Rescued From Darkness to Light: June 2012

There are lots of reminders here in Bundibugyo that life is fragile. Emaciated babies in the pediatric ward at the health center. A phone call from a referral patient's mother--the child died of pneumonia in Kampala. Rumors of a cholera outbreak in the area as a measles epidemic winds down.

In a place where life is difficult and often far outside of my control, I have found some ways of coping. I obviously find myself running to Jesus more often here. But there are other things too--like cooking. Oh how I love to cook here! The absence of convenience foods or even semi-prepared foods forces you to learn to cook from scratch. And the kitchen is my sanctuary. There is something comforting about mindlessly chopping vegetables at the end of the day to unwind. Listening to my iPod as I create a delicious reward for making it through another day.

I've recently discovered another therapeutic activity--working in my garden. I first attempted flower gardening when I was in the U.S. last summer. Stuck at home, not feeling well, processing the life change of cancer, I was encouraged as I watched the seedlings I planted turn into big, beautiful, healthy flowers. I needed a sign of new life as I was fighting for my own to return.

Here my desire for fresh vegetables (that aren't available) and feeling a sense of accomplishment as things grew led me to plant a garden. First, I had to fence in an area so that our dogs wouldn't run through it or sit on the seedlings. They seemed to think their job was to incubate the tiny little shoots by firmly planting their butts on top of them. Not helpful--they're plants, not eggs. That aside, I employed some neighborhood kids to put up a fence and turn the earth a bit.

I longingly thought of Willy's Gardening Center at home as I planted each item from seed, rather than waltzing in and buying trays of already growing plants. But now, about three months after my first round of planting, I noticed some fruit for my labors last night! Photos are below (mostly for my mom but you can check them out too :)

There is something wonderful about going out and digging in the garden; working up a sweat not just from standing still but from actually working hard. Seeing green shoots magically sprout up a week after planting seeds. Ripping out the weeds that just love to take over here in the jungle. And when I take that first bite of fresh green beans, a sun-ripened tomato, or crunchy okra, I think it will taste extra delicious since it came from a seed I planted!