What About Quiche?

February 7-9 : Sunday-Tuesday

Sunday morning was hot. The rest of the day followed suit. Hot, hot, hot. After church Heather, Jenny, and Leah invited Justin and me over for lunch. I sat on the counter and didn’t contribute to the lunch making process at all. Actually I may have hampered the ability of the chef people. The kitchen in the main house has my favorite sitting counters of all time. They are plenty wide enough and the perfect height. My mother always scolded me for sitting on the counters but here in Africa I have gone counter-sitting berserk. Despite my “help” lunch turned out delicious, pesto chicken pasta with good bread.

After lunch Jenny was called down to the clinic to get some drugs for a patient so rather than do the gracious thing and offer to do the dishes I went with her to visit the clinic staff. First we visited JB who just returned from Namalu and was about to set out for Takora where his wife is staying because she is very pregnant. Losike, his son, was in a foul mood because as he says his mother is “gone to buy another baby”. We visited Rose, JB’s sister who had lost her baby during delivery and had to have a c-section. She seems to be improving. Next we stopped in on Moses and Susan and played cards with them tell prayers.

Monday night was guy’s night so I made up some potatoes and fried it up with onion, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs. Everyone came though and we ran out of food. Everyone got some but not enough to really fill them up. I felt horrible.

Tuesday night Jenny and Heather made dinner at my house and invited Moses, Susan, Robert and his Wife and kid who are visiting from Matany where his wife works as a Nurse and their son just sleeps, eats, and cries. He’s just a newborn so it’s ok though. Heather and Jenny made a lovely quiche and bread with Jam. Robert’s wife (obviously I don’t know her name otherwise I would use it) was really funny. She was trying to eat and keep the baby quite at the same time which meant she was accomplishing neither. Jenny took the baby and promptly scared it speechless by making faces at it. After dinner Moses, Robert, and Susan taught me how to play Ludo which is kinda a lot like Sorry. Susan is really funny because she gets really competitive and into the game. Poor Moses though never does well. He is the worst board-game player I have ever seen. Not only does he always lose but he also always finishes last.

In Which We Participate in a Parade, See Bushes with AK-47s, and Revance

February 6^th: Saturday

Saturday Martha, all the Wrights kids, and I piled into their van and along with the Eldeens set off on an expedition. Our destination, a “Peace Village” several kilometers from Nabilatuk where two different Karimojong tribes have come to live in peace instead of raiding from each other. We were to meet a group there including two men from Peacemaker Ministries in the US and from the Eldeen’s and my home church. Unfortunately after a half hour drive from the main road into the boondocks we encountered a nearly impassable stretch of “road” from the recent rains from the night before.

After our forced “revance” we stopped in Nabilatuk for sodas where we immediately attracted a huge crowd of curious children who flocked after us like we had 3 heads. The Eldeens headed back while Martha went to the local shop to go and buy some groceries. JB and Christine had come with us and JB wanted to go visit his aunt so we took refuge in here compound from the hundreds of obnoxious kids who had been following us. It was like being mobbed by the paparazzi.

JB’s aunt gave us tea and told us that there were so many people in town today because supposedly Janet Museveni was supposed to come and speak in this rally thing. Well wow, so we decided to stick around and check out this rally. There we got seats underneath a tent and watched several groups of Karimojong women perform songs. After that to our complete astonishment a marching band appeared from somewhere and the entire town participated in the spontaneous parade up and down the main street of Nabilatuk. After the parade the army burned 136 AK-47s as a symbol of the disarmament. Apparently someone didn’t do his job properly because a bullet went off in one of the chambers which freaked everyone out and most of the people ran away. Then several speakers came and the Wright kids somehow scored free sodas. I was standing by some soldiers who participated in the parade and for some unfathomable reason were covered in branches so they looked like bushes with AKs and RPGs. One particular soldier by me must have been like 4’9” and had this hug RPG over one soldier. He was shorter than Kipsy.

Eventually the realization sunk in that Janet Museveni wasn’t coming and instead it was someone who used to have her post in Karamoja. We left the rally disappointed but optimistic because we had seen great and wonderful things that day.

