Blessings

Blessings

A young woman from the states came to Africa on Christmas Eve and brought for Tom and I a suitcase with 30# of wonderful delicious thoughtful American foods, kitchen gadgets, candy, work shoes, spices, Christmas cookies and love. We picked it up last evening and put it in our back packs real fast from her suitcase. (so we wouldn't have to share) Funny how selfish I am with stuff that you don't believe you will see more of. I think it is called hoarding...We brought it home on our bikes and put it all on the table and looked at it real long and hard. Then I started tasting and feeling what packaging is like and imagining what I am going to do with all this new stuff. Tom took a picture of our cupboard with everything put away.

We felt proud and like “life is good” with all this stuff... We called our friends and family and talked about our stuff and our gratefulness. Today we had the young girl and her research partner over for lunch and she brought another blessing. She plays violin and showed me some things I need to know to be able to play better. (So the rooster quiets crowing when I practice and the cats quite coming to see who is in heat). Isn't that just like God blessings blessings blessing even when I continue with a greedy selfish heart. I feel as though he is trying to show me by example how to be generous and remind me of all the richness there is to share. For some reason I keep wanting to hoard. Even from Tom... I justify “He has his coffee's” I can eat his jerky or chocolates or whatever is parceled as “his because I don't have specials.. Get where this is going? Right back to selfishness. Being in Africa it show me so much more how afraid I am that the blessings will stop. Kinda like when the water quite and we had to haul and now the power is out and we have to conserve.

I don't see the selfishness in the Ugandans they share everything and anything they have. (Which isn't much) I guess when malaria, hepatitis and tuberculosis are everyday diseases you really don't count on tomorrow as much as I do, at this point in life. I am even older then the average Ugandan. They die at 52. So where is this going? I don't know, maybe confessing it makes it a bigger reality to keep on eye out for, but I am still not ready to share those peanut M&M's...

Thank you all for the blessings you give me everyday! For the time you take to correspond, the phone calls you sit through with me, the packages you put together and sharing your lives. I miss you all and didn't really think I would to this extent.

From Christmas eve I enclosed a picture of the hostess (Sherry) of the Christmas eve candle light and star service and ice cream social with 28 flavors of home made ice cream, and Betty my getting to be very good friend from Phoenix who I find great comfort in talking with.

 Christmas day pictures are of me in the kitchen like always just a different kitchen. George, a PCV living with the brothers at the Cathedral boarding school wanted to do a pork loin on a charcoal fire and Betty and I and Tom made the rest of the meal. Included are pictures of us cooking with Rose the young girl who knew how to cook on charcoal as that is all there is at the kitchen of the school. The pork roast dripped onto the charcoal and caught fire and the outside was really char coaled but we licked it up anyway all 14 us.

Boxing Day is the 26 and a holiday here. In the UK and Canada people box up stuff to bless others with and also do there Christmas returns by boxing them up to give away.  We had Betty over for potato soup and rested and today was a fun run at the Youth With A Mission complex down the road. I am not running but the kids and I walked for 5 kilometers and that was a good way to say hello to morning. Right now, it is still about 80 degrees in the house. Someone went back to the states today for furlough and left us their solar shower. A large black bag you put on the sidewalk and let warm up during the day, hook up to something high and has a plastic nozzle head you can open and have a warm shower with. It was lovely. It is 7 pm and the mosquitoes are busy chewing on me. I hate crawling into bed but it is the only place with a mosquito net. We have screens but they still manage to come in the doors where there are no screens. The power is not on, the computer battery is almost gone, but we all well fed, well loved and enjoying the stars as they shine so bright here with no artificial light. It is also quite. With the power out the Ugandans can't play there music. Merry Christmas!

A suggestion for your church or book group. WHEN HELPING HURTS by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert a book about how the western world sees help and how come it fails in the 3^rd world or the majority world as it is called in the book. It also talks about the people that come to the church door for help and what the best way to HELP is. Excellent read and short but so thought provoking and insightful. Makes me and some of my missionary friends ponder how to do blessings here. More to come on the subject.

             Love from Africa, Marcy and Tom

One last picture.  The people across the soccer pitch playground are moving tomorrow so they are cleaning out.  Bugs are a constant struggle here.  They must have found a few or many cockroaches in a couple boxes they had put away as the man of the house come s out and throws these on the steps and the chickens immediately come to eat.  Thought you would enjoy the picture

.   Oh Yea here is a picture of Tom too!

Some Photos

 The mechanics road enlarge so you can see all there tools all 20 of them mostly hammers.  My dad would have loved working here.

 Bread stores all in a row, all buy from the same place and all charge the same.  All bags of bread come with holes in to let the air out.

 Fruit vendors who are right on Market road with all the exhaust adding to the flavor of the fruit but the pineapples are organic.

 3 of the 300 ladies selling tomatoes

Tom with the neighborhood cuties.  The one in the middle had a huge crush on him  She moved to Kampala now.  

The power went out so I have to close and save battery to call kids on Christmas 
My love to all of you and Merry Christmas and Thank you to all of you who are helping us keep Christmas here by sending cards, packages, prayers, love, emails.  We miss you all so much.   Marcy and Tom

WATER

Water December 18, 2011

Remember all the complaining I did about food when I got here? No variety, no raw freshness, same old manna everyday and then I got to the promised land and could cook for myself. But, over a kerosene can because there wasn't any bottle gas. Then I got the gas and a suitcase came with pots with handles and I was living on easy street. But, I didn't now it, because I was onto the next annoyance which was laundry, and going to the market everyday after working, and then another volunteer came to stay until he got better from having rapid transit (diarrhea) but he stayed a week and he was 23 and Asian and didn't know to pick up after himself, or take off his shoes after I scrubbed, how to hit a toilet, used our stuff like it was his with out the care, and just stayed too long with us and drove me crazy. Well, he left and I was pretty happy again. Then Wednesday when we got up we had no water... We had running water and a toilet that flushed because we have a gravity tank that is filled every night. The story goes that the power being out prevents the pumps from filling the tank, or they are changing pipes for this area of the town, or dry season has started and the place they pump from is already dry or no one knows and no one has water unless they have a rainwater catchment tank which to me makes a lot of sense to have. Very few do because the Nile is so close and water is not a problem most of the year.

