Goin' to market

I went to the market today looking for mangos and bananas. I've never been to the Mukono market; it was impressive! I came away with this fabric; think it'll make a good skirt to go with my clerical shirts?

Belated Merry Christmas, and early happy new year!

I'm sorry for the silence; I've taken a bit if a break from my laptop, and it's been glorious. I am hoping to get caught up on posting in the next few days. Until then, the Lord bless you!

And the visitors keep coming!

Today was a VIP visit at UCU by a large number of the Westerner contingent from the enthronement. They were in a presentation in Principal's Hall, which is in the Bishop Tucker building, while I was upstairs in a liturgy committee meeting.  

Oh, what a joy it was to have my bishop, his wife, and my rector here at UCU!  I knew several others in the group, but these people are my history and my heart, and to have them at my home, even if not in my home proper, was such a delight!

I popped in their meeting several times to coordinate a potential tea with them, and at one point, the Vice Chancellor was talking as I was walking out, and he told me to stay for a bit as he mentioned that I graduated from UCU.  Then he allowed me to leave.  It was only slightly embarrassing, but I suppose I deserve it for disturbing his meeting.

Even though we were not able to have a separate tea time (and I baked cookies!), I did go with the group to direct them to a tailor, as one of the wives wanted to buy a dress.

I knew I would enjoy seeing Bp. John, Meg, and Dan, as well as meeting Rev. Canon John Macdonald of Trinity (and the SAMS board), but seeing these friends, and making a new one in John, really touched my heart.  I have friends here, and I am grateful for them.  But there's something about being around those who know you and love you from your own culture, and seeing them today really hit that home to me.

A weekend of purple

Yesterday was the installation and enthronement of the new Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali. Of course, this means much pomp and circumstance, as well as many dignitaries visiting, including more bishops than you can shake a stick at.  And the police deployed 5,000 officers throughout the city for the occasion.  We are always given invitation cards for functions; this is the only one I have attended at which admittance was by card only.

All the archbishops, and many of the bishops, including my own, were staying at the Namirembe Guest House, so my friend Amos, his wife, and I went to meet them.

We had a wonderful time meeting with Bp John and Meg, as well Bp. Grant LeMarquand, Bp. Bill Thompson, Rev. Canon John Macdonald from Trinity (and on the SAMS board), and others.

Then Sunday was a wonderful (and only four hour) service.  Archbishop Bob Duncan preached, and the introductions of visiting bishops took quite a while.  I was stunned and honored at the number of bishops who had traveled so far to come for the installation. There were four from the US, at least two from the UK, one from India, I think one from Australia, and of course, several from Africa, to include the Archbishop of Burundi.  It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.

I heart these birds

I heart these birds; they eat grasshoppers. I only counted ten on various windows this morning.

Glorious Sunday!

The baptism this morning was wonderful and joyous celebration, with much rejoicing from the [mostly student] congregation when it was announced that the two young men had been Muslims!  They  both accepted Christ in secondary school, and wanted to make public proclamations of their faith now.  One has not told his family; I'm not very sure of the other.  Please continue to hold them in prayer.

Excitement for Sunday

I'm celebrating my first Eucharist tomorrow at UCU. As excited as I am about that, the big news is that two new converts from Islam will be baptized!

Please join me in praying for these new saints as they embark on this new life in Christ. I don't know either of their stories, or how their families have reacted to their conversion, though it is fairly certain that they could be cut off from their families for this. Please pray that the Lord protect and sustain them, and make them bold witnesses for Christ.

Bishop Tucker visitor

I've been working with the dean in her office for about a week on the impending curriculum review, and kept hearing scurrying and scratching in the ceiling. One of the friends finally showed himself!

Christmas programme

I just received the Christmas Break programme from the Chaplaincy, and I am preaching on Christmas Eve, 5pm in the Chapel.  Since it's in the Chapel, I'm inferring that this isn't a huge service, especially since the students aren't around, though there is Holy Communion.  Christmas Day service is in Nkoyoyo Hall, where church services are usually held.

I asked why I was given to preach on Christmas Eve, as that is a big deal in the US, and was told that it is tradition to have a muzungu (white man) preach at that service.  I'm not quite sure how long-standing of a tradition that is, but there you go.

