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.