I went for a walk with 6 of the kids today in pairs, 3 walks, so I got my exercise in. It was fun to spend some (somewhat) individualized time with them. I geared each length of walk and our discussions based on the age group. With Joshua and Joel, the oldest kids, it was certainly the longest walk and along the busiest route and we talked about school, how to walk properly and about me going back to America. When I went out with Annet and Cocus, kids in the middle, I told them they could hold my hand, but they didn't have to, as long as they walked with me and followed any commands on the busier roads, Cocus always wants to hold my hand. We talked about bricks and how not to react when they smell something horrible, we went past a feed market, but I don't want them reacting like they did if someone is smelling badly. Then after rest time Emma, Carol and I headed out, unfortunately we stopped at one point and Emma was standing in the middle of those terrible biting ants I blogged about on my safari, I had to pull his pants down and take them out of his underwear, suprisingly he didn't cry, and he walked the entire time, he's really growing up!!
And then I got through working on using scissors properly with 7 of them; the funniest thing was that Esther could not cut wihtout sticking her tongue out! I felt successful in really spending quality time with the kids. I'm trying hard not to punish them so that it is all happy time, but Joel was struggling in a lot of ways today with not only making bad choices but lying about it, so he definitely got served some time-outs. I guess I wouldn't be the kind of parent to spoil my child and let them get away with everything, that's good to know about myself!
Here's a great quote from my Bible about righteousness that I love, but for some reason haven't shared yet: "Righteous things do not earn us acceptance by God, rather they are a natural response from people who have experienced God's forgiveness and love."
I feel like 3 months of blog-writing is starting to catch up to me, sorry if the content is boring. Don't worry only a few days left, hang in there, there's bound to be a fruitful one about all I've learned, or how I've grown, or something like that. 11.27.12
Oh man, it's really starting to feel like I'm coming to the end of my trip. Leaving America wasn't this hard and I think it was because I knew I'd be back in 3 months. If you recall before I left it didn't even hit me that I was leaving until a few days before I left, and now here I am having known it for a while and with a few days left I'm really feeling it, cherising the moments.
Today was our last day of serving at A Perfect Injustice, the street ministry. After all our lessons, activities and devotions were over, just before blessing their meal we told the boys it was our last week. I spoke on behalf of the three of us girls saying that serving there was our favorite ministry opportunity and it's because we love the boys so much (needless to say they were excited to hear that). They had a boy serve as their spokesman thanking us for everything and then one boy prayed for our journey; it was really sweet and touching, and made me aware that when I say/said good-bye it might be forever. Many of the boys hugged us good-bye, and I considered that a really big step for them; we had always been warned that many of them don't touch because of fear or things from their past, so this was especially heart-warming. I got teary-eyed saying good-bye.
The other night Don got me teary-eyed too. Since I had the kids make a picture for Auntie Jo and Auntie Cassady to make a book, and they did something similar for me, the kids know we are leaving soon. So the other night when I asked the boys for prayer requests Don asked to pray for the three of us, and coming from a 4 year old that has the attention span of a fly I was amazed that it even registered to him.
We had a camp-out last night (aka we built a fire and did devotions outside while eating their version of s'mores: butter cookies, chocolate syrup and a marshmallow) and that is another sign of someone's visit coming to an end. I'm doing everything I can to hold on to the precious moments, like holding each child individually and praying with them, doing their first puzzle with them, learning new games, and going for walks.
I know that I have impacted their lives and I'm so thankful for being able to know it. Not only have I changed them through potty-training and learning how to tell time, or identify letters and numbers, but through all my activities, games, play-time opportunities, the love I have given them, and the Bible stories and verses I have taught them. I am so grateful to have a servant's heart, for having heeded the call and travelled here, for loving on my abaana's and having felt their love in return. 11.26.12
I led devotions tonight on resolving conflict because I have been reading Matthew and Proverbs daily and within 2 days of each other both books had something to say about it.