So, I'm trying my best not to freak out that I land in country and am given the Christmas Eve service to preach.  I'm trying to see it that I've been given one one of the services in the holiday.  After all, the Vice Chancellor is preaching on Christmas Day.

But I am freaking out a little.  Just a little.  I know that Christmas and New Year's are a big deal here, sometimes with New Year's eclipsing Christmas; I guess I would have preferred to have experienced one before participating.  But this is Africa...

Learning new skills

It's not a skill I ever thought I wanted to have, but I'm getting pretty good at catching grasshoppers (and releasing them outside).  This morning, I saw five of them on the screen outside my bathroom.  The screen doesn't quite close properly, so I think I've found my point of ingress.  I asked them to stay outside.  That's where the grass is, after all.  I have nothing for them to eat.

A math problem for you

Here's a math problem that perplexed me this morning:

If, when Jessica went to bed last night, there were three grasshoppers in the house, and she put out two this morning, but one jumped back in, how many grasshoppers are in the house currently?

Grasshopper season.  I don't love it.  I also really don't know the answer to the math problem, either.

And man - grasshoppers here don't just jump.  Those babies FLY.  Wings and everything.  Long distances.  I can't wait for this season to end.

Happy Thanksgiving!

When I arrived back in Uganda, as I was puttering around the house on 15 November, I thought I heard gobbling sounds.  Turkeys are not unknown here, but generally aren't on campus.  It reminded me of Granddaddy Hughes, and how he made his own turkey calls for hunting (the brown bear rug is another story entirely).

So, while I heard this turkey, I saw no evidence of him.  I sent at text to Mary Jane, the SAMS missionary who lives directly behind me up the hill to ask if she heard it too.

Of course she heard it.  It was in her yard, for the Thanksgiving dinner that they are hosting tonight for expats.  As it turns out, he loved to eat desiccated coconut.

I was a bit sad that there was no gobbling today, but it was time for the bird to serve his purpose.

This is Africa

In the nearly four months I've been in my flat, there's been no light in the refrigerator. At first I thought it odd, but then thought that perhaps refrigerators here don't have lights. So it became normal.

Then, the other night, I opened the refrigerator, and there was light! Whoa, baby! Helen had knocked her head on the door of the refrigerator, and it (apparently) made the light decide to work.

We have a saying for things like this, and it's usually accompanied with a shrug: "this is Africa." Or TIA for short. 

I'll definitely file this one under TIA.

A matter of perspective

One of the things I brought with me from my trip to the US was a handful of taco seasoning packets. I can get mincemeat (ground beef with fabulously low fat) easily enough, and chapati to pretend to be tortillas (though they're a lot thicker and much more greasy and cheese if I'm willing to squint my eyes at the price.

So, a few days after I returned to Uganda, I decided to make "tacos," and invited my former roommate Joan to dine with me.  She was fascinated by how I browned the beef, added water, and added the seasonings, and was even brave enough to try cheddar on her taco.

One of her sisters called as we were eating, and Joan happily informed her that she was sitting here with me, eating tacos, "you know, those fancy things you see in movies."

Now, Joan is Kenyan, and fairly cosmopolitan at that.  It's not as though she's just from the village.  So hearing her describing tacos as fancy just tickled me to no end.

Mostly settled

Since I was up at 4:30 this morning (thanks jet lag ), I decided to begin to sort my books.  I managed to get them all on shelves yesterday after acquiring another bookshelf and chest of drawers, and I also managed to unpack all the boxes and break them down.  *whew*

When I went to bed last night, everything was out, and was a hot mess, and I'd not yet completely contended with the suitcases.  So I took advantage of a free day alone to deal with all this.  It's 5:06 pm as I type this, and man, I'm beat.  But I think I'm ready to declare a 90% victory over the stuff - I'm mostly pleased with how I categorized the books, and just about everything has a home.  And a logical home - I think I'll be able to find everything again on the first try!

One of the members of the liturgy committee, came by yesterday to give me his work to type (I volunteered; I don't mind terribly, and I'll be typing it one way or another).  In discussing the new Ugandan prayer book, I realized that I didn't have the prayer book I received at confirmation, but was fairly certain I packed.

