Yesterday morning, when the electricity went out, it never did come back on. Consequently, when it got dark, we had to use our head lamps to get around. We ended up going to bed around 8:30pm to read as the apartment is pitch black when it is dark.

The electricity was still not on this morning, but we managed to hook up the propane stove to make coffee. Ah, yes . . . Ritual coffee while reading our Bibles on the front porch. Thank you D & B!! Life is good indeed.

I decided today was the day to go for a run. I ended up running around 5 miles but my ankle was bothering me, so I am going to try to run every other day and add miles each time I run. I was a complete spectacle as EVERYONE stared like they had never seen a woman run. Oh, wait. Maybe they had never seen a woman running in running pants/gear. I asked one of the GC women if it was appropriate to run in jogging pants and she said that it was. While I was at it, I also asked her if I should be wearing skirts as opposed to mid-thigh pants. She said that pants were very acceptable.

When I walked back through the Pamba slum to get to the compound, some of the children came running cautiously towards me. When we are in the van, they come running and they stand and wave and grin with the biggest smiles you have ever seen. Today, since I was a little closer, they were careful about how close they should be. I turned around and said “Boo!” and they ran like the dickens. Ha. I then bid them to come and “give me five.” Several children came close and had a look of delight that is difficult to describe. I played with them for a few minutes and then headed back.

It is interesting how connected children make you feel. I always expect adults to be wary, but interaction with children makes me feel very at home in the community. The children here, like in all of Africa, are beautiful beyond words.

Christine is someone I want to write about as I want to remember my time with her. She is so, so precious; sort of quiet spoken, kind and gracious. She also laughs at all of my jokes. Rick and I were asked if we wanted to employ her to do laundry, shopping, and cleaning and we said OF COURSE!! So. . .today, Rick asked her to take me to the market. We had such a good time. She soon discovered, however, when we were looking for a mat for the floor, that she was not going to get a good price if I was with her. So she told me to walk behind her so they did not know I was with her. Ha.

It seems that the bartering, or bargaining takes place in the market place and not so much in the smaller stores. I enjoy being with her and so appreciate how she has helped me feel less lost.

When we were walking back from town, three of the little children from the slums came running up and wanted to hug me. It was so sweet. Their mom looked at me and said, “They love you so much.” Sweetness.

Just made eggs with peppers and onions. Tastes like heaven. Also made tea with marsala, milk and stevia (brought from home).

Rick has been busy all morning. Why is it that everything takes so long? Last night it took him over 2 hours, maybe even three, to fill the propane tank. He is a very patient man.

Rick and Bosco are trying to weld so they can make something for the well. Not sure exactly, but Rick says things are moving so slowly.

January 15

Last night, we opened up our set of three cast iron pans (the largest was broken into pieces—not really cast iron at all-ha), AND MADE POPCORN!!! Bless you, Gertrude, who encouraged me to buy some groceries in Kampala before making the trek to Soroti. I have been craving popcorn for weeks now. We gobbled it up like nobody’s business! I don’t think we’d better make this a habit as we only have 3 small bags L

The electricity was off again this morning BUT we still managed to make coffee with our “trusty” propane stove! Delish. Did some reading in Luke and in the book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan.

Rick left about 8am to pick up some tools for today’s project, which, can I say, is the same project he has been working on for three days. They have encountered a problem with every aspect of trying to get this well to produce water. Broken tools, needing tools, which are not available in town, etc. Though these inconveniences are predictable, they can still be somewhat of a frustration.

Saturday, I am told, is the best day to shop for food, and so, I am going to walk to town to try and find some goat meat. The chicken is too tough, and there is very little beef offered (and it is expensive). So. . .we shall see.

More later—as the day develops!

We of course, have not been on the Internet since our arrival here in Soroti on Saturday evening. Oh, boy.

Predictably, we have had many “speed bumps” in the road—literally. The drive here was grueling, and those driving big semi-trucks coming from the opposite direction, do not care if they run you off the road. Saturday, which was our drive day was horrible in all ways. Not just the drive, EVERYTHING went wrong. I had to force myself to think of everything that had not gone wrong. More details later.

When we arrived, the office space that was to be converted to an “apartment” for us, had not been started. So. . . we were taken to a guest house where we stayed for 3 days. Yesterday we met some of the Global Care (GC) staff during morning devotions. We then spent the day moving office stuff out of the building where we will be staying. David Oumo, one of the administrators of GC, also took us to town to shop for a bed (we ended up staying in the car as prices went up 1000% when they saw our white skin). Hope to have a bed tonight so we can sleep in our new “apartment.”

Yesterday we also went to two of the government’s officials to be introduced, and to tell them why we are here. It seems that you are not allowed to do anything here unless the officials are aware of who you are, what you are doing, and how long you will be here. With Rick going out to the villages, if there is no way to validate that you are “approved” by the government, in David’s words, you could be “in big trouble.”

The apartment is actually going to be nice. We are in a building. . . that says a lot! There is a kitchen area, flushing toilet (unbelievable), room for a bed and an office. The setting for GC is really nice, and there is a porch where we can sit outside in the evenings (before mosquitoes start feeding).

