Entry number 467 of the nonsense at my road...

Okay, so it FEELS like I've had that many entries about my road. It is just a silly process to me. Picture my neighborhood coming out to one crossroads- no other way to leave the neighborhood. Picture me at 12:30-ish going home for lunch (done for teaching part of day- onward to a meeting by 1).

The road guys are back. They are digging up all the temporary (badly built!) speed bumps the neighbors on that access road have put down illegally. The guy in charge stops and we talk a minute, as I'm curious how long today they'll be working. He is the engineer in charge (and not just claiming it like the other guys), and even hands me his business card. He says they'll be done by 4 (I read: this is Africa, that means 6 or 7). So after my meeting, I go do errands, drop things at peoples houses who needed some American type snacks I had found at the grocery... hang out at Mayo's, end up eating at Mayo's. Then around 7:30 I figure SURELY the road is ready for me to pass on now.

NOPE. They've parked their construction vehicles at the top of the hill blocking the entrance to the road entirely. I ask a boda/motorcycle guy (who I just saw drive up the hill) if the lower entrance to the access road is open... Nope. In other words, there is NO access except by foot to my neighborhood and house. Hmmm.

So I called Keith Bourne, a WGM missionary and my "closest neighbor" about 1.5 km. away. I asked him to let me leave the car at his place, drive me to the lower access site, and I'd walk in. Which is what I've done.

THEN... (a little after the fact- duh!)... I remember I got the engineer's business card. Although I've given it to Jonathan Mayo, we both ended up calling the engineer who swears there is enough room for a vehicle to pass- at another "new" opening they've been working on, on the other side of the hill. They don't have detour signs pointing to that singular entrance. They just expect you to find it on your own. And I don't trust the situation. It is now well after 8 and dark, and what am I supposed to do- call Keith again and go hiking out to his car, so we can TRY a new entrance that MAY be there or not? And on the other side of the hill that is far and not easy to get to? Last time I saw that spot, the road looked GREAT, except for the 4 foot wide gap (3 feet or more deep!) at the opening- meaning no vehicle could drive across it. So not trusting, I'll just stay camped out in my home tonight, pray it doesn't rain in the a.m., and hike up the hill at 7:30 or so, to then hike down the hill to school (a 15 min. walk maybe once I am on top of the hill). Great. I'll arrive sweaty and nasty with mud caked to my clothes to teach tomorrow. Lovely.

Okay- it really isn't THAT bad- Brent has offered to pick me up for school, and really, there are SO many people (the majority of people) here who walk every day, everywhere. I CAN'T (and better not!) complain. I've got a comparatively cushy life and great access to vehicles 99.9% of the time. Mostly I'm just amazed at the methods of some things here sometimes. It is no big deal to walk to school- for real, and I'm thankful for an opportunity to better understand my neighbors who I normally pass each day as I drive to school. And I'm so thankful to be able to safely leave my car in another property instead of on the road to be stolen/vandalized. I'm also thankful that the neighborhood I live in is pretty safe and I could walk home at 8 at night. :) Another thing to be thankful for is that in the end (whenever that may be) I will have a really nice road to drive down (till the neighbors put up the nasty illegal speed bumps again I suppose). :)

HIS Youth Retreat, September 2009

Above is one of a number of group pictures from our retreat ~ I chose the "crazy face pose" because we actually see those faces more than straight faces on our youth. They're a bunch of wild, fun, silly, hilarious, creative, energetic, wonderful teens!
We had 44 people from the USA, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Canada, Finland, UK, Australia, South Korea, India, Rwanda and the Philippines (I may have forgotten a few but I'm pretty close!). The next few entries are all from our retreat.
By the way, it went GREAT!!! Thank you for praying! Now pray that all of us will apply the challenges and truths God wants us to learn as He planted seeds in hearts and stretched our faith.

...more of retreat...

We have so many people we use our large school bus (26 seats), an 8 seater Prado, and a 12 seater van, with nearly all the supplies packed on top the van.


Slip-n-slide is back! Once again the kids (and adults) had some fun running and sliding as far as they could.


Above and below: guys and girls small groups were a good way to have students open the Word, discuss topics, and get thinking about what they beleive...

Innertubes and games

How many games can you invent or play using inner tubes? Obviously, swimming with them is an easy option...

