Week 10 email

Hola chicos,

Week ten has come and gone: 

On Monday morning we met up with a big group of YSA from the branch to play soccer. The field we used was covered in cow pies. Playing was a combination of dodging manure and trying to actually kick/dribble the ball while doing so. I played in a skirt and with bare feet. We have our friend Yoweri Museveni (the president of Uganda) to thank for that.

Two laws have recently been enacted in Uganda. I’m sure you have all been hearing about them. The first deals with homosexuality and the second with miniskirts. Basically you can’t wear anything above your knees. If you do (and you’re a Ugandan woman), you will get arrested. There is more to this law (dealing with pornography) but it is gaining worldwide attention for the emphasis it puts on modesty. Basically it forces women to wear certain clothing and further limits their choice. There have been protests all over Uganda, but some big ones in Kampala (the capital, and about five hours away from Mbale). Some women who have been caught wearing mini-skirts have been publicly undressed and then arrested. Mini-skirts also entail shorts. So like… all those cool Nike running shorts we wear all the time in the States? Those are a definite no-go.

Foreigners won’t get arrested for wearing them but that doesn’t mean we do because (a) we are trying to respect the culture, and (b) people stare like nobody’s business here. Also, (c)…we want to be safe. Being amid two very controversial laws that the world is talking about has been interesting. A definitely have come to have more of an appreciation for the freedoms and choice I have in America.  

Anyways, I am getting off track. The soccer game was seriously awesome. At one point I had a sweet cross up to Elder Halladay and he scored a goal off of it. No better way to start my week, eh? Soccer, sweat, dirt, and cow pies.

 Projects this week were A.W.E.S.O.M.E

In total our team taught 13 classes of which included:

1 sanitary pad lesson

3 lessons on sex education

2 paper bead lessons plus assembly

4 VSLA (Village savings and loans)

1 interact club meetings and lighting off of the volcanos

1 prenatal class plus moonbeam assembly

1 Sack garden lesson plus assembly

The projects we’re doing have been so good. I am very proud of our team and what we’re teaching. Beyond these lessons we have also nearly completed the latrine. We put the base coat of paint on it Friday, and we’ll be adding the final coat and painting the doors tomorrow… and then we’ll be done. It looks so good and I am excited for the kids to have it. For how small our team is we are sure accomplishing a lot.

Two funny sayings I like to use while here:

1.       TIA (This is Africa).

When the water doesn’t work… TIA

When people show up three hours late to a meeting… TIA

When our food is sketchy and we don’t know what type of meet we’ve been served… TIA

When the power is out and its obscenely hot and NO AC… TIA

When we can’t distinguish if we’re tan or if it’s just dirt… TIA

When I stay up all night throwing up because of WHO KNOWS WHY… TIA

2. Sometimes I like to imagine what it’s going to be like when I get home and everyone asks: “so what did you do while you were in Africa?” I think my responses would go something like this:

Built toilets for little kids

Didn’t shower

Sat in a taxi

Learned how to say hello in five different tribal languages

Took pictures of African babies

Tried to figure out how to smuggle said African babies back with me into America

Told people about snow/described what cold weather felt like

Ate bananas

Ate rice

Ate beans

Got bitten by mosquitos

Now of course this is all in good humor and fun. It has definitely been a way for me to make light of every situation.

 Friday morning I was riding home from latrine painting. At one point I started thinking about how lucky I have been to avoid getting super sick. Well there was no wood to knock on anywhere and I think that DOOMED me… because Friday night things were NOT FUN. I was supposed to run in a big “Save The Mothers” marathon Saturday morning but instead spent it puking my guts out. We have a few workers at the house we are staying who are super funny. They sleep somewhere outside my room as guards. One of them (I’m sure) spent all night listening to me die a slow and painful death. I wish you all could meet him. His name is Ari… and he is not good at English but likes to pretend he is. So when he speaks in full English sentences we are all super impressed. Well In the morning my roommate walked out  as I was puking again to get some water for me and he said to her “My Gosh (but the real word), what is happening in there… she needs to go to the hospital!” That was the most English we have ever heard him speak and it was so so so funny.  

So being sick is so overrated but it’s all good because I think I’m better and this week is going to be soooo awesome. So yea I am still super stoked about everything. Also this week Kenny leaves to go back home so that puts our team down to only five members for the last three weeks here. Which BTW WHAT? The last three weeks here? When did that happen? Gosh time, you’re really killing me here.

 Ending on a spiritual note because… duh.

 As I sat in bed all day yesterday I couldn’t help but think about how much I have learned while here. My favorite thing I’ve learned is the importance of having patience within the plan God has for us. (a) how cool is it that we know why we are here, and (b) I’m glad I don’t know what to expect. Does that make sense?

 I mean, I know that I can expect happiness as I continue to live right, but I also know that doesn’t guarantee there to not be times of trial, heartache, and suffering. Being here has been hard and fantastic. At the same time. some days I feel so alone and that has forced me to rely completely on the savior. Other days I feel so much strength and happiness. Either way I have learned that it’s important to be patient within it all. On the happy and sad days. Patience leads to faith, trust, hope, etc.

I love you guys sososososososoos beyond much. Thanks for being my family. Thanks for being my friends. Hope you all have a magical week.

Love,

Ray