Christmas in Bundibugyo

I had a great Christmas here in Bundibugyo! It was a little strange to celebrate in the heat and humidity, with a flip-flop suntan, but there were several moments when I thought to myself "this feels like Christmas." And I certainly felt that I understood the sacrifice that our Savior made in coming to this earth in a whole new way this year. Here are a few photos from the several days of festivities! (They're a little out of order :)

Blowing out the candles on Jesus's birthday cake.

So glad I brought these sunglasses from Wal-Mart with me :)

Aidan swinging away.

Church on Christmas morning.

Everyone dressed in their new Christmas clothes.

The spread for Christmas morning breakfast. Yum!

Kym enjoying her sunglasses too :)

Nativity play on Christmas Eve.

Three wise women and two angels for the nativity.

Two More Stories...

Here are the last two interviews I did with Christ School students. I'm looking forward to doing more when the term begins again in February!

Meet Nyangoma Agnes. Her story is one full of pain and hardship but also one of victory. She comes from Buganikere village and enjoys visiting home on term breaks, where she helps in her aunt’s shop and plays with her uncle’s young children. Agnes completed primary school but there was no money for her to attend secondary school. God provided her with a sponsorship at Christ School, where she began to learn about God and the teachings of the Bible. When she came down with smallpox, she thought death was near but after being healed, she began to trust God with her whole life. Two years ago, Agnes’s twin sister died. As Agnes remembers her sister, tears roll down her cheeks and the pain is still great. However, Agnes can still say “God has done great things for me”. She says with confidence that God has always been with her as she has passed through many troubles. She also states that God is for her and not against her, pointing to the evidence as she prepares to graduate from Christ School. Agnes has a passion for math and economics and hopes to one day become a businesswoman. Join us in praying for Agnes and other students of Christ School—that they would have similar stories of triumph and be able to say “God has done great things for me”.

Meet Kansiime Asumini. She calls Bumate village her home and answers my questions in a soft-spoken voice with a smile. We find common ground being the youngest child in our families and she tells me about her favorite Nigerian movie. Asumini recalls both the happy and the sad life-changing moments that have occurred in her nineteen years. She remembers the joy she felt at being accepted at Christ School as well as the discouragement of becoming ill during her first term there. While teachers made preparations for her to return to her home, a friend and fellow student named Miriam, prayed for Asumini. Soon after, there was no more talk of Asumini returning home due to her illness—she had been healed! Remembering God’s healing power, Asumini says she learned that “God has plans for me and He can make a way when there seems to be no way.” As she dreams of what those plans may hold, Asumini hopes to become a journalist, taking photos and writing stories of important events in Uganda. Join us in praying for Asumini as she graduates from Christ School, that her light would shine brightly here in Uganda.

Another Christ School Story

I had hoped to post a story of a Christ School student everyday but sometimes living in Uganda doesn't allow for that! Here is another story though:

Meet Kule Isaiah. At nineteen, he is confident and a born-leader. He eagerly explains to me that “Kule” is the name given to a third born male child. When asked about his journey to Christ School, he responds, “God did me a favor in coming here”. At the age of eight, Isaiah’s father was killed in rebel warfare. Isaiah felt hopeless and feared his future had been lost. His mother remained faithful to God and when Isaiah approached secondary school age, she told him to pray, as there was no money for school. He came to Christ School to interview for a sponsorship but the registrations had already been completed. He still interviewed, hoping for a miracle, and was found to be among the top 10 new students. When God answered Isaiah and his mother’s prayers, his life was changed. As he attended Christ School, he began to learn more about God and His character. Today he boldly proclaims that “God is the father of the fatherless.” Isaiah hopes to graduate from Christ School in one year and dreams of completing a Bible course afterwards. He also hopes to continue on and receive a degree in medicine so that he can give back and care for orphans. Join us in praying for Isaiah and the many other students with promise at Christ School, that they would become strong, Christian leaders of Uganda.

Would you consider blessing future CSB students? I would love to introduce you to one of them! We will have 10 new freshman scholarship students in 2011. You can sponsor a child for $600 a year ($50 a month) or give a one time gift and help fund Christ School's work in shaping the next generation of Ugandans! For more information visit http://www.whm.org/csb. OR just send me an email at chrissychip@gmail.com.

Another Giving Opportunity

One of the ministry opportunities I've enjoyed the most the past few months has been spending time at Christ School. It is a Christian secondary boarding school that was started by World Harvest Mission to provide Ugandan students with a quality, Christian education. It has grown quickly and this past year was the first year it functioned under a Ugandan headmaster. Another wonderful aspect of this school is the sponsorship program, which allows orphaned or needy students the opportunity to attend school at no cost. Paying school fees is at the front of every student's mind here and being sponsored is a privilege and amazing blessing. I've loved spending time with some of these sponsored students--studying the Word and praying with some of the girls once a week. And in November, I had the opportunity to interview several of them, hearing their stories and how God is at work in their lives. I'll be posting a story every day for the next 4 days so enjoy!

Meet Kansiime Christine. Hailing from Ntandi village, she looks forward to breaks from school when she can go home to visit with her mother and seven sisters—sitting around the fire and sharing stories. Christine is a confident young woman at the age of twenty. She is passionate about literature and reading novels; Emma’s War is her current favorite. As we talk, she is eager to share her story and all that God has done in her life. Christine’s father died when she was young. Her mother managed to scrape by and support her children but there was no money for Christine to go to a high-quality, private school. Instead, she attended the local primary school but she worked hard and earned the highest grades in the district. As she finished primary school, Christine’s mother broke the news that she would not have the money to pay for her to attend secondary school. Christine was devastated but soon after she received a letter telling of the sponsorship program at Christ School. She was fearful as she had never been to Bundibugyo but she gathered her courage and interviewed. Two hundred students were competing for ten sponsorship slots and the hopes of a quality education. Christine was accepted and has been amazed at God’s provision for her entire secondary school education. She is looking forward to graduating from Christ School and hopes to become a teacher or public administrator involved in social services. Join us in praying for Christine, that she would rely on God to help her achieve great things for Uganda.

