GOD IS GOOD.....ALL THE TIME....GOD IS GOOD
Here are some notes about life here in Uganda this past 4 ½ years.
Unlike my life in CA, here I have been led into helping individuals move on in their education or business. Here are the biggest things that have been facilitated, and many friends have made it possible.
Peter – completed his O level education, received a certificate and then finished a year of tailoring training at a local university. He is, in this past year, a real Christian (as opposed to saying he was). He now seeks spiritual wisdom from me (how funny is that?) instead of asking for money, help with fixing all the problems life brings his way, etc.
Stephen – completed a 2 year diploma in Community Development. He did this while working full time, attending school nights and week ends and had a 2 month internship in his home area in western Uganda.
He still works at EMI and recently was promoted to supervisor for all the local staff. He and Harriet experienced the death of their first child, Comfort, in this past year and the birth of a second daughter, Consolate. Their son, Blessou, is 2 now and running all over the place.
Ruth – completed her 3 year degree in Public Administration and hopes to go on for her master's degree in a year or two. She attended Saturdays and Sundays and had 2 one month internships, which she had to find for herself.
She had a baby last year also and is considering marrying the father, Isaac, who seems very interested and willing. But her first marriage was such a disaster, she is being very cautious. In the meantime, she in now in a 2 month training course which may lead to a really good job for her.
Ali – he first completed driver's training for a car and received his driver's permit. He began English classes with a tutor, later switching to Adult Education classes at a local university. He took and passed his O level exam this past November, the first person of his generation in his family to do so.
When Ali had been to school at the University for 2 days, he came to work and told me this amazing thing: He had had a dream in the night a few years before of walking around a campus and going in to a classroom building. He knew he would never have a chance to further his education, so dismissed the dream as just fantasy. He had only finished P7 when the war broke out and never was able to go back to school after that. When he arrived at Makerere University, it was EXACTLY like what he had seen in his dream, years before. God is just amazing how he lets us know little hints of what is to come.
Wilson – bought two hectacres of hillside land and tools to begin coffee farming near the home of his parents in western Uganda. He has also gotten married in this past year and wants to expand his business by marketing some of his coffee directly.
Nasser – I bought 2 motorcycles and then sold them to Nasser so he could develop his boda boda business. His goal is to save money and buy a car to hire out as a taxi. Then his girlfriend will marry him. She thinks a boda driver isn't responsible enough to be a husband. She and their daughter, Rhona, live just across the street from me.
This last week Nasser sold his main boda and bought a new one. He knows that at the end of this year he will get more for the new boda than he would have for the older one. He is saving regularly now and keeps track of all his business expenses and plans.
Hassan – With a loan he purchased his first car to hire out (a private taxi). He is now working full time for an organization and does the hire work on the side. He later bought a new car on his own. Good thing he has steady work, for he has 5 kids to put thru school, and there are 2 sets of twins! School fees will be big expenses for him.
About a year ago I told God that I was done with paying for school fees, as people still couldn't get good paying jobs after investing all that time and effort, He decided I wasn't done and told me to sponsor Eric and Miriam in their accounting certificate courses!! And if that wasn't enough He nudged me into promising Rachel that she could start this next August, for a certificate or a degree. What is God thinking??!!! I guess he knows where all the resources will come from as well as the plans He has for each one of these dear ones.
Good enough, schooling costs here are no where near as expensive as in the States. One year at the university for Ruth was about $1700. Ali's transportation to and from his home to school and back was more than the school fees, books and materials, with the full 2 years costing about $1800, as he went 5 days a week, 12 months a year for the 2 years. The small business starts are more in the range of $500 to $1500 and are more time limited.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Spiritual life
Spiritual growth is one of the wonderful benefits to being here. There are so many less than wonderful things that can happen in the search for a connection to God, that you have to give thanks for all the wonders He still creates today. There are self-proclaimed pastors who teach that if you tithe, or give big money to the church (themselves), you will get blessed even bigger. If it doesn't happen, then you didn't give enough! There are many people willing to sit in judgment on the denomination that someone chooses to follow. Generally speaking, Roman Catholics are not considered to be Christians!! And the bolocoli (the born again, rabid Pentecostals) think everyone else is wrong. If that all isn't enough, there are the witchdoctors who sell potions, spells and charms to people willing to part with money. Of course, the person might have to go back several times for someone else may have cast a spell to counter the one that was paid for. However the dark side of this is the human sacrifice that sometimes accompanies the practice. There are several instances each year of children being stolen and murdered to become part of the spell/curse. Usually the children are under six years and without blemish or scar. The belief in witchcraft runs deep in the population and many fear that it has been used against them when live takes a turn for the worse.
