African Holidays

Seku Kulu Nnungi!! Time really does get away from you out here in the jungle; especially when it’s holiday season. So much has happened since my last post, and I’m terribly sorry that I have not been able to write any new updates.

But, the wait is over. I’m going to try and include as many pictures in this one as possible because I hear that they are worth 1,000 words or something…

The holiday celebrations here in Uganda are so so different from the ones in the States. There’s no electricity in the village so you can forget houses covered in Christmas lights, and snow is out of the question. So, you really have to get your head in the game when it comes to making it feel like Christmas is coming.

We started the season with a great Thanksgiving dinner with the SOS Staff, complete with chicken, mashed potatoes, squash casserole (to replace the sweet potatoes), green bean casserole, rolls, and pies. It was quite the task to cook it all up because we don’t have the modern conveniences from back home, so everything has to be made from scratch, including the onion rings for the casserole, and we can’t use a microwave or hand blender, so those mashed potatoes took some serious effort. But I have to say that the food was spectacular and we loved every minute of the 48 hours it took to prepare. I am so thankful for the family that I have out here in Uganda and their ability to bring a little bit of America to the jungle.

The American SOS Staff minus Laura who was taking the picture, and Nate who is hiding behind the Thanksgiving sign.

Pumpkin pie made from pumpkins fresh from the market.

Caramel Apple pie with homemade caramel sauce. De-lish.

Laura's famous dinner rolls.

The day after Thanksgiving we had a Christmas party at Legacy Christian Academy and the graduation ceremony for the kids. It was a huge event for all the parents in the village and the kids had been preparing for weeks leading up to the day. We had everything from poems to songs, skits, and dances. It was so sweet to see the little African shepherds and wise men coming to see Jesus in the manger built by one of the men in the village. When I wasn’t smiling from ear to ear at the cuteness, I was just thinking about how Jesus came to die for people from all nations. And even though we are all so different in culture, God can still be worshipped in so many different ways. But I have to admit, the African way might be the best…maybe I’m a little biased.

Go ahead, they are absolutely adorable.

My boy Tom. He just passed K-2 with flying colors!

Junior and his sweetie. I think that half the personality in the world was bundled up and put into this kid.

The church has been busting at the seams the past few weeks, we have seen so many new people come through our doors, and the messages leading up to Christmas have been pointed at everyone’s need for a Savior so we are just praying that peoples’ hearts are softened. The Sunday before Christmas we didn’t have Sunday morning church, but instead we had a Christmas concert that night. So, in order to be a part of the community and appease the demands of the villagers, I joined the choir. I had 2 weeks to learn 6 songs in Luganda and Swahili, along with dances. In the beginning I was convinced that I was just going to mouth some words and pretend like I was singing, but then people kept telling me that since I was the only Mzungu (white person) on stage, people would be watching me very closely so I had better get it right. So, I buckled down and I am proud to say that I learned each song along with its dance to the fullest extent. I can’t say that I looked like an African, but I sure sounded like one. In those moments I just laugh and thank God for the opportunity to not take myself so seriously and have fun with my friends. It was a great time. After the concert we showed the Nativity movie and served some popcorn with soda. It was quite the treat. That night might have been one of my favorites so far.

Daniel, Joshua, and Benja. Sunday school is always more interesting when they are around.

All I have to do is sit there and I am instantly surrounded with little hands putting my hair on their head and shouting, "Me a Mzungu!"