I had visions of getting solar panels so I could keep the computer charged as I felt this was my life line but having to lug water is making me think that a rainwater catchment is a better investment. It is late for that now as we are only expected to get rain 1 more before it is dry until April but I will be thinking on this real hard as it gets dryer and dryer. Jerry cans weigh 40# with 20 liters of water in and Tom nor I want to lug 2 liters/day for our use so he paid some boys to lug and the boys ran off happy as heck to have a purpose and job with instant $ for work they are use too.(Mostly there sisters are use to) They each came back with the 20 liters got the $ and spent it immediately. Yesterday they are back wanting to do it again but the water was a little murky, which it can be, if the well has sand in it. Tom asked where they were getting it and we found out it was out of the stream down the hill from our complex. Most area have boreholes but the one for here has been condemned for contamination a long while back so what would the stream have in it? Peace Corp gave us recipes on how to purify water to make it drinkable and it is to boil, or add bleach and filter but brown water I just can't get past my eyes. Washing dishes rinsing dishes, washing my face, taking a bucket bath. Yes ,it is nice to know I won't get sick but will anything be clean? And why the heck did those boys go to the stream and not the well at the hospital? So, we washed clothes with the murky water and tried to just use the top water and let the sand and sediment settle out and dump that and found a resource of rainwater at the hospital to get clean water from. We are hopeful that the water is again flowing through the pipes soon. That they are only changing pipes.

That is what is happening and like everything here it just takes longer because there is no phone book to look up the Public Utilities and complain. With no complaints you can do it in your own time. AND THEY DO! So we are learning one more thing about being in Africa. Just how much work water is and how vital it is to the day to day activities. Also, what water can be. Maybe soon I will be appreciative of the murky brown because that is all there is. I hope not, but you never know what new lesson God has in mind. We now have 3 jerry cans of water and 1 10 liter filtering for drinking water. One of the handymen took pity on us and brought us 2 clean rain (I think) on a boda. We are praying to not get sick from yesterdays water that we never asked the source of until late. The boys get water there for there family why wouldn't they get it for us?

Most of the people in the compound here have left to go to their villages for the holidays. We are headed to the monastery for pot luck. I think our Asian friend is coming back so I am going to give him a class on cleaning my way when he comes. I am not the maid or his momma. I have to go wring out the sheets for the line. I hope to write again soon. Merry Christmas if I don't. Love you all, Marc

We had to go the market again so I took some pictures of the disparity between the men and women.

Seeing Christmas Different

Christmas

Cherry, challenged me to experience God in a new way this year because I am in a new culture. When she wrote that I balked and thought God is God. But, here in Africa, God is different. With no power most of the time and no radio to listen to evangelists, no movies, DVDs, or tapes but just fresh hot air and time in sorta silence. ( Remember we have chickens, roosters, and goats that run around the place, and more children then Tom grew up with in his neighborhood, who play on the grass (soccer pitch) in between our house and the next and people walking past saying hi all day) Seems you can hear God rejoicing a little more and see what makes Him weep a little clearer.

The nursing school is next door as you can see from the last pictures with only a barbed wire chicken fence between. Last weekend, on Saturday the Catholic community of nurse students did the reading, drama, and music of Christmas. I was sitting outside reading “The Tipping Point” and the music just kept coming and coming and coming. Did I tell you Africans can carry a perfect tune, even the Catholics. So I ventured over to be closer and had a wonderful surprise. If you have never read “The Best Christmas P agent Ever” you need to. It is funny and really true. It is a “experiencing God in a new way” through someone else's eyes. Like reading Phillip Yancey. I got to the program when they were doing the annunciation by Gabriel to Mary. The angel had on a mosquito net to make her angelic. When she comes to Joseph and tells him with the beautiful expressions of the Ugandans it was so tender. Pregnant? OH! His questions and surprise made the scripture real. Then he goes to tell Mary he will marry her and they both pray to God for strength and wisdom. They make the sign of the cross every time they pray. To see 2 young kids with there heads bowed praying about what was going to happen in there life made me ashamed. When had Tom and I last prayed for wisdom together calling on the names of God the FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT?

The music continues, the readings go on and the drama next is the angel coming in the mosquito net to the Shepard’s and they come see Mary and Joseph and bring the naughty sheep who come into the small house and baa baa baa and disturb the furniture and baby and everyone. In the Ugandan way greetings are the most important part of any conversation. If you do not greet properly you have insulted in the highest way. The greetings go on while the sheep bleet and wander, but, Joseph and Mary are welcoming and happy for the visitors. They enacted it so well. I paused to wonder, when people come to see me or call, why I am not as gracious. I feel sometimes annoyed when I am not, I am just being selfish. What is more important then relationships???

The next drama is 3 Wise “Mans” as they say here. Because this culture has been at war for so long and with so many tribes and foreign people the drama was different. Rather then the wise “mans” going to Herod, Herod has them hauled in by the military, who are none to gentle thinking this is a spy party of foreigners. Which, in this area, we are cautioned to be on the look out for, always. So, the 3 “mans” have to talk to Herod and the military stand around and enforce answers. With fear the “mans” tell why they are here and what they want and Herod confers with the military and the rest of his crooneys and send them on the way with suspicion. The “mans” slink off and find the baby. Josephs greets them with “You are welcome” as they come in with an entourage. They take over his small house and pass the baby around and all the presents get passed around like a wedding shower. Then they leave and have a fight about which way to go back to the East. It was perfect. Kinda like a summer vacation where everyone wants to something different and then your all mad. So the fresh look at God and His story seemed a little more real with people who didn't speak exactly like I do, who didn't think exactly like I do, and who don't look like I do. But, have seen much more of the Bible in there own lives then I do. Military occupation, war, famine due to a really long dry season, disease's killing children, having to walk everywhere, and doing laundry in a bucket. Who better to act out the story. Oh yea, and when songs are sung and you wonder if “heaven is suppose to be like that won't it be boring” when you are in the states, but then you hear them here. You aren't bored, your heart even sings the songs with. Even my voice blends and sounds better... Africa, I suggest it to everyone for Christmas.