... then we have "steal the bacon" with inner tubes (this was VERY fun to watch- and everyone was exhausted afterwards!)

... then we have boys using them to hang out during games (pictured from left are ... Majesty, Stephen in center front, Steven in back, and Jordan on the right).


... and of course more pool time with the inner tubes.

Sumo hits again!

Brent, Andrew, Francis and Lino pose before they played.


Petite Heron poses for us before she plays against Kayla. We had to double up the cushions so they'd fit her.


Some of our girls in action playing sumo...

Water Balloon (and other) Launching!

One of the favorite "toys" we have is the water balloon launcher. This year we changed it up a notch, launching some frogs (okay so if this grosses you out or you are worried for the frogs, Sorry!!!)... they all seemed to hop away afterwards okay. So here we are launching away, with Andrew, me and Logan at the helm...


One of the frogs... pre-launch.


So Tiya (who didn't let me put her picture before, but I didn't make any promises this time) launched an actual water balloon during some of our games times. She was NOT in agreement about us launching the frogs, but had no problem sending the balloons into the air.

Other silly games and more

Playing "slurpies and burpies" (figure it out- they slurp the Coke and try to burp as loud as possible)... One of the silly games we played.

We didn't only play games and swim. Worship and Bible study times were precious, with Francis Angalla leading worship, Brent Duncan sharing in the evenings, and Shanna Sanders sharing for the morning devotional times.

Hanging out with friends is a key ingredient for retreats.

"Bobbing for Donuts", a part of the relay we played one day.

We have 4 little platform trolleys. Add plungers and a teen, and ask them to paddle down to a line... not as "easy" as it looks. Lydia here (a senior from the USA and Uganda) demonstrates how easily the plungers got their suction going...

...still more retreat fun!

Meki says, "I love Miss Fish THIIISSS MUUUCCCHHH"! (Thanks Mekster! I love you, too!)


If there is a pool and you've got water guns, that is enough to make for some pretty funny times. We used 4 water guns for a relay game and MAN did we put them to a lot of use (and abuse) for the rest of retreat...

Our girls from Eritrea TRY to act all quiet and shy, but get them on retreat and they definitely come out of their shells. Pictured from left to right are Heron, Nabait, Maggie, Batseba and Milinda.


Grade 10 guys Lubega (on left) and Logan need very little to keep entertained.

Some of my HIS teens

With school dismissing early yesterday, I was running around trying to help get kids home and be sure things were running smoothly. Towards the end of the day, I stopped and talked a bit with 3 of my high school students/youth. Pictured left to right are Solomon, Lino (both grade 10) and Steven (8th grade). They were just happy hanging out in the snack bar, waiting for rides. They're pretty neat guys. Solomon and Steven are brothers from Uganda, and Lino is from Sudan. Pray for them and all the youth as we soon go away together for the Secondary retreat in Jinja!

Also pictured here is Tiya who was playing around on her guitar last week. She is a junior from Canada/UK.

(HERE IS WHERE I DID POST A NICE PICTURE OF TIYA PLAYING GUITAR. BUT SHE MADE ME PROMISE TO NOT POST IT LAST WEEK AND I FORGOT. SO THIS IS A NON-PHOTO OF HER. THIS IS WHERE HER PHOTO WOULD BE IF I WERE ALLOWED TO PUT IT. I EVEN TRIED TO BRIBE HER WITH CHOCOLATE BUT SHE SAID NO. WHAT WOMAN SAYS NO TO CHOCOLATE?)

Stuck in Traffic

So when you have to sit in traffic for 2 and a half hours, what do you do? I pull out my camera and snap away as we creep along the oh-so-slow-moving way...
Thankfully I was with Lisa Mayo and so I had someone to talk with the whole time. The waiting wasn't so bad. We found out later that Thursday (2 days ago) was when the riots began and we had only JUST missed them. I'm thankful- and glad we were only stuck in the traffic due to the riots and not the riots themselves.
Pictured here are:
Traffic just as it was beginning to get bad...


A gi-normous (giant plus enormous) jackfruit for sale on the side of the road (measure it against the bananas- normally jackfruit is about half this size). Jackfruit is also known as Breadfruit in other parts of the world. I don't like it and it smells rotten to me, but some people love it...


