Why do I have staff?

Good question. When I moved here, I was determined to not hire staff to cook and clean for me although that is very common here. But, when I looked at the house I first rented, there were 3 staff there, recommended by the family who were moving back to the States. If those 3 staff didn't have jobs to earn money, it would be difficult to find work and feed their families. So...I entered into new territory, being an employer and supervisor. The second part wasn't new to me, but being responsible for payroll, determining benefits, making decisions about hiring and firing (which visibly affected people I knew) was a new area.

The positions were cook/cleaner, day guard/gardener and night guard. When I moved into that house, the guards were working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week and the cook worked 3-4 days a week. What a shock! Coming from a time and place when work hours and conditions were prescribed by law, to this place where people needed work so badly that they would take almost any work just to take care of their families. And the conditions they had with the family before me was so much better than other places around, they were happy with what they had.

For my last 20 years in California people who had lived with me had provided cooking, cleaning and gardening services in exchange for rent. This was the first time that I'd had to pay for the work to be done. First we changed the work hours to include days off, and shortened shifts. I figured out how to budget for it and developed the habit of setting aside the wages for the next payroll as soon as I received by retirement monies. Slowly other benefits of vacation, sick time, meals during the work shift and education were added. I had to go back to 12 hour shifts for the guards when my "farm" got so big that I needed help with it. Once the animals all left, the guards went back to 8 hour work shifts for night and 6 hours for days.

Today, Grannie Mc's Ministries has 5 employees, with a payroll of close to $500 per month. In this next year there will be one more business start-up and another employee going for university level schooling. 4 people have completed their education plans. In addition, 3 others have begun their small businesses with assistance or support from GMM. Not too bad for just a short time. Wonder what else God wants to happen here?

Everything old is new again

When I was 6 years old, my grandmother walked to the neighborhood market to get some staples for the kitchen, had milk, butter and cheese delivered to the front door and was on a first name basis with her neighbors and the people who ran the local businesses. When I left CA 4 ½ years ago, the neighborhood markets were a thing of the past, home delivery didn't happen for food, unless you ordered from Safeway over the internet, and I didn't know most of my neighbors or the people who waited on me at the bank, the market, etc.

Here, I shop at a neighborhood store, Christine's, for household staples, have milk and fresh fish delivered each week to my gate and know many (not all) of the people around me. However, my staff and housemates do know all the neighbors and what is going on in the neighborhood. It is a very good way to live.

What I love about living in Uganda

The friends I'm making, the new foods that come my way, life in the villages, time to talk with people and get to know them and their heart for God, the ability to pass along blessings received from God to people He wants to bless.

If life is about adventure and new experiences, living in a different part of the world certainly helps with that. If life is about service and making a difference in the lives of people, you can do that where ever you live. It is just much easier here than in CA for instance. (Well, once you learn to really listen to your heart and ask lots of questions, so that you do no harm in the interest of doing good.)

Here, an adult can attend university for about $1000/yr for tuition, fees, books and transportation. A small business can be set up for anywhere from $500 to $1000, depending on the business and its location. It can also be done for $200, if the person is working on the street or out of their home (e.g. Selling air time for cell phones).

Cooking in the "rough"

Came home for lunch on Tuesday, the day Ruth is here to cook for me. She was outside cooking on the small propane cylinder (it has a burner and grill). Usually I have a back up gas cylinder for when the current one is empty, a once a month occurance She didn't know where the spare was kept, so simply moved to the outside one. Better than cooking over the small charcoal stoves, but still not convenient.

When we checked, it turned out that I had not refilled the backup, so no gas in the house at all. Problem solved with the assistance of one of my boda guys who took the empty to the store and exchanged it (along with some money of course) for a new full one. Now just have to remember to fill the backup the next chance I get.

Spiritual Disciplines: Forgiveness

How do we learn to forgive others completely? To understand more of God's forgiveness?

This past 18 months there have been money thefts from my home 3 different times: from an ATM connected to an account for Nasser; from an ATM for my VISA card; and most recently from the Church's Charity box which is kept here.

Now the thefts could have only happened because of my carelessness, leaving PIN numbers with the cards, leaving the extra key to the lock box with the box. So, the blame goes to me first. Since I do have the resources, thanks be to God, to make up the replacement funds, no harm comes to others by the thefts.

But what is the best response to the one who steals? I know in my heart who it is. I can't prove anything that would stand up in court. And the thefts would not have happened if I had been prudent.

So now I struggle and find that I begin to glimpse some tiny bit of what God goes through with us. I steal, lie, fornicate, lust, worship idols, turn from others and their needs....all of which are sins and put distance between me and God. God wants to hold me close, in love, but I have to confess my wrong doing in order to begin to believe how loved I am. There is much in my life I have confessed to God and some things still not given over. God is always patient and loving towards me, knowing all I have done and quick to forgive when I ask.