December in Uganda

This is a bucket bath

Our address is: MacAulay  PO Box 933, Arua, Uganda

Gulu and Permagardening End of November

No black Friday shopping but on Sunday we were invited to a PC workshop in Gulu on permagardening. We took a bus to Karuma Falls and waited for a bus that goes to Gulu. 1 ½ hours later we find out that there is no bus to Gulu on Sunday. So we had to hassle with the mattatoo divers (Toyota van taxi's they pack 14 people into) The taxi owners and most Ugandans think if you are white you are rich and will pay whatever they ask. They tend to ask outrageous amounts. A typical ride to Gulu is 12000UGS they asked 80000. So you haggle and hassle and it is so annoying. And the sun is hot but in the time you sit on the side of the road in this small town/village you see a lot and I have enclosed pictures of what we saw from the bus and while sitting. When we did secure a mattatoo for reasonable, they put in a few extra people. So we had 19 in a toyota van meant to hold 14 for a 1 ½ hour ride. No one complains, but me, I refuse to be “squished” as they call it and it is squished for sure so our seat row had only 3 in it not 4 but we had a navy locker under our feet instead. 

After the hot ride and the hours in the hot sun waiting for the hot ride we got to Gulu and they had hot water and showers. Haven't had that since swearing in. It was divine. Next day up and out to the Vocational school where they are gardening to grow their own for the students and maybe sell the extra. See more pics. You know the lovely machines we have back on the farm. Well here, we had tool and strong backs and lots of space. We were to bring our counterparts with so we learn together and take the knowledge back to our organizations and implement in into the villages for use. Ultimate goal was educating and working together for the greater feeding of the malnourished through dissemination of the knowledge. I was there with Tom and his counterpart. We started with grass on the land the kind I planted to grow at the farm. You clear the grass with the ebo and then you dig down a foot and turn the earth in a 10 meter by 3 meter area. 9 teams doing this with 2 foot walkways between. Next you start at one end and now dig down 3 feet to the red clay and bring that soil up and mix with the top soil you dug the first time and make sure you ebo does not attack your leg... Some of the counterparts grew up in the village and could “dig” as gardening is called here, all day and put us whites to shame. So we took turns digging and after each digging we are tested to make sure there is no goofing off... Next you rake and smooth out the clumps and level and pack down the walk ways. Then you plant seeds 2 to a hole. The holes are thumb to index finger spread apart in rows down the turned soil with 5 one row 4 the next for spacing and then cover. Only problems was I choose carrots so that spacing doesn't work but for demo purposes that is what we had to do. Next you go get old grass chop it up with a panga (macahette) and lightly cover the seed bed and water lightly. Now you go onto digging a compost pit and learning how to compost, next was a keyhole or basket garden for next to you house and at the end it is how to irrigate. All very labor intense with tests, evals, group teaching activities, and finally an action plan. 

Day one it rained in the afternoon, so, too wet to dig. They let us shop in Gulu for 2 hours and next day we were to make it up by coming earlier and staying later. Which we did... We should have worked in the rain... Peace Corp worked us hard and taught us well through the hands on blister building work. When we got to the hotel no power or hot water... Food was good, bed was better, and next day out by 7:30 and into the garden before it gets really hot. We dug and dug and dug. Not me because you have to straddle the dirt pile so you don't pack it down and keep digging as you jump ahead. I couldn't straddle. My bruises wouldn't allow, so I had a small shovel and broke up clods of dirt and did the measuring for the carrots. Pretty soon the Ugandans are all digging like crazy people and the whites are taking turns but supervising more and it is getting hotter. We met new volunteers, more Ugandans from our area, had great conversation and learned as we went. We all slept well and still didn't have power, hot water or continuous water by night 3. Day 4 when we were getting ready to leave the power was on and Tom found a espresso maker at the hotel and cooked up some espresso for all the PCV men. You would have thought he had hosted Thanksgiving. You gotta love it.

Peace Corp gave us a ride back to Karuma and then the wait and hassle of the mattatoo. 2 hours later we got in a taxi only to have him load us all in, and go get lunch while we waited for petro. Karuma has no station. ½ hour later they strap the rest of the jerry can with fuel to the back window of the taxi and off we go. You always want to look at the drivers eyes and see if he has been chewing KAT it is a stimulant that is like speed and that is what people on it do. Speed, for about a month and then they are addicted and don't do anything because it has effected there mental ability and they are a mess. The Sundanese and Somalis have used it in their culture without many ill effects but it is new to Ugandans and the Ugandans deteriorate from it's use. This guy was a good driver. Since there really aren't any traffic laws here or many lines on the road or in some places tarmac left on the road it is the survival of the biggest. We came upon a crash of 2 lorrys and a new pickup just over a bridge. All 3 cabs were pretty smashed and the loads were waiting for another truck to come pick up. Fortunately for us, the bodies were not still there. Reminders everywhere of who holds your life in His hands...

When Tom and I were walking into the compound Tom said “You know it feels good to be back here, like we are coming home”. We both slept all night and today it is the count down to Christmas, World AIDS day (with parades and singing and speeches) and wash day. 