... and an "Obamamobile"- someone used his picture on their delivery car's advertisement. He is everywhere here (his likeness, his name, etc., and Africans LOVE him!). The fact that they put him on a fast food delivery car just cracked me up.

Most of my 6th graders

When a student has a birthday, I bought this LOUD hat for them to wear as we sing the birthday song to them. This day, we sang to Maarten, and I asked the kids to gather around for a group shot. I teach them Latin American History 3 days each week, and they are a neat group of kids! The reason they're mostly in yellow and blue is they were having p.e. right after my class and were ready for it...
Pictured from back are Joan (from S. Korea), Mukisa (Uganda). Middle row are Elisabeth (Philippines/USA), Joy (Uganda), Ella (Philippines), Nara and Amy (both S. Korea). Front row are Musa (Uganda), Emmanuel (Ethiopia), Maarten (Holland), Brennan (Canada) and Jesse (Uganda). Not pictured but in 6th grade are also Khalila (returning student from Canada/USA/Uganda) and Wassim (new student from Uganda). They had not arrived at HIS yet, or I'd have all the 6th grade in the photo. I'll be sure to get a WHOLE group shot soon...

Visit with the Coppedges

Happy day! Billy, Joanna, Elsie Jayne and Lucy Mae came to visit as they had meetings in Kampala. Staying in the guest apartment behind my home, I got to see them lots during their 3 or so days here. We had dinner at a local Indian restaurant one night and also lunch the next day before we went for shots for Lucy and me. We both needed shots for tetanus and polio and whatever else they mix in that brew, so it was good to go with friends! The picture is of Elsie and Joanna trying to cuddle during a pretty good rain storm as we ate our lunch.

Spiritual Emphasis Week, Sept. 2009

That title is a mouth full! Essentially it is a week of special chapels for both elementary and secondary at Heritage. We had a few different speakers depending on the age group and day, and on Friday (yesterday) we did a combined chapel with all the school listening to and participating in wonderful worship, great preaching and Spirit-led prayer. God did His thing and I'm so thankful.
Although the speakers did a fine job, the first few days seemed to be lacking something. So we were worried a bit for Friday's group chapel plans. We prayed some more, and many of you received my email asking for further prayers, plus that we wouldn't be hindered by the recent unrest in Uganda. You'll be happy to know we had a wonderful service and I could actually SEE people really being touched by the Lord's work in their heart. Pray the seeds planted will grow.
After we dismissed the kids, with the secondary all caring for the younger ones, the adults stayed behind for a communion service led by WGM's John Muehleisen. It was a blessed time which furthered the unity God has put amongst the faculty and staff at HIS. Praise the Lord!

Interestingly enough, JUST after ending the communion, we were informed of riots in Kampala and elsewhere, and we had to cancel the rest of school for the day. I believe God allowed us to have that special time together.

Do pray for the riots and unrest here. Everyone from HIS and in the missionary community is safe, and I need to stay apolitical in my blog and other statements. But the nation does need prayer for some miscommunication and poor decisions made by those involved in demonstrations, riots, etc. I'll just say right now that most likely I'll NOT be putting stuff on my blog about it all, as I'd rather not cause confusion or misunderstandings amongst ANY of those who read this.

The Paper guy

You won't easily get this one, but it was really fascinating. Keeley (HIS Principal) found a man who makes the most amazing paper sculptures without tape or glue. He came for some demonstrations at HIS last week, and everyone was gasping in surprise and delight. The guy is gifted. I wish I'd had better pictures of some of his designs, but he made a 8 or so foot garland, various flowers, fans and lanterns and stuff you'd think came from a machine but were really only him folding and flicking and holding things a certain way. It was like a really cool magic show. He sold books teaching how to do it all and I had to buy one. We'll see if I actually succeed when I try this at home...