Would you consider blessing future CSB students? I would love to introduce you to one of them! We will have 10 new freshman scholarship students in 2011. You can sponsor a child for $600 a year ($50 a month) or give a one time gift and help fund Christ School's work in shaping the next generation of Ugandans! For more information visit http://www.whm.org/csb. OR just send me an email at chrissychip@gmail.com

Reflections on a Year Full of Change

The last year has been one of extreme transition. A year ago today, I was finishing up finals at college, looking forward to a long Christmas break at home with my family. I knew it would probably be the last Christmas I would spend with them for a little while but I was completely unaware that I’d be living in Bundibugyo, Uganda the following Christmas.

In the past 12 months I have had some major life changes. I graduated from college, did some waitressing, worked at my home church, enjoyed an American summer. I raised support in record time and said more bittersweet good-byes than I wanted to. And I moved to Uganda. That’s a big one.

Along with each of these transitions and adjustments, there has been joy and grief. But today as I read Exodus 17, I was reminded of the faithfulness of those around me. When the Israelites fought Amalek, they would start winning when Moses held up his hands. But when he lowered his hands, they would start to lose the battle. His arms became tired so Aaron and Hur came alongside Moses and held up his hands until the sun set and Israel had defeated Amalek.

Today this became such a visual representation of those who have come around me to support me in this year of transition, this year of mountain highs and valley lows. Many of you have supported me financially to help me get to this place. Many of you have offered countless prayers, joining me in crying out to God. Many of you have blessed me with words of encouragement or actions of love at just the right moment, when I needed it the most.

As I reflect on the past year, I am astounded by all that God has done and all that He continues to do. I praise Him and thank Him for each one of you. As Christmas draws near and the year of 2010 comes to a close, I hope you know what an integral part you play in God’s redeeming work in my life and in the lives of the people of Bundibugyo. If you feel led to give toward my support costs, the link to give is below. I’ll also be introducing a giving opportunity for a specific ministry here in the days to come so pray about what God might have you do. I know I am keeping you in suspense but hopefully I will have Internet access tomorrow!

Thank you, thank you again for all that you’ve done in loving me and the people of Bundibugyo well. May you have a blessed Christmas in which you remember the great Light that came to pierce the darkness!

Personal support giving link:http://www.whm.org/give/missionary?ID=51026

Stay tuned for more!

A Day of Celebration

I attended my first Ugandan wedding on Sunday. It was an honor to be invited and a truly cultural educational experience!

The wedding was between two members of the local church so their wedding service was part of the typical Sunday church service. When we arrived at the church, I knew this would be no ordinary Sunday though! The church was decorated with balloons, palm leaves and fresh flowers, and toilet paper. Yes, toilet paper. As an American, when I saw toilet paper draped around the church building, all I could think of was mischief night gone terribly wrong. But as the service progressed, I was able to culturally shift gears and see it as a festive decoration instead.

It was a great service full of good sermons (at least what I could understand of them), singing and dancing by a wedding choir (which included a sound system and electric guitars!), and singing hymns from the Lubwisi songbook. The bride was beautiful but stoic; I’m guessing her serious face was a cultural expectation? I am still learning so much everyday about Ugandan culture! It was a wonderful ceremony—wonderful but long.

It ended after about 3 ½ hours and Anna and I decided to venture out to the reception despite feeling tired and pretty hungry. We walked with a friend to the groom’s home which served as the reception site. It was great to see an area of Nyahuka I had never seen before. As we approached the reception site, the whole neighborhood greeted us. We sat under a tarp with the rest of the guests, while literally hundreds of children from the neighborhood squeezed in to see the action. The bride and groom arrived and were seated. They cut the cake, which resembled our American wedding tradition but there was definitely no smashing it in each other’s faces. The wedding choir performed several more songs and then some very famous performers arrived. From my understanding, the lead singer of the Send Me Band is from Bundibugyo and while I didn’t know him, he seemed pretty famous to those around me! He and three back-up singers came and performed while the women in the crowd were practically swooning and the kids pushed in to get as close as possible.

By this time, it was nearly 6 pm and Anna and I were famished. We decided to come home to get something to eat but I’m sure the party went on for hours after we left. All in all, my first Ugandan wedding was great fun. I loved getting a peek into the culture and being able to share in such a happy and special day. Many things were different while many others were similar. There seems to be one universal thing though; a grandma sitting next to me at the reception leaned over to me, pointed at a performer, and said “You know, he’s single.” Ha! Some things never change no matter where you are in the world :)

The bride and her 3 flower girl attendants. They didn't leave her side all day!

This lady was asleep for the whole ceremony. She'd wake up when everyone clapped and then go back to snoozing. It made me smile :)

Me and Anna at the service.

The bride and groom both had attendants (maid of honor/best man?) that dabbed their faces all day. They were very astute helpers!

Some of the neighborhood gathering at the reception. This was before everyone got there and only a small part of the crowd!

A wider view of the reception site. The red couches were for the bride, groom, and wedding party. We had front row seats!

The bride and groom arriving at the reception.

Bride and groom feeding each other cake :)

Christmas Tree #1

While many of the commercial elements of Christmas seem to be missing from Uganda, Anna and I went on the hunt for a Christmas tree last week. We decided we needed something to hold up our Christmas lights and make our living room feel holiday-cozy. So, armed with a ponga (machete tool) and determined to return with a tree, Anna chopped off some branches while I provided moral support :) We lovingly arranged our new Charlie Brown-style tree in a red bucket, gave it water, and even tied some of the branches to nails in the wall to keep it from keeling over. Lights were draped and Christmas balls hung off its branches. We were so proud of it!

Thankfully, it lasted about 24 hours so the tree was still looking perky for our hosting of team advent celebration. Unfortunately, the leaves have shriveled since then and are now dry and curling. Our Charlie Brown tree is officially dead. Nevertheless, we are excited to find Christmas Tree #2! And our currently dead tree is still holding up those Christmas lights while we search for a more lively replacement!

Kampala, Christmas, and So On...

I’m sitting here at the Baptist Mission Guesthouse in Kampala, enjoying the cool breeze of the fan pointed at my easy chair. We’re getting ready to pack up and leave soon and I’ve been feeling reflective this morning. I feel a little sad to be leaving Kampala after 4 days here. The time went by fast and I really enjoyed this city. I’ve enjoyed luxuries that are far from available in Bundibugyo like: Indian take-out, stores filled to the brim with selection, air conditioning in my room at night (!), a vague sense of anonymity, doing laundry in a washing machine, and great cell phone reception everywhere I go. This is still Uganda though so my time here has also been full of: countless marriage proposals and sweat, lots of sweat.

