Hate

Several interesting characters came into work

tonight. I was shocked by the hate that that they spoke and wore. Then I felt bad for judging them, and then I justified my judgment I do not really know if that is legal but I did it anyways. I will not include color or demographic they were so that I can not be called prejudice or basing a stereotype on a certain culture, religion, gender, or sub-society. The first person who came in was talking about animals. I mentioned that I used to volunteer for a humane society. This person said, “those commercials for the humane society make me more sad then the pictures of starving children in Ethiopia”. It made me sick. I immediately defended the children and the man said, “well if their parents would get off of their a#* and work they would have food.” I had to stop talking and walk away because I knew I was about to say something to loose my job. What is the proper response to that?

Then another person came this one was a skinhead with nazi tattoos and pins decorating its vest. I got sick with that also. I had to pray “God give me love for this person, let me love them like you love because I wanted to say a few choice words about ignorance and ask if they had ever been to the holocaust museum.

I started thinking about all of the different groups that are motivated by hatred. I was thinking aloud to my co-workers on talibanistic strongholds and even Christianity that is fueled by religion, which is hate on its best day.

There are so many branches of hatred such as; religion, sexism, racism, and injustice.

Then my co-workers and I started talking about cultures that are based on hatred such as; Texans believing the South should rise again, or FGM in East Africa is practiced by willing girls, or how women wear Bourkas or some only wear skirts just because they want to, or how there are “white” things and “black” things to do not really because they are actually practiced by only white or blacks but just because for the last 2 generations we have labeled it that way.

As Christians we have to be apostolic in our thinking. Apostolic in the original meaning, going into cultures and changing them into Kingdom cultures, or for non-Christians just go into a culture and cut out the ideas, concepts, and precepts that are generated by hatred.

My cousin up until last week went to an all black school in the largest segregated black-only neighborhood in the states.. Yes, that actually still happens in Louisiana. The other day there were a few problems in the class room. The security guards came in took my cousin and the teacher (both white) out of the class room leaving all of the other students in the room. The guard started yelling at all of the kids calling them many choice words. The Principle and councilor sat down with my aunt and uncle asking them to take my cousin out of the school because they were just not prepared to become and integrated school.

How about the KKK started putting ads in coffee shops, cafes, and newspapers when President Obama was elected.

On being hateful, I think it is funny how Christians call our president who they are supposed to intercede and stand behind, if they read their Bibles, a Muslim who is actually Satan.

Really… Are our lives that shallow that we have to live to hate?

The socially elite think of themselves above everyone. I remember in Uganda one night I was house-sitting. One of the house boys was outside being yelled out by the neighbor. I walked outside, acting as the house manager. I asked what was going on, the house guy told me that the neighbor had falsely accused him of something and was threatening to beat him. I asked the neighbor man what happened. He started talking down to me as a woman and told me not to speak to him. I was outraged but I used wisdom and walked away since I was alone with only a very skinny house guy and by this mans tone I knew he would have no problem hitting a woman.

When will it stop? How is racism, sexism, supremest thinking, and religion still existing? Why do we allow hatred to live?

To confound the religious Christians, the largest givers to humanitarian causes, or we could say caring for Jesus, are not saved. The richest and smartest people in the World are not Christians. -We have to change this!!! Not all Islamic people want to blow people up, actually most of them are 100 times more devoted to every facet of life and deserve be more respected than almost every Christian I know. One of the greatest most quoted men on Earth was Hindu. God is Love and hate has to die to live in him! And the spirit of religion crucified my Jesus. As for the religious who do not follow Jesus, I can’t speak for you besides the fact that most religions are based on doing well and not causing other people to suffer.

To the racist, we all came from the same thing.. Dirt created all of us, and if you are not Christian we all evolved from the same thing.

To the sexist, we can’t live without each other. We are equal! Humanity would die out with out one of us!

To the socially prejudice, think of your ancestors, who were they and what did you come from. Are you an immigrant who depended on help from other people, or are you self-made wealthy and you came from a poor family but had that person in your life who was an encouragement that pushed you to succeed? Be that person to someone else.

Love is the key! All we need is love.

I go on these rants when I get so frustrated and my mind is exploding with confusion. Life is more fun living it through love! Get it!! I realize that I cannot judge or return the favor of hate to people I do not agree with so in the end instead of judging their hate I should show ultimate love. My prayer is that God would give me the Love, wisdom, and patience to deal with hatred!

God Bless!

Ulcers or Alcers?

I have not written in a while because I have been so overly busy the past two weeks. I have wonderful missionary couples that are coming to Uganda to help me with the Joy House and they are going to cultivate land for a new children’s home! It is all coming together! Thank you all for your prayers! For the last two days I have been sick in bed with a dang bad stomach ulcer, or in Ug. Alcer. I’m listening to Rick Pino “mighty warrior” thinking that will help me to leave the house today! This past week I did a few renovations on The Joy House. I got new curtains made, cleaned a lot (I have a funny story about the cleaning…) , bought organizers, and we are having whicker furniture made now! Okay the funny story about cleaning… I was scrubbing the walls, the floor, washing furniture, cleaning windows, and then I started cleaning closets. They are not really closets they are little rooms that they just throw all of their junk and rubbish in. I was cleaning out one on my hands and knees and roaches kept crawling on me. These are not just regular cock roaches these are monster, no one has touched their home of rubbish in ten years, roaches. They are the ones that fly and bite. Lets just say I saw one and thought it was a rat. I kept running out of the house screaming. The house girls and mamma kept laughing at me but I was genuinely scared to death! I do not think I have ever been so groused out before! The Joy House is looking a lot better than normal and we are happy we are about to build a new home for the children.

I have not written a blog in a while, so I will try to get everything in.

Last weekend I went with a group of friends to North-West Uganda, Lake Albert for a day. We got lost for over two hours driving to the safari lodge. We were in three cars and we all got stuck on the bad roads at some point. We got to the lodge and there were HUGE lizards everywhere. The cabins were amazing. The only thing that sucked was that there were open outside showers. I do not do well bathing in the open even though the only thing that could see me were the lizards and fish in the lake. We went on a game drive and bush dinner. I was very disappointed because there were no elephants or giraffes. I just remembered I dreamt about giraffes last night. The bush dinner was fun. I went home before everyone else. I guess I was not to impressed because I grew up in the country, and wild hogs and deer in the woods is not that big to me. Of course we are in Africa so you have to say the Cobs and warthogs in the bush. Nothing new to me. Actually there were baboons and I am not used to that! The next morning we went back to Kampala and watched Harry Potter. I was immensely let down. I love the potter series but this one was just dumb. Sunday night I put this hair food in my hair and over a week later it is still not completely out. I washed it out three times at home, then I went to the salon and they washed it seven times. It was a jelly and actually worked as a sealant, like water-resistant. Haha.. I had water-proof hair! Every curly head's dream!

