Where's your home?

Earlier this week, Mercy told me “I wish Sunday would never come.” I didn’t get it right away, but it finally dawned on me that yes, Sunday is in fact the day that I’ll be heading “Home for the Holidays.” And today, after church, as we are all piling into the taxi, I hear both Teddy and Sharon say “Auntie, I’m sad.” I try to console them: “I’m coming back!” “It’s only for a little while” “Guess who’s coming with me when I come back – Mama Sherry!” Though I’m very excited to be seeing friends and family back home in Indiana, I can’t help but be a little disheartened at not being here for Christmas – especially when the kids want me to stay so badly!

I think on some level, all of us yearn for “home” whenever there’s a holiday. Wherever your “home” may be. For me, I have 3 homes: my first one in Indiana, where my treasured family lives; my home away from home in CA, where friends really are family; and here in Uganda, where 18 children call me Auntie. And no matter which “home” I’m in, there’s a part of me that misses the other homes.

It makes me wonder if in His 33 years on earth, Jesus ever yearned for home. As a baby, a toddler, a young carpenter, did he ever want to go back home? I mean think about it. Really think about it. The perfect place. Streets of gold. Pearly gates. Forever in God’s presence. After 33 years, Jesus did go home - in an actual blaze of glory. If you believe, as I believe, then we have a home in common: Heaven. And though I’ve never been there, my soul was created for it.

You may find it odd that I’m talking of Heaven and Jesus' death when the season we are in is the celebration of His birth. But I have to be honest … though the miracle of His coming is wonderful and amazing, I can’t help but look at Baby Jesus in the manger and see Savior Jesus on the cross. And that, friends, is the greatest miracle of all. He gave us all someplace to call home.

Empty Fridge

An empty fridge means it’s time to go to the grocery store and stock up. I’m infamous for going to the grocery store without a list – something my mom did NOT teach me. You know the grocery store rules: buy off your list and don’t go when you’re hungry. Yea, I break those all the time!

An empty fridge in Uganda means the same thing in this house – time to go to market (fyi … many Ugandan families do not have a fridge. And many can go hungry much of the time. The children in this home do not take their meals for granted. They thank God for each and every morsel!).

So, off to market we go. It’s so colorful, with all the fresh fruits and veggies. And Ugandans certainly know how to make a display. I LOVE the way the tomatoes and potatoes are stacked. Buying for 18 children + mamas + aunties means a lot of food. Thankfully we have our usual vendors that look forward to our coming each Saturday. I remember my first trip to market. We had potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, green pepper, watermelon, pumpkin, eggplant, onions, greens and more. I stood looking at our loot thinking “how on earth are we going to get all of this on a boda?” 

Alex tethers our loot to his boda boda.

If you read my last blog, Ugandans know how to transport almost anything by boda, huge piles of groceries included. You would be amazed at how many items can fit in a burlap bag and then strapped to the boda for the ride home.

I get a lot of stares and “Hey Mzungu” at the market. One day, I was waiting for Sarah at our potato vendor and a man came up to me saying something and “Mzungu”. We was waving his fist at me and I had know idea what he wanted. I just said “no thanks”. He finally walked away. Only later, when I shared the story with Sarah, she laughed and said “He wanted a fist bump.” To which I responded, “Do all Ugandans think that Mzungu’s fist bump?” Apparently the answer is yes. So on your next trip to Uganda, please remember the fist bump!

Once we are done at the fresh food market, we hop in a taxi to the supermarket (Capital Shoppers, Quality Supermarkets or Shoprite) for the rest of our weeks supplies. We fill 2-1/2 carts and quite obviously THAT won’t all fit on a boda, so we call our trusty driver, Ivan.

Now depending on what time of day we go or what is happening in town, this trip may take as little as 2 hours or 4 hours. And if I’m lucky, we may stop and get a chapatti and samosa (my favorite Ugandan treats!) for lunch.

P.S. To all my faithful readers, this concludes my series on “Ugandan living”. So many had questions about day-to-day life and I hope I covered them all (if not, let me know). Hope you enjoyed. Coming up next year, is something I’m really excited about. I’ll just leave you in suspense and hope you keep reading until then.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

It’s no secret that I love to drive. And I’m really good at it – no matter what some former co-workers might tell you! I may have missed my calling as an Indy Stock Car or Formula One racer, which may have led to the wildly popular conclusion that I drive fast. But I’ll have you know that my driving record is completely clean. Since being in Uganda, I (quite obviously) have not been doing much – er, any – driving. I kind of miss it, but I’m also having a lot of fun getting around in other ways.

1. Boda Boda. The fun, albeit somewhat dangerous, and usually fastest way to travel is on a boda boda. It looks like a cross between a motorcycle and a scooter (at least to me). I absolutely L-O-V-E riding on the boda. It’s fun and freeing … with the wind in your hair. And I have actually held out my hands and shouted “I’m on top of the world.” Yes, I’m THAT girl. Ha ha! Here are a few pointers in getting around via Boda Boda:

Uncle Alex, one of our trusty boda drivers

1. Always know your driver. It’s not exactly safe to just simply get on anyone’s boda boda. It’s best if you use the same drivers. Get a list in your phone and call when you need a ride.
2. Always board the boda boda from the left side.
3. If you sit “side saddle”, both legs must go to the left side.
4. You can literally carry anything on a boda boda. I’ve seen bodas loaded with sugar canes, brooms, bed frames, 5 people, luggage – the list goes on and on.
5. You can hold on if you must, but you kinda look like a sissy. (haha! That’s for Kristal)

2. Taxi. No, these are not the cute little yellow cars with black and white checks. These babies are 15 passenger vans that will stop anywhere along the side of the road to pick anyone up and cram more than 15 people inside! And of course, there are important rules to follow here as well:

We hire a taxi to take us to Church every Sunday, but
normally, Sarah & I simply catch one on the side of the road

1. Never get in an empty taxi. There are stories of kidnappings – not that I’ve been witness to this or even know of it’s validity. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
2. Always be aware of your personal belongings. There are also stories of sophisticated robberies on board taxis. For example, someone may ask you to close the door, while another’s got their hands inside your purse. After claiming your wallet, then shove you out of the taxi and take off. Again, I’ve never seen this, but one can never be too careful.
3. Always listen for the taxi route. You want to go to Shoprite? The taxi is going to Kampala. Well, Shoprites on the way, right? Not if the conductor doesn’t say Nakawa. Listen up or you’ll get on the wrong one (kind of like bus routes in the US).