I feel hesitant about re-entering life in Bundibugyo. I’m thankful for a few days in Fort Portal to act as a buffer. I’m reminded of Anna and the Johnsons who are about to re-enter Bundibugyo, not from Kampala but from the even greater land of abundance—America. Pray for them as they have had to say good-byes yet again and attempt to re-adjust yet again. Going back to Bundibugyo will be hard but I am so thankful for things to look forward to there: the reunion of team, a Ugandan wedding to attend, returning to my “home”, and the Christmas season approaching.

Speaking of which, I realized this morning just how hard it has been to “get into the Christmas spirit” for me. I’m finding that Christmas means a lot of different things to me—cold weather, sweaters and scarves, the warm glow of Christmas lights and those ridiculous inflatable things people put in their yards, sitting under a warm blanket while watching TV with overplayed Christmas commercials, hearing Christmas music in every store and listening to it while baking cookies, decorating the tree and always having to drape the gold ribbon around for my mom, eating way too much delicious food, and singing Christmas carols at church. I think I’ve come to the realization that so much of that list has nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas. While I still miss it all, I wonder if the lack of commercialism may help me remember why we’re really celebrating. I’m looking forward to seeing what Christmas in Uganda holds for me and am also praying that the Christmas lights I bought here in Kampala work at our house :)

Lastly, in this stream of consciousness post, I’d like you to join with me in praying about my role in Bundibugyo. I realized shortly before I left, while talking with Pat, that I can basically write my own job description in Bundi. Exciting, freeing, and also a little overwhelming. As I’ve spent the last two months learning about the various ministries of the team, I’m praying about where God would use my gifts best. It can seem discouraging that I don’t have a particular “slot” to fill—I’m not a doctor, nurse, teacher, or agriculturalist. I have skills but often feel that they’re lacking. So pray with me as I return to Bundibugyo and the team reunites that I would feel God’s calling to a particular ministry and find my niche, serving in a place where I feel useful and find joy.

Giving Thanks

We’re celebrating Thanksgiving here in Bundibugyo early, since we’ll be traveling to Kampala on Thursday. While spending holidays away from home can be hard, I am trying to focus on the many unique aspects of celebrating my first Thanksgiving in Uganda!

#1 and most importantly:

I met the turkey we’ll be eating today while it was still living. It’s true. She didn’t seem particularly bothered, laying in the grass with her feet tied. I think if she had known what was coming, she would have been a bit more lively.

Webhale Yesu (Thank you Jesus) that there is one, brave man left on our small team. While I participated in another way, as you’ll see, I did not have to kill the turkey or two small chickens we’ll be feasting on this afternoon. Loren, brave pioneer woman that she is, was willing to hold it down for John—three cheers for her!

While I did not help with the actual slaughtering, I did find myself plucking two very fresh chickens and one small turkey. Can’t say that I ever planned on doing that but I can now add it to my list of “Things Accomplished in Uganda”. And if you ever find yourself in need of direction on plucking poultry, I am now qualified :)

#2:

Making pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin! I can’t say I’ve ever made a pumpkin pie, let alone from scratch, but I think it turned out well. I’m also so thankful that I was able to get all the ingredients for green bean casserole—an absolute essential for my personal Thanksgiving traditions. It is amazing what familiar foods can do to boost morale!

#3:

Explaining to my Ugandan friends what this strange American holiday called “Thanksgiving” really is. I think I’ve found the holiday more meaningful as I’ve been forced to stop and actually explain why we’re celebrating.

While I’ve been here in Bundibugyo, I’ve been trying to regularly list the things I’m thankful for from the day. It is easy to become discouraged, focused on negatives, and mired in self-pity. But I’ve found that listing ways God has blessed me in the past 24 hours is a real boost in the right direction. So here are just a few for this (early) Thanksgiving day:

• Going for a run this morning while the streets were still quiet and watching the sun rise over the beautiful Rwenzori Mountains—definitely the most beautiful place I’ve ever taken a morning jog!
• The wonder of the internet’s capabilities to keep in touch with loved ones from home, even in rural Bundibugyo!
• Looking forward to my first trip to Kampala, a taste of the outside world, and the return of Anna and the Johnsons in less than 2 weeks!
• Delicious food to feast upon, the means to buy it, and tastes of home on this very American holiday.
• A team to celebrate with that is becoming my second family and Ugandan friends to share our traditions with.
• A wonderfully supportive and loving family at home in America.
• A Savior that has the power to transform lives, bring us from darkness to light, loves us unconditionally, and is faithful to bless us each new day.

Remembering Anne

About 24 hours ago, I found out that a friend of mine from college, Anne Jackson, died suddenly. I don’t have any details concerning what happened, I only know that she will be greatly missed. We were not the closest of friends but we spent a lot of time together, eating in the cafeteria, watching movies in dorm rooms, and chatting on the way to class. Several months ago, I drove her with another friend from Nyack to Maryland and listened to her studying for one of her musical performance finals from the backseat. She was an incredibly gifted singer and was always stunningly beautiful for her recitals.

My heart is heavy for her family and I ask that you would join me in praying for them in this incredibly difficult time. Anne was the most cheerful, optimistic red-head I knew and her smile radiated Jesus’ love. She shone brightly and it is hard to imagine that she is no longer here. I am reminded yet again today that this place is not our home and I look forward to seeing Anne in our true home someday.

A Splendid Saturday

What makes up the best Saturday yet in Bundibugyo? The recipe includes:

-2 perfectly baked loaves of bread. After struggling with my propane oven, burning everything, and being afraid of making my first loaf of yeast bread, success x2! Delicious and a boost to my baking ego :)

-1 plate of fried pork and cassava from Pat’s favorite new local eatery.

-1 full hour of reading a good book without being interrupted more than once by knocking at the door.

-1 hour of time spent chatting with Joyce at her clothes stall in the market. Bought a beautiful piece of tie-dyed fabric from her and she lifted me off the ground when she hugged me hello and good-bye. I’ll work on getting a picture of her—she is a small woman to be lifting me off the ground!