Hustle of getting everything done before I leave is leaving its mark on me. I need to stay here for a couple of years! It is a serious thought. I am really considering moving here. There have been some promises made to the Joy House and if they follow through then I will have to stay here.

This past weekend I went Saturday to meet with some future donors in Jinja. While I was there I went white water rafting. I had a blast besides I think I broke my toe. Its all swollen and bluish-purple. I had a lot of fun. There were people who seriously got hurt, so I was lucky. I expected it to be a little joy ride for naive tourist but wow was I wrong. They were grade 5 rapids on the Great White Nile. Just the name sounds intimidating. After that I went to the pool and met two girls. One was from Stockton, Ca… And she knows tons of my friends that I know from Austin! It really is a small world, I lived in small nothing going on Stockton and we have the same friends and we meet at a pool in the middle of nowhere! The campsite was nice I thought, until I settled into bed and heard a high squealing and this a scurrying noise all around my cabin. I was so scared only to find out a little while later it was rats. There were loud banging noises on the roof I was okay with that when I found out it was only the monkeys. When I see a rat I freak out, like really freak out. I have musophobia to a ridiculous extent. I have it to the extent of leaving everything I own, including my passport, in a New Delhi train terminal while I run the opposite direction of the rat I had just seen screaming at the top of my lungs. This time in the cabin, I did not have anyplace to run because I could hear them near the door, and worst of all I could do nothing. Where was I going to stay I was in the middle of no where with no transport or budget for anything higher than campsite? I had to sleep with my pillow over my head. I felt like my mosquito net was a protective bubble for me. Haha.. seriously I was afraid to raise the net. There were also snakes next to my cabin. It was tons of fun! I was scared but I went on a great adventure. Saturday night I had dinner with some friends and then tried to go salsa with no luck. Ended up hanging out with the girls for a bit then went home. Sunday was Watoto church, Joy House Church, Meetings, and then dinner. It is crazy how fast your body can put you down. I have this ulcer and I think I can handle it and it is kicking my butt. I have been forcing myself to rest. So that is what I am going to do now..

Adventure with a new twist

Adventure with a new twist

Similar to an emperor’s new grove

Zanzibar I love the place. I left you with me sleeping through my nice evening I had planned with myself but fell asleep… My days are a little confused, In fact I had no idea what today was until I asked someone. My phone has been off, I do not have a wrist watch, no Franklin Covey, and no internet no wonders I have been confused! Okay I know it is Wednesday now and I am back in Kampala. I will go backwards! Haha.. The past two and a half days I have spent in Transit from hell. Monday night I took the 22:00 ferry back to Dar es Salaam. I decided to take a different ferry then I had used before just because there were a few sketchy things about the last ship so stupid me, I took a new one. I paid for VIP because this is an all night ride. I got on at 22:00 and didn’t get off until 6am. Too bad the VIP air con had gone out and I had to sit in first class, which was full. This would not be so bad if you did not have to be on a bus for the next two days. I was in a terrible mood because I did not want to leave Zanzibar and I wanted to be back in Kampala at the same time. I actually really missed Kampala the whole time I was there… I knew the only solution was a sleeping tablet, so I took it and woke up at 5am! As soon as I got into Dar es Salaam I had to book-it to the bus station because I did not get off the boat until 6 and my bus left at 6:30 I had no ticket and it was about a 20 minute drive. I got to the station and they said all the Kampala coaches were gone, you know I was interceding! I got on a bus but at the very back. Anyone that has ever ridden on a bus for a long distance on African roads knows that it is the worst thing you could ever put yourself through. It was bad no joke I was coming a foot off of my seat every couple of minutes. Then to make matters worst, we stopped for breakfast at some bus stop, I was starving so I just ate what they gave me. Oh My! I was soooooooo sick. Imagine being on a 12 hour bus ride with food poising and no toilet. It was some kind of adventure. I arrived in Nairobi and was supposed to continue on to Kampala over night but I could not because I was too sick. Nairobi is a scary place. Never go alone!

Ok now I think I have remembered Zanzibar in daily order!

Thursday is where I left you (I think). I cannot remember what I did Thursday night, I think just ate and then went back to the hotel. Friday I went around Stone Town and adventured. Got lost on little streets, drank coffee, bought souvenirs, walked on the beach… you know all of that hard stuff. Friday night I just watched a movie in my hotel. Saturday I woke up and went on a Spice Tour, Tour of the Sultan baths, tour of the slave caves where the Sultans hid slaves after they abolished slavery, and went to the beach. The tours were amazing! The spice tour was on a local farm and they showed us how they grow the spices, what they use them for, how to cook them, and they let us taste them. It was so much fun!! We also got to eat in this village, it was so fun because they served us on the ground and we got to mingle with the other people on the tour. It was crazy how many whites were on the island but none were American. I met one American guy and he was REALLY weird and from the Peace Corps in Tanzania. The rest were Dutch, German, South African, and Italian. The tour guides knew more Dutch than English! I met this really nice Dutch girl on the tour named, Maarta. We became close friends for the rest of my stay. She is studying African culture in Uni so she is doing an internship at a hotel to learn Swahili. Saturday night we went out to eat. Sunday I got up and went to the beach, I wanted to go to church but there were honestly no churches. So I just read one of my church books! Sunday night we went to this night market they have on the beach. It is around fifty vendors that set up bbq pits and cook fresh seafood caught that day. Huge lobsters, barracuda, SHARK, huge snow crabs.. everything you can imagine! It was a dream, sitting on the beach eating fresh fish with coconut bread drinking sugar cane/ginger/lime freshly squeezed juice and then for desert chocolate banana cake things with ginger/cinnamon/clove/cardamom chai.. it was really a dream. I think I gained 10lbs.Maarta and I got henna tattoos! One of the things that amazed me about Zanzibar was the ladies and their henna. I think it was Eid or some special holiday because every woman had artwork covering her arms, legs, and chest. Of course I never can be left out so I had to do it myself. When I was in India Ishta and I had it done on our arms and legs and it was so beautiful, but this time I only did a small design on my foot! We met some people and later went to this Rasta party on the beach. It was fun for a few with the nice music and watching the people dance but we left really early because guys were bothering us. We slept. Monday I woke up went to the beach and then met Maarta and went back to the beach for sunset then went to the night market for dinner.