Youth Group #2

Last week we had another youth event at school. With about 30 of the kids there, we played more silly games, I shared from Amos about how God will measure us against His Truth, and we had some snacks. FYI, Farfar is an Indian "puffed rice" snack you cook in oil and then can sprinkle powdered sugar or spices over, then serve. I served the sweet kind- with the sugar. YUM! I am not sure it is spelled like that though!
Anyway, here are some pictures showing 2 of our games. One is a relay where the kids had to run down and grab a bag, pull out the hidden food, and eat it. I included baby food (the pic is of Steven drinking apple flavored baby food), poprocks, bananas, some weird jelly candy I found here, chocolate, tomatoes, box juice, yogurt, spicy potato sticks, cookies and other items. I was impressed I found poprocks- they come from Korea and remind me of the 80's. And yes, they're still fun!
The other games we played were the bucket game (thanks Hannah for letting us in on that gem a few years back- they still love it) and a game I find hard to describe. I guess you'd call it "The Body Parts Game" or something. It is where the leader calls out "knee to back" or "finger to nose" and 2 partners have to listen for the body parts mentioned and as fast as possible, match those items. The photo is a better demonstration... the guys called out "elbow to elbow" and right after they said "knee to knee" telling the partners to link with other partners... Anyway, it was fun to watch and the kids enjoyed themselves.

Terry & Karen visit Uganda

Terry & Karen Duncan are our WGM Regional Directors. They visit Uganda 2-3 times a year, and we LOVE them! They are based out of Nairobi, and sometimes we get to see them over there, too. In late August, they visited us all, and we had a fellowship together at the Mayo's home. These photos include Karen (at left) in the living room with John & Beth Muehleisen (center) and Jean Komline (right), and Brent Duncan (their son and a Volunteer in Action with us) and his dad Terry on the porch.

Other Construction methods in Uganda...

In a previous blog, I mentioned a bucket brigade of cement going up 3-4 stories here. The other day I saw a “bucket brigade’ of rebar! For a 7 story building, they were passing cut and shaped rebar up using the brigade system. No crane, no machinery, just passing it up by hand. People are inventive when necessary!

The wood posts standing between the floors of the picture are how they support the recently poured floors. They leave it dry for several weeks then use the wooden poles on the next floor going up. And the wood is HARD so it actually is secure...so long as they don't use watered down cement like some have (and have regretted later).

The road nonsense continues…

The day Puppet poisoned herself with rat food, I also had a teacher’s meeting and of course classes, plus running back and forth to the vet. I was TIRED and hot when I headed home (Puppet stayed at the vet’s overnight). But I couldn’t get home. Those stinker road workers were back. They completely blocked the ONLY entrance into my neighborhood for probably 2 hours. I reached there half an hour before they opened it up again, but of course it appeared they would be delaying us even longer. They had put oily goo on the road, waited for it to dry a bit, and then they spread gravel. I don’t think they’re done, simply because they’ve left a few of their road block signs around.
Anyway, within 4 days, either the road crew or the neighbors started messing up the road again. What? Yes- they decided (AFTER plowing and making all the mess and delays) that they needed to re-dig out the trenches along the side of the road, where the rain SHOULD drain (if it sits on the roads, of course potholes develop). So above, you’ll see pictured some of the mounds of dirt they threw back into the “fixed” road. Now again, parts of the road are blocked except for 4 wheel drive vehicles. This is just an ongoing saga of (to me) nonsense.
By the way, I did get home after waiting about 30-40 minutes from where they blocked the road. We’ll see if they delay us again and if/when they do any further work on the road. I hope they do. Other neighbors have already ruined it at the top of the hill, by putting homemade speed bumps across. How many times can I make the comment, “What a mess”? I imagine it will be this way for a while still.