-1 massive papaya given as a gift, 2 guavas, and a piece of jackfruit from RMS. Went to RMS with 4 boys, armed with a rolled-up magazine to keep dogs from jumping all over us in excitement and watched as they climbed up the guava and jackfruit trees like professionals. We returned victorious and none of the dogs even got out of the fence! I enjoyed my first taste of jackfruit with the boys, sheltered from the rain by our porch.

-Innumerable squirts of Bendaryl spray bringing sweet relief from the mosquito bites covering every square inch of my arms.

Thanks God for Saturdays filled with rest, fellowship, fruit-picking adventures, and delicious food!

Delicious tropical fruits--papaya, guava, and jackfruit!

Richard enjoying some of the jackfruit he knocked out of the tree.

Neighborhood boys enjoying jackfruit too!

2 perfect loaves of bread; if you're from near Galena, MD--they taste just like Village Bakery's bread. Truly made my day!

Highs and Lows

Some highs and lows from the past few days:

High: Opening our safe on the first try of putting in the combination

Low: Finding a dead rat in our pantry (the smell led me to it—gross!)

High: Talking to my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew from halfway across the globe

Low: Having to kill a rat with a baseball bat not more than 3 hours after finding the other dead one in the pantry

High: Checking “kill a rat” off my list of firsts

Low: Seeing pictures of my nephew’s 5^th birthday party and wishing I could have been there (still thankful for the internet and the ability to see those photos though!)

High: Praying with the girls at Christ School, reminding them that they are beloved children of God, and hearing Betty’s beautiful prayer for me

Low: Hearing stories of corrupt politicians in the area that think they can commit crimes with immunity

High: Helping Baguma Charles on a busy day at the health center and being able to successfully hear and correctly spell names in the record books (a big improvement from a few weeks ago!)

Low: Seeing a 7 month old motherless baby that weighed 3 kg with a loving grandmother who has no family support or way to feed the baby

High: Drinking coffee this morning and actually feeling a bit of a “chill” in the air; felt like it was fall for a minute!

Low: Not sleeping the past 3 nights

As you can see, life here is full of mountain peaks and valley lows. From one moment to the next, I may be floating on Cloud 9 (where does that expression even come from anyway?) or facing the stark realities of living here. So many of my daily experiences leave me feeling both triumphant and defeated. I thank God that He is always triumphant, unchanging, and his love never fails. I am so glad to have Him as a constant, strong Refuge in every moment.

Fort Portal Fun

As we drove into Fort Portal, I couldn’t see much other than the shining bright lights of the big city. My how my definition of “big city” has changed in one month! I recently returned from 10 days spent in the “big city”. It was a time of refreshment as our team went on a prayer retreat and afterwards I spent time at Pat’s second home.

Some highlights of our time away:

• Petting a camel at the guest farm we stayed at for the prayer retreat
  
  
• Speaking English and being understood most of the time
• Grocery shopping in what felt like a Wal-Mart (but my definition of Wal-Mart has changed a lot too!)
• Eating out at restaurants—cooking from scratch every night gets old after a while
• Cool temperatures at a higher elevation
• Painting one of Pat’s bathrooms with lime green paint
• Walking through the tea fields behind Pat’s house in total quiet, peace and solitude
• A lack of mosquitoes and critters in general
• Spending time in the Word while drinking coffee on Pat’s sunny back porch
• Having a great conversation with my parents (the call was only dropped 3 times!)
• Switching malaria preventatives and saying good-bye to nasty side effects
• Sleeping through the night!

My time in Fort Portal was great—the adjustment to life back in Bundibugyo has had its ups and downs. I am glad to be back in my house, feeling some vague sense of familiarity in my surroundings and not living out of a suitcase. I am glad to see some familiar faces as well and am enjoying getting back into a new rhythm of life here, even if we are missing the Johnsons and Anna. I hit a low a few days ago when I was really sick but am so thankful for God’s provision of loving team members who cared for me and kept loneliness at bay. I am feeling much better today though and have enjoyed a restful weekend full of baking, a phone call home to Tony and Rachel, teaching Usta, my language helper, to play Uno, and watching the Office over dinner with Pat.

On Being the Worst

I don’t consider myself to be a competitive person. I’ve never played sports and I enjoy playing games for the social fun rather than the joy of winning. In general, I would say I’m okay with not being the best at everything. But the other day I came to a realization. I thought to myself, “I don’t mind not being the best, but right now I feel like I’m the worst at everything!”

Coming to Bundibugyo has brought me back to that humbling, child-like level where I really am the worst at everything. I can’t communicate, I have lost social and cultural graces, my typical gifts, abilities, and even sense of humor have often been lost in the shuffle of adjustment and figuring out survival here.

Has this been hard? A resounding Yes! But am I learning from it also? Another resounding Yes! As someone who so often relies on her own strength, who finds fulfillment in accomplishing tasks, and easily forgets that her identity and worth are found in Christ, I am going back to the basics in more than one way. Multiple times throughout the day I feel discouraged that I am so clueless. But then I remind myself of the truth that “Hey! God loves you the same whether you can do this or not!” What a reassurance! My value is found in my Father and his unchanging love for me, not in whether I excel at a task or am even “operating at full capacity”. Thank you Jesus!

Thankful for Encouragement

Okay…I’m finding the need to be honest and vulnerable yet again! I’m starting to think this whole blog-writing thing is therapeutic for me; it forces me to sit down, think, and process my experiences and feelings of being here in Uganda. So feel free to read along and join in on the processing or patiently wait for a post about some other adventure I’ll have soon.

I’ve had a rough start to the week. On Sunday night my parents attempted to call me. First my phone was not working and I could not hear them. After playing around with the settings and finally deciding to turn it off and then back on (always a good trick to try!), I was able to call them and hear them. Success! Except for the multiple times that I lost reception, the call was dropped, or every fifth sentence was cutting out. It was still good to hear them and I tried to be thankful that we were even able to communicate as well as we did (there was no skype or cell phones not that long ago for most missionaries!). But it had been frustrating and made me miss home when I could call and talk to my mother for an hour at a time from the comfort of my bedroom with crystal clear calling quality.

I went to bed Sunday night struggling with homesickness and wondering yet again, “Why am I here?”. Monday morning I woke up feeling even worse. I had slept little, tossing and turning, and the little bit of time I did sleep I had strange dreams (Mefloquine-induced? Hopefully not!). Throughout the morning, tears welled up in my eyes at the most inconvenient of times but when is it convenient to cry?