After our month plus here we are content. At least today. Tomorrow we are having guest for supper, I got some more dishes... So the adventure is continuing. I enclosed pictures of the sights from the bus as we went to Karuma so you can see some of N Africa but the battery was dead when we came on the elephants, sorry, they hang out at the Nile... I guess you will have to come see for yourself. One of the best Safari's is 3 hours from here and takes 2 days and you will see all things but the gorilla's.

That trip will cost you 500US and the hike is 3 hours and you still may not see the things. Plus it is a 14-22 hour bus ride. Go to the zoo if you need too see them Katie. It is only 300US in Rwanda... Gotta go eat and then decide what the afternoon will hold. Love you all, the sun is shining and the dry season hasn't started yet so temps are still bearable. Mango's are just ripening and are wonderful...Wish you were here to share them with. Marc

Permagardening

what happens when a bus comes to town

One of the River Niles

How things are secured for travel.

landscape from bus

Thanksgiving Arua, Uganda 2011

Our first holiday in Africa given by Peace Corp. We spent it doing laundry, marketing, and peeling potatoes and getting squash ready for the feast. It was pot luck at Radio Pacis which is a Catholic organization that does Catholic broadcasting. Different from DIGUNA, (Lutheran) but still really great equipment and there is a huge solar net for the power. The woman in charge, Sherry has been here 20 years and has helped establish the campus (Christus Center) for workshops and retreats and visiting people that want to have a conference there. Rooms complete with shower, hot water, and mosquito nets. Kinda high end hostel and beautiful gardens that all the rooms look out on and the porch’s have comfy chairs. The radio station is run by the Camboni order of priests and brothers from Italy so they are very generous to the radio station and Sherry, as I have said before, has all the American amenities. She hosted and her house is huge. There were 34 of us with a family of 5 dropping out at the end due to illness. Enclosed is a picture of the spread. One of the women here Pam is from Tennessee and she made sweet potato pie with caramel and pecans on top. We had dishes with cheese which is a difficult commodity to come by, water chestnuts in the broccoli casserole and the 1 Italian Father brought wine made from the grapes they grow at the retreat, radio, cathedral, center. We borrowed the stove and oven from the German girls home that come to work at the station so we didn't have to lug food up the hill on our ½ hr walk to the station. (Wouldn't want you to think I didn't have to suffer a little...) So, the feast was wonderful! The people were all new and there for different reasons so conversation was good. We weren't allowed to do dishes and that for me was always part of the Thanksgiving whether at moms growing up or at St. Mary's feeding the 700. Guess some traditions are meant to be changed at least for a year. Pam and Stan have been here since early 2000's with Bible translators Wycliffe (sp) they worked in the Sudan corner of Uganda before coming to the Lugbara area. They have 3 kids who are great, the 3 women peace corp volunteers and Tom were there. Another Camboni priest that was from IL that use to drive up to Mankato and preach about missions, and has worked here with refugees and displaced people in the area. Sherry from Chicago and hostess to us, and a couple from Tenn that works with African Inland Mission and have been in country only 5 weeks. It was a wonderful afternoon and evening and I sent 3 pics of the chow line, us and friends. We stocked up on chow that night and asked God for dispensation for our gluttony... Sherry makes the Italian gelato for the top of the apple crisp so we missed the pumpkin pie but no one complained.

Thanksgiving feast

Dining room with guests

Happy Thanksgiving!

Post-Crash Update

Last I left you, I had had the crash. After 3 days of laying around I started wandering around and have gotten stronger since. The thing about living in a compound (see picture 1-4) with all the Dr nurses and instructors at the hospital, and a gate keeper that had new news about the mundu (WHITE), is people stopping by to see how you are and when seeing you outside the house inquire and all wish you, “ to get better fast” and tell you how good God was to you that you are okay now, and they will “pray” and I have no doubts they did pray. So aside from a blue backside, pedal marks on my calves to match my butt, sore rib and a heel that I still can't put all my weight on, I am good. I have even got the bike fixed and rode it out to Toms work with him. I have more fear when riding now though. I don't think I will ride it through town anymore. At least for a while. I included more pictures of the school and compound where our house is too so you have a visual.

road above our home that leads to the poor part

our house is the 2nd one down the road

Nursing school compound and home

November 20 - Perspective

Happy Birthday Colleen!

Sunday's a day for worship and rest. We go to the 7:30 worship at the Church of Uganda in English. Today, when the pastor was preaching, someone set off some tear gas in the church and everyone was coughing and sneezing until we prayed against it and the fans went on. The air cleared and then we went on. This afternoon we were going for a bike ride with Kristoff and Heidi and have them for lunch. I went to town to check on a piece of furniture we are having made for our shoes and get some more plates so everyone could have one. I checked on the furniture which wasn't done and it started to rain. I had on my rain gear so I started riding home. The streets all clear when it rains so no problem with traffic. I have the whole road to myself, but I heard a boda behind me going fast. I turned to look and tried to move out of his way and I think I moved right into his path. Next thing I know I am flying and hear my head hit the road. The driver hit my back tire and sent me over the top, I think. My R heel, sacrum, a R rib, and the top of my head on the R side were the injuries. I just wanted to lay on the ground and rest a minute when the helpful Ugandans swarm me. One of the first things I see is a dead chicken hanging in my face. The first responder must have been getting lunch when he saw the crash and came to help. They started undressing me and moving my legs which hurt. I managed to get my phone out that Tom is always telling me to always have. Today I listened. I called him to come get me and by now I knew I could walk and felt okay. The helpers got me to a bench out of the rain, got my bike which was a in bad shape, and we waited for Tom. But I couldn't sit because it hurt. So, I am standing and started to be dizzy. Now I am thinking worse case scenario I have a bleed in my head and will have to go to Kampala. When you come visit and go through Kampala you will know why I hate the thought. I sat down, the dizziness went away and Tom came. The Ugandan men stayed with me the whole time. The boda driver they had caught... Meaning I think, that if I said, they would have beat him for causing the accident. They asked if I wanted a police report filled out? I just wanted to know if the driver and boda were okay which they were and he drove off. When Tom came we were going to walk home but I got fainty so we hired a pickup to haul me and the bikes home. I am laying in bed growing a lump on my head and wondering about life in Africa. No matter where I die I am hoping it is quick for me. I know where I am headed. And I will wait for you there. But, how a simple bike ride in the rain can help perspective. I will now take my phone all the time with “A husband” as the first number. It is common for the Muslims to have 4 wives and lots of kids. I am not planning on adding B husband. I will wear the stupid bike helmet. And thank God everyday for the life of promise he has given me. Because if I die I am the lucky one. Do not think I have regrets. Having faith in eternal life because of the forgiveness of my sins on the cross has helped me live regret free. If any one who reads this feels I have offended and not asked forgiveness write me so I can take care of that with you. As you all know I don't always think about what I say and do all the time.

