Sunday-Wednesday

It is only Wednesday but it has already been a full week. A few of the things the last four days have included:

• My debut as a driver in Bundibugyo. After one lesson with Josh, I drove home from Bundibugyo Town to Nyahuka with Jess’s assistance. Despite the seat belt gagging me, the clutch getting stuck, and repeatedly “downshifting” into 4th gear rather than 2nd, I managed to get us home without hitting any goats, pedestrians, bodas, or running us off the road.
• A rat in the house. Before we left for our team retreat in Fort Portal, we had a record-setting week of 3 dead rats. Shortly after we arrived home, I saw a dark streak run down the hall as I sat in my bedroom. A rat! After much chasing, screaming, searching, running around with bats and brooms, and more screaming, we pinpointed him in the office. Our solution to his hiding: a baited trap with a towel stuffed under the door. The verdict is still out.
• Visiting my friend Janet in Bundibugyo Town and holding her one month old baby—Tumusiime Hazel. She was chubby, beautiful, and had the softest head of hair!
• Also while in town, there were the typical frustrations: trying to explain what type of light bulb I was looking for was a 10 minute process, the ATM was out of money—and where was the money? Coming from Mbarara (a 6 hour drive away).
• Hearing from several friends about the tribal warfare that went on while we were away. Tribalism is always a difficult thing to explain and is complex with many layers. Either way, people died, houses were burned, and there is a big police presence in the area. Things seem to be cooling off.
• Had our first nutrition program meeting!! Despite challenges that came up at 9 pm the night before, it was a great day. We assessed about 30 children; enrolling 14 in the program, sending 4 to be admitted in the paeds ward due to severe acute malnutrition, and congratulating 12 mothers for feeding their children well, as their children were not malnourished. We couldn’t have done it without 3 very helpful volunteers from Mt. Zion church (my home church here) and many answered prayers.
• Reading through the stories of missionaries who have lived here over the years. Travis had them email him their Bundibugyo experiences in a “5 minute” version for our team retreat. Most were more than 5 minutes :) But it was fascinating to read through them—to see how much Nyahuka has changed in the last 20 years, to be inspired by their courage, to be encouraged by their weaknesses. It’s great to know I’m part of a much larger story and cloud of witnesses here.
• Sending my friend, Bahati, off to university. She is headed back to nursing school for her next to last term. It has been great to have her around the last month and I’ll miss visiting her.
• The many administrative tasks that fill my life here—organizing referral patient cases, emailing Christ School sponsors, sending what felt like hundreds of emails as I ironed out my parents’ visit in October (hooray!!) and my doctor appointments in December (boo…)
• Reaping a harvest in my garden; cucumbers, okra, cilantro, and more! Battling the ants that are ruining my sweet corn and making trails through the garden.
• Resetting the voltage stabilizer at least six times a day—thank you God that Josh is bringing us a new one from Kampala soon!
• Realizing that I’ve now spent a full 12 months in Bundibugyo, despite a long span in the middle. Happy one year anniversary! There are many days that this place feels like home, many days that I wonder what in the world I am doing here, and many days that include a bit of both! I’m also reminded of where I was a year ago—healing from my second surgery. God has brought me a long way in a year!