3. Private Hire. Many people make their living by hiring themselves out as private hire drivers. They have a car. They can drive. Might as well make a business out of it. And of course there are companies that some drivers are employed by as well. Typically, we use these on Saturdays to pick us up from the grocery store or to be dropped off or picked up from the Airport.

4. Walking. The way to get from here to there – walking. A LOT of Ugandans simply walk wherever they need to go. Most school children walk, regardless of whether it takes them 2 hours to get to school or not, as many simply cannot afford transportation costs.

There you have it. And I use ALL 4 methods every Saturday. Fun, huh?

Oh, just to give you a better flavor, I should probably talk about TRAFFIC. Live in SoCal and think the 405 is bad? Live in NorCal and think 880 is bad? Live anywhere else and imagine and think the traffic jams you’ve been caught in are the worst? Now add 1000 massive pot holes, boda boda’s weaving in between the cars, taxi’s stopping on the side of the road (sometimes blocking traffic) then pulling back in, people walking everywhere (including in the road, between the cars), and exhaust fumes. And throw in people creating their own lanes for good measure, and now you have Kampala traffic. Seriously, I’ve been in taxi’s that create their own lane in the middle of the road to pass a slower vehicle – even when there is oncoming traffic. The craziest thing, no one gets mad. I’ve rarely seen road rage here. You just go with the flow; you let people in; you slow down for pedestrians. A car just cut you off – no problem! I should probably learn some of these lessons myself. :)

P.S. I love the looks of the people in the taxi’s when I climb in. I don’t see Mzungu’s very often in the taxi’s. hee hee!

P.P.S. There are big buses and such for in-country and inter-country travel. I just haven’t experienced them (yet!)

World Aids Day

Every Thursday, Sarah & I trek into Kampala to go to Watoto Kampala Church (formerly KPC) for Bible Study. Tonight, was a little different than most Bible Studies I’ve been to. First, they were having a “Watoto’s Got Talent” night. There was lots of dancing and singing and even an eating contest!

Most of the participants were asked what their status was. At first I thought they meant single or married (they’ve done this before, so I just assumed). But, that’s not what they were asking. The answer was positive or negative or something about a zero. And I've never been in a church service where they asked you to tell your neighbor: 1. if you are a virgin; 2. when your last HIV test was; and 3. if you are on the sexual network. I was very confused until one of the Pastor’s cleared it up for me.

You see, today, Dec 1, is World AIDS Day.  And this year, the theme is “Getting to Zero.” According to AVERT.org,  “After 30 years of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, this year the global community has committed to focusing on achieving 3 targets: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths.”

The statistics for 2010:

2.7 million new HIV infections

1.8 million people died from AIDS

And yet, this day has taken on even greater significance since I am in Africa and in Uganda. While brushing up on my AIDS facts for this blog post, I learned that Uganda was one of the first and hardest hit countries in the 1970s-1980s. It reached epidemic status with 20-30% of the population being infected prior to most other African countries. And while Uganda has made great strides and is often looked to among African nations on ways to decrease HIV and AIDS occurrences, the numbers tell the story:

1.2 million - estimated number of people living with HIV in Uganda

150,000 – estimated number of children with HIV (though if all children were tested, I think you would see this number increase)

64,000 – estimated number of people who died from AIDS in 2009

1.2 million – number of children who have been orphaned by Uganda's devastating epidemic.

Sobering, isn’t it? One of the young girls at Watoto gave a testimony and her shirt started the conversation. It said simply “I am positive”. She’s a single mother, who was sexually abused for years, became a sex addict and has been living with HIV for the past 10 years (that’s when she was tested), but she has a great and positive outlook because she has a hope and everlasting future in Jesus. She’s proud to say she’s positive because it opens doors for her to share her faith.

She reminded me of a verse in Romans, when we are called “more than conquerors”. Conquering HIV/AIDS may not be an earthly possibility, but it is certainly no match for an everlasting future in Heaven.

The Fine Art of Cooking

I like to cook. I really like to bake. But I don’t do either very often. Let’s face it, it’s hard to cook for one person. Say you make a great lasagne. You have to freeze over half of it and eat the other half for the entire week when you are just one person. Cooking for 25 is another matter entirely. Especially in Uganda.

While in America I may be used to a nice electric or gas stove top for cooking, here in Uganda we rely on a little thing called the Charcoal stove. We actually do have a stove top, but it can cost a pretty penny to fire it up every day. Charcoal provides a much more economical solution. Learning how to operate one of these bad boys is an experience. For instance, say you are supposed to take your dinner from a “boil” to a  “simmer”. It’s not like there’s a little nob for that. But there is a way to do it, just take out some of that fiery hot charcoal and presto-chango, you can now simmer.

We have a set menu at the home for dinner each week, but regardless of the dish there are a few things that are ALWAYS used: cooking oil; grated tomatoes; chopped carrots, green pepper and onions; garlic; and spices like beef masala, curry, royco and salt. Go ahead. Try it. You know you want to.

