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!

Open House and PTF BBQ

Each fall when school begins (technically it is not really considered fall or spring here, but short or long rainy season. We're just entering the long rainy season here), Heritage hosts a welcome back to school/open house/Parent-Teacher BBQ. It was last night, and besides fellowshipping and meeting with parents, I ran around with my camera happily snapping away. Here are a few shots from the night.


Some of the teachers at the BBQ were Kristi (6th, Computers, after school sports),Jean (1st grade), Jill (2nd grade), Shanna (Jill's roommate, one of our upcoming speakers at retreat), and Betsy (math grades 6-12).



Lynn (our secondary P.E. teacher) helps dish up banana splits for the kiddos.


I think this school year we have about 20 countries represented at HIS. Here are more new HIS folks (foreground) from S. Korea/China.


Above, pictured in the foreground, are the Wickham family from Britain, including Keeley who is our HIS principal.


These are some of my favorite Italian girlies in the world! All former students, Martina (left) and sisters Chiara and Greta (right) came to visit us at HIS for the BBQ night. I love it when former students can return to say hello and let us know how they are! Martina is studying at another school across town, and Chiara and Greta are visiting from England, where their parents are getting masters degrees before returning to Africa.


Meki (10th) and Ruth (9th, on left) pose happily each time I get the camera out.


Above: some of the HIS teens hanging out together. Pictured standing left to right are Matthew (what is that face you're making?!), Steven, Abhay, Nathan, Kim, Ruth, Meki, Solomon, and Marc (kneeling).With just these kids alone, we have Uganda, India, USA, Korea, Ethiopia, Kenya and UK/Canada represented.

Spidey helps advertise

Some people will do anything to get your attention. I enjoyed seeing this blow-up Spidey helping to advertise a bar/restaurant on the road to the airport. It was just so incongruous to other African sightings, so of course I had to stop and take a picture.

Did you realize Loofah has an H in it?

The other week, I asked Peter, my daytime guard, what type of gourd he was growing by the wall. It has climbed all the way up the security wall and had several gourds on the vine, all about 18 inches or longer.

So he picked 2 for me. Then he demonstrated that on my property, we are growing loofahs! How cool is that?! I got such a kick out of it for some reason. So he gave me one, and now I have seeds to try this in the USA sometime.

I also have been using my home-grown loofah to scrub my nasty feet at night. Here, there is a proverb, that "you can't wash off the dust of Africa" (meaning the literal washing off of the dusty roads, and also how the place gets under your skin and into your heart)... at least the loofah is helping with one part of that proverb.

I'm pretty sure I'm okay with the other proverb meaning. I don't want Africa and all its people, wonders, places, etc. out of my heart!

FYI it seems like it was a Jamison's Mamba

Well, after talking with others and showing them photos, it sounds like the "maybe Green Mamba" was actually a "Jamison's Mamba". Yes, still dangerous and deadly. But Jamison's are skittish while Green are aggressive. But with 16 teens in a classroom, wouldn't anybody/anything act skittish(grin)? Or maybe it was skittish because it saw that big hoe coming to knock it into oblivion? At least everyone (except the snake) got out safely, and we are thankful.

I'm not POSITIVE it was a Green Mamba

I got back to my classroom today from teaching in the 6th grade room, and suddenly heard the kids in the English class next door making some noise. I wondered if their teacher had stepped out, so I poked my head in. One of the girls had heard some movement under the bookcase and got scared. So when one of the boys looked, they discovered there was a (about) 4 ft. long green snake nested under a book case. With the other teacher actually there, we got the kids to sit down and called one of the HIS gardeners over. He promptly took some good whacks at it with his rake (steer clear of being very close to ANY snakes you see here!), and the snake was a goner.

A few minutes after the incident, I asked one of the guys if he had a snake book at home so we could identify the snake. He told us he knew how, but when we asked the gardener if we could see the snake again, he had already thrown it over the fence into some bushes on the empty plot there. So we couldn't be sure it was a green mamba, but from what we observed, it seemed to be one. Either way, in Africa, (at least in my opinion) the only safe snake is a dead one.

Scaffolding and how construction works

So the neighbor property is getting a house. I went over to peek at the progress and thought folks might like to see how they make the ramps and other scaffolding here. It is all wooden posts, usually tied together plus nails, and some of these can go up several stories to meet the building needs. I've also seen a bucket brigade of cement for guys at the bottom story who were trying to pour a 3rd story floor. Wish I'd had my camera then!
Most buildings, in the city at least, are made of brick/cement. Termites, ants and other crawlies abound, so wood wouldn't last long. In fact, when people put wood as a building, it is usually a shack or "shabby" place, and within about 2 years, enough vermin are there that people abandon it all.

