in Him only?

He will wipe away every tear.
You can trust Him.
So do it now.

Prayer:

-Continued prayer for safety and health; not only for me but for my friends around me

-Pray for continued wisdom and boldness at school

-Praise for some changes at school (ECLAC) by God’s grace

-Prayer for teachers. They got paid for one month but they are still trying to live on little money

-Praise for God providing more female friends who inspire me in my faith, one in particular

-Prayer for wisdom as I continue to express my hospitality – to be culturally appropriate but also making sure I have time for my own rest.

-Most importantly, pray that Christ will shine through me despite my weaknesses and that I will take every opportunity to speak of His love and grace to all.

-See previous posts

Highlights:

                -The Assistant Chaplain at church whisked me away to her home after church Sunday. This was the most informal, East African home visit I’ve done in my experience and it was nice. I was able to get to know her and her family a little better. She even gave me a spot to have a Sunday afternoon nap. Who doesn’t love that?!

                -The Chaplain, the main reverend, gave a benefit concert at the National Theater. He sang, played the guitar, and saxophone.  A concert done Kampala style complete with dancers (my favorite)…nothing quite like it in the States. A friend came with me so I didn’t have to travel from town alone after dark.

                -Traveled to the other side of the city without getting lost and it went smoothly. It is SO nice to actually know what I am doing and how to live life here in Kampala. I can surely say that it now feels like it is my home.

                -Went to the post office to pick up my first package from home. Thanks to all who contributed! There is nothing like getting mail. :) P.S. Handwritten letters with encouragements and lots of love are my favorite. Just saying.

                -Took more liberty at school this week with good results. Working out some student behavior issues with the teachers is always an accomplishment.

                -I am feeling more like myself now that I’ve gotten to know the culture and my relationships have grown closer. That’s a big help because I can be so reserved to the point of suppressing my gifts and talents the Lord gave me to use.  Today I actually had an opinion while the other teachers and I were having a conversation – lately I’ve had nothing to say but plenty to think about.

                - Now that words are coming, I feel that I am ready to be more open and talkative, and “assertive” at school. I finally have more of an idea of what I can do to help with this program. And my team leader should be back soon from her gallivanting around the globe to guide some of my ideas.

                - Spending my Palm Sunday in Uganda was a highlight. ‘Nuf said.

                - Every time I run into a friend on campus or in Banda (the town closest to Kyambogo University), no matter how I am feeling, it will put a smile on my face. A testimony of the love God has for me – despite my many, many faults and sins.

Culture:

I have a very interesting placement in terms of the people I am around. At church, I am around university students who are growing up in a city that is changing. Their culture is still there but since they are young, they are more open and influenced by new ideas and people. It almost reminds me of my days at UNC. They answer my questions about culture much differently than the older generation in Kampala and are more forgiving of my mistakes.

Then I work with older Ugandans who still hold onto their home culture strongly and have much stronger opinions about what is acceptable in terms of cultural norms. When I ask questions about culture, their answers are more definitive and I have learned to follow their instructions rather than those of my university friends. It is always better to take cultural norms more seriously when you are being watched like a hawk because you're a foreigner.

Then there are those from the city. They dress like those from the west and whenever I am around that population, I forget that I am in Africa.

Blurb about Palm Sunday – In Uganda (at least at St. Kakumba Chapel), the congregation buys some palm leaves to bring to church. Then throughout the church service, the palms are waved in the air during singing and whenever there is clapping and/or cheering.

Luganda:

Ogenda wa? (Where are you going?). This has been useful for me this week! When I am at church passed dark, I ask people who are also leaving for home where they are going to see if I could walk with them. The buddy system is more critical when your skin glows in the dark and screams, “money!” to strangers. 

Jinja. Lake Victoria.

Jinja. Abbie and me. What a lovely, restful weekend.

ECLAC. Brushing teeth.

ECLAC. Tr. Caesar taking up the challenge.

I was ready for Palm Sunday at Kakumba. Here are my palm leaves!

Jinja. Visiting Amani Babies Home. Got to hold Anne.

National Theater in Kampala. Chaplain's concert the Kampala way.

ECLAC. Donated dolls. 

ECLAC. It is SO fun to brush teeth.

Jinja. Pterodactyls (well, birds) and a boda on the town street.

Jinja. More pterodactyls. You would call them that too if you saw one of these vultures fly.