Puppet, the rat, and misadventure…

Puppet (pictured here) is the Hopson’s dog. She is a very fussy eater. I knew this when I agreed to take and keep her while the Hopson family is in the USA for their furlough. But I didn’t realize how fussy she is. I was told to feed her meat and rice, since she won’t eat regular dog food. I did that. I even found some cheap (and smelly- ugh!) sausages to feed her. She loved them. So I was saving money for the Hopson’s, but she kept getting ill. Apparently she can’t eat much pork. Okay, so switch the menu to burger meat (I HATE spending money on this, even if it is the Hopson’s who are paying!). She is doing fine so far. But in the midst of so many other dog owners giving me tips on what to feed her and not have the hassle of cooking anything special ...“she is a dog and she will learn” is what they say… I’ve also learned that she is very stubborn. I learned she will let herself starve versus eat anything remotely resembling dog food. So I stopped trying to vary her diet, only to discover that she eats- get this- geckos- and sometimes right after I've fed her! The stubborn dog won’t touch dog food but she’ll eat creepy crawlies! Come on! Well, to top it off, she ate rat poison.
On Sunday morning a few weeks back, I’d gone to the kitchen early (it wasn’t quite light outside) and reached to turn on the light above the stove. But something moved in the dishes drying on the counter. Hmmm. It ran and hopped across the counter and stove and onto the floor, where it jumped into the back of the stove. Ugh. It was fast, and dark, so I couldn’t quite see what it was, but I thought it might be a rat or a really fast frog or bat. It was dark people- I really couldn’t see!
It turned out to be a rat. On Sunday I put rat poison out, and did NOT cook in my oven (or on top!). I put poison in 3 places inside and also back behind the washer (it sits on my back veranda- only place for it) outside. On Monday, still not cooking, I had come home from school for lunch. While eating lunch and reading the newspaper, Susan, my house helper, says “Madam, did Puppet eat this?”… and she showed me the empty container where the poison had been not half an hour before. I had JUST checked it as I was petting Puppet and giving her a dog cookie (she does eat those). So… the dog ate the rat poison, and seriously, how did she squeeze behind the washing machine? The space is only about 4 inches wide! So… off to the vet we went, Puppet the stupid dog and me. Okay, she is not stupid, but I must say I was NOT happy, I felt HORRIBLE about accidentally poisoning the Hopson’s dog, and dagnabbit, she is fussy so why eat geckos and rat poison but not normal dog food?! Grrr.
Well, now Puppet is better, the real rat did eat the poison within a day or so and promptly died in the back of my stove. After the electrician serviced, cleaned and replaced the stove insulation the rat had messed up, I am back to using my stove/oven, and Puppet is back to eating (I hope) only burger mixed with rice. No more adventures with Puppet (or rats) please!
As a P.S. to this entry, please note that Peter, my day guard (we have 24/7 watchmen for security here and it IS a MUST), helped get the dead rat out of the stove. I asked him to put it on the ground so I could get a picture of it, and stand near it to show the size of the rat. He actually put it touching his foot (double ugh) and I snapped away. Don’t you just love that I’ve put a picture of a dead rat on my blog? Gross.

Pass the Word, PLEASE

Only a few days ago I asked for prayer for relief from the famine and drought in Uganda. I even entered a blog (a few entries down) asking for prayer as our guys went to distribute seeds and do ministries in the hardest hit areas.

The following is a message I recommend for you to read, from the WGM HQ side of things. Please pass this prayer need/my blog address or World Gospel Mission's web address on to anyone and everyone you can! Thank you!

"Please give for Uganda famine relief!

According to online reports, the lives of approximately 3 million Ugandans are being threatened by starvation and 35 to 40 people have already lost the fight. Those struggling to survive include the neighbors of WGM missionaries and national Christians.

As an immediate response to the famine in Uganda, WGM President Hubert Harriman has released $10,000 to the field from the Crisis Relief Fund. But initial estimates from WGM's ground team indicate that TRIPLE that amount will be needed in the next 30 days. Will you help send even more and join the fight against hunger in Africa today?

Jonathan Mayo, WGM field director for Uganda, shared that the drought is affecting Uganda from the eastern border with Kenya to the western border with Congo and from the northern border with Sudan on southward a considerable distance into the middle of the country. He noted that if rain does not come soon the famine will spread further.

Terry Duncan, WGM’s regional director for Africa, added that the areas of Soroti in eastern Uganda and Nebbi in the north are the most severely affected regions where WGM has churches. Neighboring countries are also seeing deaths from starvation, and WGM is responding as funds become available.

“We are deeply grateful for the transfer of funds to help with famine [relief] in Uganda,” Terry shared. “No doubt you may never see these desperate people, but someday you may talk with them in heaven and they can tell you what this meant to them. Thanks to all who made this possible.”

Join the fight against hunger in Uganda now by giving to the Crisis Relief Fund! Your donation could be the difference between life and death.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please protect your people in Uganda as they face this urgent battle. May you fill their bodies and souls with love and provide for their every need. We lift them to you, Lord, and place them in your powerful hands. Amen.

Go to www.wgm.org to donate now."

FYI: I mentioned in my last email update to those that receive it, that the rains had come. Well, apparently they haven’t. We had about 4-5 days with up to an hours’ worth of rain 2 weeks ago and nothing further since, except some sprinkles which have amounted to nothing. So the crisis continues.
Do keep praying. Do give as you are able in faith. Do help spread the word.
Thank you so much!