Of course, I now question my state of mind while packing, as I retrieved the Almy catalogue from a box (no, I'm not ordering any vestments or frontals - I have no idea what I was thinking), and a book on genetics from when I was working on the FBI's DNA data bank.  But no prayer book, which makes me rather sad.  I also a missing some clothes I'm fairly certain I packed as well, which is annoying, but recoverable.  I have no idea whether I didn't pack them (see above for state of mind), or whether they were removed from my boxes after I inspected them and before they were delivered. 

But all in all, it's good to be settled.  I need to deal with my desk tomorrow, which won't take long.  And type my little heart out.

Safe arrival

Home sweet home, trying to sleep do I can contend with all the boxes that are currently in my room in the morning. *happy sigh*

Readjusting

Indication of having to adjust to being home: this morning, the kettle wouldn't turn on, so I thought it was broken. I should have known that it was fine, and the power was just off.

Ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests

November 4, 2012 was a glorious day:  serving at all three services at All Saints', seeing so many friends, then the joy and honor of being ordained a priest by my bishop.  My heart is overflowing!

Pictures are posted here, with some comments.

Hallelujah!

Having my flight delayed has brought abundant blessings: dinner last night with Glen and Debbie Petta of SOMA and the other SAMS missionaries, and the opportunity to finish things with my shipped boxes. I'm waiting for a final receipt, then the boxes will be delivered tomorrow, and Mary Jane Dennison, another missionary, has volunteered to receive them for me.

Two boxes were wet, so we transferred that contents into another box. Two books were pretty wet, as we're some DVDs, but all in all, things came over well. The customs guy had to inspect the boxes to ensure I wasn't smuggling anything in. It was a little odd to have a stranger poking through my things with me standing there, but he was so nice.

So, thanks be to God, and thank you for your prayers!

Travel delay

Flights to the US delayed.  Of course.  By two days.  I guess it's way better to find this out while I'm still in Uganda as opposed to being in Amsterdam... and now I get to visit Detroit!  Now I'm currently scheduled to come in at 11:00something pm Thursday.  *sigh*

Another Ugandan health crisis

Last week, UCU lost a staff member.  We thought he had died of typhoid; it turns out that he had the Marburg virus, a virus in the same class as Ebola.  Several of his other family members have died as well.

The staff member was not near UCU when he both contracted the virus and died [meaning that we are safe hear; Kabale is far to the west], though the outbreak of the Marburg virus is growing.  

Lord, in Your mercy... please pray.

Luganda lessons

I believe there are 54 tribes in Uganda, and most have their own language.  Since UCU is in Central Uganda, that means that we are in the land of the Buganda, the dominant tribe of the country.  A member of the tribe of Buganda is called a Muganda, and they speak Luganda.  Got it?

I've been picking up some small Luganda phrases in my time here, so I can be polite.  I can greet and carry out very small conversation, but I want to be serious about learning Luganda.

The USPs have a Luganda class, but 1. it's very expensive, and 2. the times don't work with my schedule.  So I've hired a tutor from the languages department (at half the price!  Yay!), and we met for the first time last week.

Chrysostom, my tutor, began with the Luganda alphabet.  You'll note that it's remarkably similar to English, with some important differences.  

Let's start with the vowels.  A is pronounced ah, E is pronounced ay, I is pronounced ee (long e), O and U are pronounced like you think.  The consonants are pronunced with an ah sound at the end:  so W is wah, Y is yah, etc.  You'll notice that the R, J, and G are circled, because the R is pronounced ala, the J is pronounced jah, as in jar, and the G is pronounced gah, as in gas.  I fear that I will forever get confused.  I've ignored the last character on the second row because I don't know it's name, and it's hard to tell you how to pronounce it, though it is a kind of "ng" sound, pronounced at the back of the throat.

The words at the bottom are words we had discussed, and the double letter means that there is a slight extension of the sound.  Jjangu means come; omusajja is man, and ggwe is you (which I had assumed had only one g; it's a common way of calling someone, or calling someone out).  Weeraba is bye, but is pronounced way-lah-bah, because that R is pronounced with an "l."  Sometimes I wonder what the missionaries who codified Luganda were thinking!

