Sorry I haven't been updating much. I have been posting photos but haven't taken much time to write. This week, we haven't done much ministry yet. We have just been settling in and learning about the culture here.
The first day we went to the music school and the market in Jinja. It was then that I learned that Ugandans walk very slow. Francis and Rachel led the way and I kept finding myself walking in front of them, then slowing down so they would go ahead of me, but then they would just slow down more. I think they just aren't in a hurry to get anywhere and that's what they do. I'm learning this week to slow down! They also speak so quietly. I'm often asking them to repeat themselves, and often if I lean in closer, they only get quieter. Lyzette is not quiet, though. She and I stay up too late talking and having a good time and I definitely have no problem hearing her! She is originally from the Congo, and she says they are not as quiet as Ugandans.
At the market, I was also reminded that if I wave the wrong way, that I'm actually saying "come here". Working on my wave. Now I just put my hand up most of the time and don't move it at all. It's safer that way. I do have balloons and stickers in my bag in case I accidentally call some children my way.
Day 2, we went to the home for the young mothers. We met Joan, Percy, Sylvia and Victor. I got to spend a little time with them and the babies and give them some diapers. I am going to be teaching the girls to crochet every Thursday and Stephen and I will do some Bible Studies with them on Wednesdays. I look forward to spending more time with the girls so I can get to know each one better. I will be meeting two other girls, Suzan and Damalie tomorrow. They are transitioning out of the home and working on becoming more independent. Damalie's baby has been sick so I'm going to see if I can help with that and we will also be buying some supplies for her to make soap. She will be selling the soap to help support herself and her baby.
Day 3, we went to Kampala to look at drum cymbals for the new drum set that Stephen brought. On the way there it rained. Within less than 10 minutes the streets were already flooding. Most of the bodas and all of the people walking get out of the road and take cover against the walls of the buildings and they wait for it to quit raining. After going to the music school, we went on to Entebbe to pickup Erica and Riley, two young ladies from Alaska. They will be here for 2 weeks working with Lyzette in her Woman in Crisis Ministry. On the way to the airport, the van broke down. Jeff called the mechanic and the mechanic had to drive from Jinja to Entebbe to fix it. (that's a 3+hour drive). So Jeff got on a boda, rode to the airport and came back in a taxi. (all in under 10 minutes). We rode in the taxi to the airport and got the girls, then Jeff stayed with the van while we rode back to Jinja. The traffic was pretty wild in Kampala. There is no organization at all, except that you drive on the left side of the road. that's about it! There are a lot of people begging and trying to sell things to people in cars when we're waiting in traffic. Halfway through the drive I just couldn't stay awake anymore and fell asleep. Stephen says that a few people came up to the window and tried to sell things to me but I just slept right through it! Once we got into Jinja, Lyzette met us in town(she rode on a boda), and she rode back to the house with us. Gracie had prepared us a wonderful dinner of chapatti, beans, fish and potatoes.
Thursday and Friday were more quiet days and we stayed around home more. I took some hats to the mothers at the home and we went out to eat for lunch.
Saturday we went on a boat ride on Lake Victoria. That was pretty fun! We saw some monitor lizards and a lot of birds. We went to the source of the Nile. We also went to a place where they have reptiles for people to look at. Reptiles are disgusting to me, but I did hold a tortoise and a little turtle!
We went swimming at a resort in the afternoon which was pretty fun. Stephen threw Dave in the air multiple times and he loved it. There were little monkeys running everywhere around there. They were so fun to watch. The kids were enjoying it until one ran right at Shammah. She started to cry so we were done with the monkeys after that!
Today we had church. They definitely get into the music and dance a lot here. It was a lot of fun! This afternoon we had no plans and Stephen and I wanted to ride a boda to town, so Lyzette called Peter to come and take us. He dropped us off in town and bought us "air time" on the cell phone that Lyzette gave us. When we called Lyzette to tell her that we were done, the phone wouldn't work so we had to just pick a random boda driver to take us home. We asked him to take us to "mpumudde" which is the name of their neighborhood. I have practiced that word SO MANY TIMES and I keep getting it mixed up but I think we pronounced it correctly to the boda driver. When we got home, Lyzette and Jeff both asked me at separate times what I told the boda driver...they wanted to know if we said it right. Of course I said it wrong to both Jeff and Lyzette. They just laugh and then tell us the correct way again. m -poo-moo-day.
Random things that I noticed about their culture that are different than ours...
They move slower
They speak more quietly
They say "yes please" when you call their name or after you order food at a restaurant
They have multiple ways of saying hello or greeting people. I'm still trying to figure all this out, it's complicated to me. One is a quick one that you say when you don't have time to talk or don't want to - it actually translates to "well done". The other way to greet people is like good morning, how did you sleep? or good afternoon/evening or how are you? Most people here have greeted us with a "how are you?" (I have no idea how to spell it so I am not trying to right now!) I really like that about Ugandans, most of the time they actually want to stop and talk to you, they care about how you are doing. Like I said before, Ugandans are not in a hurry, so they take the time.
Any time that anyone gets back home (family members or guests) - whether they were gone 20 minutes or 20 hours, they get told "welcome home" or "welcome back home". I really like that, I think it's super sweet.
Ugandans apologize a lot. I am so clumsy and every time that I drop or spill something or run into something, someone tells me that they are sorry. I continue to reassure them that I am just fine and that this is normal, I do these things all the time. I told Jeff that he's going to wear himself out apologizing to me!
Deodorant... a lot of Ugandans don't use it. I guess it makes sense that deodorant is not a priority when many of them can barely afford clothes or food. I am getting more and more desensitized to this, though. The first few days I was thinking "wow!", but I'm betting in a few days I won't notice it anymore. Luckily, the family I am with does not have this problem :)
Bodas ( motorcycle taxis)- these are everywhere. I am amazed at all the things that they can balance and carry on these!
They have a little sink in the dining room. That totally makes sense so the kids just wash their hands real quick before they eat. Or if you eat something that's more than a napkin can take care of - like chicken wings -you can just get up and wash your hands without leaving the dining room. I like it!
alright, that's all my random thoughts. I have a long week ahead. I start my first class tomorrow. I've never taught banjo before so I'm nervous, but also excited. These kids have never seen a banjo before so they are all happy to learn it. I will also be doing ministry with Lyzette this week, too. I will post some photos on here soon for those who may not have facebook. if you do have facebook, you'll see more. Please pray for me and Stephen this week as we start our lessons and also for the rest of the team from Grace who are serving in Kampala right now. Thanks!
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