With this one, who has taken money, I am trying to act as God would want: to be patient, to forgive in my heart before it is asked for but waiting for the confession, continuing to bless and not punish. It is difficult, but Spirit is assisting. Also the lessons learned during the fasting time help too as the material things of this world are not as important as they used to be in my life.

The journey continues. Someday I will be the person God made me to be, until then may Grace and Mercy surround me and all those who are in my life, near and far.

Spiritual Disciplines: Fasting

So what is so wonderful about fasting??? And why would anyone want to do it?

If you read my short blogs from Sept 2008, you read about my beginning with fasting one day a week. The fasting I did was in response to a direction from God. I had been praying about where to live as the landlord was boosting the rent to a level i couldn't afford. God's answer, in part, was to tell me to fast until I was in the new house for 2 weeks. I was also to read 3 chapters a day of Isiah. When Isiah was finished, I got to continue at 2 chapters a day of Daniel, Ezekiel, and some other books.

Now fasting is a decision, and different from missing a meal because of work, forgetfulness, etc. It is meant to provide more time with God. My version of fasting was this: eat Monday dinner, skip all day Tuesday and then eat Wednesday breakfast. I took water, tea and sometimes fruit juice during the Tuesday time. I read the Bible chapters some mornings before I got out of bed (wasn't as routine with this as I might have been).

There were a few times that I would do well, and then take a snack and have to begin the fast all over again. Also there were a few days that I skipped altogether. After a time I noticed that some fast days were very easy to do and lightened my load a lot. Some days were a struggle, not helped by some books I was reading which had extended feast descriptions!

The landlord recanted his rent increase in Nov, but I felt that the fasting and reading was to continue. In March there were rumors he was going to build another small house in the compound where I was staying, a very unsettling situation. So the fasting continued.

In May I negotiated for a new place to rent, but couldn't move in. So the fasting continued. August 1 saw us in the new house, but I needed to continue for a bit. Then we were to go to Kenya in early Sept. I realized that it was almost a year since I'd started the fasting. So I added extra days to make up for the missed ones and a few more to cover the two weeks of our trip.

By the end of September I had averaged one day a week of fasting for an entire year. Not a bad start.

What did I learn?
First that I wasn't "starving" during the fasting time. The struggle was with my mind and expectations and habits, not my body.

Second, that food had a huge hold on me, my time and thoughts. (yes, from my size others might have seen that, but it is different knowing it for yourself).

Third, and most important, that fasting set me free in a big way from the hold the material things of this world have in my life. Now, there is room more for people than ever before. I have given all my possessions in the US, except the house, to my daughters. There is much more appreciation for beauty of the natural world and less covetedness in my heart.

Next steps: my housemate fasts the entire month of January. This year I will join her. I doubt I'll do the all night prayer sessions with her at her church, but I really don't know what God will lead me into. I trust Him completely to show me what I need to do and when to do it.

And the house I am now living in......is so much better than what I had before, it could only have been found by God. The rent is affordable, the landlord's easy to work with and life is very very good.

Pantomime: A play like no other

This very British form of drama held early in the Christmas season is beloved by most of my friends from the UK and leaves Americans a bit bemused.

Usually loosely based on a commonly known children's story, the play reflects on local culture, politics, and business foibles, has the male lead played by a young woman and a main female character enacted by a man. Plays include roles for many children and teens as well as offering beginning parts for persons wanting to try out their acting skills.

The interaction with the audience includes line-and-response i.e. "Oh no you don't." "Oh yes you do!" or "Behind you." With the audience giving one or more of the lines at the "proper" time with some guidence from one of the characters. Usually there is a time in the play where candy is thrown to the crowd, or audience volunteers participate in the action, only to get a pie in the face.

Frequently there are singing solos, to showcase real talent, lots of plays on words/phrases and puns along with slapstick kinds of humor enjoyed by children of all ages. The political satire keeps the adults focused while the children wait to see what will happen with their hero.

Of course, there are all the behind the scenes jobs and tasks as well: setting and managing the lighting, costume design and fitting, props creation, location and management, publicity, stage direction, orchestra and choreography practices, painting of backdrops and more.

The spoken lines of the play and the gestures or pranks of the actors are enhanced almost daily to incorporate local events and news, with each performance being somewhat different from the one before. On the last night, the actors begin to improvise, in keeping with the play of course, as part of the fun.

All in all, it is great fun. If you have a chance to see this part of British culture, grab the opportunity (but don't volunteer to go on stage unless you are dressed for it).