Observations for this week:

• In Zanzibar they have an alarm that goes off 4 times a day for a call to pray, you can hear it everywhere.
• I cannot deal with different currencies
• I want to open a coffee shop called Karibu
• God will not put anything on me that I cannot bear
• I must have a conquering spirit.
• I love to travel
• I want to go back to the US for awhile and then move to Zanzibar with a Vespa and my sister! (Yes Carlo this would totally fit “What white people like” haha)
• I had some other really amazing dime lines to blog about but now the only thing I can think of is this nightmare I had about Sharks, maybe it is because the discovery Channel is on at this coffee shop and it is on sharks.

Ok.. all for now. Maybe I will remember more and write it today!

~Zanzibar~

With its little winding streets and veiled women is completely a mysterious adventure awaiting exposure. I could not believe how fast I fell in love with this island. It was love at first sight. I would move here in a split minute, you know every local here is Muslim maybe I could open a mission, any churches want to support me?! Haha… Zanzibar is quaint and historical but still completely moving and complex, besides the fact that there is no pharmacy. Beautiful does not even begin to explain the sight! I recommend anyone to go, more than any other place I have ever been. The reasons I like it so much are: I feel safe alone, the people have this island relaxed attitude and are friendly, the beaches are crystal perfect, it is historical, it has winding little roads that you have to walk or ride your bike down, it is Arab and has the décor in every building, It is Africa, It is cheap, its perfect… I just feel a little weird driving to go to the beach in my sundress and bathing suit and every women I see driving has a burqa on, a lot are covering their whole faces.

So the inconvenient story… I came to Zanzibar on a 3 hour ferry Tuesday with intentions of just staying the day in Zanzibar to save money and because I wanted to get to Kampala sooner than I had planned. I got to Zanzibar and fell in love, I stayed at the beach all day then the taxi took me on a tour of Stone Town and to a coffee shop/ hotel that I fell so deeply in love with that I almost cried when I had to leave to board my ship. I got back on the ship to go to Dar re Salaam, the ship would get to the mainland at 6am and then I would rush to the bus terminal to get on my Kampala coach that was scheduled to leave at 6:30am. On the ship I called Continental to change my ticket to go back to Texas early and the lady gave me my new flight schedule and then said that is going to be $4,000.00… ahhhh… that is ridiculous. I hung up and decided to go back to Zanzibar. That night there was a storm and I have never been so ready to die. I repented for every bad look I had ever given anyone. It was a huge ship and we were going up and down side to side, things were falling, chairs were shifting, it was flippin’ scary! I was assessing the situation, I was in VIP, which is at the top-level of the boat. Below there is 1^st class, economy, and people sleeping on the patio. Economy was populated to the point of not being able to move. I was thinking if this ship wrecks I am not going to die from drowning (I know where the life jackets are), or shark feast, I am going to die from stampede of people trying to get out of the ship. We didn’t wreck thank God, even though I got no sleep! I listened to Bill Johnson Podcast all night for comfort! Haha.. So the next morning I went back to the ferry office, because I talked to other whites on the boat and they paid $20 for their ticket and I paid $30. I went to the office told the guy I wanted another ticket back to Zanzibar on a speed boat with a $20 discount because he had cheated me before. He gave me a 'nationa' priced ticket, so when I got on the boat the attendants were inquisitive about me being a Tanzanian without my passport, asking me what I do, not wanting to let me on the boat, finally they did though! I got on the boat and went back to Zanzibar. I have been trying to spot dead bodies in the ocean because of the Yemen airliner that went down going to Mafia, this Island here next to Zanzibar. There are around 153 dead people not found. I keep expecting to see something floating in the water. I got back to Zanzibar exhausted and went to a hotel and slept for a couple of hours. The hotel I am staying in is a family home that this Arab man has transformed into a hotel. It is nice family style apartments. I shared my apartment with an Irish couple and an Indian couple last night. Best thing about it is that it is walk able distance to the beach, breakfast included $25 a night. That is special. Yesterday after I woke up I went to the beach stayed there all day, walked home, and got dressed to go to this nice hotel for supper and I fell asleep and didn’t wake up till this morning. Guess I really needed it! My hotel room has a baby crib in it. It is raining cats and dogs right now. I am going to leave my hotel and try to find a place with internet and then do some touring of some of the Sultan palaces and slave trade places. You know Zanzibar is the birth-place of Swahili, it is where most of the African slave trade worked from, and it is part of Tanzania but has its own separate president and army apart from the Tanzanian government. Ok now I need to go.

Dar es Salaam

I am sitting in my hotel room at the Aroche Grande Hotel. I like the feel of Tanzania. The land and the people are peaceful here. I did not feel this way in Kenya. I have been here watching the Michael Jackson funeral. It made me really emotional, I have no idea why. It made me realize how human he even though I was constantly thinking of the child harassment cases and how the families of the boys who were affected feel. I am not saying it is true, who knows, but I kept thinking that. I am really excited about going to Zanzibar tomorrow! I am going to sleep now so that I have energy tomorrow. Night

Arusha

It is so crazy how dusty this luxury liner is.. There is a window missing in the front of the bus and I am sitting two rows back about to die of the' black lung' plus it has only been 9 degrees C… I feel sorry for the people that got on the bus at later stops because they are sitting in the aisle. I touch anything and it has this red/orange dust all over it. I even had something solid in my coke a few sips back. Who knows? TIA.. At least I have had a window seat and I haven’t had any stinky people sitting by me. There has only been one other person non-African on any of my rides. He is from Korea, I forgot to ask North or South.