In the midst of all these holiday celebrations, one of the couples in our village had their wedding celebrations. Here in Uganda the man has to pay the dowry for his bride and they have to have an introduction ceremony as well as the modern wedding ceremony. The introduction ceremony is when the groom and his clan go to the house of the bride’s father and their whole clan is there and the groom has to be introduced to the bride’s clan or tribe. This is when the groom brings the dowry to the father and brothers of the bride. I was asked to be the photographer for the introduction, so I loaded up with the groom and his family along with chickens, fruit, coffee, and a very large cow and we started making our way to the bride’s father’s house. What would have taken us 45 minutes ended up taking 4 hours to get there because we had to stop so many times to pick things and people up along the way. That’s Africa for you. But we finally arrived; I put on my gomezi (the traditional Buganda dress) and got out my camera to start capturing the moments. What I didn’t know what that the speaker on the groom’s side had decided to make the guest of honor, so I was seated in the front with the groom as his sister and chosen to participate in multiple parts in the ceremony. It was just one other moment when I had to remember not to take myself too seriously. I was standing and sitting, kneeling, dancing, and giving gifts to different people the whole time. But the perk was at the end when I was invited to go into the house and eat the meal with the groom and his family. I have really come to love Ugandan food, and that was the finest of all Ugandan food, so I didn’t mind at all. 

This cow went on a wild ride to the introduction. I'm just glad I didn't have to sit in the back with him...

The gift presented to the bride's father and brothers. I think those poor chickens knew their lives were quickly coming to an end.

At the end of the ceremony, after 3 wardrobe changes, the bride served her groom soda and they danced around a little and then we headed back home.

The ceremony lasted about 4 hours. It starts with the groom’s clan arriving and the bride’s clan acts like they didn’t know he was coming and so when we all walked in they act surprised like they don’t know what is going on. Then the two sides sit to face each other and the groom sits in the back so the bride’s clan has to go and find him and put the proper hat on his head and coat around him. Once he is moved to the front with his sister, the ceremony can begin and different groups of people parade in dancing, gifts are presented, the bride is presented, the dowry is paid, and papers are signed. Basically, the father is selling his daughter to the groom’s clan. Daughters are big money makers over here. I pretty much had no idea what was going on most of the time, but I just did as I was told and took it all in. Ugandans are very expressive and colorful people. They will never turn down a good party and good food.

Fanci and Nsubuga after their wedding ceremony.

Lydia made such an adorable flower girl.

Fanci in her 5th dress of the wedding festivities. Cutting the cake always involves sparklers. I think I like it.

Life has been crazy around here. God has been doing some great things and he has been blessing me over and over again. I am getting to know so many of the people in the villages and they are welcoming me in with open arms. I have come to love these people so much and it didn’t take long at all. I pray that you had a great holiday season as well and were able to remember what a miracle it was for our Lord to leave his throne in heaven and come to live with sinful people like ourselves. Our God is so magnificent and loving. I pray that I can have that same kind of love for the people here in Uganda. Leaving America to come live in the jungle pales in comparison to what God did for us, but I have been so encouraged by his birth this year when I sit and think about it. I pray that God keeps me from forgetting how humble he was and that I would imitate that same humility even when the water isn’t hot, the power goes out, or I am just really craving some Chick-fil-a sauce.

When you can't get that Chick-fil-a sauce a fried grasshopper will do...you have to just go with what you have available on the side of the road.

Village Profile: John Ntenderi

There is someone very special that I would like to introduce you to. His name is John Ntenderi. He is 16 years old and has one of the sweetest spirits in the village.  His dad died when he was 9 years old and so he is left with his mom, step dad and from what I can figure, 8 siblings. He is a hard worker and just finished Primary 7, which is basically like 8th grade. He will begin secondary school in February. John is a smart kid who loves Jesus and is kind to everyone he comes in contact with.

This is the look that stays on John's face most of the time.

Unfortunately, John doesn't get to enjoy most of the things that the other kids his age get to enjoy. He can't play soccer, he can't run around with the other kids, and he has to take it pretty easy when it comes to walking around standing up for too long. John has a swollen right leg that prevents him from doing any of these things and more. It has progressively gotten worse since birth, and because he family doesn't have much money at all, he hasn't been able to have it treated. 

John was one of the first people that I met when I moved here to Uganda in September. He was one of the first people at church in the morning, and came right up to introduce himself to me and ask my name. I couldn't forget the smile of this sweet kid. Later I was told by my housemate that he was in her Sunday School class and was a sweet, faithful kid. Then I noticed that he didn't really go out and play with the other kids and when I asked why they showed me his swollen leg.