I am laying in bed resting and thinking of ways Tom can wait on me, remembering the “1000 Gifts” book Sheri gave me and thinking of just a few of those gifts I have been given today. I hope I feel the same way tomorrow. Love you all and miss you and will spend my down time praying for each of you to know “eternal life” this Sunday. Enjoy your day Love Marc

November 18 - VOS

Wow! What a crazy 4 days it has been. Tuesday there were about 2000 people outside the eye clinic at 8 when I went to work. I walked over to see what was up and I say Alliana shirts. Being bashful and shy I introduced myself and asked if they needed help and there I have been from 7am to 5pm helping with the free clinic. First day they saw 560 plus next day 620 yesterday over 700. Enclosed you will see the pictures of them lined up before the sun was hot. As the day goes they stay in line if there is a line if there is pushing and shoving the line falls apart and it is a mob. God woke me up Tuesday night and had me on my knees about all the people and how to do crowd control and help do some triage. Like pick out the worst without the rest knowing you are doing it or you are mobbed with everyone having a special need. Not mobbed by 20 but by 100's. I can now imagine how Jesus felt when it says the crowd pressed in on him. It's awful and they all want something from you that you just cannot do anything about.

Wednesday Tom helped and we handed out numbers. Could a Ugandan do this? Yes, but the other Ugandans think they are selling the # and only giving to their relatives first and then they complain they are all suffering because of the injustice. Then we had them line up according to number. That was an orderly day. 

Next day, teachers and students and health care workers were told they would be seen first. Meanwhile, others had slept in line to get numbers, so what to do with 100 students and 30 teachers and 100 health workers who are off from work to get checked and then go back to work. Now when you only have 2 or 3 workers to a ward of 70 what do you do? Now we made special exception. BAD BAD idea for a white person to ever do. Ugandans expect the whites to be fair and honest and we are known for that and being smarter then we really are. So by the 3^rd hour into it we went back to the number system. But the people that had numbers then mobbed the line, so we had to go back to the ordered number system and we had peace restored. Now, it is 4pm and I told the students and health workers to come back then and they would be seen at the end. Bad idea as we were still seeing the people we had seen that had the numbers. More turn aways. 

Day 2 I couldn't figure out why the Ugandans don't just come to their own wonderful Dr. at the clinic here? I know them they have given lectures for me and I have watched them work with patients and they are wonderful. The VOS team sent the difficult cases to them for consultation and opinions so it didn't add up. The nurse in charge (who had a peace corp volunteer herself before Emin kicked them out) said the people want the glasses as their scripts for glasses they have to go get and pay for themselves. That was why everyone who heard the broadcast told all the relatives and they all come. It was great to meet with people who spoke your language had the same idea and thought process you had and were workers. There was no room for slackers. 

It was fun for Tom and I. We got to talk to and with people just like us and it made me realize the prejudices I still carry. Enclosed see the pictures. Everyday new people came out of the crowd and interrupted, made people line up in order, and then wanted to be seen next so we obliged and they stuck around and helped the rest of the day. When they found out there was lunch they came back and helped again. The Americans didn't understand that having lunch at noon means they start making lunch at noon, so by 2 the chaffing dishes and sterno show up with food and the Ugandans are 2^nd in line. I have told you before the Ugandans eat like they may never get another meal. The team lead Dr. John would go find his staff who were still finishing up and round them into the room to get some food before it was all gone. 

So, what did I take away from all this mass clinic experience? How did Jesus feel when the crowds followed Him and pressed in on Him and asked for help from there suffering and He kept at it. I would have sent the rain so they would all go away. My compassion started high and dwindled so quickly. Pretty soon I couldn't see the old who were helped or the young with the cataracts or the smiles on the people who got the glasses and could see. I could only see the fat men with gold watches and car keys and I just knew they beat their wives, those were the ones I saw going through. 

The picture with Tom is when he was helping a local find her way to the glasses after her exam and they only had 1 pair of huge yellow ones. The ladies put them on her and her face lit up and she opened her toothless mouth wide and licked her lips and said it tasted so good to see. A God moment! The one of me with the old guy isn't very good but he had the coke bottle glasses and and he said he couldn't see with them anymore and could I get him in. I am a sucker for the old people. If they can live to 70 they have seen more war, famine, death and work then I ever will and I want them seen the most. I think he also had AIDS by how thin he was, but he got his new specs for sight a few more years. 

Thursday night I went home to prepare for the lecture the next day and VOS staff went out to eat and one of the volunteers broke her arm getting out of the truck. She misstepped and fell. She had come from England and had a dislocated upper arm bone (humerus). The bone was broken across and a bit twisted from what I saw of the X Ray. 