One of my favorite meals is Uganda Spaghetti. There’s no red sauce, but it is oh-so-delicious! In fact, I like it so much that on Mondays, I help Aunt Margret with the cooking, so that I can learn how to make it for family & friends when I am in the states. I even bought the needed ingredients (the ones that you can’t find in America), so get ready to taste Uganda Spaghetti, friends!!

Anyway, I do often get laughed at – not in a menacing way – when “learning” to cook the Ugandan way. They don’t see me cooking very often, so I think that they think that I don’t know how. Yesterday, while waiting for the cooking oil to heat, Aunt Margret threw a few pieces of onion in the pan to see if the oil was hot enough and I got the most peculiar question posed to me “Do you know why she did that?” I had to laugh a little and say, “Yes, I do know how to cook.” I guess one of these days, I’ll have to prove that to them and make a whole meal myself :).

I’m Gonna Wash that Dirt Right Outta My Clothes

Yes, the long awaited (and promised) LAUNDRY blog! (Oooo … was that a cheer I just heard?)

I’ve never really minded doing laundry. Ironing, on the other hand is another story. I base buying clothes on whether it will need ironing. But that’s besides the point … back to laundry. Laundry days (or nights) in my house typically involved a movie whilst doing it, which made it more fun. That and seeing the delight on my roommates faces of my multi-color piles. Yes, I really do separate darks from whites and then I go a step further and have a pile for reds, oranges and pinks and another pile for blues, greens and purples. Into the machine go the “whites”, then the “blues”, then the “reds” and finally “blacks” – in that order. Fresh from the dryer it creates a whole rainbow effect after everything is folded. And my AR-ness absolutely loves it (AR – anal retentive).

Here in Uganda, laundry is quite another matter. It’s quite rare to find a washing machine in someone’s house and forget about a dryer. Although, I’m quite lucky and there is a washing machine here at the home, but first, you must graduate from hand washing before attempting machine washing.

First things first … you need, 3 tubs, water and soap. Line up your tubs:

Tub 1 – the washing tub. Put in some soap and swirl around. Add dirty clothes.

Tub 2 – first rinse

Tub 3 – final rinse

Once you’ve got your clothes in the washing tub, it’s time to put your back into it. Literally. Bend over, grab the bar soap, rub it into your garment and get scrubbing. There is a technique that I, personally, have not mastered yet (it takes years of practice), but I do try. Lucky for me the kids are gracious enough to help me after they are done with their own laundry! Next, on to inspection … did you really get your shirt clean? Better check. Once you pass, throw it into the “first rinse bin” and grab the next dirty item.

Now you have some items in the “first rinse bin”, it’s time for … drum roll … the first rinse (wow, you all guessed that correctly and now win a prize). Rinse it thoroughly using some of the same techniques from washing and then ring it out, getting all the soap out. And when I say, “ring it out”, I really mean it. If we all did our laundry this way, we would have arms of steel!

On to “final rinse” … pretty much the same as “first rinse”. Ring, ring, ring out those clothes as hard as you can. And up on the line (or the ground) they go. Uganda does have a universal dryer … it’s called the sun. Oh, but make sure you have your clothes inside out. And now, your laundry is done, your back is a little sore and your arms are closer to steel than they were before you started.

Lucky for me, I can use the washing machine. I only use it occasionally and it too can create arms of steel. You see, the washing machine can fill with water on its own, but only if you wait a really long time. And there is no guarantee that the electricity will remain on while you wait (or that we have running water at the moment you want to wash). So, it’s best if you haul your own water. Last week, I hauled bucket upon bucket from our outside cistern of water. It’s kind of like a well, in that you drop a bucket on a rope into the cistern and then heave it out – using those arms of steel that you are cultivating. You do this again and again and again. Presto – washer full and can now wash your clothes or sheets or towels. Oh, but wait … there’s more. Did you forget the rinse cycle? You have to do it all again in order to rinse your clothes.

 

And now, I bet your probably thinking I don’t like laundry day so much anymore. On the contrary, mon ami! I still don’t mind doing laundry. Sometimes I think of it as my exercise for the day. Sometimes it’s all about being with the kids – they actually clamor to help me!

So there it is friends … laundry, Uganda style. I'm working on my arms of steel!! Ha ha!

The Jerrycan Parade

Ah, the Jerrycan. Your best friend, your worst enemy. I love it and hate it all in the same breath.

As pictured here, you can see that the Jerrycan is a yellow jug of sorts, which at one time held cooking oil, but has been cleaned to now hold water. A precious commodity in Africa. The water is then used for doing the laundry, for washing dishes, for washing your hands, for cooking and drinking water, for bathing and for flushing the toilet.

Whether we have running water or not, the Jerrycan parade is always in full swing. Meaning, that the Jerrycans are always filled with water. Because they are used for so many things, and you never know if/when the running water in the house will shut off, it’s important to keep the parade going. And always have a few in your bathroom, just in case!

So, empty Jerrycans are brought outside to be refilled. Full Jerrycans are lined up in nice, neat rows (something an OCD like myself really appreciates) ready for use.

LAUNDRY. More on this later, but the Jerrycan water is emptied into big tubs for washing, the first rinse and the final rinse.

COOKING/DRINKING. Because there are no lids or caps on the Jerrycans, you must strain the water from the Jerrycan into whatever pot you are using. Strainers thus become a very important tool in everyday living. Water from the Jerrycan must boil for it to be okay to drink or cook with. (Water from the tap also must be boiled before drinking.)

BATHING. Here’s a fun trick I’ve learned. If you want hot water for bathing (no hot water in the house), you can put a couple of Jerrycans around the charcoal stove while Aunt Margaret is cooking dinner. And voila! Hot water for bathing. Then, you can just dump the Jerrycan over your head to resemble a shower!

