Dirt, sweat, and joy.

So much goes on here. 

I don’t even know how many words it will take to fill you in on the last 2 days.

Saturday:

First of all, as soon as we got here, there was a water shortage. The people of Nyahuka and district of Bundibugyo were without water. Amy Johnson (our team leader, the wife of Travis, and mother of 3), sent us a text “continue to conserve water. No water is flowing into tanks this am. Pray for wisdom in handling water”. Electricity is also limited here and we are always trying to conserve energy as well. 

I remember back home, sometimes we just turn on the light or leave it on for hours in a room just because a brighter room cheers up the atmosphere. Here, we read and converse in the natural dim sunlight up until the sun goes down, and the room goes dark.

On Sunday, we went to a local church, Bundimulinga. Church starts at 10:00am, but in Africa, never show up at the time they tell you because no one else will be there. So we went to church at 11:00am, with African time. The entire service was comprised of intervals of prayer, exhortations, and a sermon, interlaced by singing, all in Lubwisi, except for the sermon which was delivered in heavy african english.

Dirt & Sweat: 

This morning, before the day began, Sarah and I put on our leggings underneath our long skirts and we laced up our runners and ran for a 1/2 mile down the dirt road from our house. Running, just for sheer exercise, is a very bizarre idea to Africans. Because they work hard enough in a day. A workout is not necessary. 

So as we ran, hundreds of people nearby stood to watch, and several “picky-picky”’s and “bota-bota”s, which are motorcycles (they call them picky-picky because they pick people up! Haha), would give a friendly honk and zoom past us. When we ran up the 2^nd big hill and decided to turn back, about 20-some kids started running after us! It was hilarious as they chased us and giggled with joy until the adults told them to stop. I would turn around and they would stop and giggle, and then when I started running again I could hear their little feet patter along. As we ran, we smiled and waved, saying, “Olayo!”. One man along the path said, “you are warming?”. African english is so unique.

Amazing Race: BUNDIBUGYO:

Today was the first day of our Amazing Race: Bundibugyo, which is designed by Amy Johnson, our team leader. It is basically our one week invigorating and exciting orientation to the local language, culture, and daily labour duties. Our task #1 was to hoe our own garden. So we went with Gladys (a local who has been working for missionaries) to the market and bought 2 “ensukas”, which are hoes, and we got nice and dirty in our garden of pumpkins, tomatoes, and weeds (until we slashed it all off). We sweated and slashed under the African sun, while we learned Lubwisi words and sang Lubwsis songs with Gladys.

This afternoon, we also spent time with Vincent, who is a local teacher and also fluent in English, and he gave us a tutorial of Lubwisi. We sat under the Kintubi, which is a community hut made from palm branches that sits outside of people’s homes (since it is not often normal for people to enter your home, unless they are close, they would meet you at the hut on your front lawn). Then he took us around the village to practice what we learned. The families were overjoyed to see us as we went around and conversed with the new phrases we learned. They hollered with laughter and beamed as soon as they heard their own heart language coming out of our mouths...especially from the Asian-looking one. Next week, we will start to have more normal weeks where we will spend time at the health centre and work with the local people.

Prayer praises: 

1. We arrived in Uganda safely with all our luggage. Nothing was missing. Praise the Lord, as losing luggage in the transition between Toronto and Kampala, Uganda, was very likely.
2. We travelled safely between all the crossovers and layovers different cities. Nothing detrimental happened. Sarah & I were safe and healthy throughout almost one full week of travels/commute.
3. My jet lag has been much better! On my first night, I woke up at 3:00AM and laid in bed, wide awake until morning. I had a terrible time trying to sleep. I still have sporadic episodes of intense drowsiness in the middle of the day, in the middle of conversations, at the dinner table, etc.
4. The water pipes from the waterfall have just been fixed! The village is now slowly getting clean water from the waterfall. The water tanks are slowly filling. Students might be able to return to school next week!

Prayer requests:

1. Team unity, especially that our roles here would be Christ-centered, and that we (especially Sarah & I) would not compete for Survival of the Fittest! Funny, but It’s often  difficult, when adapting to a new place, meeting new people, trying new things. Pray for discernment, that we will each hear from God and the individual & unique calling He has for each of us.
2. I have not had too episodes many of diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting yet. Thanks to your prayers. Please continue to pray for health & safety, as the mosquitoes are bad at night, and some days are long and exhausting. The water from the river is also contaminated, but thank God they just got some clean water flowing. Clean water and adequate food & nutrition is a concern here. 
3. Learning the new language & culture, Lubwisi of the Babwisi people. It’s coming along slowly, but it makes such a difference when people see us using their language instead of English. Pray that our eagerness and genuine love of Christ will softly touch these hurting & suffering hearts.