Today I got woken up by Angela coming in and telling me it was time to get up and get ready for church. She was all smiles and loved waking up the Mzungu. Showers this morning were not such a sweet thing however. Liz gave up after a few minutes of being without water and her hair probably still has a little cream rinse in it. When it came to my turn I started out optimistic. But I was wrong. I had drizzle at best; and it was rarely hot! Thank goodness I have short hair! Liz and I got ready quickly and walked to church by ourselves so we would be there in time for the singing. Phil was still at the house and when we arrived Jenifer (Jesca’s, the children’s care takers daughter) and Martin Isabirye were leading the service. They were coordinating the activities and one by one called all the different choirs up to sing, starting with the youngest group of girls and ending with the oldest. There were no strictly boys choir groups though several of the boys joined in including Henry (Apaito) Lemukol, Gabriel Lotukon, Martin and Moses Okere. The voices were beautiful to hear and they are so animated it is such a joy to watch. One young man was beating a drum and another young guy was playing a keyboard. Once again we were in a very small classroom with the kids sitting on wooden benches, many to a row. The service started at ten and we finally said our final Amen at close to one. Mixed in with our kids were several men and women from the village all dressed in beautiful attire. When it was time for the offering, the singing continued, and even very small children came up and dropped in coins.
And then it was time for the sermon. Phil preaches and Emma Aliau (the Shelton’s young man) interprets. Emma is such a fine individual. He has the greatest facial expressions and has the kindest heart. But he takes his translating for Phil very seriously. Today’s lesson was from Luke 8:22-25. He talked of fear and faith. He talked about the customs in Iganga and how they were good. And how the kids should not be trying to change them and follow Western ways. (This was in reference to the dancing at the celebration yesterday). He spoke of acting in a way that would honor God and not in a way that would make them accepted by their friends. I found the style of preaching to be very different from what I am use to. Phil spent a lot of time teaching right from wrong.
We then came home and the kids were supposed to be here at 2 for a Bible study. They started to trickle in around 2 and the study finally got started at 2:45. By then the kids that were on time had already been sitting and waiting for forty-five minutes. We met on the back porch of Phil’s house where there was shade for most of the kids to sit in. Phil had two translators, John Bosco and Evaline Lochoro. They translated into the two native tribal languages; Losoga and Karamong (most of the kids are Karamong). This is a time that all children are supposed to be here although not all the children showed up. The kids are supposed to be able to ask questions related to the service or other questions that are on their mind. The first question was asked by one of the older boys. He was concerned that the matron at the kid’s house was portioning out food to the kids in unequal amounts. He felt there was a discrimination-taking place. Phil wouldn’t even take the question. He completely deferred to Susan and told them that they would have to take this up with her as she was in charge of the help. So they moved on to the next question, which regarded fasting. The question was how long should you fast if you have a problem. Phil tried to explain to the kids that fasting should be a matter of the heart. It shouldn’t be tied to anything but instead should be based on improving your relationship with God. This was a very hard concept for the kids to grasp. The kids were a little loud during the study but in fairness to them they were a large group in very hot conditions. I know this study is standard for them but they had already been sitting most of the morning. Phil kept asking them to settle down and it wasn’t until he brought out the “cane” that they finally got quiet! As for me, after the walk home from the church, I was ready for the fan to blow full speed ahead! I was glad to see him spending the time with the kids.
After the study I had the kids who we had not gotten picture of yet stay behind at Phils. I didn’t think we had that many and I thought we’d have to pull them away from playing but instead they crowded around me and pushed each other out of the way to be next. The hardest part was trying to understand who they all were. They would tell me their names so quietly I could hardly hear and then in an accent I could hardly understand. But between Liz and I we got them all figured out. Not to say we got them all done but we got a lot finished. I have learned to get them to smile and the ones I really enjoyed were the ones who showed up with attitude. They are the ones who made faces. After squatting down and getting up at least 40 times my legs gave out; I then went inside and pulled out a little wooden stool and sat on that the rest of the time. Even after all the time it took not one child complained or whined. They just stood there and tried to get each other to smile. Meanwhile Liz had at least 10 kids trying to help her find the names on our list; all of them yelling at her at the same time. They were trying their best to be helpful but I’m sure all she heard was “wa wa, wa wa, wa wa!” Liz thinks I took 1,015 pictures just today! That included some of the cute faces that are outside of Phil’s gate! The neighbor kids have multiplied since last year and they are still as cute as can be!
Losiya Paul then asked if I would help him with his math. Now I know my family is rolling on the floor laughing just thinking of me tutoring math in any way, shape or form. And so he came into the house and we started with addition. I explained the ones column and the tens column and proceeded from there. By the end of the session he was adding three column numbers and carrying numbers as well. I felt like a huge success and he was smiling from ear to ear. Tomorrow we will do some more to reinforce what we went over today and then try to do some subtraction. He is so willing to learn and is so focused. Cody I wish you were here to help this young boy. I know you could improve his math skills in leaps and bounds!
Today’s story is about Rehema Naigaga. She is a 14 year old girl and is as cute and sweet as can be. Her father was a business man who travelled to the northern part of Uganda. He sold truck loads of corn and other things. He was ambushed by thieves in 1997 and was killed. Before he died he had two wives; Rehema’s mother and another woman. His second wife died shortly after he did and now Rehema’s mother takes care of her children as well as her own. When she grows up she wants to be a nurse. Having observed her for the past five days taking care of Sylivia I would say she has the heart for this. She is such a gentle spirit filled with love. She has the kindest smile and is a blessing to be around. In every way she is a beautiful young lady and my life has been enriched by knowing her. God definitely has a special purpose for her life. I see such love in the faces of these kids. They are reaching out to us and Liz and I are thrilled to be there for them. I do see God working through us and in the kids. And I see him in Liz every time I see her with the children. She is most in her element when she is being clung to and pulled in every which direction. He is doing amazing things in her and through her!
Miss you and love you. Also have to say, I am missing all foods American!
Although I wasn't dealing with yougsters, some of your adventures remind me of my year teaching in Fuzhou, China. My plane to Beiging was late arriving, so all of the other "foreign teachers" had already left the city. So there I was on the tarmac with all my bags (clearing customs in Communist China in 1986 was a real experience in itself) thinking hummmm, I wonder what I do now. Fortunately someone came along to claim me. I never did get his name. He really didn't speak English. He took me to a hotel (the poorer cousin of Motel 6), gestured a lot, and left me. Ok, now what. After flying across the Pacific I figured bed before anything. Guess it was good that I was still on US time so didn't get much sleep because I had NO idea when/if I'd ever see my escort again. To give him credit, he did show up. He got a cab, took me to the train station, bought me a ticket, gestured vaguely in the direction of several platforms, smiled, and left. Well now, all I have to do is figure out what time I'm supposed to be on which train and all will be hunky dorey. I can't give you details of what followed because I have no clear memory of it. I think I deliberatey wiped it away. Suffice it to say that my Angel worked overtime that day. I ended up where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there. What I didn't know was I was in for a 24+ hour train ride and was the only gaigin (foreigner) aboard.
ReplyDeleteStay tuned for Part Two of "The wandering stranger"