I will have to adapt to not having a refrigerator and needing to buy one day’s worth for the evening meal. There is a small refrig here but not cold enough to keep anything from spoiling. Lost all yogurt, meat and cheese that we bought on our way here. That is the last we will see of cheese, yogurt, or much of anything perishable until we leave. We are able to buy eggs that you do not have to refrigerate, but we have not been in a place where we can cook. So. . .not eating much these days. THANKFUL FOR THE ALMONDS WE BROUGHT!! Hopefully, we will get to move into this building, set up our cook stove and begin cooking. . .Meanwhile, we have been taking our main  meal at the Starlight Guest house eating eggs, pork, chicken (only once as I could not chew it), and goat once, because I value the teeth I have remaining in my mouth

I have to adjust to cold water for showers. But hey, we have running water. AMAZING. I just pretend I am back-packing-ha. I also have to co-exist with the bug population (mainly ants, cockroaches, and spiders). Food or no, counters doused in bleach–no matta. The ants are always there.

The staff are wonderful, gracious, and very welcoming.  We had some great times yesterday when we took tea together (Ugandan tea, biscuits (like cookies) and pineapple.

No matter how many times you have been to Africa, it seems there is always a “shock-factor.” The face of poverty is dirty, unkempt. I was side-swiped by the ugliness of this place (what did I expect, you say???). It is filthy—everywhere—with trash and garbage lining the streets, stagnant water in the drain channels, and people with blank stares wandering everywhere. Because it is the dry season, it is also barren, and brown.

It is much worse than I anticipated. I have had some rough days.

The town is populated by bicyclists, and motorbikes who are providing cheap transportation for its inhabitants. There are many areas of “slums” where the women and children sit in dirt all day, when they are not making the local “brew.” The women then sell the brew in pots, that are shared by a circle of paying customers who have long straws into the common pot. They sit in a circle and sip for hours. This is how the people in the slums survive.

As you can imagine, Rick and I are completely overwhelmed. The “staff” who were trained to do wells, apparently are no longer in town. Rick is not sure where the WFA tools were left, and what is available. His task is so huge. . . it is unbelievably daunting.

You now know how to pray for us. I am not sure what I will be doing, and Rick looks like a deer in the headlights. . .HOWEVER, we know we are exactly where God has us. We are trusting that He will make all clear when we need to know—probably on a daily basis.

Learning much about my incredible arrogance—that I would even be having a hard time with the “ugliness” here. Have felt completely broken by some of my responses. So much of my life is just “talk,” and I hate the hypocrisy that keeps rearing its ugly head.

Once again, this trip is probably not going to be about what “I”or “we” are going to accomplish. It will probably be the refining fire for us personally.

Closing for now and sending so much love!!

No Internet and unstable electricity, so,  I will continue this “book,” if you will.

Today has been another challenging day for me.

Met GC’s program manager for Uganda yesterday as she has been on vacation of sorts (sick family members and she is the matriarch of the family). She is a lovely woman, with such a sweet spirit. She told us we had purchased the wrong type of stove (electric), and should have gas. Hopefully, she will be able to find us a loaner until we can get back to Kampala (long trek) to exchange. However, I do not have anything here to cook, except eggs, and not sure where exactly to get food supplies.

Our bed was supposed to be ready last night, but alas, with the lapse in electricity, the bed was not ready. We then spent another night in a different guesthouse, as we did not otherwise have a way to sleep under a mosquito net.

When we arrived at “Starlight Guesthouse,” we discovered that the bed we were to sleep in had mice poop on the bedding, and some wet places that were suspicious of urine as well. We had already seen a mouse at Starlight so it was not really a far-fetched reality. Nuts. Anyways, they re-made the bed and we slept with a fan running all night (HEAVEN).

This morning we were to meet the computer guy at GC first thing to set-up a modem so we can get on-line. He must be on “African time,” as we have not seen hide-nor-hair of this guy and it is currently 3:45pm. Hmm.

Friday, Rick is planning to go out to a village in the district called Amuria, with two GC staff members. They are going to attempt to meet the government officials who reside locally. Amuria has an area that is “contained” near a spring that should be a good location to access water. It is VERY important that the first well is successful as the previous “test” wells seemed to dry-up, and in order for the community to get behind the well-digging, they need to see that it can and will work most of the time.

Still not sure what I will be doing. . . praying God will lead me. Because I really like to know the plan, this is uncomfortable. Whatever I do, the government officials, and community need to be aware of, and in agreement of my involvement. It seems as though the care of children here in Soroti has deteriorated—so much so that children are being neglected, abused, and SACRIFICED. Anne shared that there was even an incident of a child being buried alive (God spared the life of this child). Horror beyond horrors. The more I learn about how difficult life is here (2/3rds of the world, I am sure), I feel ashamed that I am indulging in my own emotional roller coaster when there are people here who for religious or economic reasons are murdering their children. God help.

Sending so, so much love. You are in our hearts.