FLUSHING. Normally we have flushing toilets, but when the water is off, you can flush using a Jerrycan. Now, simply trying to pour  or “glub-glub-glub” the water directly from the Jerrycan into the toilet does not provide enough force to actually “flush” it. You must first pour the water into a bucket and then throw the bucket of water down the toiler thereby creating enough force to push the contents through the pipes.

Oh, the things a Jerrycan can do! That must be why they call it a Jerry-CAN instead of a Jerry-CAN’T. …Okay, that was pretty bad, even for me!

One more thing I forgot to mention … before bathing, it’s a good idea to check the Jerrycan for any creepy crawlees, as I learned the other night. YIKES!

T.I.A.

Disclaimer: disturbing images appear in this blog. Read with caution.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term T.I.A., not to fret … I was too until a few months ago, when on my 3^rd mission trip to Africa I heard this phrase. T.I.A., something westerners say to explain the differences between being in Africa and being in the states (or Canada or Australia or Europe, etc). T.I.A. translates to “This is Africa”. Do not mistake this for something derogatory or degrading. It is far from it. It is simply a reminder, for those of us who now find ourselves in a different culture than we are used to, that we should not expect things to be the same or work the same. Africa is different than what we may be used to, but that doesn’t mean it’s worse or for that matter better. It’s just different. Of course, should a Ugandan come to the states, I’m sure they could use the same phrase, except it would mean This is America!

And so many times in the past few weeks, I have to say to myself, TIA. Sometimes, I rephrase to say OIA – Only in Africa! For instance, a tragic accident happened about a week ago in which 2 pastors and one of their assistants was killed in a car crash. One of the pastor’s was from the states and had been working with the local pastor from Uganda for many years. It is a terrible loss to the ministry they were involved in. There was a full write up in both the English and Luganda (the language spoken in this area) newspapers on the work they did and on the accident itself. When I first saw the Luganda newspaper, I was quite shocked at the graphic images of the car crash. See picture. Definitely not something you would see in the states.

Even everyday things like laundy, cooking and shopping take on a different light. Things that I’ve gotten used to or am still getting used to! Check out the fridge. It’s important to make sure bread doesn’t go bad within the week, so it’s put in the fridge. But have you ever seen a fridge mostly filled with bread? T.I.A.

So, I’m learning to smile, nod, say TIA in my head and do things the Ugandan way. And isn’t it fun learning new things?

Topics coming soon on how we do laundry, how to cook amazing Uganda spaghetti and how we get around!

Living with the Rats

So, if you are my friend on Facebook and have seen my status you know that I have a rat in my room. Most unexpected and most unwelcome. Here’s how the story unfolds:  I opened my closet Sunday morning and was deciding which dress to wear to church. My dresses are neatly folded and on top of a stack of other things. After rifling through them, I decide on one and pull it out. In retrospect, I realize it was not coming easily and I had to pull a little harder than normal and in a nanosecond, I realize why. A rat thudded to the floor at my feet. Or maybe it wasn’t a nanosecond – I think I was in shock, as was the rat. We both stood still for a moment and then my shock dissipated turning into hysterical screams as I ran and jumped on my bed and the little vermin scurried under it. I was still screaming as Mama Grace ran into my room. Poor Mama Grace. I think I almost gave her a heart attack. She’s standing there, hand over heart, thanking God that I’m alive. She thought I had electrocuted myself. I explained to her with heart still pounding a mile a minute that I saw a rat. A rat! A rat!! To think, my hands had been rifling through my dresses with the rat inside – SHUDDER!! And she is standing nonchalantly on the floor, where the rat could have easily crawled across her feet. (I know, I know, rats are just as scared of us as we are of them – I’ve heard it and it doesn’t make me feel any better). And that was my Sunday morning.

Lawrence does come in a moment later and looks for it, while I’m sitting on my bed. At which point he tells me: “rats are very smart and can crawl up anything, even your bed.” Yes, I jump off my bed and run directly into the sitting room, sit on the couch and pull my feet up! While we are at church, we put Molly (the cat) in my room, only to return and find her sleeping peacefully on my bed. Some guard cat she’s turned out to be! So, Charles and Chris go through EVERYTHING in my room and come up empty handed. But never fear, they assure me that there is no rat in my room and it’s safe. They looked everywhere after all. Skip ahead to bedtime, when Charles informs me “Auntie, keep your ears open.” I ponder and ask “Why?” “For the rat,” he says. “But I thought you said it wasn’t in there!” “Oh, I just wanted you to go back in your bedroom.” Ahhhh, thanks Charles! Needless to say, I take one of the boys in the room with me, grab my pillow, computer and mosquito net and hightail it out of there! I am sleeping in another room tonight.

Here’s the thing about rats … they are sneaky. They know when to hide. They can steal your food. They poop anywhere. They can eat your clothes and make you go a little zany in the head (especially if you don’t particularly like them!). Most unwelcome. And they can “accidentally” appear out of nowhere at a moments notice. Most unexpected. Isn’t  that how sin manifests in our lives too? Sometimes it’s left hiding in the shadows of our minds and makes an appearance when we least expect it. And when we leave it there without dealing with it … it steals and spoils the life God intended us to have. The good news is that you don’t have to fight it alone. That’s what friends and family are for. They can help you hunt out your rats and kill them!

So, I’m dealing with my rat problem(s). Are you?

By the Numbers

Interestingly enough, my first Sunday here (last week), the sermon topic at church was singleness. Apparently, Pastor Andrew is doing a series on “The Family”, including marrieds, singles, children and family, which Sarah told me after I laughed about it to her. He even had all the single people in the congregation stand up! Ha ha!

This Sunday, at Kampala Baptist Church (pictured here), the sermon topic was children. Pastor Andrew had some interesting statistics that I’d like to share:

• 46% of births in Uganda are unplanned
• 1 in 4 girls have sex by age 18; 50% of those have a baby by the age 20
• 57% of Ugandans are under the age of 24 (lots of kids!!)
• Uganda ranks 3^rd in the world in fertility! 