It wasn't until one night I was at my house getting ready for dinner, and I heard John outside my door saying that he was hurt. When I went outside he told me that he had fallen off his bike and his arm was pretty bloody. So, like the gifted nurse that I am (sarcasm) I grabbed the medical supplies and cleaned the guy up. It wasn't a horrible cut, but it did need some attention. But, even after I bandaged it up, John was still saying that he was in pain. I asked him what was bothering him and he explained that the compression sock that he had been wearing on his leg in order to help with the swelling had lost its elasticity and wasn't doing anything anymore. So, after checking it out I told him that the next time I was in town I could pick him up a new one. But, I realized that it was only a temporary fix to his problem so I began to do a little research on his problem. 

John after his baptism. He was so excited to finally be baptized.

After Googling his symptoms and checking out what I could on WebMD, which is about the extent of my medical expertise, I figured out that John had a circulation problem and that we should have him go see a doctor so that we could get a proper diagnosis that didn't come from the internet. So off to Kampala we went. This was John's second time to the capitol, and I'm pretty sure that he was thrilled to get to go, even if it was to be poked and prodded by doctors. We spent the day running from one doctor to the next, getting everything from a general check up, to a heart echo, to ultrasounds on his leg. Eventually, we were able to figure out that he has something called Arteriovenous Malformation. Which basically means that when he was born the capillaries in his right leg weren't formed correctly so his veins and arteries aren't connected properly which causes the swelling because the blood isn't being distributed correctly. 

The doctor that diagnosed him gave us a referral to see the top vascular surgeon in Uganda to have a final test run in order to see if it is operable. Since we had just spent about 6 hours going from one doctor to the next, we didn't have time to go and see him that day, but we are going to be able to go in hopefully before Christmas sometime and see if we can get John's leg fixed. Unfortunately, the doctor said that he doesn't think that the swelling will go down all the way even if he can have the surgery because of all the damaged tissue from 16 years of swelling, but some of the swelling with go away and he won't have to deal with the pain anymore. 

He's definitely Ugandan, refusing the fork at all times.

 The hope is that John can have the surgery and be able to walk to and from school without being in severe pain, and maybe even play some soccer with his friends. He is such a sweet boy and doesn't let this thorn in the flesh hinder him from loving others and loving God. He has been to my house about 3 times since we returned from the doctors' appointments to thank me for loving him and trying to help his leg. Today he told me that even if his leg can't be fixed he will still be thankful that I took the time to try. I have learned so much from his perspective on life. John has challenged me to see all the ways that I can serve others even if there are ways that they can be serving me. John could sit around and use the fact that it's hard for him to walk as a reason that he shouldn't give of himself to those who could use a little love. There are so many smaller hurdles in my life that I am not willing to jump over in order to love others around me. Some days I wish that I didn't have to walk to bible study because it's hot, or I had a long day teaching. I can say now that when I am tempted to grumble or complain I will remember mine and John's long day in Kampala sitting and waiting all day, and how John never once showed that he was frustrated with the fact that we were not being seen right at our appointment time even if I was struggling to hold my tongue to the assistants working in the office. 

Please be in prayer for John as I continue to figure out how to best help him and get his leg healed. Pray that I would persevere as I figure out how to navigate the medical scene here in Uganda. Pray that John's doctors and surgeon would have wisdom and guidance as we move forward, and that there would be a solution to the problem. And pray that I would learn to never grumble or complain, that I would remember that every day is a gift and a blessing from the Lord.

Life As A Foolish, Weak, Lowly Vessel of God

Elisa, John, Kazibwe, and I lovin the church-wide fellowship.

Matoke, beans, rice, greens, and posho. Servin it up Ugandan style.

Anette, a teacher at our primary school was baptized at our 4 year anniversary.

We made a mail run today. By we I am not including myself. It would be more accurate to say that we sent for the mail. You see, there is no mailbox here in the village. The mail comes to the post office in Luwero, the nearest town about 35 minutes from Kubamitwe, and it sits in our PO Box until we send for it and a boda man brings the whole lot of letters and packages, sans junk mail because paper isn't wasted here in Uganda on super saver coupons.