Graduation (and the president) is coming!

Friday, 26th October is graduation.  I have several friends graduating, and I am rather looking forward to seeing them  achieve this milestone.  However, ever since I arrived in July, there's been a persistent rumor that the president is coming to graduation.  After all, it is Archbishop Orombi's last graduation as Chancellor of UCU.  

This graduation is also the launch of a year-long centenary celebration of the Bishop Tucker Theological College, the precursor to UCU.  So, of course the president has to come.

Honestly, as thrilled as I am for my friends, I was hoping to just come for the part where they just read the names of the graduating students, and skip all the pomp and circumstance.  Besides, the dry season is coming, so it's starting to get hot, and I've sat through a graduation from start to finish, both inside and outside a tent, thankyouverymuch.

But now, I'm a lecturer, and must be somebody, because this mail was waiting for me at the faculty this week.

While I don't need the card for the car park, in order to sit in a tent, I do need the invitation card, and to receive refreshments after, I do need the smaller card (I've not received that one before!).

The program is printed on the back.

UCU does run its graduations well, and they do follow the program pretty well, ending on time, which to me, is an incredible feat.  There were around 900 students graduating with me last July, and they moved through the faculties rather well.

The challenge lies in the last sentence on the card:  mobile phones and cameras will not be allowed at the graduation venue.  That is a standard sentence, but some phones and cameras end up on the pitch (field).  However, the president is coming, so this will be strictly enforced.  I'm just grateful that I stay inside, because security is going to be heinously tight beginning the afternoon prior.

What I'm really afraid of is not having anything to do while we wait for the president.  Because truly, I've been at several venues in which the president was scheduled to attend, and he has never been on time.  I suppose that's his perogative as president, and we will probably do what we can until he comes, but really, several thousand people are going to be held hostage on the pitch while we wait.  I can't have my phone, so no trying to pass The Moron Test 2.  :)

I have been told that I'm to join the academic procession, so at least I'll be under a tent.  I don't have any academic regalia here, which is good enough, because being smart in my collar will be enough.  As a friend used to point out, rank has its responsibilities:  I'm not a student anymore.

Hallelujah!

Our God is awesome, and so are His praying people!  Please keep praying!  

Nakawa is a section of Kampala, and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has a HUGE complex there.  UMEME is the power company, and Ugandans (and expats for that matter) have a love-hate relationship with them, as electricity is never guaranteed.

Prayer requests

Hello friends!

Please pray for:
The unrest in Zanzibar (an island off the coast of Tanzania). The Anglican bishop and his family, as well as missionaries, have been evacuated due to threats on their lives. They are safely on the mainland, but the situation on the island is deteriorating rapidly, with many churches being burned.

This is so minor compared with the above, but please also pray for the safe arrival of my shipment befor

e I leave for the US on the 29th. I'm sure the truck is at the border by now, but the URA (like the IRS) have not had their servers for about a week, and that means that there's an incredible backlog on processing incoming goods. This also potentially impacts fuel and food, so things could get interesting.

Blessings to you!

"You're not dancing!"

My friend and classmate Isaac invited me to his introduction.  Actually, it was really his fiancée, Alice’s introduction, as she is introducing him to her family and the community.  This is often when the bride price (dowry) is negotiated, and the groom brings many, many gifts for the family, I think in part to compensate for their losing a daughter.

Alice, the lovely bride.

I was very excited to attend; Isaac was excited that I was putting on a gomesi, a traditional Luganda dress.  Gomesis are interesting, because they’re really just held in place by the two buttons on the top left, and the sash.  It’s essentially a robe, and there’s a very long section that is folded, then draped over the sash once it’s secure.  One must wear a skirt under, as it’s a bit flimsy. 

My friend Esther on the left; Isaac’s sister Esther on the right

I was also excited to be asked to attend because while the bride can invite as many people as she wishes, the groom can only bring a certain number with him.  It’s very interesting.  I’d say there were about 30 of us, which was rather helpful later.