I cried out to God, reading David’s laments in the Psalms and feeling equally forgotten. But God is so faithful to fulfill my every need. Amy invited me over for lunch and I knew encouragement would follow somehow. I felt such relief as Amy and Travis assured me that my feelings have been normal, that adjustment to life in Bundibugyo is hard, and that as dark as it all seems right now, God is my loving Father who has brought me here at this time, to this place, with this team for a reason. And it is all for good! I needed that reminder so desperately and God was faithful to provide it through my team leaders. Webhale Yesu (Thank you Jesus) for team!

God continued to shower me with reassurances throughout the day that I had begged him for in the morning. From that most encouraging 90 minute conversation with Amy to emails from friends and family at home to a rainbow cloud (yes! A cloud that had the stripes of a rainbow!), God was holding me close and reminding me of how much he loves me.

An Afternoon in the Life

The screeching brakes of Charles’ motorcycle beckon me from my house. I go out and am happy I can greet him in English. He straps on his helmet and I clamber onto the back of the motorcycle as gracefully as possible in a skirt. We set off down the dirt road; he attempts to dodge ruts and large rocks as we travel. The equatorial sun blazes and he slows to a crawl when driving on a shady part of the road. Sweet relief, even if just for a few moments. I wonder at his ability to wear long sleeves and trousers in the heat. Every few seconds a cry of “Mzungu! How are you?” echoes in my ears as we fly past mud and stick homes. I’m amazed at how young children are when they learn this phrase. Can I blame them for being excited by such a rare sight though? Who is the crazy white lady on the back of the motorcycle?

I continue to marvel at Charles’ driving skills as we make it up seemingly vertical hills and don’t get stuck in the mud puddle at the bottom of one valley. I remind myself to take in the beauy—the banana leaves, the goats lounging in the grasses on the side of the road, and the mountains in all their majesty. We arrive at the outpatient nutrition site; a concrete building in a clearing with a big shade tree in front. Several women have already arrived and are waiting patiently on the grass with their children. We set up under the shade tree—a woven basket scale for weighing babies, two chairs, a table, and a wooden board to measure height. A blue metal trunk filled with bags of groundnut and soybean paste. Set up and ready for clients!

The women file up to the table, placing the well-worn notebooks assigned to each of their children in front of me. I’m amazed that these notebooks survive and that each person seems to have their own portable medical history written in them. Some fare better than others; one looks like an animal nibbled on it while another has a hole of unknown origin clear through the center of the book.

We begin by assessing those that are new to the program—weighing them, measuring height, and their arm circumference, all important factors in a child’s level of malnutrition as well as their eligibility to join the 10 week program. Sadly, most meet at least one of the criteria. We record their names and information in their notebooks as well as in our books.

We weigh those that are already enrolled in the program. I find encouragement in even the smallest weight increase and find myself concerned for those that hover at an unhealthy weight or even lose a few grams. Charles begins to teach a lesson about antenatal nutrition in Lubwisi. I understand none of it but enjoy listening and laughing when everyone else is laughing. Several little girls catch my eye as it roams over the women listening. They smile and act shy. I go over to them and play peek-a-boo with their little sister. Their mother is nowhere to be found but the big sister cares for her younger sister and the other women of the village seem to pitch in too.

Charles finishes teaching and we hand out the nutritious g-nut and soybean paste. Hopefully they’ll remember the demonstration from last week and mix it in with the foods they cook for their children. The dog-eared notebooks are handed back and the newly enrolled mothers receive vitamins as well. I am greatly encouraged by the father who brought his son today. A rarity I think but a true sign of his desire for his child to blossom and grow. He speaks some English and he thanks me for trying to fumble my way through greeting him in Lubwisi. His son cries when the mzungu gets too close.

Charles and I pack up to leave. We thank everyone and head back to Nyahuka. The storm clouds are rolling in ominously over the mountains. Charles drives over the ruts a little less cautiously but staying dry is more important than a smooth ride. I listen for that sound, like a freight train almost, the sound of the sheets of rain coming right before they pour down on you. I feel the first few drops and it is sweet relief from the heat. The drops become bigger and the sky is about to open up as we pull into my driveway. Last week Charles waited the rain out in our living room but this week he chooses to hurry home, still hoping to beat the total downpour. I say good-bye, run into my house, and listen as the rain begins to beat on the tin roof and rivers come pouring off our back porch. Perhaps this is not home yet but it feels a little more like it today.

Written on 10/12

I wrote the post below a few days ago. We were without electricity for 3 days. It seems a little silly to post this now since I'm feeling a lot different today. But I think it will give you an idea of how to pray for me! Here it is:

Knowing how to update this blog has been a challenge for me the past few days. First, there is the absence of power. We’ve been without power for __ hours now and no power means no Internet! Thank you Jesus for solar lights and propane fridges/stoves though.

I think the real reason I’ve been struggling to write a post though is my willingness to be honest and vulnerable. I would love to write about how much I am enjoying my new home, how I’m clearly seeing where I’ll fit in on the team, how I’m learning Lubwisi and loving the people of Bundibugyo, how my health is great. My heart desires self-sufficiency and boasting in my own strength. But God is humbling me and I believe he is calling me to be honest, vulnerable, and weak.

The truth is—I’m struggling. I thought I’d have a honeymoon period here in Uganda when I’d be drawn into all the new adventures and see all the positive aspects of the culture. I expected to hit that cross-cultural brick wall after I’d been here 6 months or so. My expectations were not correct. Maybe I used up all my cultural honeymoon experiences on past short-term trips. I’m not sure. But as I sit here writing, doubt is coming all too easily.

I doubt my decision to leave my family. I doubt that I am where God wants me. I doubt that God will open my heart to love the Ugandan people. I doubt that I’ll ever learn Lubwisi and be able to communicate. I doubt that this place will ever feel like home. I doubt that I will find any sense of purpose or use for my skills (do I even have any skills?) here. I doubt that God is loving and sovereign.

Doubts come easily and trusting God is hard. But I know that God is going to use this time when there seems to be no light to illuminate his love and character to me. And while it may be easy to doubt in the darkness a decision made in the light, I choose to believe that God will bring light again.