Friday the team decided to not come as personal needed to make arrangements for her to get to England. One of he Americans was sick and it sounded like malaria to me so I went up and did the rapid test which was negative and tried to reassure him that Africa was a beautiful place. I think everyone was so spent from giving and giving and giving that they needed the break and time to take in some beauty and enjoyment. So, with some help from ibuprofen the fever was better and they headed to Murchison Falls to see the beauty of Uganda and be 3 hours closer to the airport. I hope to hear from them when they get back. They brought Conor and Jake's Christmas present with. The rest of you have to wait until I find a ride for a suitcase to Kate for your gifts. But I send my prayers and love everyday so know that you are missed and loved and thought of often. Like what ails these people anyway that they act like that? (Mom) Where do I find _______? (Carol) Do you really think God cares about Africa? (Brian) Yes, He sent this wonderful helpful bunch of people for my birthday to do what they could with what they had in the time they were given! And isn't that just like God? Look what He has done for us? Until the next post which will be about the lecture Love from Uganda where the power is still out...

November 14 - Birthday

A few pictures from my birthday. Thank you everyone for all your wishes, love and prayers sent. I was so blessed with my new friends and husband.

Butter cream cake (from scratch) with fresh flowers and paper bead necklace and she has matching dishes enough for 14 ( we have 2 non matching dishes) but now have 4 matching cups a birthday gift . Heidi also made a chocolate vanilla cheese cake too.  Making the cream cheese from scratch.  They have solar power but only have the fridge and freezer hooked up to it they eat by candles.

 I love it when people have food priorities.

The gift of music. Kristoff is a Tuba player and played happy birthday and

then a German song of blessing.  I cried.

The guests,  Geesja in front, her husband Aart is next to Tom, they are from the Netherlands and work an Irish Christian org.  Aart teaches drop outs at a vocational school and Geesja is a midwife by profession but volunteers at a sewing workshop for HIV/Aids women,  Betty is next to Geesja, she is an accountant from the city of Phoenix, and works for a literacy group here.  She is a peace corp volunteer with our group, next is Dave the agronomist from UK who has been in Africa for 30 years, his bride is teaching in Sudan and couldn't be with us they wok for Church Mission Society, then the hostess and host. Heidi the baker and Kristoff the handyman they assist with running DIGUNA the radio stations across the equator. 

Geesja's children and our new grands. Annefleur 9 Lisa 1 Lucas 5 and Ruben 7
 and Daniel, their friend who heard about the cake.

Life in Africa is good and I hope you will come visit.  
The people here are wonderful and I am the recipient.

November 11

Thank you all the Veterans who have served and currently serving and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA MACAULAY!

Peace Corp wants all volunteers to take 3 months to get to know the community and there job before plunging in to “work” so that you will understand what the real work is that is the people want and need help with and not what you think needs to be done. There is a lot of wisdom in that and I have been at it 3 weeks but it seems the school wants me to start sooner. So, I am teaching computer, supervising students on the nutrition, pediatrics and ENT Eyes wards. I have arraigned guest lectures and special teaching times. I won't go back to the maternity ward as I haven't liked what I saw and don't know how to make it different yet. The area we live in is one of the most malnourished in the country. I will explain in another post what I am thinking about to help with that issue since I explained why malnourishment is prevalent in the last post but, I want to tell you about after work. After laundry I went down to the secondary project I work with. It is a place mat and napkin making organization that mothers with HIV/AIDES run. Tomorrow is a celebration of 10 years of programs being in place so they can obtain ARV”S so there children don't get the disease at birth and so that they can live longer and healthier. As I went to see how they are doing making there Christmas orders they broke into song and practiced the music they will sing for the celebration tomorrow. All acapella with the harmony’s blended and lilts to the voices and just plain music of angles! I stood in awe and soaked it in.I wonder why our quilting circles don't break into song like that and carry the tunes to Heaven?

I want to tell you of the people I have met and the friends I have made. Being a Christian sure has it's rewards right here on earth. The BIBLE study womens group that meets on Wednesday is doing Beth Moore “Jesus the one and only” …. it is a daily study and very good for discussion. The ladies have been here for 1-20 years and are great resources for everything. We have gone to a few of there homes for dinner and seen a few couples mission organizations and what that looks like here on the ground and lived out. It is interesting and makes me wonder if I would ever have taken the opportunity’s to know this much about other org and people as I am here. Sunday is my 56 life on earth and since the cancer I want to take every opportunity to celebrate. Since we have limited power, 2 plates and 3 bowls & no oven, how do you have a party with no food. It's not like the grocery store has ready made cakes because they don't nor does the bakery (they have white bread only) so what to do. Tom was going to try and make a cake by the double boiler method with sand in the bottom of a pan you place the cake pan on. The cake would be too small to share. Since this is a priority to me to celebrate I had to ask for help. This is hard, it is always easy to do for others but to ask for something that feels selfish is hard. Heidi is a German woman who does have an oven and had us over for strudel 2 weeks ago. She agreed to make a cake for 14 and host a party. Geesja and my new family of grandchildren (they are the same age as Jake’s) may bring ice cream if they can get it made, an area agronomist who is from the UK and been in Africa 30years is bringing the pop and tomorrow is the party at DIGUNA a German Christian radio station that is working on radio towers across the equator to send signal to the N and S. Heidi is assistant manager and Kristoff, her husband is the handy man and around here that means “can create something out of nothing or knows how to use bailing twine to make things work.” He repairs brass horns on the side so if anyone want to donate there old instruments let me know. The Ugandans are hot for horns especially the police as they have parades often. Today was Saturday and we rode out to Toms work and looked at the garden we planted 2 weeks ago. The only thing not showing its leaves yet are the peppers. The beans and peas are 8 inches high as is the non GMO non Monsanto organic corn. I just wish I had planted more then 10 plants. It is an experiment to see what will grow and how well in will do so I am saving seed for the next wet season as this one is almost over and then we get the heat and no rain until Easter again. By the way, when is Easter. With everyday sunny and warm I just can't believe it will be Thanksgiving in 2 weeks. Did I mention that there is a woman here from Indiana who runs the Catholic radio station at the other end of town and she has invited us for Thanksgiving with some other American families. She even has US turkey brought in. I am bringing potatoes and squash and making gravy. Wish I could make buns but Tom is not on board with the oven idea yet. By Christmas I think I will find another resource to build me one in the back of our house out the door from the kitchen. Other volunteers have them. They are called rocket stoves. The solar oven that you can build take 10 hours to maybe get our food baked if the sun stays out. Tom is getting better at making chapatis so that is the bread source for now. Chapatis are water, flour, salt, and small amount of onion. You fry them in a small amount of oil.