The passage in Proverbs (ch 6) was about when you make a mistake. It calls for you to humble yourself and ask for forgiveness, and not to wait, sleep on it, etc. but go right away as soon as you realize your wrong-doing and apologize. I think it is also important when you are the one who has been wronged for you to humble yourself, acknowledge even to the person you are asking to fix their mistakes, that you are often at fault for things too, it helps them feel less attacked and less on the defensive. Matthew 18: 15 tells us in the instance of a person wronging you to go and tell them their mistake. It's a great idea to have an accountability partner, someone to help you rectify ongoing struggles within yourself, you are almost to act like one in this instance. This is not telling us to share someone's mistake or wrong-doing with others in a gossipy way, just go acknowledge the issue with the person and hope for a resolution. If that doesn't work take along one or two people as witnesses to try and get the issue resolved. Very seldom would you have to go to the next step which is to share the concern with many others (a whole church) in hoping to find a resolution. If that doesn't work the passage tells us to treat them as a pagan or tax collector; if they aren't living right, even when taught and shown otherwise, they aren't living the way God has called us to. But notice there are many steps before this last one. We all stumble multiple times and sometimes it is over the same issue, luckily, like God's grace and mercy we are to offer second and third chances for rectifying problems.
What is most interesting, and something Auntie Jo can't stand about this passage, is that ministers and others (including myself, before) in prayer often say, "wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there you are also", but contextually this is talking about conflict resolution. God is ever present, it doesn't require two or three of us to be together. 11.24.12
There are a couple of things I want to work on with the kids, some might be a little young for a few things, but I can't single any child out or they'll have a fit. One thing I want to teach them is how to use scissors, so today I asked Auntie Jo to make big shapes on construction paper and at some point this week we'll learn how to cut! Auntie Jo also started teaching Fauziya how to floss yesterday, but the other big kids should learn too. I also want to work on prayer time with them: how to pray, what to pray for, how to be thankful in prayers, etc.
Just one week left...sad and happy. 11.24.12
For a while I went on a hiatus of taking pictures while we're driving somewhere, or taking random shots of the kids every day, but as my time is quickly coming to an end I've picked up my picture taking habits, and started taking lots of videos too so I can hear their sweet voices. Thank God for skype so that when I go back to Philly I can skype with the kids still!
Did a little black Friday shopping today, well, our own version of black Friday, where you have to be a good bargainer to get a bargain! We went to the craft market today to get final presents for family and friends. I can typically get the price down 1/4-1/2 the original price they tell me, so in the end I'm not sure if it's a bargain or just the price you'd pay if you were Ugandan instead of a mazungu.
Today was the kids' last day of school for the year, their school years run similar to the calendar year. They won't start until mid-January, they'll stop in April for a month or so and then resume for a few months, off for August and on from September-November again. So our (all 3 of us missionaries came within a week of eachother and we'll leave within a week of eachother) last week with the kids we'll have plenty of time with them for playing, doing activities, taking pictures and memorizing tender moments, like when they just wake up from nap and want to cuddle, or want to tell you something so sweet. My happiest moment of today was just putting the kids to sleep. I always sing them a hymn, they love 'Amazing Grace', but recently I've added touching each one of them on the head as I sing it, they lay quiet and completely still with beaming smiles when I get to them. It melts my heart! 11.23.12
Thanksgiving in Uganda was a complete success!! Despite having to use a tiny propane gas oven and the outdoor charcoal stove we did quite well, I think I've become quite resourceful! Everybody was full, satisfied and happy. The two other missionaries served as my sous chefs, prepping, chopping, etc and we had fun listening to Christmas music and stuffing the bird. I even made place cards for everyone, the nerd that I am!
Maybe its just because we've been craving American food, but Auntie Jo said this was the best Thanksgiving meal she's ever had. And then after supper when we had the kids run around to burn off some of the food (luckily only one kid puked from being too full!), Joel ran up to me and said, "Today was a good day Auntie Laura", it was a good day all around; just what I needed!!