I’ve been reading “Calm My Anxious Heart” by Linda Dillow this week. It’s a book I’ve started multiple times in the U.S. and never finished. I’ve devoured it this week though as I have been struggling to cast my anxieties before my Father. In the book there is a “prescription for contentment” from a woman that served in the African bush for 52 years as a missionary. It has been a great encouragement to me and I think it applies to everyone:

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything—not even the weather.
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
• Never compare your lot with another’s.
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
• Never dwell on tomorrow—remember that tomorrow is God’s, not ours.

It is impossible for me to keep to this prescription on my own. But thank you Jesus for your grace to carry me through and teach me contentment. It’s a good thing the closest international airport is 8 hours away; I think I’d soon hop on the first plane to America. But this afternoon I choose to believe that God has me here for a reason and that His refining fire is working in my life as well as the lives around me.

First Week Experiences

Well, I've been in Bundibugyo for over one week now! It has been a week of emotional ups and downs for me and I have to admit I've been surprised by the weight of adjustment. But, in reviewing the week, I can say I've had a lot of firsts, some more fun than others.

• Within the first 20 minutes of being in my home, I realized the sound of lizards running around in the ceiling would soon become normal. Thank goodness they seem to be quiet at night :)
• I've learned to light my gas stove but am still learning to cook on it.
• I killed my first 3-inch long cockroach that was trying to make its home on my desk. And I saw the handiwork of Chloe, our teammate's dog, in a dead rat in our kitchen. So happy she killed it so I didn't have to!
• I received my first phone call from America.
• I learned how to keep records for the nutrition program as Charles and I went to the health center and an outpatient village site.
• I pinned down goats while Pauline clipped their hooves--definitely a new experience for me. I've never felt so much like a city girl since I've been in Bundibugyo!
• I helped Anna light our propane fridge. Electricity is an amazing thing and something I've taken for granted in the past!
• I went to the Saturday Nyahuka market, a pretty big deal in these parts!
• And so much more...

Firsts are both exciting and exhausting. I'm looking forward to more and also anticipating finding some sense of normalcy in life here. It may be a while before that comes but I'm trusting that God has me here for a reason and He will be glorified in it!

New Home

I've been in Bundibugyo for 4 days now! The range of emotions has been wide from excitement to fear to overwhelmed to joyful. Uganda doesn't feel like home yet but I'm looking forward to the day when it does. Or at least when it feels a little more familiar :)

Here are some pictures of my first day in Bundibugyo:

On the MAF plane from Kampala to Bundibugyo!

A fantastic welcome sign over my desk :)

And for my mother--my new bed, complete with mosquito netting.

I'm Here!

Just wanted to let you know that I've made it to Uganda along with all of my luggage! Tomorrow I fly to Bundibugyo!

See Ya Later

While the past week has been stressful with making sure my health is good to go, the past several weeks have been filled with fun! As hard as saying "See ya later's" (not good-byes) are, it also makes for lots of good excuses to have fun and enjoy those relationships that are so special. Below is a little picture review of the past few weeks. My next post will be from Uganda!

Family picture at my Bon Voyage party.

Me and Rachel at the top of a lighthouse in Maine.

Siblings in our finest threads :)

My cousin, Scott, kissing his bride, Tracy!

Addie making her "monster face" at our family Thanksgiving-in-September dinner.

Me and Mom in Maine...lots of M's!

I went crabbing with Tony and some friends for the first time. Learned something new!

I also was able to visit friends at Nyack and spend a wonderful 24 hours there--no pictures were taken though. Oops!

Leaving Sunday despite it all!

Here is the email I sent my supporters this morning:

I just wanted to let you all know that my ultrasound went well yesterday and nothing was found on it. I’m feeling better—still not at 100% but I am planning to leave on Sunday. The doctors aren’t entirely certain as to what is causing this “lump” feeling in my throat but it could easily be a virus, allergies, reflux, or just stress. Everything that could be done medically has been. So, I’m believing that God will heal me completely and that the stresses of this week will be forgotten when I land on Ugandan soil!

I leave Sunday evening around 9 pm. I will travel from Philadelphia to London to Kampala and on to Bundibugyo. I think I’ll be arriving at my new home about 3 days after I leave! Here are some things you can be praying about:

• Please continue to pray for my health—that I would be at 100% when I walk onto that airplane!
• Please pray for my luggage. That may sound ridiculous but it is quite a challenge to fit everything into 50 lb. bags. Pray that my luggage would not be lost and that I would not struggle to get them off the baggage carousel onto a cart when I arrive.
• Please pray for my family as I prepare to say good-byes to them. It is so hard to know I won’t be with them for so many months but pray that we would have peace as well as excitement for the two years ahead!
• Please just pray for details to work well. As I meet people in London and Kampala, pray that I’d have no trouble finding them. Pray that all would go smoothly with immigration and customs. Pray that my flights would be on time. Pray that the weather would work so that I can land on the air strip in Bundibugyo. So many little things but thank goodness they are all in the Father’s hands!

Hopefully my next email to you will be from Uganda! And thank you for your prayers—they are felt!

Until the darkness turns to light,

Chrissy Chipriano

Just keep praying!

I went to the doctor on Monday and was diagnosed with esophagitis, given steroids and an antacid. I've been taking them for a little over a day and a half now and I also had an endoscopy done today to double check. The endoscopy was fairly inconclusive--nothing really showed up on it. So tomorrow I have an ultrasound scheduled to be sure that it isn't my thyroid. The doctor dilated my esophagus today which may help but because my throat is sore from the procedure, I can't tell if it has really helped or not. Please pray for my health, for the ultrasound tomorrow, and for my faith. I'm struggling to keep my morale up, believe that I actually will leave on Sunday, and will be feeling well soon. Can't wait until I have a positive update to put on here!

Please pray!

Please be praying for my health. Within the past week, I've had some trouble swallowing and it has gotten much worse the past few days. I'm here in Maine for my cousin's wedding this weekend and struggling to enjoy it while eating very little. I've scheduled a doctor's appointment for Monday and hope that I can get this figured out soon. Please pray that any tests I need would be expedited and I would find answers and help well before my Sept. 26th departure date. Pray that I would not have to delay it and that I would leave the U.S. healthy and happy! Thanks!

A Lesson in Humility #1

When we were at MTI, they reminded us regularly that we need to be prepared to make at least a million mistakes in our new host culture. In preparation, I decided to start chipping away at that 1,000,000 by having my first stick shift driving lesson this week.