Single mothers may think they only way out of their situation is to get a man to provide. Too many times, that “solution” results in another baby and the man walking away from his responsibilities. And this could happen again and again and again.

And then you see children having children, which often results in grandparents raising their grandchildren. This can also be the result of HIV killing the parents (mostly due to sexual practices). In any case, the children are the victims and often go on to have children of their own when they are still children. A vicious cycle, indeed.

With so many children, and parents often working or gone altogether, they are left to fend for themselves. And these are the dangers they face: child sacrifice, child molestation/rape, child abuse, child neglect and child trafficking (among others).

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that children in the world have such horrors thrust upon them. But forgetting or staying ignorant doesn’t make it any less true. I often think, what can I do … but I know of one thing that can move mountains. I get on my knees. Join me won’t you?

Let’s remember … children are a gift from God.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

My answer is yes! It’s a special thing indeed to have 18 choruses of “Good Morning, Auntie Leslie”; a round of hugs and special smiles; and having special notes written just for you slipped shyly into your hands. It’s no wonder I feel loved.

Almost every day since my arrival I have received a missive from one of the children. Perhaps a color page with my name on it, or stickers or a story they wrote or a simple letter with a drawing on it. All done for me. A special delivery if you will. I think how undeserved I am of such adoration.

But I’m adored nonetheless. And not just by these 18 beautiful souls. For you see, as I’m reminded over and over in the guileless letters of children, I am a princess. I’ve been given the title by none other than the King of Glory. And He has written a beautiful letter to me as well. It’s pretty long and takes a while to read, but it’s there anytime I need a reminder that I’m loved.

In the world of Facebook and emails, I can’t tell you how blessed it feels to get hand-written notes. Don’t you agree? My grandmother always sent cards or little notes to tell me how the weather has been or what she did that day in the garden. I always loved getting the mail and seeing something other than junk or bills.

Oh and let me not forget to mention the lovely cards and notes of encouragement that I received before coming to Uganda. I saved them to read when I arrived and they are now proudly hung on my wall. A visual reminder of the love of friends and family and the prayers that are being said on my behalf. Thank you friends!!

And so, my challenge to you is to write. Not on your friends Facebook wall or in an email. Write. On paper. Take the time to show your friends and family that they are loved. (You have a pass on writing to me, since I’m a continent away! But, if you feel the urge, I do have an address now. Let me know and I’ll message you).

Movie Night without Electricity?

Though I’m writing this in the wee hours of Sunday morning, my mind is still on Friday. Friday was only my second “official” day at the home and it started much like Thursday. Knock, knock on my bedroom door and in walks Henry. Henry is always ready with a smile and a way to help. This morning, he helps me boil water on the charcoal stove for my oatmeal. Then it’s on to class. I’m helping the P1 students. P1 – Primary 1 and the equivalent of our first grade. We are reviewing math and science and continuing lessons in their religious studies education. P1 gets out at 1pm and the rest of the grades at 4pm. And on Friday, the kids let loose. It’s the start of the weekend after all.

I walk down the hall towards the girls room to excited squeals of Auntie, Auntie! I brought a calendar with me; one that my sister made for me with pictures of my family and they all clamored to see it. They love looking at pictures of any kind and as I told them who the people were, they would go back through the book and say to the girls who just joined in the fun “That’s Auntie with dark hair”, “That’s Auntie’s Birthday”, “That’s Auntie’s mother”. Soon the conversation led to who slept in which bed. With all 12 girls in one room (It’s akin to a slumber party every night), they have triple bunk beds. If I were a little girl again, I would love to sleep in these! And this led to invitations to sit in their bed and chat or play cards. Carol, the wild child is of course on a top bunk, so they laughed as I climber there. Next it was on to Bena’s, whose bunk is in the middle, where she beat me in slap jack; then to Sharon’s, whose bunk is on the bottom, where again I was beaten in slap jack! These girls are good! All the while, I’m receiving invitations from Teddy and Shafiga and Mercy and Vickie … I have many more afternoons of this to look forward to!!

Friday & Saturday nights are movie nights, but I think someone forgot to tell the power company because the electricity was out. These kids take that kind of thing in stride. There is no complaining, no remarks of how “unfair” it is. We just find something else to do. I had brought the Chornicles of Narnia series for the kids and Sarah and I thought it would be fun to read the stories all together a few nights a week. What better night to start. As I sat on the couch, surrounded by 18 curious little faces and started the first book, I smiled inwardly. This is the stuff I didn’t know I was missing out on until now. At each chapter break, the kids asked for more. Even when the lights came back on. (We did end up watching a movie later.)

Earlier that day, I had eaten one of my little Dove dark chocolate bites (which will forever remind me of the Women’s retreat and my drama girls). The message on the inside said “Life is Good”. I couldn’t agree more.

It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life for me.

If you have never had the pleasure of seeing the sunrise from above the clouds, then you are missing out. It is the most beautiful reminder that God’s blessings are new each day. That is a good reminder on this day of all days. And so I document it. Kind of like a memory stone for the digital age.

After a over 24 hours of travel, which included 18.5 hours on two planes and waiting over 11 hours in three airports, a new life has dawned. And with it exciting new challenges, new friends and hopefully a new perspective.

So, off I go with my friends Sarah and Henry. It’s just me this time. I’m so used to traveling with about 15-20 other Mzungus on the mission teams. Believe it or not, it feels entirely normal to be just me. While we have Henry (the best driver in Uganda!), Sarah and I run a few errands. First things first – I need “connected” while here in Uganda. Off to Orange to get a modem and internet access, then Nokia to get a phone, then MTN to get a line and minutes for the phone. And presto-chango, I’m connected! (Oh, and Samosa’s and chapatti for lunch. SO GOOD!)