So.... is this a portable generator?

There are a few quarries near my house and very often I can hear and feel the blasts they do to get more rock each week. Driving past yesterday, they had a giant generator out on a dilapidated tractor bed. Not sure what was going on, but the mix made for an interesting picture to me.

WGM Uganda welcomes recent arrivals

On Friday night the Kampala team of WGM Uganda hosted the newest Volunteers In Action (VIA) arrivals to the field. We celebrated at a Mongolian BBQ place across town. I only got a few pics that night, but thought you'd like to see some of the missionaries who attended...




VIA this year include the above pictured Betsy (math), Teresa (art) and Kristi (grade 6/computers). Also here are Brent (pastor's training) and Jean (grade 1), and Jenna (finance office) will arrive in early September.

Famine Relief Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for the famine and drought reaching across much of this African region (including Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, & Democratic Republic of Congo). The rainy season in the spring didn’t reach many places, or there was little rain. Now, crops are failing/have failed and many people are down to one meager meal a day. Many are starving. Last week, WGM headquarters in Marion, Indiana, released money to fund some famine relief efforts in Uganda.
Yesterday, Brent (one of our Volunteers In Action), Mugisha (our Cordinator for Youth Pastor’s Training in the Africa Gospel Church), and Gabriel (one of our AGC pastors) went to Soroti, about 4 hours north of Kampala, to work in famine relief. With the arrival of rains for the longer rainy season in the past week or so, it is time to plant seeds. But in the harder-hit areas, seeds are either beyond affordability for most Africans, or they’re not available at all. So this team of 3 men will focus on seed distribution. I believe they may also have some food distribution involved there, as well. Pray for them. They’ll be there till either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on how things go. They also plan to repeat the same ministries in Nebbi (NW Uganda) in the next week or so. And we believe more areas will be needing help in the near future.
Do please pray for the rains to come to all these countries (mentioned above) and beyond. Some places have not seen rain for many months, and on top of that there are “blights” on many crops. It has potential to be a dire situation all across this region of Africa.
If you would like to give funds to help in this situation or in other emergency situations, please go to our website at www.wgm.org or send your check to WGM (P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952) with the memo marked for account # 1500-25342.
Thank you for your help in prayers and giving.

Just a Cultural Experience

Yesterday afternoon I arrived home for lunch and a few hours at the computer. Peter, my day guard, was laughing and having a great time, explaining that he was chasing a squirrel that entered the property. I thought he was funny, but didn't think much more about it.

Later in the day I arrived home yet again (after a meeting) and he was victorious. He had caught the squirrel. I was surprised to hear that he had killed it and given it to the neighbor man who is helping construct the new house there. I asked him why- and he said it was for the man to eat.

Okay, so I've heard of people doing this (even in the USA), but it just took me off guard. I really thought Peter was only having some fun chasing a squirrel. So when I asked him why he didn't keep it himself or just let it be here on the property (to me they're good for playing in the trees and hiding seeds/nuts, and cute to look at). He said he had to eat them all the time as a child in the village, and he didn't want the reminder (I guess he doesn't like to eat squirrel), so he wanted to get rid of it.

It was just another little culture lesson for me, and I thought you might like to hear another insight into life here.

First school days at HIS

Below are pictures from the first 2 weeks of school. We currently have 33 in secondary. We only had about 17 on the first day of school because many kids were traveling internationally still (typical for an international school). The students are coming with great attitudes, and I'm very glad to have them all here.

Besides teaching 7-12 Social Studies (combined in 3 classes; grades 7 & 8 together, grade 9, and grades 10-12 together), I am also teaching the 6th graders for Social Studies as well. This "shuffling of classes" is all because we don't have an English teacher. So they've combined other classes for people to step into that role, and the domino affect hits us all. It is all okay, but I do believe it would be SO much better if we had an English teacher. Do please pray about this! Thanks!


