March 7, 2010
Church Today Rocked

We’ve been visiting some different churches here in Uganda.  Today was the local indigenous charismatic church in Jinja.  Unfortunately Dione stayed home with Eden who wasn’t feeling well, so it was Troy, Taylor and Caleb who attended.  We went with Bobby Garner and also a local Roy who attends that church.

Their worship was definitely free and full of expression for their devotion to the Lord.  Their poverty and life’s difficulties only seemed to allow them to more freely give all of themselves to God.  Yes, they have a dance troop with some serious skills.  I’ll try to get some video uploaded as well.

They also know how to give joyfully.  People gave testimony to what God is doing in their life.  One girl even came up to share and just sang a song.  It started slow and ended up rockin’ the place.  They also took an offering a few times for specific purposes and it seemed people were quick to get out of their seats and give joyfully.  Check this out.  Even at this super poor church, picture a “hot box” of corrugated metal roof and sides with a dirt floor, their members have donation envelopes where they have committed to give weekly for the year.  I’ve never seen that before in Southern California where it seems talking about personal finances is somewhat taboo.

Anyway, it was amazing and I’m glad to share a little bit about it with you.  Oh yeah, during the introduction of visitors the pastor mentioned that the “guests” (aka: us) were going to be giving the main message for the day.  Thanks Bobby for stepping up and giving an hour long impromptu message!

Have a great rest of your Sunday!

-Troy

Church Today Rocked

We’ve been visiting some different churches here in Uganda. Today was the local indigenous charismatic church in Jinja. Unfortunately Dione stayed home with Eden who wasn’t feeling well, so it was Troy, Taylor and Caleb who attended. We went with Bobby Garner and also a local Roy who attends that church.

Their worship was definitely free and full of expression for their devotion to the Lord. Their poverty and life’s difficulties only seemed to allow them to more freely give all of themselves to God. Yes, they have a dance troop with some serious skills. I’ll try to get some video uploaded as well.

They also know how to give joyfully. People gave testimony to what God is doing in their life. One girl even came up to share and just sang a song. It started slow and ended up rockin’ the place. They also took an offering a few times for specific purposes and it seemed people were quick to get out of their seats and give joyfully. Check this out. Even at this super poor church, picture a “hot box” of corrugated metal roof and sides with a dirt floor, their members have donation envelopes where they have committed to give weekly for the year. I’ve never seen that before in Southern California where it seems talking about personal finances is somewhat taboo.

Anyway, it was amazing and I’m glad to share a little bit about it with you. Oh yeah, during the introduction of visitors the pastor mentioned that the “guests” (aka: us) were going to be giving the main message for the day. Thanks Bobby for stepping up and giving an hour long impromptu message!

Have a great rest of your Sunday!

-Troy

Running for the Source

Well, I finally went out on a run this evening. Why don’t I get my butt in gear and go running more often? It was beautiful and as usual God meets me when I’m out of breath and clearly aware of my broken humanity. I run slow…but hey I’m 40 now. :)

I ran around the neighborhood passing lots of people out on walks and lots of greetings from children paying. The view of the clouds, sun starting to set casting long shadows while overlooking Lake Victoria and the Source of the Nile River is amazing. I was reminded of our Tour of Jinja where Ben Landford shared some devotional thoughts about the English explorer who was seeking the source of the Nile River. While I was putting some effort into my running I was talking with God…well or He was talking with me, about my needed daily efforts to seek Him as the Source of Life. Running can be good for body and soul.

-Troy

Life on the Daily: Uganda Style

It is kind of funny how I blogged so easily every day in Nicaragua. Here, life is just different. Quieter I guess you could say. It is just an entirely different way of living. Here we live on a compound that is a couple of acres in size. It is covered in plumeria trees, roses, mango trees, bananas…all kinds of good smelling or delicious goodies. Here we have to make an effort to see people though. We have the askaris (guards) that are here day and night and two house ladies, Harriet and Margaret. There is also a family, headed up by Francis that lives on the compound. I love it when our kids go out to play with his children Vincent, Joel, and Daneen. I believe they also have an older daughter that we rarely see because she helps her mother with her house work and goes to school. These are the people we see the most.

In Nicaragua all we had to do was step out our front door and we were plunged into the busy boisterous party that is Nicaraguan life. It was all we could do sometimes to shut ourselves in, close the heavy wooden front doors and hope no one would come knocking just so we could have some peace and quiet. Here, it is always peaceful and quiet. Well except for exotic bird calls, guinea hens, turkeys gobbling, chickens clucking and the rooster crowing, dogs barking, a random cow lowing at the gate, an occasional loud protest from the resident pig and, of course, crickets at night and frogs when it rains. All that and the askaris laughing or loudly chatting. Oh yeah, and inevitable yelling from the rugby/football (soccer) field across the street when there is a game. And the “put put” of a random boda passing by. It is a different kind of noise. An African symphony of sorts. I think they are all beautiful (at least the natural ones). But sometimes I get lonely. Sometimes we just have to go into town to be immersed in humanity. And going to a village, well that is always a treat and a sure fix.

The Source Cafe is the crux of Kibo Group. That is where everyone is. All of our Ugandan friends (beside the ones on the compound) and the missionaries that call Jinja home. You can always find a few of them there, lurking around. That is where we go when we need to see people. That is where we go and where we are warmly greeted. But we are making friends too with random goods sellers, grocery store managers, and restaurant owners. It will be a sad day when we have to leave Jinja. Even though I know we will return. We just will. We have to.