I am on yet another bus ride to a new and exciting place! Sunday I took of from Kampala on the spur and went to Kenya. The trip was really long and boring but loratab helped me out! Nairobi… I was impressed on the size and cleanliness of the city but it has a completely different feel from Uganda. Maybe it is because I have friends in Kampala and I know it well and I was a lone without knowing the first thing about Nairobi, besides the riots that just passed. Honestly I did not love it. I did notice that women dress a lot better there. I guess because they are closer to a port for exports to not be so expensive and I guess it is a HUGE city. It was nice to get away to travel before I leave for the states but I miss kampala. The bus ride from Kampala-Nairobi was like 18 hours, then I got to Nairobi. The hotel that I had booked did not show that I had booked so I had to find another hotel at 6am while on loratab. It was an adventure. I got to the room and slept for a couple of hours then woke up and went for coffee at Nairobi Coffee House. It was great besides the fact by the time I got there they were not serving breakfast anymore, I will still remember it as a good spot, for next time. Then I went to the Serena because I knew there was on in Nairobi and I knew it would be safe. It worked out well because there was this beautiful park next to the sernea with a national monument. I stayed at the Serena for a couple of hours and then I went back to my hotel. Later in the evening I hired the taxi that picked me at the bus station to take me to the movies, he said the traffic was too bad so I hired him to walk with me. I have heard really scary stories about Nairobi, did not want to walk alone. I made friends with this Mzee Peter and he was really good to me. I have been in a constant state of confusion with all of the different monies. I do not want a one world government but a common currency would be nice. I love collecting money but I hate exchanging and figuring out te rates so often. Anyways, I looked for a theatre and found one but I had seen both movies so I went to a couple of different places downtown by my hotel and seceded I was too afraid or too impatient to go to the other places and I just went to The Nairobi Coffee House again, the old man taxi driver would not eat with me because he said the food was too white.. It was really great. You know one thing I think is weird is that I only saw a handful of white people and the ones I saw were corporately dressed and definitely were not NGO types of dirty mzungus.

I just stopped at this bus stop and realized just how dirty I am! Wow…

Back to Nairobi…So I ate and then went back to the hotel and watched bad quality sitcoms until I fell asleep. I woke up at 5 to catch the bus to Dar re Salaam. So here I am. Islept the first couple of hours, until I got to the Tanzanian border. Getting my visa at the Kenyan and Tanzania was a hassle, I guess partly because I had bever done such a thing, everything in Africa is hard to get done, there were no other whites to follow, and because I had to first do the money thing.. I wish I would have carried US dollars, can you imagine they would not take Kenyan Shillings on the Tanzanian/Kenyan border but they would accept dollars?! A bit ironic I say. I entered Tanzania and I saw the Africa that I had seen in National Geographic. I guess I have been spoiled with Uganda and even Kenya’s civilization because when I entered Tanzania I was shocked.. The Mosai were there to greet us, just like you see on TV in the very traditional outfits, stretched ears, and cuts on their faces and then there were huge mountains on my left and desert on my right. There was absolutely no civilization. The living conditions are terrible, they are like little mud igloos. The only nice things were missionary post, like mini villages that had very “Christi” style churches in the center with signs painted in English, “First Methodist Church of kjhujhkjh(some town in Swahili).

Oh no it is raining and there is no window.. "JESUS I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE STARVING BECAUSE OF DROUGHT BUT"… I can’t finish that prayer.

I think it is so cool how the mosai have not Westernized, I guess they probably have a bit but they are very much traditional. Oh yes! I just got a free Stoney compliments of Dar re Salaam Express. I guess I have nothing else to write about my trip for now and my battery is dying. So will write when in Dar.

Afraid of Love

As I sit on a fluffy couch sheltered from the torrential monsoon of the Ugandan rainy season by a tent I think of the abortion of potential. I was listening to Brian Welch of Korn sing about being afraid to love. In my case it is afraid to live. Though of course, you cannot live apart from love. I am not speaking of a passionate emotionally driven favor of something or someone. To call love an emotional high is to rob from the essence of the reality of love. TO be afraid to love is to fear advancement in life. How can I rob people of their destiny merely because I am afraid of mine? I think so many times we fear life full of love and we counterfeit life to be more comfortable with our surroundings Do the generations following you a favor and do not substitute your life of greatness for complacency. Love for greatness for you and the thing you love. Dr Myles Monroe wrote something that changed my life, he said, “How many children yet unborn were designed to sing the song you have never written?” Live life to the greatest potential through love not to please, better yet, live life to for what you will be remembered by. Why do people linger on people’s opinion and do not fulfill their God given destiny. History is more important than present. History prepares the foundation for future generations.

I had a dream a few weeks ago and someone in the dream kept telling me, “You are beautifully and perfectly created in the image of God with unlimited potential.” That has been on my heart and every time I see an impossible task I think about that. I can do nothing on my own. With God all things are possible. God uses people to be his hands, so I can do nothing apart from what I encourage people to help me do. As times my life seems completely impossible to generate greatness that is when I lean on God and I think about all of the greats and how they all have problems and hard times. I think life can be as easy as you make it. It is power of thinking, speaking, and knowing love that generates greatness.

My week… I am not going to lie or buffer myself (sorry) but it has been straight from hell. I think that everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. Not to be pessimistic, Audra practice what you preached in the prior paragraph! You know every time I use an exclamation point I think about how Mark Twain said to use them is like laughing at your own jokes. Well I guess I laugh at my own jokes and I love using exclamation marks!

I caused an accident this week. A mzungu guy was looking at me and ran into the car he was following. I felt bad but just kept walking. My dad was in the hospital, nearly had an emotional breakdown, Michael Jackson died, was strapped by corruption, and I am displaced. The only one that I am going to go into is the displaced bit. I live/lived in a village right outside of Kampala. A man was arrested last Sunday for trying to kill a young girl, but is being charged with being connected with a gang of men, in my little village, who are murdering people to sell their body parts to witch doctors. The freaky thing is that the man who was arrested was a taxi driver. Lesley and I take a taxi into town everyday. I cannot compromise safety. God gave me wisdom for something.

On a happy note I took the Joy House children to the Zoo Saturday and had a blast! It was so amazing because the children had never seen the animals or the beach. They are African children and they had never seen a lion. You should have seen their faces when they were looking at the beach. They were so excited. It was a fantastic day that I would not trade for anything. I also got interviewed on TV about MJ’s death and you know a diva loves her bit of fame! Haha…

I had you all pray last week about me staying here in Uganda long term, and this week it was quite clear that God has other plans right now for me. That is okay. I am very sad to leave Uganda because this place is close to Heaven to me but circumstances have proved that I need to leave and return at a later date. Again I am heart broken but it is the more responsible, sensible, and most importantly it is God’s will. I think I will be coming back to the US in the next week or two. God bless. Kawa.