In Which My Life Takes an Exciting Turn of Events

February 1^st-5^th: Monday-Friday

Monday night we had guyed’s (I left this spelled wrong because this is what my computer thinks this is correct, little scary? I think so) night. Jim and I made some sort of food stuff. Justin came with James and Bobby and then Robert, Moses, and JB came from the clinic. After dinner we played cards. Jim taught the clinic guys how to play 21 which is all good but unless your betting it’s actually kinda a boring game. They were really into it though. Eventually we switched and started playing sets which is this game they pay here.

Teaching has been going pretty well. It’s something I don’t think I am very good at but I am helping out the Wrights and giving Martha more free time so it’s good. Actually Bobby has finished his math book for the year and Mary and Kipsie have finished their science book too so we have just moved on to the next books.

Jim left Friday of this week to go to Kenya for two weeks. He is taking part in a two week seminar thing for doctors in third world countries in tropical regions and also renewing his CPR registration. He left Friday to ride down with Bob to Mbale where hopefully he will be able to pick up his new car.

Sherlock Holmes and a Cow

January 28^th-29^th: Thursday and Friday

Thursday morning after teaching The O’Leary’s met with all the MAs. They asked us about our input on how things were at the mission and how we felt like we were helping and what, what. It was a good discussion. I really appreciate the O’Leary’s taking so much interest in our mission and how things are going. Unfortunately because our meeting ran so long we missed the group going into town that morning.

After lunch however we were able to get a ride into town. Jenny, Heather, Maria and I wondered around and bought a couple of movies, Sherlock Holmes and another movie, Standing Tall or something. We stopped at flavors where we had a some milkshakes. Eventually we got pickeys back to the Kingfisher.

After we got back we went on a boat ride before dinner out on Lake Victoria and the Nile. The boat captain/driver had it in first gear the whole way. He used about a teaspoon of gas. It was a bit ridicules. That night after having a cigar with Craig we all watched Sherlock Holmes. Pretty entertaining movie. Very different from the books but that is to be expected.

Friday all the MAs piled into Andrews van for the drive back to Mbale. An uneventful trip except Andrew hit a speed bump at nearly full speed. I thought we had hit a cow.

We found Jim somewhat recovered at the Shelburne’s. We decided just to load up and head back to Nakaale that night rather than append another night away from home.

That day I read the first half of the sci-fi short stories I bought in Jinja. I had ripped it in half and given half to Rachel. The first half had definitely better stories. Some really interesting ones. The book was all sci-fi mysterious by Isaac Asimov.

Street Sellers and Nightswimming

January 27^th: Wednesday

Jim was feeling really sick so Wednesday after breakfast he left to go crash at the Shelburne’s house in Mbale. That morning a bunch of us went to a cloth textile factory. The company made all their own thread, which they dyed and then spun on these huge wooden looms. It was really cool. The whole operation took place in this old brick building which didn’t have glass in the windows or finishings. With the cloth they made all kinds of stuff including rugs, blankets, some kid’s cloths, bags etc…The looms where the coolest part of the whole place. They were huge and hand operated. Pre-industrial revolution.

After that we all headed into town to check out the scene. Jimja’s main street consists of several restaurants. Some local shops and about 50 little tourist shops all selling the exact same things. I split and headed down town to try to find a book seller where I could get some books. I passed several street sellers but they only had text books. Finally I hit the jackpot. A Sherlock Holmes book and a sci-fi short collective of short stories. The man who sold them to me had an incredibly high voice. It was like bargaining with Mickey Mouse.

Jenny, Laurie (an MA, teacher for the Proctars) Rachel, and I decided to stay in town for lunch. We went to Aussies’ which is this cool little shop run by this old Australian lady. I had a mushy burger which was pretty good although the food did take forever. After we ate we wondered around town a little bit. To get back to the Kingfisher we hired a couple of Boda-Bodas (pickeys).

David O’Leary has been teaching through the book of Job during the retreat. Once in the morning and again in he afternoon. He is a really insightful, interesting, and passionate speaker. I really enjoyed his teaching.

That night I went out to eat with the Wrights and the other singles. Bob had arrived that day with the Wright’s cousin Justin and we all went to the Gately which is this really nice restaurant on the Nile. We sat out back on the veranda where we ordered drinks and sat in their incredibly comfy furniture and talked until the food was served just after dark. I had a steak on top of pumpkin mash potatoes topped with a blue cheese sauce and served with sweet potato chips. Best meal I have had since Khana Kazana. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Then we all had ice-cream for dessert. wow.

