Happiness!

South Sudan vote for independence:  98.83%.  I gave my congratulations to Paul from [now] Southern Sudan (he's the one handing out the watermelon in the serving lunch pictures), and the man broke into the biggest smile I've seen from him and gave me a big hug.  I almost referred to him as a kid because he looks so young, but he must be around 23.


Paul hasn't been home in the three years he's been in Uganda; it's too expensive to travel, never mind not being terribly safe.  It takes him up to a week to get to his village; his layover is sitting in a town waiting for a truck to come by that will take him up towards his village, and one never knows when the truck will come.  He's working with the International Bible Society (they're giving him a scholarship in lieu of payment), and he's translating the New Testament into his vernacular.  And though he's young, Paul's seen the effects of war in his country first-hand, and he tells me that the Sudanese have the US to thank for introducing both the potential for peace and sovereignty to Southern Sudan.  I'm completely humbled and speechless.


In the lesser happiness category, Agatha was going to the market today (because it was market day in Mukono.  I've got to see this one of these days, but I was utterly beat when I saw her going), and I asked her to pick me a pineapple and some bananas.  She did fabulously, and if it was even possible, now I love her even more.