Mysterious Ways

Mysterious ways

 

People have such mysterious ways of living life. I think of how my life differs so much than that of a boda-boda driver, a Saudi oil billionaire, or even my house girls and I wonder are our lives really that much different. I know that we have different goals, immediate needs, value systems, and wants but generally I think everyone is after the same thing, which is happiness. Happiness can be fulfillment through riches in material things, religion, relationship, or merely surviving. Happiness cannot be found in selfishness but only through making others happy. The realization of how diverse my life is compared to some of the people I am around can really set me back. I am not speaking some distorted caste system but of how our society shapes us. I am a product of a middle class, American, extremely religiously oriented, committed, diligent, loyal, and disciplined family. My life is different from a person who from a baby in his single mother’s arms who has been traumatized by war and abuse, begging on the side of the road in Kampala. Or from a person who as a child was abandoned now has risen from that and become a powerful business personality or a kid who from birth was wrapped in swaddling Gucci throws. Life is so different to so many people but we all measure life in the same way and that is happiness through love.

 

This week…

 

Ten things I never thought I would ever say but I did this week:

 

1. I need to go and buy oil sheen for my weave.
2. No, that is not a tan; it is dirt from my ride home.
3. Most Ugandan born-again pastors are crooks.
4. You mean you are taking your Ak-47 into the pizza shop?
5. So you have 4 wives, what is the sleeping situation?
6. My hair is making me tired.
7. Oh its okay, I will just use our salad bowl and bottled water to bathe.
8. So you are going to sue a gay person because it is illegal to be gay?
9. Oh my God, our gate guard is crossed eyed!
10. You are calling people from the Woodlands, sophisticated Rednecks?!!

 

Thursday Lesley and I woke up early and made the long trek into town. We first went to our office, a.k.a Padorama Café, the only place in Kampala with free net and it is totally undiscovered. After a few hours we went to Owino Market. That was intense. The main reason I went was to mosquito nets for every child because one of my babies got malaria and was in the hospital with a 105 degree temperature. We took boda-bodas to Owino and I went to pay and my money was counterfeit. The man would not take it. I was so upset and kept convincing him that it was in fact real money and finally he took it, probably just to get the loud muzungus away from him. Owino is a whole other world. There is Uganda the third world country and then there is Owino, which is like a sixteenth world country. It is the thieves hang out. I am going to paint a banner to post at the entry stating, “Welcome to Owino Market the home of thieves, Rastafarians who hate to be called thieves, and all of the clothes that NGO’s send over thinking they are being given to people in need, Have a great shop, hold on to your bag for dear life!” I bought the mosquito nets from this guy who had to run to some other market to get the nets, then to get the frames for the nets, and then again because he tried to cheat me 4 frames. The mosquito shopping took around an hour. Lesley and I were just sitting while other dealers in the Owino neighborhood were coming up to us asking, “What are you going to do about my meal”, “You are white give me money”, “You come here and buy from me”. After the major ordeal of buying the nets we made our way through the hot and dirty alley ways to the children’s clothing wing.. haha.. I got the kids some very cute clothes! So by this time I am carrying a HUGE shopper bag with 15 nets and frames and 45 pieces of clothing. I am sure I looked really funny because I rode with the bag on a boda-boda motorcycle through town to Moses’ office. When I got to the security check at the office building the guard did not want to let me in. She said that my bag was a disturbance to the lift. That lady has serious beef with me, every time I walk into that building she goes through every bag personally. When I ask her why she only searches me or if she is prejudice against white people she just says, “I have my reasons”. No good… Anyways,    we were exhausted from our stressful time at Owino so Lesley, Edgar, Emma, and I went to have a quick dinner at a coffee shop at the base of the office building. It was nice except for the fact that the waiter gave us one free cappuccino for us to share! HAHA…After that Emma and Edgar dropped Lesley and me off. The whole drive they were complaining about how far the drive was, how bumpy the road was, how the security was not tight, etc… I am sitting in my bed right now with the windows open and I can hear the TV so loud next door that I feel like there is a man sitting in the corner of my room shouting in Luganda, oh wait the phone just rang and he turned the tube down! Haha.. TIA baby. It is funny all of the sounds I hear sitting in my room, 7x a day starting really early is the Muslim imam, Sunday mornings and most nights is a born again church, a lot is a baby screaming that really sounds more like a demon escaping her body and entering 50 swine, there are all different radios and tv, and the best are the roosters. You know it is so annoying but I love it. It makes life so much more interesting! Friday was a great day; I went to the American Recreation Association and seriously worked out. Then went swimming and got mobster lobster status sun burn! Later I met Moses and we went to dinner with one of his friends and his sister. Since it was Lesley’s birthday Saturday, and we both had overly busy Saturday’s planned, we partied on Friday! It was the most fun I have