The rambling about our means of mail delivery is to say that today was a very special mail delivery day because it brought me three sweet letters from three special people. Two were from aunts of mine just writing about how they are praying for me and all that the Lord is doing in their lives back home in Georgia, complete with some much appreciated VIA Packets. The other was from one of my dearest friends, Lizzie Griffith. We had agreed before I left that we would write each other while I was gone, the old fashioned way. I'm pretty sure the agreement was based on our mutual love for adorable stationary, but a deal is a deal, and I am much appreciative of this said agreement.

I opened the letter with a smile on my face because if it was nearly as funny as our text messages that I have been missing dearly, then I knew that it was going to be a good read. And the letter didn't disappoint. I will admit, it made me miss home a bit, but the end of the letter was the best part. The Lord had used 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 to encourage Lizzie recently and she was inspired by the Spirit to share it with me, so I have chosen to share it once more, probably the millionth time it has been shared since Paul was inspired to write it to the Corinthians hundreds of years ago:

"For consider your calling brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

This encouragement could not have come at a better time. Much of what I have been doing the past few weeks is considering my calling. I am going to be honest and admit that there have been more than a few times that I have asked myself, "What am I doing here?" and "How am I supposed to make any sort of difference when there is so much to be done?". I am not the most talented, I am not the smartest, I am flawed, I am easily discouraged, and there are more times than I can count that my faith is not strong, but rather it falters and I choose to turn to myself rather than the Lord.

This verse was exactly what I needed to read when I opened one of my first letters here in Uganda. Consider your calling…consider that God has chosen what is weak to shame the strong, consider that God has chosen what is low and despised so that we will not boast. He gave us Christ Jesus, who became wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. What more do we need? There is no requirement that I be the best communicator, that I know how to handle every interpersonal situation that arises, or that I have the ability to review all conversations and relationships with perfect discernment. The requirement is that I proclaim salvation that comes through Jesus Christ and allow the Lord to work through me so that all of my boasting and bragging can be on the things that God is doing through me and the people I get to serve with here at SOS Ministries.

Speaking of bragging…

We just had the privilege of hosting a team from Placerita Baptist Church and Legacy Christian Academy in Santa Clarita, CA for a week and with their help we were able to plant over 200 fruit bearing trees at the houses of the students that attend our primary school here so that they can grow, harvest, and share some of the fruit with the school to supplement the students' lunches. We built a kitchen for a mother in a neighboring village so that she can provide food for her children even when it is raining outside, avoiding cooking over an open fire in the pouring rain. A full size soccer field was built enabling SOS to host the local villages' soccer games and use them as an opportunity to share the gospel with the athletes. There was  a date night at the church for 35 married couples who had most likely never been on a date before talking about how marriages are created by God to represent Christ and the Church and couples are to complete one another and help each other love Jesus more. We celebrated the 4 year anniversary of Community Bible Church of Kubamitwe, serving a celebratory lunch to over 500 people from the surrounding villages. And lastly, witnessed 14 baptisms from different believers in the church who had recently accepted Christ as their Savior or had chosen to make their profession of faith public after many years of salvation.

Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. He has been so kind to the ministry of SOS here in Kubamitwe, the surrounding villages, and in the churches all over Uganda. Many meetings have been taking place between SOS and the leaders of the Baptist Union of Uganda which oversees over 1500 churches all over the country. God is at work here in Uganda. He is calling the Church back to himself and using many men and women to bring truth to churches that are lacking anything similar to that.

Please be in prayer for the people of Uganda, for the Baptist Union, for the people of Kubamitwe and the villages that surround it, and for all of us here at SOS. Pray that we can have love for all that we come in contact with, that we aren't overwhelmed by the need, and that we can find our strength from the Lord when our bodies and minds are tired.

I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 again and praise God for his kindness in using those who are broken and incapable for the advancement of his Kingdom, and pray that he will show you how you can be used to further his Kingdom wherever he has you today.