We met at a church near Alice’s house around noon, where we were promptly rained on.  So, we waited for the rain to pass, then we stopped to get sodas.  Upon our arrival, we formed two lines:  men and women, and we sat accordingly; women in one block, the men in another (and they didn’t quite fit under the tent, so they were a bit hot in the sun).

The one looking at the camera is Joshua, who sings with the Charity Worship Team at the cathedral where I worship.

Each “side” had an emcee, and while they were speaking Luganda and I didn’t understand a word they said, they kept things moving along well, and clearly enjoyed both their job and bantering back and forth. 

 The bride's emcee (whom I have met).

  "Our" emcee, whom I'd not met previously.

“Our” emcee then led the giving of gifts to various groups of Alice’s family:  the very young girls, the very young boys, little girls, little boys, older girls, older boys, young women, young men, and the aunties.  Each of these groups processed in to music and dancing, received their gifts, then processed out to music. 

Then the aunties brought out Alice.  She’s the one especially dressed up (and in the middle of the line). 

After that, the aunties went “looking” for the groom, and when they “found” him, pinned a flower on him, identifying him as the one.   Alice then leads Isaac to her family to be received.  Interestingly enough, Isaac’s parents do not attend this function.

Isaac is flanked by Rocky, his best man.  The introduction was also a wonderful reunion of sorts.

Then we went for the gifts for the family, and where our group size was helpful, as it was our job to bring them in.  We made three trips:  the first two times, I had a basket with a pineapple in it (which must be carried on the head, though you may use an arm for balance), and the third time, we brought gift bags.  The men carried in the furniture.

These are most of the gifts – furniture not here yet.  You don’t see the cow, nor the cow leg that was on the ground, and we had to step over.

Here is Isaac on the furniture with Alice’s father and Alice – she changed before the gifts came out.

Walking in a gomesi isn’t easy:  the dress goes to the ground (over my protest while having it made), so you must gather the skirt in your left hand.  And the left hand only; Esther was forever telling me to not use my right hand.  But it was muddy, and I really didn’t feel like falling… so I used both hands when I could.  Except when carrying the gifts.  Then you’re supposed to dance when you’re walking in – similar to how Alice and the aunties did above.

Florence – Amos’ wife, carrying a gift well.

I danced in the first time I carried in a gift like this and was rewarded with some small applause.  The second trip, I was again given a pineapple, and I was getting tired.  Esther was behind me, and halfway in, I hear “Jesca.  You’re not dancing.”  So, I guess it’s not enough to put on a gomesi, come to the introduction, and carry gifts.  One must always dance as well.  In for a penny, in for a pound…

Then of course, we ate, because the culmination of nearly every function is a meal.  At this point, it was about 6:00 (remember – we had the rain delay).  Isaac had promised me that the introduction wouldn’t take longer than four hours, and I think we were pretty close to keeping time.

Due to a number of factors, I hired Paul, the driver I usually hire, to take us.  Since I had him, I asked him to take us to a supermarket so I wouldn’t have to make another trip into Kampala.  Esther was staying over that night, and we were looking for (already popped – it’s common) popcorn, and couldn’t find it, so we asked two teenage boys to help us.  They were sufficiently enchanted with the sight of a muzungu in a gomesi that one of the boys walked us halfway across the very, very large supermarket to deliver us to the popcorn.  The woman checking us out told me I was smart.  On our way out of the store, the woman at the customer counter said, “Excuse me,” and I wondered what I did wrong.  Nothing – she wanted to tell me I was smart.

I tell American visitors here that eye contact, a smile, and a greeting make the country your oyster; I suppose I can add dressing in cultural wear to that list.

Best.Email.All.Week.

This is the best email I've received all week, hands down.  Please keep praying - we're getting close!

Guess what's for dinner?

As I type, Helen is up with Florence (who works for the Reid family now) finishing up the pizza dough.  And please take a look at the price tag, divide that number by 2,500, and join me in shedding a tear over the cost.  But I won't tell you how ridiculously inexpensive the veggies that are going on the pizza are, so it all works out.

Jubilee!

Today is Uganda's Independence Day, and it's also a jubilee; 50 years of independence from Britain.  Naturally, there are plenty of festivities!