had in a really long time. We met at a hotel and our group shifted to a Latino salsa joint, yes I went Salsa dancing in AFRICA! Haha.. it was so fun and goofy! I had an overload of energy from my 3 mile run so I was extremely hyper all night. After we danced for awhile we went home. Only to wake up very early to have a birthday breakfast at the best place in town, The Serena (bells and harmonious music plays behind that introduction)! It was wonderful! Lesley was so thrilled and that made everyone so happy. After bf I had to make my way to the taxi park, only to wait in jam for about two hours getting to the park. I finally got to the taxi sat down and fell asleep! It was so funny I fell asleep and my head fell on my neighbors shoulder. I was so embarrassed! That is too bad for a taxi! I went very far from Kampala. I went to this place called Kiwolo… actually it was about a 14km boda ride from the Kiwolo taxi stage, so it could have been a different town. I met Pastor Sam and we went to his home in New Hope Uganda. New Hope is a really awesome NGO that has been here since the 80’s. I was so amazed and inspired. I have new vision or have clarified idea of what is in my heart. I left in a crammed taxi, sitting next to this mzee who looks exactly like a 90 year old Emma. I fell asleep in the taxi again but luckily I was sitting near a window so I slept on the window! I came back very dirty and sleepy and met everyone at the office. From there Lesley and I ate at New York Kitchen for a final birthday date and then went home to sleep. Sunday morning we woke up and went to KPC! We were late but thankfully Emma had saved us a spot close to the front. It was an awesome service. After church we went to Lotus Cantina Mexicana and ate! Carlo and Darlene met up with us and we went to Bayimbry Music/Art festival. It was so amazing and it was totally free. There were some really sketchy things about it but all together I was really excited that they were promoting the arts in a place where it is not so much celebrated.  We stayed for several concerts, traditional dances, movies, and a silent disco. I actually didn’t go to the silent disco because I met with Moses and Edgar at a coffee shop. Later us girls and Moses went to my favorite spot in town Emin Pasha (http://www.eminpasha.com/ ) The second picture down, with the couches is where we sat and had all kinds of AMAZING deserts! Moses can really spoil us gals! Monday was a really weird day for me. I was in a dull mood and just really needed to be alone. I went to the American Recreation Association and ate breakfast then went swimming. I did something I am a little ashamed to say… I got a weave. Seriously! I got a relaxer a couple of weeks ago and it damaged my hair and the hair dresser said that extensions would be a great idea to let my hair rest. So my whole head is plated and I have long fake blond hair! Haha.. it still makes me laugh! It is really nice though, I think I will continue to do my hair like this, I never have to do anything except brush! Monday evening something really amazing happened, I was riding a boda boda home. Lesley was with me but on a different boda. I always pray before I get on one, for safety. This time the Holy Spirit told me to get off. It was in a bad area and I did not want to be bothered with the hassle of stopping my boda, Lesley’s boda, and finding another one so I just prayed the whole time. A few minutes later my boda stopped and said, “get off I am not taking you” and he got me another boda. He then paid the boda to take me home. He and the new boda driver spoke for a few seconds, I got on the new boda and we left. The new boda said, “That man was a thief”!!! Thank you Jesus for protection! Tuesday was a very hard day. I woke up at 6:30am because I had so much to do, I went into town and nothing was open until 10:30. Or the first place I needed to go. The whole day was ran on African time! The only good thing about the day was my lunch with Marion (an American who works for Moses) and Moses. The rest was junk… Going to buy groceries for the kids and imagine little ol’ me trying to tote 100kg’s of Maize flour for posho, 22kgs of sugar, 25 boxes of milk, huge box of water.. it was hard to do alone. I need some volunteers to come and live with me!!! Haha.. SERIOUSLY! I dropped everything off at the Joy House and then went home to crash! By the way Lesley and I did not have running water for the first part of the week. It was really bad I used bottled water, a sponge, and a salad bowl to bathe! Haha.. Wednesday was busy with things I was supposed to do like go to the American Embassy for an interview but then realized I had to have a workers permit to do that!!! Haha.. It’s all good, I got to see Sherry! My sister that I lived with in California who has been in the UK the whole time I have been here. We had breakfast with Emma and Edgar before Edgar had to leave to go to Dubai. I went to the office and made a few meetings and went and looked at apartments with Lesley, Emma, and a broker. After we caught lunch. Then I had do go and do some things ended up napping at a friends. I caught a boda back into town to meet Lesley and Emma for church. We actually did not end up going because our cell leader was not hosting it! So we ate! Haha.. in Africa you have to eat a lot. You can get really sick. The guys in my life can be on us girls for not eating at the right hours. I am used to just eating little things all day, not here, I have to eat big meals several times a day! So it is Thursday and I am sitting in a café watching futbol, drinking water, using free internet, chatting with an American journalist having a great day. I woke up late today, did laundry, and visited the Joy House, set up a trip I am taking my kids on to the Zoo in Entebbe, Ate a small lunch, and now I am hanging out.