Organized Chaos

My bedroom is filling up with cloaks, fabric, trims, "rat tails", masks, assorted fabric pieces. Every week we are closer to having all the costumes for the Pantomime play completed. Hopefully, we can find/borrow or make everything for the 40+ member cast, at least 10 of whom have 2 costume changes. The play begins the second week of December so there is a little time still to make sure all the pieces are there, and fit the players who have to wear them. Now, if I can just figure out footwear for mid-1700's England we'll be OK.

Red Bananas

Here are my 2 red bananas. The first photo shows them in August, two stalk-looking things with a small leafy plant (Bird of Paradise) in between. The yard looks pretty open at this point.


This shot was taken in late October. The red bananas are now over 3' tall, with corn in the background against the wall topped with a yellow bouganvillia. You can also see the Bird of Paradise has also grown.

It may be as long as 2 years befor we harvest any. These are my favorite of all the bananas and are not readily available here in Kampala.

How do you know when rainy season has arrived?
Thunder and lightning, big fat rain drops, heavy rain squalls that drop 2" in less than 90 minutes....all that with sunshine again within a few hours.
The rains often come in the night, leaving the days wide open for gardening, walking, whatever you have planned.

Temperatures range from low 60's to high 70's. Everything is green and growing.

working again

I thought my days were full and busy. I had discovered on-line gaming (Travian first, then FarmLife) and facebook and the new-to-me used bookshop was getting some business too.

Then, Janet, a friend from eMi, asked if I would consider being House Manager for them. The full time staff are more than busy and there was no one available to fill this position. I said yes, of course. It is through eMi EA that I am able to obtain my visa to stay in Uganda. I met with the management team, and we agreed that I would take over all the issues with the rentals (an apartment with 4 interns and a duplex unit with 3 interns and 2 Heritage teachers). The initial work has been to smooth out the relationships among the people and clarify the basic work standards.

It has evolved into connecting the repair persons to the jobs quickly, i.e. Stopped up sink in the kitchen, non-functioning hot water heaters, etc. We have also labeled shelves and drawers in communal use areas so everyone can put things back into the same spot. We have also created a clear job list for the workers, so they know what all to do, and the tenants know what to expect.

It is fun! And I am at eMi EA at least part of each day, 3-4 days a week. The people are wonderful to work with, and sometimes I am able to do some of the repairs myself. All that home ownership comes in handy.

Safari

Safari is a Ki Swahili word meaning to drive/travel around. On our way back home, still in Kenya near Nkuru, we passed these animals who were along the road.





In addition there were warthogs, but I wasn't fast enough with the camera. On the way into Kenya, one of our party spotted elephants at a distance. I snapped a quick photo, but didn't see them. Only with the photo really expanded did the rough, pixelated shaped of elephants appear.

all of the bird photos I took will have to wait for posting for another time. Sorry:(

Kenya Part 6 Odds and Ends

Language picked up (Ki Swahili and Kikuyu?)

A san ti thank you
a san ti san a thank you very much
kar ib bu welcome
en ney ok
a re te what! You don't say!
jam bo hello
mis su li fine

Already we want to make plans to return, maybe to see Mombassa and Fort Jesus?

The only gift I gave to our hosts was the mending of some 8 year old couch doilies that were coming unraveled. They did not know these could be mended and were well pleased with having them repaired. Little enough for all the hospitality shown.

Hope to have visits from Joseph and Sophia, our Kenyan hosts, and maybe from James and Margaret, our links,too??

Kenya Culture Today Part 5

Current Practices
Dowry payment happens when possible, even after 3 kids. Attended a celebration where the groom's parents were away getting medical care in the states and the grandfather stood in for them. Over 200 people at the event to witness the cutting of the shoulder (of a leg of goat), an act that made the marriage finally, completely legal.


Smog, traffic jams morning and night, highway expansion, traffic control...signs and symptoms of big city life anywhere. True too of Nairobi, the capitol, which is clean with beautiful buildings in center, and has a game preserve within city limits

House construction evolved from building with mud and sticks, to wood planks, then iron sheets. Now commonly cut stone, usually one story with fireplace, or multistory with fire place, floor plan often English style. Roof lines on older homes much like in Uganda, roof in one plane, raised at the front to drain to the back. As in many places in the world, owners build in stages, often beginning with the foundation, stock-piling materials for the next push a bit at a time.



People are buried in cemeteries when they don't have their own land. All bodies are taken to the mortuary in the local hospital with burial about a week after death so people/family can come. Long car procession=well known and liked.