So, finding time to pray, to read the Bible and to worship is a really important part of life. On Sunday mornings probably 60% of the population are headed to church. The trouble is, not all of us live our faith through the week, showing by our language, actions, and service that we are different from the ones who turn to witchdoctors.
Someone told me after I came that God's voice is clearer in Africa than elsewhere. What I know is that there are fewer distractions created by advertising, media, etc than in the States. I don't have a radio or TV by personal choice. Sometimes I play music on my computer or one of the young ones will play on their phone or iPod. But it does seem easier to hear God's voice, to discern what He may be wanting me to do, or not do. I can tell now which of the people who come to me presenting problems are mine to assist and which are to be sent on to others for assistance. Of course prayer is always a good option, but it doesn't directly put food on the table or pay the rent or school fees (usually, although God can do that too).
So, finding time to pray, to read the Bible and to worship is a really important part of life. On Sunday mornings probably 60% of the population are headed to church. The trouble is, not all of us live our faith through the week, showing by our language, actions, and service that we are different from the ones who turn to witchdoctors.
Someone told me after I came that God's voice is clearer in Africa than elsewhere. What I know is that there are fewer distractions created by advertising, media, etc than in the States. I don't have a radio or TV by personal choice. Sometimes I play music on my computer or one of the young ones will play on their phone or iPod. But it does seem easier to hear God's voice, to discern what He may be wanting me to do, or not do. I can tell now which of the people who come to me presenting problems are mine to assist and which are to be sent on to others for assistance. Of course prayer is always a good option, but it doesn't directly put food on the table or pay the rent or school fees (usually, although God can do that too).
Monday, March 22, 2010
People here in Uganda
I wish you could meet some of the wonderful people that I have come to know and appreciate here.
There are Ugandans who think nothing of walking for 45 minutes each way to work for 9-12 hours to earn $1 to $3 each day. They do this as a matter of course, without complaining or whining.
Many households have one parent (or grand parent) caring for up to 8 kids orphaned by the deaths due to HIV/AIDS. These adults attempt to provide shelther, food, clothing, education as well as instructions and training. When a family is blessed enough to have both parents present, frequently extended family need them to take in some of the little ones without parents. When either parent can find work to do, they jump at the chance to earn money.
There are preachers, real ones, who have left home and maybe family in obedience to God, to come and share with those here who have no hope in a better life. Some people are ex-pats who work with organizations trying to improve water, health, education, accountability, or prevent AIDS/HIV, air and soil pollution, etc. They may come, like missionaries for 2 years at a time, or it may be their life career. Each one comes with a hope of improving life for others in some way, making a difference now and in the generation to come.
And then there is the occasional retiree like my friend Melody who came to visit and liked it so much she stayed on. Now she teaches a values curriculum to young adults and young marrieds through the Church of Uganda. She is a dynamic, funny Brit, a retired pre-school teacher and one of my best friends here now.
My other best friend is Florence, sister of my heart, whom God sent to me about 2 ½ years ago. We visited back and forth. She attended house group at my place for a while and we prayed together. I have learned so much about Ugandan culture and values from her. She is a modern woman, single parent and bridges the old values from her parents generation while opening a more expanded life view for her kids. She is simply the most amazing woman I've had the pleasure to share space with in a long time.
There are Ugandans who think nothing of walking for 45 minutes each way to work for 9-12 hours to earn $1 to $3 each day. They do this as a matter of course, without complaining or whining.
Many households have one parent (or grand parent) caring for up to 8 kids orphaned by the deaths due to HIV/AIDS. These adults attempt to provide shelther, food, clothing, education as well as instructions and training. When a family is blessed enough to have both parents present, frequently extended family need them to take in some of the little ones without parents. When either parent can find work to do, they jump at the chance to earn money.