Next week is busy, meeting with many NGO’s including a Watato Village tour Monday. I am going to New Hope Uganda later in the week, along with many others. I will be looking at land that was given to me. Looking for a home to shift the children to that is more suitable for the children. Also looking for an apartment to move into next week. Taking the children to the Zoo in Entebbe!!!

I want to say a special thanks to Edgar, a blog reader and friend who gave me money this week to buy new shoes for the children. Also thank you to everyone who is a support with prayer and finances. I could not do this without you! F.Y.I help me pray I am thinking about coming home in August but returning very soon to stay indefinitely in Uganda. I think that the Joy House management is not where I want it to be and there are many opportunities awaiting me here. I am trying to get a job at the American Embassy and if I get a job to support myself I am going to stay. God bless and keep in touch.  

The Great Move

This week has been great since I have been well! As you probably know I got really sick Thursday night. I went to the Turkish place with a group of friends to say goodbye to Carly, the Australian missionary gal that came to assist Lesley and Africa Kids Foundation. I was feeling okay, not well but I was having fun so I can usually just hush the pain with fun. I started feeling bad so I went home to sleep. About 3am I started having the most severe pain that I have ever felt, no joke it was paralyzing. I was crying and I could not do anything about it. The next morning I went to the hospital. Actually the day I spent at the hospital was absolutely the most horrible time I have ever had in Uganda. You know when you feel like crap and nothing is going right how much worst it actually feels than if you did not feel ill?!  For the first time since I have been here I longed to be in the good ol’ US of A. The feeling quickly passed. After hours of waiting and feeling worst and worst I left. What makes me feel the best, I asked myself. Salon and Starbucks was my response. Starbucks was out of the picture so I went to the salon and got a mani/pedi. It was amazing therapy honestly I started feeling better. Meanwhile back in the States there was a mass of people interceding for me! Thank you! Here I thought it was the massaging chair and apricot scrub at the salon! Thank you God and thank you warriors who can stand in the gap! I went back to the hospital and they were weirded out because none of the six tests that I took were negative and they asked me to do three more test. I had a bacteria Infection. Thank you God for a good report! That night I felt fine so I went to dinner and then to watch Terminator with a friend. What a great day besides the whole sick/hospital thing! I am the queen of treating myself though, if I feel sorry for myself I can treat myself! Saturday I thought it would be a good time to relax so I slept in, went grocery shopping, made dinner, and then slept. Sunday I woke up early and went to Watoto Church for 8am service (flippin’ awesome) and then I went to Bussega Church where my new roommate preached the message, which was amazing. After church x2 I moved into my new homestead with Lesley. It was a busy afternoon but I moved in nicely. I am really enjoying my western toilet! Sunday night Lesley and I went into town to see the Kampala Contemporary Ballet. It was very interesting to say the least. After the ballet we ate Indian food with another friend. Monday, I took two of my children into town because they were sick. One of the kids had the symptoms of malaria and the other had worms. I was infuriated because no one had communicated to me that these kids were sick and worms are highly contagious. So I took Dan and Jau into town and we had so much fun. I heard probably ten times, “Mamma why are your babies so black”!! It was fun we went to a meeting first and they colored while I was in my meeting and were so well behaved until Dan wet his pants… So I had to go and buy him new pants. While we were at the market I felt bad because Jau did not get anything so I got her something. Then they were both wearing hideously nasty shoes and this pride came over me as I was their mamma, so I bought them new shoes. It was so much fun though. And the most important thing is that they deserve to be above rags. I want to raise the standard of living for them.  Then we met my brother, Emma for lunch where everyone thought that we were a happy little family! Haha.. After that I took them to Moses’ office building and from there we had so much fun. We were going up and down the elevators, running down the halls laughing and yelling, drinking coke and eating sweets, and mainly just enjoying each other! We had a blast! Because of that little outing today I am going to the market to buy all of my kid’s new clothes and shoes! They deserve it and it is cheap! Tuesday was Hero’s day so everyone was off work. Ugandans have public holidays every week. They can enjoy relaxing. Perfect opportunity for me to also relax so I went to the American Recreation Centre to swim. It was nice! It is weird to be in a place with only Mzungus though, it was kind of freaking me out! Haha.. After that I cleaned up and went to a really nice dinner in the rotating restaurant with Moses. It was so nice! We met this man from Dublin who was very lonely but also very funny and he joined us for a while and then left us to sit with the owner of the place, traitor. Just kidding I would have chosen the owner over us also… actually take that back I would have chosen us! Wednesday I took care of business in town and boycotted any form of paid transport. I walked everywhere and it was quite invigorating and gave me a great sense of independence that I really know Kampala. You see things differently when you walk. Every mode of transportation you receive a different view of the city, whether it be boda boda or benz you cannot compare the city to the way you see it looking through different eyes I guess... actually it is the way people look at you. I did not feel like a tourist I felt at home. I met up with several friends after my busy morning and we went to lunch that lasted most of the day. We actually got kicked out of the café because there were noise complains on us, we like to laugh too much! Ahhh….  After that Leslie and I went to cell group at Watoto. This week has been quite leisurely because I have not been well and I have been just taking it easy but this coming week is going to be very full. Meetings, looking at land and new homes to rent, visit other NGO’s C.E.O.s, registering as a national NGO (EdgarJ), going to the rifle range, visiting the National Mosque in full dress, and getting ready to visit Kenya next weekend! Okay to explain the rifle range, the other night Leslie and I were in the kitchen of our flat, she was washing and I was putting things away. We were just chatting as usual and we heard the most scary sound right outside of our window. I scream and ran out of the room and Leslie grabbed a frying pan and started yelling “who is there”… Keep in mind we are in the middle of nowhere with a guard that you have to throw rocks at his house to wake him up to open the gate for you… but also we are three stories up and there is no possible way that someone could have been outside of that window. Anyways I was pacing quoting scripture and Lesley a.k.a Nancy Drew was sleuthing the scene. Turns out it was the man underneath us blowing his nose and the windows were just open… or at least that is what I think. Anyways after that we decided that we wanted to get a gun. So we are first going to learn to shoot and then get a gun. We probably will not actually get one but it will be fun to learn to shoot. How hardcore would that be to tell someone, “I learned to shoot in Africa”. Pretty dang brutal. Then the national Mosque, we got Moses’ driver, Saif to arrange to steal his mum’s veils so that we can go to the national Mosque of Friday for prayers. Should be interesting. Then next weekend we are planning to go to Kenya. It is not for sure but we are planning to go on a safari and to see the Mosai.

Well life is good. God is better. I am happy. And I love you!

Remain in his perfect love,

Hello June!