Children named: first boy after paternal father, second boy after mother's father, 3rd boy after paternal oldest brother, 4th boy after mother's oldest brother. Girls in same sequence, first girl after maternal mother, etc.

face me taxi : bench. Seats 10 (legally) in back of small pickup, bell system used to let driver know when to stop and go Matatus like the ones in Kampala are small vans that legally seat 14 passengers and a driver (often with more than that)



Traveling for over 10 hours with christian music on mp3 player hooked to the car sound system, no repeat music and all in English (day trip to Nairobi). This made being caught in evening commute traffic for 3 hours bearable.

Traveled miles in the back of a pickup seeing the country side and towns around

Kenya Part 4

Where we stayed


Large house with 2 bedrooms, 3 inside storage rooms, large living room, a cleaning/cooking room, mud room, outside cookhouse, with storage on the back side. Chicken houses, 4 holding 500 each, plus cow pens, bull pen, shower/bath house. Compound also contains gardens, 2 other houses, another cattle pen with 4 cows. pit toilet next to shower room and cows. They have electricity and water from a tap (faucet) and from a cistern (when there is rain)

On the same property in other houses live one of Joseph and Sophia's sons, with his wife and 3 kids; in another live the 2 men hired to help with all the work. Joseph was born and raised on this land. His mother is buried here as well.

Neighbors on two sides are separated by hedge fences and also house mutiple generations in close proximity.

Kenya Part 3 People

Learnings/Thoughts/Reflections Sept '09 Kenya trip to land of Kikuyu in Rift Valley

The People

Friendliness of all the people: 4-7 visitors a day, many brought food gifts to share. They weren't shy even with no English language and me with no Kikuyu or Ki Swahili. Frequently they stopped by on their way to work or shop.


grandkids all around playing, running and yelling joined by neighbor kids who wanted to see the visitors.

Sophia, our hostess, cooking all the time! And making my bed when I wasn't looking.



Politics dominates from 5:30 am to late at night, by radio and TV source of much conversation among educated people.

Kenya is struggling to weather multiple problems – drought, famine, impending El Nino, - and long parlimentary sessions attempting to find out if the President can reappointment a special investigator without going through the required processes.

Power off only on Wednesday mornings.Water off occasionally due to line breaks.

Poverty level in this area, Thika and Nairobi, seems much better than in Uganda, even Kampala. Kids look well fed, well dressed by comparison. Kenyans seem productively energetic, with good initiative for multiple businesses and practical education.

Kenya Part 2 The land

The Land

5 water towers create the rivers and streams that make water for Kenya. Drought of 2 years is dwindling the water supply. Most of the country is dry, herds in many areas dying, no forage, little feed to be bought. Water level is very low in all rivers, streams barely running. Large dammed lake is only half full to serve Nairobi and environs.

Dust/dirt is mostly red. Found lots of lava rock, and obsidian near 14 falls. Kenya has lots of stone, which is mostly used for building, even 3 and 4 story houses, buildings, etc. Some soil is yellowish red.

Many wild forests, and some planted ones in the area near to us. The Amadeus is grand, has some resident elephants whose sign we saw, but not them. The signs were poop along the road and bark shredded from trees by the tusks of the elephants. The "God Help Me" forest, so named because if one has a car break down or other problem there, the available help is little and rare. Only God can help. The forest had a real name, but this is what the locals called it.

Volcanic signs all over, and the escarpment and Great Rift Valley: what a wonder-filled place to take a geology class! Even saw boulders of obsidian near one place, just lying by the road.

Kenya Part 1

Learnings/Thoughts/Reflections Sept '09 Kenya trip to land of Kikuyu in Rift Valley

Agriculture
tea and coffee planations

100's of acres of coffee picked bean by bean, outer husk removed; bean washed, graded, dried, covering removed, roasted, marketed.


tea - 2 leaves and a bud picked, into large sacks taken and dried. lots of fire wood used

intense farming: 3000 chickens, large rooms of 500, eggs collected 3xday, 7 days a week, watering on automatic systems; all sweepings taken up and sold for manure;


cows fed corn stalks, matooke trees, cut by panga or machine ( hand operated or electric)
Freisan cows for milk are common. Most are black and white, some brown.

Other cash crops: avacados, macadamea nuts, while cabbages, greens, maize are common crops for home

recycling manure into coffee fields robusta likes shade and arabaca likes sun. Large old plantations near Thika now sold and converted into fancy houses and subdivisions

Patience

How does one get/learn patience?
Easy way is to come to Africa. There is little hurry, minimal time concern and the focus is on helping others, not offending them and being polite, all tools to maintain relationships.

When I was working in CA I frequently was frustrated by how slowly agreements were reached, activities accomplished afterwards and hated to be kept waiting for an appointment. I did learn to take a book with me to the doctor's office to keep occupied in the case s/he was running late. But I still hated it.