Laundry still sucks, the violin is getting a touch better, the rooster quite trying to out crow me when I practice. I am enjoying my life here and will send you lengthy insights into malnourishment when I sit down again to type. The power continues to be out this is 8 days now. But, there is a generator at the school they turn on so I go plug the computer in during my day when you are all in bed and use it at night. It would be tough for me to not have this access. I miss all of you more then I imagined but have met some great people who are making the transition easier. Tom is still trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. He continues on the intake part of the job going to villages and meeting women who are doing programs with the National Community of Women Living with Aids NACOWOLA. We planted 8 strawberries plants out there so I think we should make it a fruit farm. Next acquisition for the place will be grapevines and fruit trees. Gotta go the sun is gone and the daylight is almost gone but the stars are spectacular and with the power out no one can play there stereo at night... Love from Uganda where rain is considered a blessing and it rains almost every day...

November 6

It's been a while since I have blogged. I have been frantically trying to figure out what I am going to do at the nursing school.. The computer teacher has me booked in for 3 days of computer classes where I teach. That will be the blind leading the blind. She is suppose to give me a tutorial on what they are to learn in word office and word. Problem is the power is not on so there is no class and I can't be instructed either as I don't have those programs on my computer. Then I am trying to see where I can be most effective and least exposed to infections on the wards. I am trying to do Nutrition, ENT Eyes, and Pediatrics at the administrations request as they say it is a mess in Peds. Meaning children are dying from Malaria, hepatitis, pneumonia, dehydration, and worms. So, I have the books home to read up and try and understand how to stop the spread. The women here do all the work. They dig in the garden, sell the veggies, have the babies, do the house work and wait on the man that often is unemployed and won't do the woman's work and what $ she brings home for food for her own family the husband gets and drinks away. It is the way it has been in this area and if a wife leaves the husband the children are his. The men also don't get tested for AIDES and threaten there wives if they do or if there children go on anti retro viral s as then people will know that they have he disease and will be ostracized. The woman’s group that Toms works at have found strength by coming out and banding together and the group is funded for teaching reading and writing along with business skills so the women know how to handle finances. I think there are over 400 with maybe 84 of them were men.

They have a large acreage that they plant and sell the produce in. They have acquired another piece of land and have some livestock that they hope to expand to get a cow or two. They have broilers (skinniest chickens I have seen)& goats, now. The new land is down by the river. Last Saturday Tom and I went to plant a sample plot of all he seeds that I took with to see what will grow here. On our way home a man Tom had met the week before stopped him and started talking. Ugandans like to talk so I kept riding my bike to the shade and waited. After a while I called him to see if he were coming. Seems the guy that stopped him had been digging (turning the soil for a garden is what digging is ) down by the river for the witch Dr that lives next to NACWAL. A python grabbed him and was crushing him. He called to his friend and was able to bite the snake, which slowed I down but the friend ran over and cut the head off the snake. The witch Dr wanted the skin and the meat so they had skin it and were drying the skin and cooking up the meat. Tom was like, “sure you are”. So, the man takes Tom to see. He had large bruises on his arms and the skin was drying in the sun still wet. The head I guess was laying there too. So, my great thought that we could irrigate the crops that would go in on the new piece of land that is acquired near the river will not be put in place by me. I won't be the one going down there to dig... Another man here said that snakes don't like pigs so rather then cows maybe some free range pigs would be a nice addition with the skinny chickens and pure breed goats. There are a lot of Muslims here so pork is not grown with in the city limits and is not butchered in city limits either. Interesting that religious views and beliefs are important enough here that they are adhered too. My battery is almost gone so I will close. No power again in Uganda but the stars are brilliant and the malaria carrying mosquitoes are hungry.. NIGHT Marc

October 19

Well the honeymoon is over and now that I am, or we are, PCV's real life is setting in. Some is fun and some is a drag. I think we didn't realize how much work everything requires and now we do because we are doing it for ourselves. I knew washing was a hassle. Have you ever tried to wash queen size sheets in a bucket and then rinse them after you scrubbed them because you didn't scrub you feet before getting in bed because then you would need ANOTHER bucket or basin. Since arriving in Arua to our 3 bedroom rambler duplex we have been on our own. First night when we arrived after a 8 hour trip N some of the student council and instructors were lined up to welcome us with flowers and cheers and welcomes. They had me get out of the vehicle and paraded me to our home. I looked a wreck but my supervisor was all smiles and told me this an African Welcome and “it's all right”. We got to our new home that all the repairs had been done to and they wanted to pray for us and our home and our time with them at the school. Thank you Jesus. No where in America has some one greeted me and thanked God for sending me... I cried. I was also praying and asking God to strengthen me to not disappoint any of them or myself but most of all Him. That was Friday and the bursar (accountant) Sande took us out for supper. Chips (fries) and chicken beef goat or egg. No pork with in town because of the Muslim population. They deep fry this stuff and then you have a side of cabbage and peppers. This is considered American fare. Dr. Murthy is not close and I do not want my gall bladder out here so food is limiting but so far no attacks maybe because they don't use corn oil but rather vegetable oil, what ever that is... 

