The FIRST posting from Uganda!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Agande! (That means “How are you” in Ugandan). This is my first posting since arriving on Tuesday, March 25. I have been settling in, getting to know a lot of people, and trying to take everything as it comes. Everyday has been busy, so far, but everything also seems to take much longer to accomplish so you get less done! But people have been very friendly, though some seem to treat me a little differently because they know that I am an outsider (hmmm, I wonder why it is so obvious?!)

Yesterday we made a road trip to the very Southwest part of the country to a town in the hills along the Rwanda border in the Kabale District, and its called Kishanje (pronounced Chi-shan-gee). It was so beautiful! The hills in the Southwest are so big and lush with plants and animals. The farmers build terraces going up the hills, and it is hard to believe that they do all the farming by hand, climbing up and down everyday. And the only access to it all is by dirt road, which during the rainy season can be quite an adventure! We had to use four-wheel drive for 20 about 20 miles!!!

We went to Kishanje to see students at the Juna Amagara facility that is there. Some of these students are orphans while others are students from the surrounding area. Most are in secondary school (like high school). Their education program here is much more rigorous than in the U.S. They are in school from about 8 am til about 5 or 6 pm and then are studying until 10, then they go to sleep. There are of course breaks, but most of the day is spent in school or studying.

The last week has been rough at times to get through. I was first in a little culture shock, though mostly it was due to the fact that I was getting used to the 8 hour time difference. I had been going to bed at 9 or 10 pm, then waking up at 2 am and staying wide awake til 5 or so. This has been the hardest part about coming here, because I have felt exhausted. But that is finally coming to an end and I am getting good sleep and sleeping through the night.

The days have been mostly warm – around 70 – 80 degrees. It’s been pretty perfect. But, as Forrest Gump would say, when it rains, IT RAINS! It comes pouring down for a few hours, sometimes all day. After it rains, though, it becomes dry and hot for whatever reason…it is just how the weather is. But I have managed to stay un-burnt this far, and have a nice little tan going, if I do say so myself J.

Well, that’s all I’m going to say for now! I am leaving to go meet up with two other missionaries I met named Jake and Owen – Jake is from the U.S. in California, and Owen is Welsh. We are going to be meeting once a week to catch up and talk about the craziness that is Uganda!!! And we are going to play football (aka soccer) (aka I don’t know how to play). I’ll try to update again this week, since I’ve been out of contact, but if I don’t, I’ll be updating every Monday (Monday’s will be my day off!!!). Love you all…I miss you and I am praying all the time for EVERYONE! Please keep me in your prayers… Til next time…