Amsterdam, showers, internet, oh my!

Here I am in Amsterdam again, so grateful for both their showers and internet spots.  I had internet access at Sandra's, but she now has to pay by the amount of data she downloads, so I didn't like to do too much online.  Except when we were testing her Skype connection.  But that was different.

Going to stay with Sandra was a very good thing, after the emotionally violent exit from UCU.  We were actually pretty busy running around doing various things, which helped keep my mind occupied.  We went back to UCU on Friday morning, and I got to see a number of my friends again, which was fabulous.

Otherwise, it's uneventful, sitting here, waiting for my flight.  I really, REALLY wish I could sleep on a plane.  I dozed a little in the airport, but now it's getting busy, so that's gone.  And after being gone for eight months, can you believe that there were only two movies in the entire KLM library I was interested in seeing, and one I've already seen?!  That's probably just as well, as the earphones hurt my ears.  I might have to try using my earbuds.

Passport, visa, new bed

I now have my passport in my hot little hands - praise God!  Edgar called me last night around 8 to tell me to get it in the morning.

I also have a new bed for the remainder of my time in Uganda.  The Church of Uganda Provincial Assembly meets every other year, at UCU.  They are meeting this year, and we learned last night at 11 that we needed to vacate.  Nice.  Thankfully, Sandra (the other American student) offered to host me at her house before I even knew I needed to come, so God has been very gracious.  Now I just need to pack...

Don't know that I'll have internet access until I get to Amsterdam, so until then, God bless!

Finished!

The semester is officially over!  Just finished my last exam, though it was a bit, um, tough.  I asked the lecturer for grace when marking.  She laughed.  I was serious.

But on a lighter note, I saw Professor Byaruhanga yesterday, and he told me that he told my bishop that I'm doing well.  I told him I was grateful, and asked whether that was before or after he marked my paper (exam).  He explained, "After, of course.  If it was before, I would have told him you were doing terrible!"  How nice of him to put things in perspective for me!

Which reminds me, my bishop and his wife are here!  Bp. John Guernsey is here teaching a class with the Doctorate of Ministry students, then they are staying for a bit.  It's been fabulous to spend time with Bp. John and Meg.  During exams, the lecturers lead the chapel services, but since Bp. John was preaching and celebrating Sunday evening, Canon Moses asked me to vest and take the readings.  What a joy to get to vest and serve with my bishop!

Passport update

Edgar, my newest bestest friend, called to see when I'm leaving.  The answer is in a week.  I had hoped he was calling to say that he had my passport.

Sadly, that's not the case.  He was just confirming my departure date.  Turns out that there's a committee that meets to review the student visa applications, and they only meet on Wednesdays.  Except that this Wednesday was a public holiday, as a former president had passed away.  The guy who handles these things won't be in the office Monday.  Not sure about Tuesday.

Edgar assures me he's working this "around the clock."  I'll testify to that; he sent me a text at 11 pm one night, asking me to bring my passport fee in the morning.  


Please keep praying!

Pain, anguish, and gnashing of teeth

Naturally, I'm talking about exams.  By God's grace, they're half over, and today I get to read.  And read some more.  Then read.  : )    The BD III class has a marathon exam schedule Tuesday-Saturday.  Ugh.

But yesterday was the Systematic Theology exam (they're called papers here), which was rather tragic.  He had given us ten questions to read, told us he would pose six, and we would answer four.  Fair enough - we usually choose four out of eight.  None of us guessed that ALL TEN would be there.  Two questions stood on their own, and the others were written with parts a. and b. Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi.  Naturally, there were questions that I really didn't focus on that I was forced to answer.  Naturally, there were small things that escaped my head.  For example, I remember the six heresies that contributed to the Chalcedonian Settlement of 451.  I can tell you about two of them really well, and hint at another.  The other three escaped.  I hate when that happens.

Yes, I'm laying the foundation for a potential apology for the GPA/class grade nose dive.  However, there is a glimmer of hope.  Today Professor Byaruhanga told me that he thinks I got 57 out of 60 on the coursework.  Praise God for that - I'll need those points to offset the exam.  

Signs of the times...

I think an indicator that it's about time to return to the US is when you can't remember whether you've taken your malaria medication.  This has been a disturbing trend of late.

I had thought of a couple other indicators, but they've vacated my head.  I wish I could say that I'm using that precious mental space for things like OT Prophets and Systematic Theology and Greek, but as they say here, "we're trying."  I'd volunteer that I'm trying my level best, but honestly, I'm just tired.

And I'll leave Uganda on 20 Aug, returning to the US on 21 Aug.  That is, assuming that the nice people at Immigration finish processing my student visa and return my passport by then.  My newest bestest friend, Edgar, is spearheading the effort on behalf of all the international students.  He keeps saying that "it's no problem."  I told Canon Sunday (from Nigeria; he's leaving the Monday before me) that it's only no problem when we're holding our passports.  Until then, it remains a problem.

Please pray that all goes well on the visa/passport front.  I don't know how to tell KLM that I need to reschedule a flight, but not have another date to request.  Please also pray for those pesky exams.  I know I get worked up about them, but this semester, they seem more ominous.