We went home and went to bed but 1^st I took my malaria med and lay down which the box clearly says never do. Remain upright for ½ hour after taking and drink lots of water which I didn't do either. 2 hours later I am awake with heartburn and it is still hanging on. Being a nurse I figure I at least have esophageal erosion. So 2 days I can't eat and feel awful so Tom doesn't eat much either because for some reason he has forgotten how to do much but boil water for instant coffee. He went out and got donuts (hard balls of paste deep fried in a doughnut shape and they get harder as the day goes on) to tide him over but day 2 we were going out. Day 3 is the same but yesterday we went to market and bought some veggies and made a broth that I could get down with out as much pain. This weight loss plan is working real well if you are at the thrift shops I wear a size 6 now. The thing with eating out is it takes 11/2 hours for you food to come out because cooking from scratch here is a process which I will now explain. You walk to market in the hot equatorial sun and you buy tomatoes from 1, egg plant from 1, garlic and onions from one, cucumbers, ect and this takes an hour of bargaining and haggling and looking over everything and you are wore out. Home you walk and eat a doughnut because your blood sugar is low because the big bowl of oats you had for breakfast didn't hold you till lunch. Now it is lunch and you have to prepare what ever your going to put in your fat face so white hard stale bread and bad peanut butter seem pretty good to Tom I like raw carrots Cucumbers and tomatoes myself but I forgot to get an avocado and why can't you find cheese here? They have cows and goats. Oh yea no fridges though. I know you are tired of hearing me complain about the food but food consumed me in MN and it still is.

For supper you have to start 2 hours ahead because the power goes out and you can't see except with the lantern fueled with kerosene. This asphyxiates you and you are nauseated by the time the food is ready. So you cut and clean and get your pan ready then light the single burner kerosene stove like camping only the camping one was round and had even heat. You put your pan on the burner and keep turning it so it all cooks and doesn't burn. I am not real good with this yet or portion size for 2 so we don't throw away ½ as you can not save without refrigeration. Now it's dark the bugs are out the kerosene has made you sick and you can eat. IF YOU ARE THINKING OF COMING TO VISIT WAIT A BIT UNTIL I HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF FOOD PREP. The restaurants (guest houses) here offer chips and ? The goat is the best, or regular Ugandan food. (Banana’s a couple ways with potatoes rice beans and G Nut sauce and pumpkin leaves steamed) So it is a great weight loss as the sweets and crackers are bad. OK enough already.

Tom and I went out and bought bikes, I found a used Schwinn that I test drove before they did repairs too and charged me 90$ for but Tom didn't get to test drive his as it was new. Today we went and picked it up and it is too small for him. Sorry sucker, no refunds. He has to ride it about 8 miles everyday to get to and from work so he may be looking for some handle bar extension soon and a seat extension. We went to the market after for our daily dose of fun and came home for a nap. We are to start working next week and I don't know when I will find time to work too. I am exhausted after 11AM. We may become rich white people and hire help. I don't know how far our 36$ will go. We have to pay our own electric and water bill here but the electric isn't on all that often and we are still taking bucket baths. But it is pure bliss to turn on a tap and have water so you have one less chore to do. We bought dried beans today and the lady next door told me they were onzie (bad) they were old and had weevil. Were going to eat them tomorrow if I can cook them that long. She said she would go to market with me next time. Tom will be relieved.

Do you ever notice how African woman stand so straight and there butts stick out. Here is why. They do everything on the ground and they bend at the waist. There hamstrings must be stretched to the max. I will send pictures when I write again and I want you to notice. So they cook on the ground wash on the ground sit on the ground and walk and fetch and haul. Thank you Lord I was born in America! I understand why they only live to be 52. Christianity appeals to me just for the reason of eternal rest and the Heavenly banquet. I understand why it spread here.

Well this is enough of my musings today. I have been invited to a Bible study at the mayors house he married a British woman and the local missionaries all come so I will meet woman from other countries as well. I am excited and think I may be the only American except for Latoya a 26 year old PCV who is a teacher here. Since we have been here our credit card got accessed and someone was taking trips to Spain and racking up 3000$ resort bill. USAA was aware of it and called us right away. So now, we don't have a credit card. No big deal, no one here takes them anyway. NO ONE. So we will next be learning how to really budget....Which is what living in the culture means. Eyre Eyre (Slowly Slowly) I love you all miss you all and am so looking forward to the suitcase arrival on Friday. Thank you Thank you Thank you! Love from sunny Uganda. Marc

October 13

Today the sky was clearing and a rainbow appeared as the sun was coming up. It was our swearing in and we became Peace Corp Volunteers. Agreeing to uphold our constitution and we forgot what else.  It felt like graduation only better.  Didn't think things like milestones would mean much to me but this was wonderful and I felt like I was crowned Miss America rather then a representative of America.  The PC country director spoke, the Ugandan Dept of Health and the Department of Economics along with our national anthem and Uganda's which one of our language instructors sang in a rich beautiful tenor. There were speeches and reception after, and a party back here at the plush hotel we have been staying in since Tuesday night.  It has a large pool I took advantage of last night after class.  We have been staying here and attending classes with our host organization representative.  We have to do a master plan for what and how we will attain our work goals and our organizations goals in the time we are here and how we will make our project self sustaining. My supervisor is the director of the nursing school in Arua a school of 524 nursing and midwife students. She is freindly and warm and engaging and I feel like I can work well with her and for her.  She would like me to oversee clinical rotations and help with the community health teaching at the local level in the community.  Malaria prevention, safe water, what good nutrition is, immunization records and AIDS testing and antenatal care.  I have 3 months where I am to do nothing but observe and do a needs assessment.  After that I can start to implement what the community thinks is a need as long as my project or projects are approved by Peace Corps main office here in Uganda.  So tomorrow we go to our new home.  Enclosed find a couple pics of our big day.  Oh yea,  surprise, I passed my language test but plan to take more classes to get good enough to talk to more people rather then Tom.  Love you all from the land on the other side of the full beautiful Swearing infall moon.  I miss the colors you are enjoying but the pineapple helps me drown my sorrow...Marc
The last 2 pictures are of Tom and I with our supervisors