Off to the home – where 18 kids are eagerly awaiting my arrival, almost as much as I am eagerly awaiting their smiling faces. In grand Ugandan tradition, hugs all around and all my luggage (all 6 HEAVY bags) mysteriously make their way to my room.

The kids have to get back to their schoolwork, and Sarah and I are heading out to take one of the students who attends New Creation Center (Loving One by One’s primary school) to the doctor. Hopefully the medicines prescribed get her feeling better and back in school in no time!

By this time, I am a cooked goose. I think I only got about 5 hours of restless sleep in the past 48 hours, and my bed is calling my name. Do you know the best way to wake up from a nap? Drums right outside your bedroom door J. Yes, it is worship time at NCFH (New Creation Family Home). I realize the electricity has gone out, but that doesn’t matter. All the kids are gathered in the living room and even though I’m still a little fuzzy, I can’t help but smile at the site. After Bible study and prayer time, we sit for a meal of beans & rice (my first of many such meals!) and then it’s back to bed. I’m still not really cognitive!

And now it’s morning time. Chris just knocked on my door to give me my water bottle that I left in the living room last night, so I guess the kids are up. And off I go again. Blessings new each morning.

Cry Out!

I'll make this short ... click on the link below and read the article by the BBC. And then, cry out!!

Where Child Sacrifice is a Business

The 1 Week Countdown

It is officially here ... the 1 week mark. Lots of emotions at this point. To date, the only thing I've been feeling is pure excitement. And now that the big move is 7 days away, more emotions are coming to the fore. Ones like trepidation, anxiety, fear.  And that's okay with me. I'm giving myself a pass, since I'm moving to Africa and all :).

The past few weeks have been ... well, busy seems to be an understatement. I made a wonderful, but impromptu trip back home to Indiana two weekends ago. My lovely Grammie passed away and it was nice to be with my family to celebrate her life, our memories of her and rejoice that she's in Heaven with Jesus. This past weekend was all about the girls and chocolate, at my church's women's retreat. We had a great time even if I did gain a few pounds over the weekend. I was in charge of drama at the retreat, and being the overachiever I apparently am, I decided to write the scripts. Talk about a "what was I thinking?" moment! But, God worked it all out and everyone loved the dramas. (And that was my "yippee" moment!).

And now ... it's all about packing. Packing my room, packing my bags and packing on the pounds. Technically, I've been working on that for a month or so. I keep thinking about all the goodies that I won't have access to in Uganda and I've been eating and eating and eating.

So with 1 week to go, I'm anxious to get there, I'm filled with trepidation at leaving all my friends & family and I'm afraid that I won't be up to the challenge. BUT ... as I learned in the "Dirty Little Secrets" workshop at the retreat this past weekend, it's best to fight lies with truth. And here is the truth: God's timing is perfect, He will supply all my needs and He will finish the good work He has started.

7 days to go!!!

One small step ... or a giant leap. You decide.

About 2 weeks ago, I returned from a short term mission trip in Uganda. Beautiful country, beautiful people, amazing work, awesome God. But more on that later. First, I want to share this story.

Meet Franco. A beautiful, if not sad & apprehensive, little boy that first caught my eye when our bus pulled into the complex where we were holding one of our medical clinics. I distinctly remember seeing him from my open window. He was ambling alongside the fence where we entered. He was alone. There were no smiles from him. Just curious little eyes looking out from his down-trodden head. I  tapped Sherry (pictured here with Franco) and said one little word, "Look".

I had never seen bow legs like this before. There was no running, no jumping, no carefree skipping for Franco. And behind that curious gaze, you could feel a longing for help. As if Jesus himself was saying "when you did it to one of the least of these".

I can't pretend to know or understand what Franco was really feeling - or how he felt his whole life. I don't know what it's like to live with this kind of condition. I don't know if he saw us Mzungus and thought, maybe they can help me. Or maybe he thought there was no helping him. But I do know that every child wants to be seen. Wants to be loved. And from all appearances, it didn't seem Franco thought he was either seen or loved.

Let's fast forward a few weeks. I'd like you meet Franco. A beautiful little boy, quick with a smile and head held high. He's recovering from surgery and starting his rehabilitation. He's taking small steps ... or wait ... was that really a giant leap?

When sad & apprehensive becomes beaming & joyful, I'd say thats quite a leap. It's amazing that when Jesus moves us to see, moves us to act, lives change. I thank God that Sherry & Ken (of Loving One by One) follow God's spontaneous prompts. I hope I do the same.

Franco, we see you. We love you. Leap on :)
 

DAY 28: The Adventures of a Vegan Carnivore

Original Post Date: Mon, Mar 21, 2011

The last day. The last day of anything in life is usually coupled with an emotional response. Whether that be the last day of vacation and the dread of going back to the grind, the last day of school and the incredible excitement you feel or even the last day of a 28 day challenge and the relief/joy/trepidation/sense of pride you feel now that it’s coming to a close.

Relief. Yes, I’m relieved that it is over. I’m relieved that I get to enjoy a glass of milk again, that I can go out to lunch/dinner with friends and not worry about the menu. Relief that I don’t have to be so diligent in reading ingredient labels when I shop. I mean, do you know how much time that adds to a grocery outing? And even a little relief that I no longer have to write a daily blog. Sometimes I would forget and end up doing it after midnight – tonight is no exception!

Joy. I have found some wonderful new foods and habits throughout this experience (see Day 27!), that I wouldn’t have otherwise found. I’m grateful that so many of you have been an encouragement to me and maybe found a little healthy inspiration for yourselves.