After we got back that night I had a cigar with Craig and Phil. The kids all like to swim at night so they jumped in and after I finished my cancer stick I joined them. The night was cloudless and a nearly full moon looked down on us. I kept thinking of that song Nightswimming by R.E.M. Post swim I donned my new trousers and stayed up late talking to people.

Favorful Sequins

January 25^th-26^th: Monday and Tuesday

Monday afternoon all the MA’s and Jim piled into the decrepit green land rover and headed to Jinja for the mission retreat. That night we reached Mbale. After being sick for the entire week I was going a bit stir crazy so I talked the entire way down to Mbale. That night we ate at the landmark. The food has really improved.

Tuesday morning Jim wanted to leave early so we could get to Jiinja early and spend hours at Flavors his favorite coffee shop in all of Uganda. It’s a little slice of the west. Ironically we arrived too early and Flavors wasn’t even open. So we went to the Big Bazaar Supermarket. We stalked up on water and Jim bought some weird gum. Then we went to flavors which had just opened. I haven’t really been hungry since I became sick so Jim made me eat some of his pancakes.

Jim and heather wanted to hang out and do email but I wanted to go into the market and stuff so Jenny, Leah and I left. The market is just like I remember it from before I went to Tanzania. I don’t remember it smelling like fish so much though. Unfortunately I had to walk by the shoe ladies but I don’t think they saw me. I really wanted to buy some jeans. I only have one pair of pants and I am going to need some more for Scotland. I started looking. The jean sellers are a pretty chill group of guys. Not pushy, mellow but helpful. For the most part. They kept giving me girl jeans though. Which is all fine but I don’t have the hips. Also a lot of the jeans had like butterflies and sequins and stuff on them. What? Eventually I found the holy grail of jean stalls. This guy had no less than three pairs of jeans that where the right waist, length, color (blue jeans, not red) and best of all, men’s. He was asking outrageous prices though but I worked him down and paid about 6 dollar for them.

We checked into the kingfisher where I have a little quarter banda all to myself. Not sure why I am not rooming with Jimmy since it would be cheaper but whatever. We ate lunch as a mission. The Tricaricos, Eldeens, Wrights (except Bob who was still in Kampala picking the Wrights cousin) the Proctors, Andrew, and the MAs. Finally Mr. and Mrs. O’Leary who are on the foreign mission board for the OPC came to visit.

Don't Touch Me, i'm Hot

January 16^th-17^th: Saturday and Sunday

Saturday Jim and Jenny wanted to go into Mbale to visit people and I decided to tag along. we left early, driving the Okkens’ newly repaired vehicle. I had been feeling a bit under the weather when I woke up but was feeling much better now. we drove along through southern Karamoja when we encountered a problem. the car suddenly jerked and the front left side plunged downward. As we skidded to a stop something caught our eye. we watched as our front left tire bounced amiably into the field on our left. apparently Bob and Craig hadn’t tightened the lug nuts after repairing the car. however we soon had the car jacked up and with several lug nuts Jenny had found on the side of the road and a few lifted from other tires we soon had the tire remounted and were off.

we picked Laurie, the Proctar’s teacher and went to landmark fro lunch. we also met Andrew Innocent. Andrew is a long time friend of the mission who is currently going to medical school in south west Uganda and an old friend of Jim’s. Jim, Andrew and I went to go run some errands and things. I got to have several interesting conversations with him. mainly about what I want to do with my life and why I like Africa. we also got to stop by the home of the head Lab tech from Cure’s house where we met his family and stayed and talked for a while.

later that afternoon Jim and I climbed the mountain behind Mbale. it was a spectacular view and a beautiful climb. unfortunately I was feeling pretty sick at the time. we got back and after a shower and I ate a bit at the Proctar’s and then went to bed with a horrible fever. it seemed like the worst fever I have ever had. I woke a half dozen time during the night and was always too hot or cold and always wet with sweat.

the next morning we left early in order to be on time for church. I crashed out in the backseat as we drove. I spent the rest of Sunday sleeping and laying on the couch. eventually I managed to get up an
d take a shower. I had a fever again that night.