Driving a manual car is a life skill I've been wanting to learn for years. But, it was hard to find people in the U.S. that even have manual cars and my desire to learn wasn't big enough for me to really search out those opportunities. Well, necessity came knocking as I learned that there is a "singles" car in Bundibugyo. My desire for mobility and knowledge of driving stick in case of an emergency won out and I started looking for the chance to learn.

My dear brother, Tony, has a very dear brother-in-law who offered up his new Jeep Wrangler for my practice. Tony then offered to give me my first lesson. Woo hoo!

As the day for our lesson came closer, I found myself feeling legitimately nervous. The last time I had driving lessons was when I was 16 and I did well pretty fast, considering that I had spent countless hours in the car during my growing up years. I think I felt even less confident at age 21 sitting behind the wheel of that Jeep than I did when I sat behind a steering wheel for the first time ever. Isn't this a step backwards? Can't I just be independent and learn this through osmosis or something?

My pride had to take a hit as I told Tony, "This is pretty terrifying to me" and sat down in the driver's seat. To make a long story short, I think I did pretty well. I didn't stall out the first time or even a few times after that. When I did stall out, it seemed to come in rushes and I would stall a ridiculous numbers of times in a row. But, I managed to get the car out onto the road and even managed to go in reverse and start on an incline. Tony can now add "spectacular stick shift instructor" to his long list of talents.

I know that my 1.5 hour lesson is only the start of a lot of learning if I do end up driving in Uganda. While it was good to practice in the U.S., I'll be driving on the left side of the road, using my left hand to shift, and also driving on Ugandan roads which I hear are full of goats, kids, and potholes. Quite the obstacle course. I have a feeling my driving pride will be chiseled down to powder by the time I learn to drive in Uganda, if I learn at all.

Sometimes I look forward to the adventure of learning new things in Uganda, whether it be driving or buying groceries or anything else. Other times I wish I could shelter my pride a bit and remain independent, competent, and knowledgeable. Either way, I am excited to see all the ways God works in me and brings me to a new understanding of Him through these lessons in humility.

A Good Day

On an entirely different note from my previous post, I just want to write about a good day. I had a good day today. It was filled with lots of sweet, little morsels that I will remember as I go to Uganda. It started like a typical day. I went to work. The copier was acting weird. I wrote some emails and answered the phone.

My mom met me at work to take me shopping for a dress for my cousin's upcoming wedding. I had an appointment at 3 so we had just enough time to eat lunch and speed-shop for dresses. This is where it got good:

• We ran into my brother, Tony, and I got a hug from him. A sweet treat.
• I sent my sister, Emily, picture texts of the two dresses I couldn't decide between. We both agreed on the same one. And my mom liked that one the best too. Decision made for an indecisive person! Check!
• My mom found a dress too--mission accomplished!
• Laughing with Mom as we (literally) ran into Marshall's for a 15 minute browsing spree before having to turn around and go to my appointment. Our time management and estimation of traffic time wasn't the best but we made getting there an adventure :)
• Meeting my parents for dinner. After getting half-lost, I met them at a store and they offered to buy me a new piece of jewelry--anything I'd like! I've never read the 5 Love Languages book but I'm pretty sure giving is one of mine. I love giving and receiving gifts. My new necklace is a cherished gift.
• Eating a delicious dinner at Home Grown complete with chocolate mousse trifle for dessert.
• Driving home and the air was cool enough to roll the windows down.

As I get ready to leave for Uganda, I find myself cherishing moments that might not be so special otherwise. I know God is going to provide incredible memories for me no matter where I am or who I am with though!

He'll Carry Me All the Way

While I was at MTI, there was one night that I felt particularly discouraged. I felt overwhelmed by the task ahead of me in Uganda. I grumbled to God about my loneliness and feeling entirely incapable of what He had called me to.

That night I opened my Bible to Deuteronomy, remembering a random passage I had wanted to look up. I never found that passage. But I did start reading the book at chapter 1. And God yet again amazed me at His ability to speak fresh and anew through his Word to me.

I'm not a Bible scholar so I might get this background info wrong. But, from the bit I read, it seems the Israelites have made it out of Egypt and were camping on a mountain in Moab, perhaps after wandering in the desert for a while. God tells them they've stayed there long enough and it's time to move on to the land He had prepared for them. I'm pretty sure the Israelites were less than thrilled about this whole plan. They had to travel through a "vast and dreadful desert" and then reached land that was currently occupied by the Amorites. They sent some spies in who checked it out and said it was good land. But the Israelites still doubted God's good intent.

They grumbled. They said, "God hates us and delivered us from Egypt only to deliver us into the hands of these Amorites. These people are strong and tall and there are big walls around the city. God doesn't realize that this is just impossible." [all of this is my paraphrasing]

Moses's reply is fantastic. He says:

"Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

The story continues of course. And the Israelites continue to grumble and rebel and God allows them to be defeated by their enemies.

But, when I stop reading after Moses's reply, I find so many parallels to my own life. Sure, sometimes I'm excited for all the adventures ahead in Uganda. But sometimes I feel completely inadequate for the needs of Bundibugyo. (Read this post from my team leader to get a feel for it) I'm not afraid of Ammorites and I don't plan on invading and staking a claim to any territory, like the Israelites. But I can find it easy to fear my lack of expertise as I try to help with a nutrition program without any medical or nutritional schooling. I can find it easy to fear as I leave my familiar surroundings and the support system of friends and family I've known my whole life.

It is easy to fear. But, God is going before me. He has fought for me so many times in the past. And above all else, he will carry me. He will carry me as a Father carries his daughter all the way. What encouragement!

Not Just Fun & Games--But Learning Too!

I'm guessing that you may be wondering just what I've been up to here at MTI. Lest you think it is all hiking adventures and trips to the ice cream shop (which I have enjoyed), I thought I'd make up a little list of some things I've learned in the past two weeks.