Trepidation. It’s no secret that I’m a little nervous about facing the temptations of chocolate without my accountability blog! It’s just too easy to call this a 28 day stint and go back to eating the way I was before. Here’s to hoping that 28 days really does build habits. I cannot and will not ban chocolate from my life, but the plan is to only have it on weekends (or a VERY special occasion). Bye-bye caterer’s chocolate chip cookies. I will miss you.

Sense of pride. I’m proud of myself, too. Knowing that I’m a very competitive person (who didn’t know that?), I knew going in that I would never cheat on the “vegan” eating. And though I couldn’t always make the gluten-free thing or meditation work for me, I’m okay with that. I actually ate healthy for 4 weeks straight!! And at final count tonight, I’ve lost 12 pounds. Can I get a woot-woot?!

So a toast! To all the vegans, the carnivores, the chocoholics, and the granolas … I am one of you!

My gratitude and thanks go out to all of you, my reader friends. Wishing you all healthy eating.

Closing thought … Vanilla Chai tea, I’ll see you on the flip side!!

DAY 27: The Adventures of a Vegan Carnivore

Original Post Date: Sun, Mar 20, 2011

One day left! WOW! Has it really almost been 4 weeks since meat, milk, cheese or eggs (or dessert) has crossed these lips? Can I just say it again? WOW! And with that wow, comes a little bit of shock and surprise. I’m utterly shocked that today, of all days, was one of the hardest of the entire challenge, which makes me a little worried about what’s to come! I mean, there are 5 boxes of Thin Mints that have been patiently awaiting their consumption for 2 weeks! What happens if I crash and burn? The wise answer is to say let it go and start again. In the wise words of Scarlet O’Hara “Tomorrow is another day!”

Rather than focus on the inevitable mis-steps I will make in the future, I’m going to focus on the things that I discovered along this journey that I plan on integrating into my healthier eating lifestyle:

1. Vanilla Chai Tea – ironically, one of the vegan treats I discovered but couldn’t have because the cleanse was caffeine-free! I’m very much looking forward to Tuesday morning when I can have this!
2. Almond Milk – no, I’m not giving up my regular milk; however, the almond milk has less calories and is great with my protein shakes. This is a must-have!
3. Hummus – I still can’t believe this one. I don’t know if I will be able to do all kinds of hummus, but the red roasted pepper has become a favorite snack.
4. Smaller portions, more times a day – this way of eating seems to be working for me. In typical American fashion, I was eating too big of portions. And of course, my new workout buddy – apple w/ nut butter – will be my go-to snackage on trainer days.
5. Quinoa – who doesn’t love a good for you ancient grain?
6. SoDelicious coconut yogurt – something healthy that tastes like dessert? I’ll take it!
7. Boca Burgers – I really like these. They are not a substitute if you really want a burger, but they are still good, and easy – it has to be easy!
8. Brown Basmati – I’ve been making batches of this 1-2 times a week and then eating off of it all week and I’m really liking this. It makes grabbing a quick dinner much faster and a whole lot healthier than fast food!
9. Cooking veggies on Sunday – to go along with the rice, this is a genius plan to keep healthy eating going strong.
10. Bolthouse Farms & Naked Juices – there’s literally a rainbow to choose from with lots of vitamins, nutrients and fruits & veggies! I love the slogan on the green Naked juice “looks weird, tastes great”. They deliver on that!

Had I not done this challenge, the likelihood of me discovering the above was slim to none. Very glad I did.

Closing thought … I’m one more day closer to the vanilla chai tea that’s been sitting in my fridge. Very very happy!

DAY 26: The Adventures of a Vegan Carnivore

Original Post Date: Sat, Mar 19, 2011

T minus 2 days and counting.  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Throw in some wisdom and foolishness and I think today is the making for a great book. Maybe we could call it The Tale of Two Leslie’s. Quite apropos considering I went to Leslie’s baby shower today (my “name twin” is having a baby – not me!). And on the flip side, I am like two Leslie’s. There is vegan-Leslie and carnivore-Leslie J. I digress; back to the point I was making.

Let me start with the worst of times. It has nothing to do with the circumstances or events of the day and everything to do with this dreary, cold and rainy weather. I would much prefer to stay inside on a day like this, watch movies, read books and of course snack on some molten lava cake or warm brownies … er … change that, some hot herbal tea and tomato soup (yes, this is the new, healthy me talking now!). And let’s face it, Californians are not known for their stellar driving record in the rain. Sorry to all you natives, but us transplants speak the truth!

On to the best of times … celebration of new life! My friends are having their first baby and it was shower time! In typical celebratory fashion, there was plenty of food. I’m always a little nervous going into events where I know there is going to be that land of plentiful bounty atop a table in the middle of the room with food I want to eat, but shouldn’t. My saving grace is that, so far, there has always been something I’ve been able to partake in, which makes me feel somehow more included in the festivities than if I had to just swear off the food table entirely. Today was no exception (insert smiley face here!).

And the best of times continues … I got to visit with a lot of important people in my life today. Whether one-on-one, in a crowd, or a small group, these friends are exceptional and I don’t get to spend enough time with them, so it was definitely the best of times today!

And back comes the trepidation and nervousness! After the shower a few of us went out to dinner to catch up. Going to a restaurant also invokes in me these irrational nervous feelings, partly because I’m not sure what I will be able to eat and partly because I feel so high-maintenance when I order. After one glance at this menu, there was nothing to fear. Vegan burger with grilled zucchini, sautéed mushrooms and a spicy pepper chutney with a side of steamed veggies. Oh-so-good! I know I’ve just tantalized your taste buds. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t tell you where you can find this fine faire? The Englander’s Pub in San Leandro. Look it up. Go eat! Seriously some good ole pub food awaits!