I did try to get a turkey, I randomly see them walking around so I know they have them. But when the market boy took me to the area where turkeys were I was not prepared to walk into the middle of cages of hens, turkeys and other fowl clucking, gobbling and flapping their wings. The man grabbed a turkey out of the cage for me and when I asked about the weight he tried to pass the bird over...no thanks, I have no desire to hold a gobbling, struggling turkey by its wings. He said it would cost me the equivalent of about $60 for the turkey and he would include killing it and plucking it in the price, but that was a bit steep for my price range. In the end we settled on two larger chickens (about 5 lbs each...be grateful for your 17 lb turkey!). Our meal included chicken, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, dinner rolls and stuffing! With Fanta for a beverage and an apple crumb pie for dessert, not bad eh? Seriously the chicken was so moist, it literally fell right off the bone! Awesome! And to American standards I used just the iright amount of salt, I don't think my Ugandan friends found it salty enough, but that's what salt shakers are for, right?!
So thankful for the support and love and prayers of my family and friends, for being able to eat a hot meal that fills my belly, for a roof over my head, for a bed to sleep in and for my health. Happy Thanksgiving!
Every few months, maybe even more frequent than that, I get so annoyed with other people's incompetencies. And today is one of those days (ok, maybe it's one of those weeks, or maybe I'm coming to the end of a three month journey that has been challenging in many ways and I'm seeing the home stretch and want to be at the end). It's not that I think I'm better and get everything right all the time, but I try my absolute hardest in everything I do and I wish other people had that same drive; we're serving in the name of the Lord, shouldn't we all have the drive (different person than I was having difficulty with a few weeks ago, he's working really hard!)? This is helping me see that it clearly is my issue/gripe/grievance, and something that I really need to understand, and change about myself.
My dad taught me this phrase a long time ago (beware of a curse word), 'illegitimi non corborundum' it means 'don't let the bastards grind you down'; I have it posted (the latin version) on my wall at work and every time I get annoyed I look at it and smile a little smile. Side note: the other day I suggested that it was my 'corporate world' experience that makes my drivenness so annoying to others here, or vise versa, but hello, I have the same problem at home! What is a girl to do? (Seriously, any suggestions Laurabev@aol.com?)
But I'm trying to combat my annoyance with what I recently read in Colossians 'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts'. And I just sit there and repeat it to prevent myself from overflowing at someone with anger. It probably in general coincides with a time when I am feeling exhausted, not so much tired, but more burnt out, like I'm overloading myself doing my job and a few axtra assignments and its more than I can bear. I need to stop, subconciously, comparing myself to others when it comes to levels of productivity, focus solely on what I do and perhaps say 'no' to something every once in a while (easier said than done). (Does it bother you how much I love parenthesis?)
I think of that 20/80 rule, where 20% of the people do 80% of the work, this is particularly so in churches. Ever notice you see the same faces at all the events working from set-up to break down, or see the same names on the volunteer list to bring food to the sick? This is the principle I'm struggling with.
Self-observation: in being astute and constantly striving, sometimes I do more harm than good. Case-in-point: After cleaning the pantry this weekend I noticed many extras of items and since tomorrow is shopping, and knowing we've been slightly over budget the past several weeks, I thought I'd tell the administrator of a few items I don't think we need to buy. Which in turn led to the cook, sweet Auntie Monica, getting yelled at for the excess (when I somewhat think it is the person who is doing the purchasing's responsibility as much as the cook's to know what we need)...Totally not my intent to get her yelled at, just me doing more harm than good.
Ugh, frustrated, despite still trying to let peace rule in my heart, or trying to keep the bastards at bay, you choose. And yet, thankful that I can acknowledge my weaknesses and hope for growth. 11.20.12
Ready for two disgusting things:
1. Two weeks after I got here I washed my towel, since then I have used another towel I brought and have not washed it; that's 9 weeks of using the same towel! If you've ever dried your towel in the African sun you'll understand the abrasive texture it gets and you probably did the same as me.
2. Ok, this one is way worse...Today I left Don, Carol and Emma for about 1 minute and when I came back Don is licking something off his hands and it appears as if its butter. Quickly I ask him what he is licking and Carol says, "Don has vomited". Eeeewwww, the kid was licking his own puke off his hand. (Side Survival Note that I've heard but never experienced and don't suggest that you kids try this at home: If you ever have no water around and are facing dehydration, you can drink your own urine once, but don't do it twice, you'll get sick.)
So what am I thankful for tonight? Fresh, clean towels! These ones are certainly not coming home with me!