Imagine how it was to find that standing in a queue (line) that is 20 people long, standing about 4" apart and moving at the rate of one foot every 20 minutes was standard in order to pay bills for water, electricity. There is not home mail delivery and checks are still a new service with banks so many places won't accept them.

I did the standing in line thing for a while, but found as many ways to avoid it as possible. I paid bills every other month, sent Nasser, Ruth, or anyone else willing to go, to stand for me. Eventually I found that if I paid early in the morning at a local office for the water, only 3 people were usually there. The electric I pay through my bank, but sometimes the line there is almost as long as at the office downtown.

Mail from CA takes 3 weeks to get here. So...I go to the Post Office only 2x month. I don't get much snail mail, mostly stuff from AARP. At least there is no waiting to get into my p.o. box :)

Waits at the doctor's and dentist's office are surprisingly short, less than 15 minutes usually. I like that a lot.

Internet users are highly excited, for fiber optics have just arrived in Kampala. Now there is hope of connection speeds much better than the 2Kb/sec that are average here on the dial type connections transmitted over the cell phone towers. The broadband likely won't be in my price range, but enough businesses and "big" people will switch that the speeds for us plebes should get better.

Any thing that you are looking for, a new office supply, specific piece of apparel, car part, etc, requires you to go looking (or send some one) in several places. I haven't yet found the equivalent of the yellow pages that we can use. Once you do find the source, you are determined to remember where they are located for the next time the need arises. You may seek them again and find they have moved, are no longer in business, etc. And it definitely is Buyer Beware for all sales, purchases. There generally isn't a return policy. If you have a good relationship with the business owner, it may turn out OK.

After 4 years, I am still learning, and learning to appreciate more and more about the importance of taking time with people. This is where my shift in values away from the focus on time, from the quick, correct outcome to being with and listening to people's stories has developed much more patience in me than I ever imagined. (I didn't realize I needed it so much!) In the greater scheme of things, whether someone is on time, 2 hours or a day late, doesn't matter as much as what is happening in the life of that person now. People who work for me are willing to talk about their lives, kids, hopes, etc, but only if I ask and sit with them.

So patience just comes from practice and perseverance. It is a good thing to have an abundance of.

Family

Here in Uganda, and maybe for most of Africa, family relationships are the heart of one's thinking, choices, life. It is unthinkable to be away from the village with all the grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters. People save money, even not eating, so they can go home, not just for Christmas, but any long week-end. They go home, too, for each and every funeral, wedding, and many births (this more for sisters I think).

The fact that I have chosen to stay on in Uganda while my family moves back to the States is amazing to them. They comment that it must be God calling me to be here for what else could separate one from loved ones?

It is God's calling into this time in my life. But I haven't lost a family, I gained an even bigger one. People from church, especially those working here who are single, have called me and given me extra hugs. Melody even came by one afternoon, just to make sure I was alright. Nasser, my adopted son here, made a point of saying he was here for me. Florence, Rachel and Miriam are all keeping an eye on me and ensuring that laughter continues in my life.

Several families have agreed to share their children with me. I believe that couples have to have "date" time together and that is hard to come by here. Leaving kids with househelp isn't the best solution for an all day or an overnight, for the home rhythmns between Ugandan and western are very different. So I will have youngsters in my life sometimes, have many friends and allies to play and dine with.

Life is an adventure. I am always amazed at who God puts into my life and all the blessings that flow from that. It doesn't always come just from having people share my home either. There are so many ways of being, doing and seeing in this world. We never have to be bored. I look around around me and see such beautiful variety of people, of ways of being loving and caring. I am hungry to learn more.

Change changes

July 8th the judge for the High Court of Uganda granted the petition for finalizing the adoption of Miriam and Moses by Chad and Shanthi Gamble. They are officially ours!!

Now the US Embassy needs the paperwork to process the papers that allows the kids to become US citizens when they land on US soil. As soon as that is accomplished the Gambles will leave for their new life in the States: meeting with friends and family, debriefing on 6 years here with eMi, locating a place to live, job, school, church, etc.

My life will change too. No more grandkids of my own to spend time with, play with and listen to. Also happening: the goat babies go to be with the other goats; a move, sometime in the next 4-6 weeks, to a slightly larger house about 3 blocks from this one; a trip to Kenya, to a village for 7 days; and perhaps "teaching" a class on taking the SAT at Heritage next year (1 hour/day, 2 days/wk).

I have offered to be surrogate "grannie" for kids whose families attend my church, and for eMi families as well. Got to keep up with the latest thing important to little ones or I won't know quite how to stay up with the 4 going to the States.