• When it comes to conflict under stress, I am often a "turtle". We each learned our conflict styles and how it will play into our dealing with issues that will come up on the field.
• I met with 5 other women in differing walks of life that are all leaving for different fields in the upcoming week. We spent time together as a small group--getting to know each other and reflecting on God's word together.
• Yesterday, I had to meet with each of the women and tell them 4 strengths and 1 weakness I see in them and they did the same for me. It was a little terrifying but mostly encouraging and special to listen and to share.
• In our unit on managing stress, I took a test called the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. My stress levels due to life events (good, bad, and change are all stressors) were double the most severe in the scale. The last year has been a time of many good things and a lot of exciting change. But even good can be stressful. This session on stress was a wake-up call to me. I don't want to arrive in Uganda already burnt out. As I talked over the results of the test with a personal coach, I decided I need to make changes as I prepare to come home for the next month before flying to Uganda. I am looking forward to lowering those stress levels!
• I walked across a "bridge" made of unstable chairs and exercise balls while connected to 5 other people. We learned about the bridge of transition, all the stages of transition we're going through (and about to go through), and how we're connected to others on our team that are at different stages on that bridge.
• (If you might be coming to MTI--skip this one because it'll be a big spoiler--I warned you!) I took part in a pretty realistic simulation of hiding and then being held hostage with 20 other people, standing in a tiny wooden box in the dark for at least an hour. Why are they torturing us here at MTI? Because it revealed our true colors under stress and more than one of us were surprised at our reactions!
• After that experience, we were given a full day of guided Sabbath in silence and solitude. I didn't realize how much I had been craving away and alone time with God. As a strong storm came rolling over the mountains, I took my spot on a bench under the entryway overhang. The wind began to whip, the rain fell hard, and I was amazed by God's majesty yet again. And as I looked over the horizon, there was one small patch of sky that remained blue and bright with all the gray around it. Thank you for that, Jesus!

Well, I could go on for quite some time about all that I've learned. I'm excited for these last few days of learning that we have left. I feel strangely unsure about going home. I want to spend this month making memories with my family while not having that sense of "impending doom" (to put it dramatically) of the painful good-byes to come. I don't want to say the good-byes to those I've grown to love and connect with over the past few weeks here at MTI. I don't want to go home and have reality hit. I don't want to face packing my life into 3 bags. I don't want to say good-bye to my dear college friends. I don't want to have that last Sunday in my home church. There's plenty of things I'm not looking forward to.

But, I have much to look forward to! Special times with family, laughter with friends, loving on nieces and nephews, the chance to show my love by saying good-bye well. And despite the many good-byes and painful realities of leaving, I also have many hellos to say! I am about to embark on a new journey with God in Uganda and I am so excited to become a part of the team there. Thank you Jesus for being with me wherever I go and providing me with loved ones all around the world!

Why, Yes, I Did Climb Pike's Peak

So, I've been here at MTI for almost a week. It has been an incredible experience thus far. While the classroom material is helpful, I think spending time with fellow missionaries has been the most enriching part of it all. Whether we're eating lunch together or walking over to the ice cream shop together, I am continually amazed at how much we have in common and how easy it is to make conversation. We have a bond in our passion for the reaching the world and I'm amazed at how much I've learned about each person after only one week. I could go on and on about how good this time has been for me and how excited I am for the next two weeks. But, I'm primarily here tonight to impress you.

Today, Saturday, August 7th, 2010, I climbed to the top of Pike's Peak--a summit of 14,110 feet. We drove up to about 11,000 feet and then (crazily) decided we would climb the last 3 miles to the summit. We wanted to do a little hiking and not be lazy and drive the whole way up. Bad decision? Probably.

The trail started out pretty flat, grassy, wide. None of us were particularly acclimated to the altitude. I have been living at 7,000 feet for about 5 days. That's it. We were huffing and puffing our way up but I kept thinking, "This isn't that bad."

But then the climb became steeper and steeper. And then the boulder field came. I didn't even realize what a boulder field was. But it's basically a bunch of massive rocks at the top of a mountain. We took a basically vertical climb up said boulder field. I have no idea how long we were there or how far it was. Someone estimated around a mile of rock climbing. Every time we'd get to a place that I thought was the top, there was just one more hill of rocks to climb. (By the way, I did all of this in Chacos. Lovely.) My foot started cramping, my lungs felt like they would explode, I was gripping each boulder like a kung fu champion as I dangled over the cliff, and I watched as the road the cars drove on (my escape route) became farther and farther away. I wasn't alone in my exhaustion, fear, and general freaking-out-ness. But as Joyel (the only other woman) and I realized it would be harder to go down than up, we gave in and just kept going.

I have never been so happy to see a guardrail. I'm pretty sure I screamed "Thank you Jesus!". The guardrail served as our hope that the top was near. A sign of civilization. Not just one rock after another. That guardrail buoyed my spirits enough to get to the top.

Right now, about 5 hours after we reached the summit, I feel like an old woman. My knees are aching and my body is still pretty mad at me. But, I can honestly say, I am thrilled I made it. It certainly wasn't just me scaling up that vertical wall of rocks. I found myself praying more today than I think I have all week. And a song we sang a few days ago kept coming back to me:

"Every move I make, I make in you.

You make me move, Jesus.

Every step I take, I take in you.

Every breath I take, I breathe in you.

You are my way, Jesus.

Every breath I take, I take in you."

As my sea-level lungs struggled to catch up, my heart pounded out of my chest, and my legs turned to iron today, I kept thinking about how much this whole experience is like my spiritual journey. Take me out of my comfort zone, and I suddenly realize that every single step I take, is only enabled by the grace of God. I can find it so easy to rely on my own strength when I'm comfortably living at home in Maryland. But I constantly need to be reminded that I'm an incredibly weak vessel and I can only move, step, and breathe by the power and strength of Christ in me.

Today's left me with a lot to remember. I bought some things at the top of the peak that I plan to take with me to Uganda. I want to remember the physical, psychological, and emotional hurdles I made it over today. And when something seems impossible in Bundi, I'm hoping those "souvenirs" will be good reminders of what God has brought me through in the past.

I'll leave you with some pics even though the camera could not at all capture the beauty and majesty of these mountains. Or the physical stamina it took to hike them :)

At Crystal Lake, with Pike's Peak behind me. Completely oblivious of what was to come :)

Yes, I climbed over that. And then there was a whole additional mountain of boulders to be conquered.

Still looking pretty happy after a short climb.

With Bob at the top. Without his encouragement, I never would have made it!

So happy to have made it to the peak. Still living and breathing. Hooray!

Crazy roads we drove just to get to 11,000 feet.