Even Google is celebrating:

Update on the homegoods shipment

As of last week, there was still some confusion as to where my stuff could possibly be, with the African shipper claiming no knowledge.

I sent an email to everyone thanking them for their assistance, and telling them that I'm highly invested in getting this settled as I'm traveling at the end of the month.

This morning, I received a call from the Ugandan receiver; the reason that the African shipper had no knowledge of the shipment is that he never received it - it went to another shipping company.  Hallelujah!  And no, I'm not going to ask about how that happened.

So, my stuff is in Mombasa (Kenya, on the coast with the Indian Ocean), and hopefully, it's on its way soon.  

Please continue to pray that my stuff comes soon (i.e., before I leave) - the Lord is answering your prayers!

The Bougainvillea are growing!

And this make me inordinately happy. Yes, they need to be intertwined in the fence, and not all of them are this mature, but they're growing!

I'm sure there's a sermonette in this about putting down roots...

Overheard conversation

Conversation overheard yesterday morning from two security guards outside (one being in my garden):

Outside guard:  "What's up?"
Inside guard:  "White ants."

'tis the season for white ants, or African termites.  These odd creatures have a ridiculously short life span:  they seem to hatch at night, and are dead by sunup.  They flock to the light, and since I have several security lights around my place, when they come out, they flock there.

They also like to try to come inside, and sometimes succeed.  Then they lose their wings (which are very light and difficult to sweep out) and die, and locals enjoy them as a delicacy.  The officer in my garden was getting them to take home.

Signs o'the times

There are signs everywhere that Uganda is going digital with thr television signal, much like the US did. So, today I bit the bullet.

How we get things for the garden

The other day, Helen decided to make lemon rosemary chicken, and since we didn't have any rosemary, she said she needed to get it.  I went to get some money, and she said, "No - it's just on the ridge.  I'll be back."  My head is screaming "that's theft!" but my mouth just said, "thank you!"

Helen is taking over the compound, which is actually very fine.  She'll come to me and say something like, "Reverend.  Don't you think we should have basil, rosemary, and coriander?"  And I say yes, and the next thing I know, there's a twig of rosemary planted next to the house, waiting to take root so it can be transplanted to the garden proper.

Today I remembered that we had had a delicious lemongrass tea in Soroti, and I had been wondering whether we could grow the lemongrass in the garden.  So I asked Helen about it, and of course we can grow it.  She said that someone had just planted some lemongrass, and we would try it to see if it was the right kind, and if so, then we'd get a root so we could grow our own. 

So, Felix brought back a fistfull of lemongrass, Helen tied it together and boiled it, I added sugar and black tea to the mug, and poured in the boiled water, and it was fabulous.  Now I'm wondering when Felix will plant the root.  Hopefully tomorrow...

It still feels like theft, but somehow, I'm adjusting to this African way of sharing.

Domesticity by Helen

Helen has been wanting to learn to bake, and asked if she could go learn from Florence (who works for the Reid's, another SAMS missionary family).  I said that was fine.  Then Helen brought Florence's recipe for banana bread, which I took to be a serious hint.  There aren't any bread loaf pans in Mukono, so I'll get one in Kampala.

This morning I showed Helen how to use my Pampered Chef measuring tools.  Helen then danced up the hill to the Reid's with all the ingredients for banana bread, and I'm expecting her back soon.  She also knows that I'm having visitors Saturday morning, and I think she wants to have something fresh-baked for them.

Helen also asked about making pizza dough, so I need to find good recipes for that.  And then figure out what ingredients I can find here for pizza.  Oh my.

The upshot of all this is that clearly, the Zumba DVD needs to be a priority.

Domesticity by Helen

Helen has been wanting to learn to bake, and asked if she could go learn from Florence (who works for the Reid's, another SAMS missionary family).  I said that was fine.  Then Helen brought Florence's recipe for banana bread, which I took to be a serious hint.  There aren't any bread loaf pans in Mukono, so I'll get one in Kampala.

This morning I showed Helen how to use my Pampered Chef measuring tools.  Helen then danced up the hill to the Reid's with all the ingredients for banana bread, and I'm expecting her back soon.  She also knows that I'm having visitors Saturday morning, and I think she wants to have something fresh-baked for them.

