The Purpose of Life is a Life with a Purpose

This week has been CRAZY!  I updated my blog Tuesday but this week has just been so exciting (and I have internet access!).  Wednesday we had 17 people in our living room eating dinner.  It was awesome.  Seeing the serving that is being done here by the volunteers is really incredible.  Sally got here Sunday so luckily it’s not just me figuring out what everyone is doing in Iganga and at Musana.

The past couple of weeks I have been getting up around 6:30 with Brenda and running.  With so many people around the house lately its honestly really nice to pop in earphones and run to the village.  There are rocks outside of Bwongo that I swear Disney copied for Pride Rock.  The run is close to 5 miles and while we are mocked and often chased through town, it’s a great way to start a day. 

I’ve hit the point in my trip where sugar turns into magic.  I got a snickers on my way home from the airport on Sunday and waited until Wednesday to eat it.  I think I squealed with every bite. 

It has rained a ton here this week.  The storms aren’t an all day thing, they are more like 10 minutes of walls of rain.  I puddle jumped with the kids some more and while showing a group of volunteers around town and grabbing a rolex (a burrito type food, not the watch), I got DRENCHED.  Despite the use of my handy rain coat I somehow always find water in every crevice. 

I went to the farm again this week as well did some painting between helping out where I can with getting everyone situated. 

Thursday and Friday I got to experience perhaps the cutest thing in Iganga.  Abote’s mom is in school in town which leaves the not-potty-trained toddler to roam around Musana herself.  While she is adorable and charming she also has the tendency to smell not so adorable and charming.  I made a decision to attempt to bring her behind the dorms and bathe her thinking it would be extremely difficult.  One of the girls told her what I wanted to do and she said “Auntie, eda” (which means come) and grabbed my hand.  So hand in hand I walked with naked Abote to the bore hole.  We grabbed some soap and one of the other kids pumped the well.  Abote splashed and laughed and scrubbed.  I think I was laughing too hard to really focus on getting the dirt off.  Friday our bathing adventure occurred again.  I love this little girl and the small things in life she enjoys.  She started our day yesterday by pushing me on the swing, even though she comes up to my knee.

Along with developing a Ugandan accent and rephrasing words in strange order I am catching onto more Lusoga.  This week I learned “I lost my water,”  (which I do EVERY day) “you have bad manners,” (useful when we get chased while working out).  I also learned “you have a big butt.”  The kids like to tell me this and then think its funnier when I tell them that.  I was joking with one of the little girls Winnie when she pointed at me and said “auntie NO, you first wait.”  She disappeared behind the door and came back with bunched up fabric in her pants dancing.  She made me sing and dance with her while telling her she had a big butt. 

A lot of people worry about my health here.  I told everyone about Joshua’s foot a couple of weeks ago.  Personally, I have stayed healthy for a month now.  I’ve adjusted to the food and haven’t even gotten as much as a sunburn.  Unfortunately,  I kicked a rock or did something to my toe and it got infected.  Nothing bad, Joshua and I have just had matching band aids this week.  Several of the kids have come down with malaria and one of the older kids broke his ankle playing football (soccer).  Thank goodness for sharing a room with Brenda, she reminds me every night to take my malaria medicine! 

Every night I go to bed exhausted but overjoyed.  Today I know will be the same.  I went to town with 2 of the volunteers and bargained for a tarp and some laundry soap.  This can only mean one thing…

AFRICAN SLIP AND SLIDE

I did this last year and it is one of my favorite things to do with the kids.  We laid out the 15 meter tarp and cut it in half.  Luckily, this year, we have a bore hole on Musana’s property so fetching water was easier.  We filled up storage bins, jerry cans and basins with water and laundry soap and in seconds the kids were down to their underwear screaming.  We watched as the they slid in every direction falling on top of each other and laughing hysterically.  The joy and entertainment could probably be heard from Kenya.  The kids were SO happy.  As the slip and slide dwindled Uncle Bryan thought it would be hysterical to pour water on my head.  I have to admit, the water felt good but revenge is near. 

After the slip and slide we played our traditional weekend game of capture the flag to make me realize I should start running faster in the mornings because Musana kids are also track stars.  Tomorrow we are headed to church and to Jinja to get in some swimming and maybe even a smoothie. 

Several things have been brought to my attention this week that have helped me keep perspective.  One of the volunteers was wearing a shirt today that said “The purpose of life is a life with a purpose.”  I feel like being here this summer is my purpose.  I’m completely content living here and being with my kids every day.  Sally has been as affirming as always and some hysterical letters from home have kept me going this week.  I have to admit when asked about what I miss about home, my first response was my youth group girls.  They head off to CIY summer camp on Monday and I wish SO badly I could be there during their last year to stay up late, worship and cry with them.  They are such an incredible group of young women and I’ll be praying for them constantly next week as they set off on this life changing 7 days. 

I just mastered the art of making African milk tea between my blog writing sessions.  I may rename my blog “Betty Crocker Goes to Uganda” as I mark a whole month of being here.  CRAZY.