Hello June!
This week has been a different one! I was actually able to get online more often than usual. Well I was online last Thursday and Friday. Friday night I spent alone. I went to a coffee shop and was on the net for awhile and then I went to the grocery store and got stuff to make cookies! Then I went Moses’ office where a few friends were congregated working… so I got on the net! Haha.. It is funny how excited I get over that little thing called the internet. Saturday morning I had a meeting with a lawyer at the Joy House. He advised me on a lot of things referring to protecting me from lawsuits and helped me with some ideas about policy. Earlier this week I wrote out the policies for the length of stay for each child, children seeing family members, and foreign volunteers coming to visit. It was lengthy but since I was BEDRIDDEN anyways it worked out. Saturday evening I went to a wedding with Carlo and Darlene. We kind of crashed it even though we had invites. No one knew anyone we kind of just ate and then left. Well I wish I would not have eaten because later that night I felt the effect of bad food. I was so sick… I was crying wanting my mamma. Of course I did not call her because she would have freaked out. Before I got sick Carlo, Darlene, Peter, and Ernest went to a small concert for the Kampala German society. It was nice besides the fact I had to leave early because I felt like booboo. Sunday I spent in bed all day. Pastor Bill Johnson in my ear for most of the day but I still missed church with my kids.
We paid all of this money last week for electricity to be turned on and I was expecting it to be on this week since everything is ready for it to be turned on but no it will not be turned on for 30 business days. Ridiculous. I have never really been a western snob until I heard that. The thing is that to hurry the process I have to ask a friend to ask a friend to ask for someone for me to talk to and everyone knows that means to bribe. That is rubbish. That is one good thing about the states you can write a letter and call a few times and you have it done… Doesn’t exactly work like that here in Uganda. The thing is that Uganda is very westernized I would think compared to other African countries. The pills I had to take for my stomach were pretty harsh. One of the side effects is metallic odor on body and mouth. Nice. I love stinking.
I will be moving this week. I figured it is the best thing for my health, emotional, and spiritual state. One of my close pastor friends in the states hooked me up with an international healing minister who works in Uganda. Cool story, I met he and his assistant and fell in love with them. Turns out they only live a half of a mile from the Joy House. I have been getting to a point that I did not want to stay at the home because I had to take sleeping pills and that would alter my mood every night staying with the children. I hate that but it is hard to sleep with so many people in one room. Especially now that the children are at school and they are gone by the time I wake up in the morning. Anyways so Rob, the pastor I was telling you about that lives a mile from the home, left to go home to Australia and left his assistant in Busegga… where I live. She asked me if I would move into her VERY nice apartment free of rent so that she would not have to stay alone. I prayed about it and was actually very torn because I did not want to let anyone down by not staying with the kids or most importantly make the children feel badly because I am not staying with them. I am going to do it. I will only be half a mile away and I will actually want to spend more time there if I do not have to fear the latrine and monster mosquitoes! haha I think it is a very wise choice. I will still be with the kids everyday and the friendship with the girl should be really fun! Her name is Leslie and she is radically in love with the father! She is Australian. Should be interesting... never lived with an Australian before.
Funny story… So I told you that I got stuff to make cookies. Well here in Uganda they use Blue Band instead of butter. Blue Band is like margarine. My mother has never used anything like that.. I have never been around fake butter in a tub. Well apparently Ugandans use cooking oil in the same form. It is like pam in butter form in a yellow tub as well. I cooked these cookies while I was sick thinking it would make me feel comfort of home and safe and I would not throw them up. Too bad I used 2 cups of cooking oil instead of margarine. They tasted so salty. Instant heartburn and then I threw it up. I was very sad. Lesson learned.
This week is a busy one. I am meeting with a Reuters photo journalist tomorrow to talk about doing a photo exposition for the Joy House. It could be big so please keep this in your prayers. Also this week has consisted of meetings with the children’s headmaster, going to other schools, visiting ministries that I worked with last visit, painting the rest of the house, getting over sickness and praying it is not Malaria. I started going to the Watato Church international cell group. They are the largest church in town. It is an American and Australian pastor. The church is a Hillsong ordained church. I was going to try to go on Sundays but it is too much stress on top of all day church with the children. Maybe sometimes I will attend because that is where Leslie and Moses go to church. I am very excited about this new faze of my trip. I am finally getting used to the differences, slinking away from my American habits (you have to if you want to be successful here), settling in and getting very organized. Next week Pastor Sam and I are going to look at land out of town where I will probably buy for gardening purposes and perhaps goats and chickens. I will keep you updated. God Bless.
Okay so all of that was Monday, I was trying to get ahead with my blogging so that when I got to the internet the blog would be completed and I would not need to worry about typing, only inserting to text! Today is Wednesday and it is a public holiday and cloudy. I have been trying to get to the American Embassy all week to get a club membership so that I stay healthy. No one is working today! I can’t do anything besides sit in an internet café! I found one with free net! SCORE!!! I am sure that is not true but I wanted to buy paint today and the driver is off of work and I do not want to hire a special. In a little while I am going to go and buy all of the food for the Joy House. Ugandans eat a lot. That is one observation I have come to. They like to eat. Huge portions. You may have to worry about HIV/AIDS, abandonment, war… but not starvation, at least here in the capitol. Food prices have gone up and that is scaring everyone. Last night I went to a half price movie with Carlo, Peter, Darlene, and Ernest. We also saw a friend that I have not seen since I have been here but I know very well from last visit!! Well I got a driver and now I am off to the American Embassy.. cross my fingers its open, to buy food, to buy paint, and then to go to cell meeting! Love you all!!

Travel Journal entry 1

Sitting here with a stomach full of matooke and the brisk Ugandan breeze coming through the window I could say I am very happy! I have been here for about a week now and I am already dreading the day I have to say goodbye to this place. Its weird, I left my heart in Africa! You know when you just belong in a place… well that is my relationship with Uganda.
I arrived last Tuesday night. I had a really crazy trip. Everything seemed to be so long and irritating. P.s. do not fly through Amsterdam if you ever come to Uganda. I arrived and Moses and John picked me up and took me to a guest house that Pastor Sam (the man who has kept the children) had arranged for me to stay. It was nice to have dinner with them! Wednesday I went and met my children for the first time. It was beautiful! They had prepared a sign, songs, and bible verse memory for me. I felt so great. I felt true love. Since then I have just spent time with the kids, friends, and new contacts. This trip has been different already. I am staying very far out of town with no running water, restrooms, electricity, and sleeping in a room with 13 other people. It has been a little hard for me to get used to a latrine, just being honest. REALLY HARD… If there were not bugs I could handle it! Anyways, life is so great here. I love these people and the way they live their lives. They are so cool minded and free of stress but at the same time hardworking and goal oriented. We have had many Bible studies. It is so amazing to see the children who have been abandoned and hurt beyond words to sit in reverence to the Holy Spirit as he kisses them with his presence. It is so amazing. They really love the Lord. I love it when they do not know I am watching and they sing with their whole hearts with their little eyes closed. It really changes you.
I am not going to lie, even though I have been here before, I was in complete culture shock for like two days. Things have changed a lot since I have been here. There are so many foreigners here. It is weird to go into a coffee shop and there are mostly whites. People are smart, everyone should move here! It is beautiful!
Yesterday, the kids and I painted the living room of the Joy House. Periwinkle yellow.. haha.. I had always thought periwinkle was a blueish color. The kids had such a fun time. They were wasting so much paint and getting it everywhere but they were having too much fun for me to tell them to stop. They got carried away and started painting the outside of the house. Haha.. okay!
You know my most favorite thing about being with the kids is the fact that I can walk outside and there are five avocado trees! They all taste different! I love avocado.

Life is wonderful. God is love.

28/04

Im sitting at a Turkish restaurant enjoying my self with hummus and internet!!! Yay.. Just a quick recap, because I brought my charger but forgot the adapter, I forgot I am not in the US! So this past weekend I went to the west with a few friends for a day to look at land and to go to a funeral. It was nice. I can only upload pictures on myspace not due to the net being jacked. I have spent most of this week getting electricity in the house, my chi blew up so I got my hair relaxed, spending time with a few Australian missionaries that I met here, and sending the children off to school. All is perfect. I think I may try to get a job now that the kids are in school due to lack of things to do in the house. We have five house girls that live in the house and take care of all of the needs.
God bless miss you all.
I have an address if you would like to send something to the kids. Please email me at audrarochelle@gmail.com

Expectation

Expectation for the miraculous is all I have been feeling lately. I am leaving Monday to go to Uganda to see my babies. I am expecting such amazing things this summer. I am going to Uganda with intention. I intend to change culture as an apostle of love, I intend to be a mobile healing center, I intend on giving the children the tools to set them on fire for Christ Jesus, and much more! I am extremely pumped about my stay in Uganda.
I plan to blog once a week!
Stay tuned!