There are preachers, real ones, who have left home and maybe family in obedience to God, to come and share with those here who have no hope in a better life. Some people are ex-pats who work with organizations trying to improve water, health, education, accountability, or prevent AIDS/HIV, air and soil pollution, etc. They may come, like missionaries for 2 years at a time, or it may be their life career. Each one comes with a hope of improving life for others in some way, making a difference now and in the generation to come.
And then there is the occasional retiree like my friend Melody who came to visit and liked it so much she stayed on. Now she teaches a values curriculum to young adults and young marrieds through the Church of Uganda. She is a dynamic, funny Brit, a retired pre-school teacher and one of my best friends here now.
My other best friend is Florence, sister of my heart, whom God sent to me about 2 ½ years ago. We visited back and forth. She attended house group at my place for a while and we prayed together. I have learned so much about Ugandan culture and values from her. She is a modern woman, single parent and bridges the old values from her parents generation while opening a more expanded life view for her kids. She is simply the most amazing woman I've had the pleasure to share space with in a long time.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
My daily life
My day to day life is a bit different from life in Ukiah, but not radically so, as I live in the country's capitol city, where many of the international companies and organizations are based. I have electricity and water in my house. The electricity is on most of the time. The planned brown-outs happen only a few hours a month now (it was every other day when I first arrived). The water lines are 20-30 years old and frequently break or get leaks. So we stock-pile water in 5 gallon size containers outside and have eight 1 gallon containers inside. That way we can make drinking water, clean up, etc whenever the water is off. This happens every few day, with the periods lasting from 2 to 36 hours. Boy, do we learn to conserve water!
One of my usual daily chores is adding water to the tank of the water filter and drawing off the filtered drinking water, putting it into bottles and then into the fridge. People really appreciate cold water when it is hot outside. We also use an electric pot for boiling water rather than just boiling it on the stove all the time. The pot makes about a quart at a time, so maybe is not the best use for large amounts of water. We use thermos flasks daily to share hot water for tea and coffee with any who want it.
My time is spent doing “anything I please” as I like to tell those who ask. A retired person here is still very rare, be it Ugandan or expatriate. One morning a week I go to Heritage International School and do copy work for the teachers. Sometimes there are other small jobs that I can do to help the principal or the administrative secretary. I have even “taught” a class for the juniors and seniors in SAT preparation. Teaching isn't my real strength, but it has helped out the school these past 2 years.
I have been doing housing management for EMI which will be as big or little a job as I want. The hours and days are flexible and so far it seems that there is an improvement in the identified areas. God's sense of humor really comes to light here when I am the one to teach the cleaning ladies how to do “deep cleaning”. Since I haven't really cleaned my house at all for many years, I found it more than funny that I was the one insisting on cleaning the light fixtures, washing the invisible places, scrubbing grout between all the tiles, etc. Too funny...
One of my usual daily chores is adding water to the tank of the water filter and drawing off the filtered drinking water, putting it into bottles and then into the fridge. People really appreciate cold water when it is hot outside. We also use an electric pot for boiling water rather than just boiling it on the stove all the time. The pot makes about a quart at a time, so maybe is not the best use for large amounts of water. We use thermos flasks daily to share hot water for tea and coffee with any who want it.
My time is spent doing “anything I please” as I like to tell those who ask. A retired person here is still very rare, be it Ugandan or expatriate. One morning a week I go to Heritage International School and do copy work for the teachers. Sometimes there are other small jobs that I can do to help the principal or the administrative secretary. I have even “taught” a class for the juniors and seniors in SAT preparation. Teaching isn't my real strength, but it has helped out the school these past 2 years.
I have been doing housing management for EMI which will be as big or little a job as I want. The hours and days are flexible and so far it seems that there is an improvement in the identified areas. God's sense of humor really comes to light here when I am the one to teach the cleaning ladies how to do “deep cleaning”. Since I haven't really cleaned my house at all for many years, I found it more than funny that I was the one insisting on cleaning the light fixtures, washing the invisible places, scrubbing grout between all the tiles, etc. Too funny...