Life is full of changes. I think God must really, really like change and variety, for that is reflected in the natural world all around us, all the time. An African saying is "Change changes". At first I didn't understand what it meant. But after 4 years here, I think I finally have at least a small handle on it. Each new adventure in my life begins with some kind of change, big or small. All I have to do is go along for the ride.

Typical morning

Here is what my morning was like:

8:45 milk man arrived. bought 10 cups (about 1 1/2 gal) and boiled it for later use.
9:30 called my boda, Nasser, and went to an ATM about 10 min from here. No ATM card in my purse, so went back home, purchaseing sausages from the butchery and some passion fruit from the sidewalk vendor along the way.
10:15 found my card inside my passport! How did it get there?? This card is my only link to getting funds from the US. Without it, I'd be really sunk...
Take Nasser, go back to ATM, get funds. Ride to town. park on the street near a large mall, Garden City, so I can walk down to the store that sells the DVDs that I have to return. Then back to find Nasser. We went next to a shop to have the 5 staff ID cards laminated. While that was happening, we dashed to the fabric row of small shops for fabric for new table cloths and napkins. (Tomorrow is the 4th and I did want some red, white and blue decor.)
After buying the fabric, back to pick up the cards, then to the post office to check mail (the first of 2 checks i'll do this month), then to the supermarket for items for the breakast for 12 I'm making tomorrow. While I was busy, Nasser went across the street to pay my electric bill for me [about $70 for 2 months].

On the way home, we stop to purchase 4 large mangos for 2000/= (about $1) Finally we get back to the house about 12;15. What a great day. All the errands done, no accidents, and everything done on my list.

I love going places with Nasser. He is a safe driver, helpful with shopping and considerate of others need.

Random thoughts

Here is a jumble of thoughts, activities, in no particular order:
goat babies are 6 weeks old now, eating grass (and my potted plants) very well. Ready to be weaned.
New place won't be ready till early August, so will be in this house a while longer. Am so ready to move.
Life is out of rhythmn right now: no work at Heritage School on Wed, no sitting at Shanthi's on Mon am while the cleaning happens

Random thoughts

Here is a jumble of thoughts, activities, in no particular order:
goat babies are 6 weeks old now, eating grass (and my potted plants) very well. Ready to be weaned.
New place won't be ready till early August, so will be in this house a while longer. Am so ready to move.
Life is out of rhythnm right now: no work at Heritage School on Wed, no sitting at Shanthi's on Mon am while the cleaning happens.
My big pot of milk takes 30 minutes to come to heat to make it safe to drink. I love getting fresh milk at my door 2x a week. Usually buy 5 liters for about $1.25. Love the cream to put onto hot cereal.
Added Rachel to my staff, as she loves to cook and it gives us one hot meal every day. Ruth still cooks 2x week, at least till she starts her last internship in August.
Gambles have decided to stay on for one more month to try to get all the papers from the Court and finalize the adoption. They are truly in vacation mode, in an almost empty house.
There are such wonderful people everywhere in the world. Folks who help without complaining, who are good counsel and keep confidences, who are willing to extend themselves in the service of others. God is so good.
Travel plans for Kenya in August are beginning to firm up. 10 days in a village in the highlands. Guess I'd best take all my warm clothes.
The 2 cats in my house are still not friends, after 2 months together. At least the yelling at each other is much reduced. Never thought I'd think that hissing was OK, but it is much preferable to the loud, middle of the night, screeching that can happen.
Macaroni-and-cheese-with-corn-from-scratch is one of my grandkids favorite dinners. So I have to go shopping soon, with one of my boda drivers, to pick up the makings. Pizza is on the docket for tomorrow night, a bit easier as it can be done ahead of time.
Had a business stamp made up. Uganda is big on papers being stamped and signed if they are "official". So the new ID cards I will make up for staff next week will be stamped and signed before they are laminated.
Am learning to make cheese as well as yogurt and other lovely things from milk. Not a bad pastime.

Guess that's all the random stuff for now.

Prayer power needed

Yes, I believe in the power of prayer to change things. I also believe God has a plan and that His plan is perfect.

Sometimes we make plans and hope they are a match with what God has in mind. Sometimes we know/sense/feel what God wants. Sometimes we walk in the dark.

This coming week God might work a miracle and put everything in place for Shanthi, Chad and the kids to all leave Uganda on 24 June, have a 4 day vacation in England and land as planned in Colorado. The miracle has multiple parts, just like the beginning adoption process. So if they actually go on the 24th, we will all know that only God did it. If it doesn't happen, then what God has planned has to be even better than what Shanthi and Chad worked out.