Because about half the students don't/can't show up the first days, I chose to give a mini-project early and let the kids enjoy themselves. That way, when all the others finally got here, they'd have less text book work to make up, and those already here could still accomplish something I'd planned to do at some point anyway.
The project was to research as if they could take a dream vacation. With the new encyclopedias that arrived in May, I had them look up at least 5 countries each, and create travel itineraries and look into histories or interesting locations which they'd like to see. It sounds simple, but the main reason I did this project was 2-fold: to have them actually see the value of the new encyclopedias (kids today seem to not be interested in book-research and they nearly fully rely on Internet- I gave them NO Internet options), and I wanted their minds and hearts to open up to dreaming a bit. It has been interesting to hear and see where the teens would like to go, and why.


Classroom time (in this case, Miss Keeley, our principal, has stepped in as one of the temporary English teachers).


Above: time in our first chapel last week. Be praying for our chapels for the year. They are always on Fridays, and we have 2; one for elementary and one for secondary. Pray that the Lord will touch hearts and minds so kids will either choose Him for the first time, or simply choose to follow Christ further. Pray for the speakers, the worship, for any visitors who come (so many parents often come see the chapels and God can work to reach them, too!). Lastly, be in prayer for our Spiritual Emphasis Week Sept. 7-11 and then the secondary retreat Sept. 16-18. Pray the Holy Spirit will reach lives as never before. Pray for softened hearts. Thank you!

Getting Oriented

How do people new to Uganda adjust to the different cultural situations? Well, one way is to have a scavenger hunt! In working to help our WGM Volunteers and new HIS teachers adjust to getting around Kampala on their own, I planned a scavenger hunt through the city.

First they met at my home (to know where it is for when we have get-togethers). Then they had to take bodas (small motorcycles taxis) through town, stopping at a clinic, a restaurant, the post office, some shops, and finally the mall. Getting their bearings by hitting these places, and having fun with a large group makes for a good memory and a helpful orientation to the city.



Pictured above are WGM Volunteers In Action (VIA) Teresa, Brent, Kristi, Betsy & Jean. Joining them are other singles from other missions, with most being teachers at Heritage. These folks are: Jill, Shanna, Katie, Laura, Holly.

I didn’t go with the group on the hunt, but met them at a pizza place in the main mall. This was the first scavenger hunt I’ve planned for the young missionaries, and it was a lot of fun to watch the interaction and hear their stories of adventures in Kampala. It is now officially part of the orientation for all VIA coming to Uganda. Come join the fun!





"I Love New York Kitchen", aka NY Kitchen, is a great place to eat wonderful pizza, bagels and desserts like milkshakes, cheese cake, or German Chocolate cake!



When it was time to go home, we had expected to split up and some people would go with me, others would go on bodas. But it was raining pretty good and nobody really wanted to get wet while riding the bodas. So we crowded into my car (11 people in a Prado that seats 7-8!).

First Youth Group for 2009-2010 @ HIS

On the first Friday of school, we hosted a youth group with nearly all the students attending. With silly games (dress up relay, pass the marshmallow, and "honey if you love me", etc.) and a brief Bible study, plus food, the kids were pretty happy to be involved. One boy was so delighted to have had the time together that he begged us to have something every week. Unfortunately that is usually not a possibility, although we HAVE doubled the amount of youth activities on the calendar for this new school year!

First Day of School at HIS, 2009

On the first day of school, our new principal, Keeley Wickham, explained rules and expectations to the students. We (so far) have 27 kids in grades 7-12. Some people are still out of the country but are supposedly coming in the next several days. This is typical for an international school- that people can't be there the first day or even the first week, due to international travel plans.

Check out the kids in the photo- they look scared to begin the new school year! But actually, we have a GREAT group of kids and I'm excited for all the Lord has in store for us these next months together!

Please be in prayer for all our students and faculty, that we would be available for Jesus to teach and shape and use us as He sees fit. Pray for the Spiritual Emphasis Week Sept. 7-11 and the secondary youth retreat Sept. 16-18. Pray for speakers, health, safety and great times for all these days! :) Thanks!

Orientation of HIS Faculty/Staff

Teacher Orientation time was full of great instruction, meeting and getting to know the faculty and staff, and we discussed great ideas for the new school year. We also had times of Bible study and a wonderful worship service. We’ve got a great staff this year. Here are some of those folks during that worship time.

Would you be in prayer for a teacher for English grades 7-12, and also a Computer teacher as well? We have faculty filling in with those positions, but it is really difficult to be stretched so thin in the schedule, and not teaching in your subject area can be a real trial. Pray for those stepping into these roles to be wise and patient as we wait on the Lord’s guidance for the right teachers!