I feel a little accomplished to say that while on this vegan challenge I was able to go to events and restaurants like today and just be … normal (well, as normal as I can be, anyway). This is life and vegan or not, there are healthy choices to make each time. I can’t say that prior to this little experiment of mine that I would have even taken heed to the healthy options. I’m definitely a sugaraholic and the desserts seem to have this magical magnetism with me. This challenge has offered me the opportunity to reset my “goodie” button. “Goodies” do not have to be cookies and cakes. My “goodie” button has been reprogrammed to now encompass fruits and veggies and salads. It may still be challenging at times to resist the treats, but ultimately, the choice is mine and I can make the healthy one (and so can you!)

Closing thought … With only 2 days left, get your requests in now! Any questions out there that I haven’t answered yet? Let me know!

DAY 25: The Adventures of a Vegan Carnivore

Original Post Date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011

T minus 3 days and counting. Temptation. For anyone with a vice (and that would be all of us), temptation is just around the corner. It’s what we choose when we come face to face with it that really matters. All through this challenge, I have faced my eating history with a few groans and grimaces as the temptations of what I once consumed would magically appear on my co-workers plates, or the smells of those delectables would waft under my nose, or more poignantly, when I would actually seek out the smell of said delectable, as was the case today. There was chocolate cake at work today. Individually packaged and ready for enjoyment. I looked at my co-workers and said, quite casually, “I just want to smell it!” NOT A GOOD IDEA!

I’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating: this blog has kept me more accountable than you will ever know. The temptations that I have faced were relatively easy to turn down, knowing that I would be honest with all of you had I cheated. Come Tuesday, that accountability is gone. The challenge is over. And if that small, tiny, little whiff of chocolate cake was any indication, then temptation may just come and claim me! Yikes! It’s like living on the Biggest Loser ranch and then facing the real world. So, I go back a few blog posts and remind myself, “no one ever died from saying no to the cookie.”

Even with just 3 days left, I’m still experimenting with my vegan choices.  Up today was key lime soy yogurt, quinoa stir-fry and morning star’s version of a vegan burger. I think we all know how I feel about key lime – yum! Quinoa stir-fry was thumbs up; another winner from my frozen Gobble Green meals. And the vegan burger … not bad. Especially since I added rice milk pepperjack cheese and sautéed mushrooms. I still can’t believe that there are all these vegan cheeses out there. Granted, I have not really eaten the cheese by itself, so I can’t tell you if they taste exactly like regular cheese, but melted on a vegan burger or in some pasta – tastes the same to me!

Closing thought … I wonder what tempting treats I will face at my friends baby shower tomorrow. At least I still have the blog-accountability!

DAY 24: The Adventures of a Vegan Carnivore

Original Post Date: Thurs, Mar 17, 2011

T minus 4 days and counting. So many people have asked what my first meal will be after I’m done or what will I eat moving forward or will I keep eating this way.  The answer to the last question is a resounding no! I like my meat, milk and eggs way too much. As to what I will be eating moving forward, it’s all about resetting my “health” button. A huge reason I wanted to do this in the first place was to re-introduce myself to veggies. And now that we’ve re-connected, I want to make sure we don’t get separated. Whether I have a piece of fish or chicken with those veggies or some brown rice and beans I don’t think really matters.

Now for the big question … what’s your first meal going to be after the cleanse is over. I hate to disappoint, but I fear that it may be coming for many of you. I’m not going to rock the boat too much. No steak and milkshake! The vegan cleanse is finished end of day on Monday. I’m not about to go crazy, throw my system out of whack and be too sick to go to work, although the whole caffeine-free thing is being thrown out the window asap! I will be having my vanilla chai tea promptly on Tuesday morning! As for the rest, you’ll just have to wait over the next few days. I’ll give you a little hint … I bought some yummy white fish at Trader Joe’s tonight!

Tonight I gave brown rice pasta another chance to impress and it was abysmal. It’s like the bad second date you knew you shouldn’t have accepted in the first place. If you want good gluten-free pasta, chose the Quinoa and move along.

Closing thought … at least I didn’t waste all the mushrooms I bought tonight in that brown rice pasta.

DAY 23: The Adventures of a Vegan Carnivore

Original Post Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2011

T minus 5 days and counting. Today’s reflection is on the quintessential gathering around a table. The pilgrims and Indians know all about that. Most Americans mark a celebration with it. There’s the family dinner, the extended Sunday family dinner, Easter/Christmas/Thanksgiving dinners, 4^th of July picnics, backyard BBQs, birthdays, girl’s night out … the list goes on and on. Today was no exception. My department when to lunch to celebrate one of my colleagues’ (yet-to-be-born) new baby girl. The appetizers were mouth-watering, the entrees looked delicious and don’t get me started on the desserts. Did I mention this was Italian at it’s best? I order the spinach salad sans bacon and the linguine with marinara sauce and keep myself ignorant to the ingredients. Here’s hoping that the pasta was egg free! I won’t even bother hoping for gluten-free. And though my meal was delicious, all I wanted was to sink my teeth into some of that bread (made with milk and eggs – believe me, I asked!), appetizers and desserts that everyone around me was enjoying. This blog keeps me accountable yet again! I know I’ve come a long way, just maybe not far enough to turn down the good ole fashioned gathering around a table.

Something new to report: If you like Soy Sauce, you should get yourself some Organic Tamari. I finally tried it with my rice & veggie leftovers. Two thumbs up!

Tonight I stepped into Safeway for the first time since I began my vegan challenge. I made it easy on myself – I wasn’t there to shop for me! My company has an office in Japan and we are sending a giant care package of items that our employees there have requested. The stores in Japan are sold out and distribution centers are not restocking them due to the travel restrictions. We’re putting all our hope in FedEx. Goooooo FedEx!! Back to Safeway … I bought all sorts of goodies that I would like to eat. It was cathartic in a weird way.

Closing thought … must learn the art of gathering around a table the healthy way (it’s so hard without brownies or cheesecake or peach goo. Or Ice cream! Definitely Ice Cream!).