The items required for the 24th departure are these:
1 The judge sits and hears the case for adoption on the 16th
2 the judge gives a verdict right away.
3 the verdict is written out and signed by her and all the other necessary officials
4 the American Embassy processes its paperwork in less than the usual 14 days.

While this might be a possible scenario if it was held in the US, here in Uganda, there is much experience running against it.
a) This judge has been out most of the working days since the case was assigned (due to sitting in other courts in the north, or with illness)
b) judges do not have to give quick decisions and might even postpone the hearing if other matters arise that are more important
c) Some positive adoption verdicts take over 2 months for the paperwork to be finalized and given to the parents to take to their embassy

So, if you have a few seconds or minutes, please pray that the adoption is granted and that all the work is done smoothly, quickly and accurately. God's will be done.

Thank you.

The More things change, the more...

Had planned to give away all my goats, chickens and turkeys to a young couple who had interest and space for them. They will eventually move to a "country" setting and then be able to expand.

Well, by the time they took the chickens and turkeys, I'd given some of them to a family at church who wanted laying hens. They also took a young cock, who entered adolescence/adulthood abruptly. The crowing, with a voice break part-way into it, is really funny to hear...unless it is 4:30 in the morning and you are a light sleeper. Life for them has settled down.

But two of my goats died before the family came to get them. Beatrice, the mother of twins and my favorite goat, died from eating plastic bags caught up in the weeds and bushes where she grazed. Two days later, Step, the goat I received from the Gambles as a birthday present 2 years back died from a GI blockage caused by a small piece of rope.

So now my friends have 3 goats, 7 turkeys and 9 chickens to begin their farm life. I will take them the twins when they are bigger. in the mean time my farm is 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. The goat kids believe that if they cry they will always get a bottle...and they they belong in the house with us. Just because we had them sleep in the living room for 10 nights. Now they sleep on the mat in front of the door.

Life goes on.

God Bless farmers

For the past 4 years or a bit less I have been "farming". Started out with one rooster, added 4 hens and one goat. The highest number I ever had was 32 chickens, 8 turkeys, 7 goats. Today another of my goats died, from eating plastic. Goat herd now is 2 almost grown males, 1 7 month old female and the twins who are 2 1/2 weeks. The turkeys number 7, the chickens 13. All will be given away in the next two to three weeks to people who can care for them maybe better than I have.

Chicken mortality with me has been about 90%, not counting the ones given away to be dinner for someone. Turkey mortality has been about 50%, but I wasn't trying to raise them either. The goats were OK. Lost 1/year to disease and plastic. My favorite one died early this week and another this am.

Farmers, who grow good food for their families and communities see the ups and downs of having livestock all the time. They lose crops to drought, to hail, to too much water or a bug invasion. The herds and flocks can do well, but then can be suddenly cleaned out.

I come from a long, long line of farmers, but I think I am not as good at it as those from a long time back. Good thing my family doesn't have to depend on what I raise to feed us. Maybe my upcoming move is a good thing, to take me away from farming for a season and consider if buying 20 acres and setting up a farm is really what I want to do in my old-age.

Fresh fish

Moses is a fishmonger who has been selling fish to EMI, to Shanthi and to me for many years now. On most of his weekly visits, he has fresh tilapia from Lake Victoria. Last week he came with a huge catfish. For 10,000/= shillings, about $5, I had 1 to 1.5 kg of fresh catfish, one of the best tasting fish around.

This fish cooks up well in a stew, no bones and has a texture almost like meat. As Moses describes it ..."so de-li-ci-ous". It is his favorite of all the fish that he sells.

African daily routine

Here, if one has some kind of home or shelter, the first daily activity is cleaning. This may involve just sweeping the dirt floor of the hut and the compound/yard area in front of the house.

If there are cement or tile floors, then sweeping is following by hand moping and general cleanup. After this then a fire is made and tea or other breakfast items started.

Keeping the home neat, tidy and ready to receive visitors at any time is the expectation and the norm. In Africa, visitors come without invitation and stay as long as they like, hours or days, depending on the depth of the connection and relationship with the host.

This is likely one area where I will continue my western ways: make an appt if you want to visit and hospitality is limited unless planned in advance. Also, as long as there are people around who like to clean, or clearly don't mind it, I am likely to find other activities to engage my time and energy.

A day with Chesna 3

 
 
Chesna and I ate at the Horsestable Restaurant and sat so she could watch the horses. She ordered pizza, one of her favorites and Mirinda fruity (like a grape drink). Once we finished arrived back home she wanted to see the movie all the others were talking about - Cat in the Hat. We still had some time when it was over, so made a box into a bed for her Barbie doll, complete with mattress, pillow and blanket. She is determined to finish up the bedclothes next time she is over.
 