Helen also asked about making pizza dough, so I need to find good recipes for that.  And then figure out what ingredients I can find here for pizza.  Oh my.

The upshot of all this is that clearly, the Zumba DVD needs to be a priority.

Can you guess what the newest addition to the kitchen is?

I know I'm remiss in posting several changes around the flat, but this one bears mentioning. Friends in the US told me I needed a microwave, but I demurred.  Even though all the missionaries I know here have microwaves (and plenty of other appliances), I think I had some kind of missionary angst that led me to think that I could/needed to suffer with learning how to reheat food the old way.

It wasn't until Mary Jane, another SAMS missionary and my directly behind neighbor, stopped by, surveyed how the kitchen was rearranged, and pronounced, "Oh no.  You need a microwave."  So, Saturday's trip to Kampala found me at Game obtaining one.  And I'm thrilled.

Shameless plug:  in the container is leftover pork chop, marinated in this maple balsamic dressing.  Even with my fake ingredients (like regular syrup for maple syrup), it's divine.

Medical technology - it's beautiful!

UCU's clinic now has a snazzy new computer system, and it's rather impressive. I went to work yesterday, and the dean took one look at me and one listen to my cough and sent me to the clinic.

When I presented myself to the intake guy, it used to be that I'd tell him my name and my program (now, that I'm staff), and he'd find the appropriate binder and pull out my sheets. 

Yesterday, he asked f

or my number. I told him "ExPat 40," he entered it in the computer, then sent me to the doctor in room 7.

I knocked on room 7 and entered, and the doctor looked at me, made a few mouse clicks, and apparently had my record open, because as I listed my ailments, she was typing. She assured me I'd be fine (a typical African thing that I find simultaneously endearing and maddening), and that a bacterial infection was causing the constricted breathing. She then instructed me to go to the dispensing window for my medicine. Without writing anything down.

When I got to the dispensing window, the nurse saw me, made a few mouse clicks, then told me to sit. A few minutes later I had my antibiotics and absolutely vile cough syrup.

How 'bout them apples?! The trainer in me wants to go play with that system. I'm mighty impressed.

Hot water progress

In other news, the hot-spot shower head was attached today. I say attached rather than installed because while the plumber did come and put it on the pipe, it requires an electrician to attach the wires. Robert, the plumber, is not an electrician. He said he would send one, but he didn't come today.

There is a victory here, though: the water had previously come out of the pipe in a big stream, and now it is properly dispersed through the shower head. Cold is cold, but now it's a gentle cold.

Home from Soroti!

Home from Soroti; praising God for His faithfulness! I'm putting the cough and mosquito bites to bed, so a more thoughtful post will come later.

I also came home with a new name - Amunot, or trusted one. My heart is full.

The missionary is going on a mission trip!

To me, this is simultaneously totally natural, and totally ironic.

I'm going to Soroti with Clark and Carol Smith, a delightful couple here on a SOMA trip, to teach two three-day workshops on the Holy Spirit.

This came about through a series of divine appointments; it also happened on Thursday!  I'm honored and thrilled to be going, and am very much looking forward to our week together.

I'll report back next week!

The bishops are coming, the bishops are coming! Oh, and the president, too.

This week, UCU is hosting the bi-annual Provincial Assembly, akin to General Convention, in which the bishops and leaders of the 34 dioceses of the Province of the Church of Uganda gather for legislative business.

Since this is the last Assembly for which the Archbishop will preside, the President was invited, and he accepted.

The morning services are open to all, so I attended.  Of course, I had to greet Archbishop Orombi (and the other bishops and people I knew), and he told me to go register for the Assembly.  Archbishop said... so I did.

No, it's not wrinkled; the light was poor when I took the photo.

Of course, since the president was coming, security was tight.  UCU security was out in good numbers, as were the army, and the Ugandan version of the Secret Service.  One of their agents asked me for my staff ID prior to the service.  Tragically, I don't yet have it; fortunately, another staff explained that I am new then took me to sit with him.