Friday, March 19, 2010
Houses I have had here
Here are some notes about life here in Uganda this past 4 ½ years.
God continues to use me in interesting ways, some just like when I lived in Ukiah and some different. I have continued to shelter the “homeless”. Since coming here, there have been at least 19 different people sheltered with the housing God has provided for me. Each location (I'm now in my 3rd house) has been smaller than the previous one and still there is room to share with others.
My current house has 2 bedrooms, one bath, a sitting room, kitchen and attached garage. As of last month, there are 4 young adults in the garage, while Florence and I each have a bedroom. Not a fair division of space, but it works. The 2 sisters, their brother and a female cousin are all in their early 20's and enjoy having their own space to hang out. Little by little some of their friends come to visit, albeit for only a few hours at a time. Culturally, youth and young adults do not have their friends at their parents' home. Often there is a separate house or sleeping quarters for the young adults so just being in the same space with a parent all the time is very different for them.
Whenever anyone is using the bathroom for showering, a query to all present is made, to be sure no one needs to use the toilet in the next bit of time. There is a pit latrine in the back yard (small building, cement floor with a hole in it, built over a large pit), but it isn't first choice for toilet use for me....or others. (Well, except some of the guards would rather use that than learn to use a fancy toilet. Yes, the inside toilet flushes, is white and looks just like the one at your house.)
God continues to use me in interesting ways, some just like when I lived in Ukiah and some different. I have continued to shelter the “homeless”. Since coming here, there have been at least 19 different people sheltered with the housing God has provided for me. Each location (I'm now in my 3rd house) has been smaller than the previous one and still there is room to share with others.
My current house has 2 bedrooms, one bath, a sitting room, kitchen and attached garage. As of last month, there are 4 young adults in the garage, while Florence and I each have a bedroom. Not a fair division of space, but it works. The 2 sisters, their brother and a female cousin are all in their early 20's and enjoy having their own space to hang out. Little by little some of their friends come to visit, albeit for only a few hours at a time. Culturally, youth and young adults do not have their friends at their parents' home. Often there is a separate house or sleeping quarters for the young adults so just being in the same space with a parent all the time is very different for them.
Whenever anyone is using the bathroom for showering, a query to all present is made, to be sure no one needs to use the toilet in the next bit of time. There is a pit latrine in the back yard (small building, cement floor with a hole in it, built over a large pit), but it isn't first choice for toilet use for me....or others. (Well, except some of the guards would rather use that than learn to use a fancy toilet. Yes, the inside toilet flushes, is white and looks just like the one at your house.)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Fasting Part 3
It is March and I'm fasting again. This time my fasting is only partial, which still gives me lots of time for prayer and being.
Total fasting is usually from all food and liquid, and done for 2 or 3 days for those in good health. Partial fasting has lots of variations, with the goal always to change up our activities/habits so as to move closer to God.
This time I am taking water, tea,etc and one meal after sunset. This will continue till Easter. The only effects so far are :learning, once again, that I get crabby when I don't drink enough water ;and waking up at 5 am full of prayers to pray.
Writing down my prayers lets me see later which were answered and allows more prayers to come. The sequence of who or what comes to mind to pray for is just from God, and some of the details too. Sometimes I know enough of that person's life or circumstances to be specfic, but when I don't usually I find myself praying for health, deep joy and spiritual protection or discernment. Any one of us could use more of those things in our lives!
Total fasting is usually from all food and liquid, and done for 2 or 3 days for those in good health. Partial fasting has lots of variations, with the goal always to change up our activities/habits so as to move closer to God.
This time I am taking water, tea,etc and one meal after sunset. This will continue till Easter. The only effects so far are :learning, once again, that I get crabby when I don't drink enough water ;and waking up at 5 am full of prayers to pray.
Writing down my prayers lets me see later which were answered and allows more prayers to come. The sequence of who or what comes to mind to pray for is just from God, and some of the details too. Sometimes I know enough of that person's life or circumstances to be specfic, but when I don't usually I find myself praying for health, deep joy and spiritual protection or discernment. Any one of us could use more of those things in our lives!
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