A day with Chesna 2

 
 
 
 

From the tea party, near my favorite bakery, we walked about 1.5 km to a beauty shop for a surprise "do" for our nails. Chesna picked sparkely blue for hers and light purple for mine.
Once the nails were finished, we called Nasser to pick us up. He had to take us to the bank and help operate the ATM, etc as our nails weren't dry enough for all the abrasions with getting into and out of a purse, coin purse, backpack.

Then we were off to Speke Resort, about 5 km away for horseback riding. The riding instructors had just gone for their 2 hour lunch, so Chesna agreed to a pony ride on a gelding named Casanova.

A Day with Chesna

 

 

 

 

Chesna had every minute of her time with me scheduled. She wanted cheese fondue with apples, ham and bread. It was dinner for two, as everyone else was away. I had planned a chocolate fondue for dessert, but she wasn't feeling well. She had fallen from her top bunk bed the prior night and had an upset stomach most of the day. So she went to bed early 8 pm and slept really well.

In the morning all was better and we had coffee cake muffins with juice. After a game of cards, we packed up for the day, with the next event being a tea party next to a local bakery.

A Day with Miriam 2

 
 
 By the time we were finished it was almost 11 am. Miriam was quick to put on her swim suit and get us out the door. She really wanted to go horseback riding and swimming, at Speke. By the time we arrived, it was clear she could do one or the other, but not both if she wanted to go to Didi's World. She opted for the swimming. After an hour in the cool pool, diving for coins, under an overcast sky, she was ready to leave. Robert came back and took us home by boda for a lunch of left over posho.

Miriam had agreed previously to take Moses with us to Didi's today. She didn't mind sharing that with him and their mom agreed. So we got Moses and off to the “Disneyland” of Uganda. They rode every ride that was open and that would let them get on. The park wasn't terribly crowded, so the wait in the lines was maybe 5 minutes. They went for the big bumper cars, the caterpillar roller coaster, the truck convoy, and many others. The only upset was when they got onto the octopus, a ride for 12 and up. Moses came off scared and shakey. Miriam wanted to go again. I said I would take them and we got on, strapped in. Then the attendant noticed I didn't have the required wrist band that riders have. I managed to convince him that the boy and I needed to do this ride again as he had been so frightened. We did make it through the ride, with both little ones getting scared at different times. But it wasn't traumatizing.

When that part of the day was over, we called for our boda, went home. Miriam brought out the Bible bingo game, which Moses handily won. The end of another great day.
 

A Day with Miriam

 
 
 
 

Miss Miriam was more than ready when I showed up. But I was detained working out the last details for Easter Sunday dinner with her mom. We finally left and went home to dinner of beans and rice, her favorites, even though she had had the same thing for lunch at EMI. She set the table and then we waited for Miss Janet to come and join us for dinner. Miriam kept watch from our gate and let us know the minute Janet came into view.
After dinner, Miriam chose a movie....yeah, Cat in the Hat. She had a backup picked just in case it didn't work or something. She watched most of it with big Miriam. By the end, she was well past her usual bedtime and went straight away to bed, spending some time trying coax Oreo, their used-to-be cat into the bed with her. Oreo was more concerned with keeping the other cat out of the bedroom.

In the morning, posho porridge was the order of the day, topped with brown sugar or golden syrup. This hot cereal is made with milk, and is much like cream of wheat. Since this was Good Friday, we went down to church for the service, including communion. We had a quick snack of coffee cake, left from Nate's breakfast yesterday.

A day with Nathan 3

 
 

Nathan played on the arcade games until all his tokens were finished. He beat me at air hockey too, as one of his games. When we were all finished, we called Nasser to come and pick us up at the nearest round about and then take us home. Ruth had a snack of zucchini bread waiting. Nasser and Nate were enjoying a piece in this last photo.

A day with Nathan 2

We called Nasser to go pay some bills and he was able to play Game Boy while he waited.  
Then for his surprise we went to Garden City, to the bookstore. He read 2 books while we were there and bought 3 other ones to take home. Lunch was at the food court, with a mix of Lebanese foods and indian curry, with a pizza for follow up. He managed to finish 1 of the small books we'd bought.  
Then off to the bowling alley. On the way he showed me his dad's favorite Natural Food Store, which sells Kraft mac and cheese, Campbell chicken soup and Mrs. Butterworth's syrup. All that along with many vitamin supplements, skin care products and such. At the bowling alley, we had to wait a bit for them to open and then clean the place. When we finally got to bowl, Nathan beat me handily the first game, something like 96 to 68. He even got a strike and 2 or 3 spares. (They had to put up the guide rails for us as we both were throwing gutter balls at the beginning.) The second game I beat Nate, but only by 5 pins! He is pretty good.