The Vice Chancellor, Dr. Senyonyi, preached on Acts 20:17-38, as the theme for the Assembly is leadership succession.  Canon Amos, who rescued me from the Secret Service-type, whispered to me after the reading from Acts, "can't you feel the tone?"  And indeed, it does feel that we're beginning the long good-bye to the Archbishop.  The Archbishop is beginning a three-month tour of the Province, saying good-bye.  He's coming to the Mukono cathedral on 9 September, and he made a plea for no long speeches or programs.  We'll see how that works out; he's rather beloved by all.

Archbishop Orombi led the morning session with humor and grace, as one would expect.  The president, while calling himself an "amateur Christian," gave a decent talk on the command to subdue the earth in Genesis 1:28 and Africa's need to master subduing the earth to better the people.

The president later noted that the Archbishop doesn't lecture him publicly, and that he returns the favor.  In an age of very public political rebukes flying around the media (yes, it's an international phenomenon!), I very much appreciate the grace with which the president spoke of the Archbishop's integrity.  I'm sure they don't necessarily agree on much, though to me, that kind of public statement is high praise indeed.  

A day of grief

Today is a day of grief:  before the service at the cathedral, I heard that one of the Masters of Divinity students died last night; apparently, he had been unwell during exams.  Then, during announcements, we learned that a seventh grader in the congregation had died too.

Please pray for the families of the students who have died, as well as the school communities affected.  A number of lecturers are attending the burial of the MDiv student.

Ahh... the smell of varnish in the air!

This can only mean that my furniture was just delivered.  Hallelujah!  Photos to come later; I need to finish my sermon for tomorrow, preferably at a reasonable hour.  :)

This also means that the flat is becoming more comfortable, and more mine.  I'm so very grateful.

End of semester - visual reminder

The altar in the chapel in the Bishop Tucker building has been stripped, since the semester is over.  Is it terrible that I love to see the altar without the frontal?  It just covers the beautiful carving.

Visa approved!

Peter called last night to tell me my visa had been approved.

He just came to get the visa fee and my passport; he'll deposit it for me, then take the passport to get its visa.

By next Tuesday, I should be done, and free to move about the continent!

View from my desk

See who I see as I sit at my desk at home?

Visa update

I have a file number with Immigration!  The review board meets once a week, on Wednesdays, to review applications.  I won't know until possibly Thursday whether they've 1. reviewed my file, and 2. granted the visa.  If so, they'll give Peter the bank slip (deposit slip), then he'll come to me, and I'll give him a lot of money, and he'll take it to the bank, then take my passport for that coveted sticker/stamp.

Amen.

Meteorology

These are the clouds that rolled in this morning. Wouldn't you think that we'd've gotten a boatload of rain? Nope. Just some sprinkles. 

I cannot tell a lie... I was invigilating again, and grateful that I didn't have to walk back to Bishop Tucker with exam books and a clock and an umbrella, but all the same, I'm a bit disappointed that the rain failed to make a showing.

But it's only early August... the rains are coming.  You may remind me of my disappointment when I write that I'm looking for the Ark.

Invigilating!

I invigilated my first exam today.  First, I prefer the word proctor.  Second, it was a fairly underwhelming experience, for which I'm grateful.  

One girl kept writing after I called time, and when I asked her to stop, she said she was numbering her pages (which must be done with your registration number and the question you are answering.  On each page.).  I laughed, told her she should have done that first.  

I'm grateful that I knew what she was going through, and that I wasn't the one writing!

I was subbing for a friend who was invigilating.  Maybe I should carry a book with me in case I get drafted again?

Impulse purchase

This morning, I went to Game (a bit like Target) to continue the nesting process:  ironing board, toaster, flatware, etc.  In the fitness section, was a clearance table.  I wish I had a picture of it.. a clearance table in front of treadmills, in Kampala.  But I digress.


Anyhow, on said table were these.

I wish the price tag was 1. right side up, and 2. not smudged.  It was only 30,000 shillings (about $12.50), originally 140,500 (about $56.20).


This has potential to be exciting.  I need to start jogging, but with the rainy season here, that's less likely to happen.   So, now there's really no excuse.


Lord, have mercy.

Domestic bliss

Tonight, Helen roasted a chicken with lemon, made french [green] beans and carrots, and smashed potatoes.  With no mixer save her arms.

She is indeed a living saint.