Life takes longer here too. I know I have said that before and I’m not really sure why or how to explain it. You just have to experience it to know. It is a mystery. I have two house ladies to help me out and somehow we are all busy all day long. And daily there is stuff that inevitably is left undone. Laundry just takes longer to wash, hang, and then throw in the dryer to kill the mango fly eggs. Just to make a meal takes a while and many hands. Take pizza. We have to make the dough, shred the cheese (if there happened to be mozzarella cheese at the supermarket that week), make the sauce, chop the toppings….it just takes longer. There are no shortcuts here. No conveniently pre-packaged foods. There are few restaurants open for dinner, so that is not an easy fall back option. No snack foods unless you make them. It is just different. More time consuming in every way. Food does taste better though since it is all incredibly fresh.

All that to say. Yes, life takes longer here. Sometimes it can be lonely. Some things can be incredibly inconvenient (such as no electricity or water or particular food items missing from the market when you need them). But I still love it. One day in the village sets everything to rights. One visit to the Source to see friendly faces. Good people. Good community. Good food. Incredible smiles. I am taking it all in. It is growing within me and growing me. It will all be with me, wherever I go.

-Dione

March 6, 2010

Muzungus in the Bush!

Today was the best day ever, literally! After a couple hours of driving we reached the Butaswa Village.You could hear it before you saw it, especially since everybody was dancing and singing with plenty of booty shaking. On the way you see young children shouting “Muzungu, Muzungu” which technically means “someone who runs in circles” but they also use it as a name for Americans which is absolutely perfect! Since there were lots of people all the Africans were extremely excited. Kids come up to you and kneel on the ground to shake your hand, it’s extremely humbling. I want to tell them, “No, I’m someone just like you!.” But its just the way they are raised. Soon the women pulled me, Eden, and Natalie into the dance. I knew it was going to happen sometime, and I could do it decently well but not quite. I don’t have all the guts to go for it. Eden on the other hand, who is the exact antithesis of me, joined in with no problem. Even though she didn’t get it exactly, she did it anyway.

I loved being surrounded. All the kids want to sit next to you, play with your hair and hold your hands. We are all such novelties. They all sure kept me occupied while the well dedication ceremony went on for hours. Many people got up to thank us, welcome us into there village…etc. Since it’s tradition and all Ugandans are so hospitable, we ate a lunch of two types of potatoes, rice, meat, and some broth to dip everything in. The food here is great! It was very sad saying good bye to all of our new friends, although we will return sometime in the months we are here. It’s the best when the kids follow you and run after your car, which is exactly what they all did……

-Tay

Weraba!
Good-Bye

Troy: the camera man

Troy: the camera man

Dorcas

Dorcas

best seat in the house

best seat in the house

it's ALL about the hair

it's ALL about the hair

the women of the village

the women of the village

dancing!

dancing!

Tay's dear one

Tay's dear one

muzungu and musoga

muzungu and musoga

Alex

Alex

Ronald: he's the man

Ronald: he's the man

Troy gave a blessing

Troy gave a blessing

where's bobby?

where's bobby?

prizes for those that have....

prizes for those that have....

done a good job with sanitation.

done a good job with sanitation.

more dancing

more dancing

walking the village

walking the village

and more dancing

and more dancing

Well Dedication With Water Source
in Butaswa Village

Ok, we were SO privileged to witness and participate in this amazing event. This village is beautiful and full of beautiful people. They were so grateful and the whole day was so celebratory. Lots of dancing to drums and lalalalalala-ing. Pretty much my favorite sound in the world. Really. It makes me cry every time. Anyway, we had an amazing time. Hope you enjoy seeing the pictures.

-Dione

first off, succulents at the house

first off, succulents at the house

jerry cans anyone?

jerry cans anyone?

the welcoming committee

the welcoming committee

Natalie

Natalie

the well

the well

March 4, 2010

Mvule Too

Mvule Project

It was so rewarding to finally be in a village yesterday to see how Mvule Project (www.mvuleproject.org) actually works. I fell in love with this project three or so years ago. If you’ve known me for that long, you have probably heard me talk about it before. These people are so proud of their young trees that they have planted and tended with care. Each villager has their own special way of taking care: protecting them from weather and mole rats, etc. This village was provided a well by the Water Source Project as well so that they didn’t have to walk three kilometers to get their water. When it is the dry season and there is drought, they still need to water their seedlings to help them survive. Mvule seedlings are most susceptible in their first year. And, of course, every day water is a blessing. Once they have successfully tended their trees they get compensated for their time and effort. this village has chosen a goat project from which they will all benefit. Mvule grows trees and a healthy sense of community.

It takes a special group of people to plant a Mvule. It is a slow growing hard wood tree. It will take at least 50 years to mature. So these people know they are not planting these trees for themselves but for their children and their grandchildren. There is no instant gratification, just deep satisfaction in knowing they are making an investment for the future. It was all beautiful to behold.

-Dione

Mvule seedlings

Mvule seedlings

she was so proud of her trees

she was so proud of her trees

picture?

picture?

a healthy 1 year old

a healthy 1 year old

everyone together making decisions

everyone together making decisions

March 3, 2010

Pouring Too

roof falls

roof falls

a wet and stinky Chaser

a wet and stinky Chaser

ok, cute too

ok, cute too

Pouring

It is absolutely pouring outside right now. Literally, there is a waterfall coming off the tin roof. It makes it feel fall-ish and cozy. The bummer is that Troy, Chat, and Jay are out on the river adventuring through class 5 rapids today. I am anxious to hear what their stories will be when they come home waterlogged and looking like drowned rats. As for us, we get to enjoy the downpour from the comfort of home. Hearing thunder go off like a rapid and unending succession of bombs. Surely we will be traipsing through mud tomorrow as we go to visit a village with the Mvule Project. I don’t believe it is officially the rainy season yet but this is surely a realistic taste. This is our fall and winter a few months late. I like it.

-Dione

March 2, 2010

Bujagali Falls

taking it all in

taking it all in

class 5 baby!

class 5 baby!