Count your blessings

The transition continues as I settle in, even then I can't help but think about all the things I miss back home.

I miss listening to the 'morning show' on Sanyu fm, they have some really crazy topics for discussion each morning.
In the building next to Rwenzori House there was a guy who sold pancakes every morning. I didn't buy them but I knew he would always be there as I passed on my way to work. (I miss the smell of Pancakes not the guy).
Then there are those little boys who are in the mobile manicure, pedicure business. They are cheap, easy to come by and can do a great job if they mean to. I was looking at my toes the other day and thinking how miserable they are. I can't just walk out the door and get the job done for 500shs (less than a dollar) as I used to back home. I haven't yet ventured into these beauty shops but I doubt it would be less than 15 dollars (30k). I don't think I should even be trying to make the conversions because quite honestly it doesn't make sense.
Ofcourse nothing beats the bodaboda guys (motor cyclists) on Kampala streets, yeah I know they can be a pain, making paths where they were none and all but you have to give them some credit. They get you to your destinations in good time, I guess I can say that because I never got an accident on them.
In Philly there is no such thing, you either take the bus, the train, the trolley or you walk, or drive for that matter.
I certainly don't miss the dust and load shedding, I'm quite happy to put on my sandles and walk for miles without my feet looking like I came from the garden. Did I tell you how candles flow freely here? there are candles of all shapes and sizes, if my visit was shorter I would pack a box to last me a year.
Its getting chilli here, the summer is over and now we are in fall. The sun shows it's face less and less, and even when it's there you don't quite feel its heat. The days are still bright but its quite clear that we are headed for winter not too far from now, oh yeah and it rains alot. That's when I think about the fantastic weather in Uganda, and the so appropriate MTN jingle "yello sunshine, yello sunshine everyday...". By the way the other thing I miss are the MTN jingles, (Big Dawg I still have beef for you).
You know, when you live in a place for long there are always people you see on the street whose faces become familiar. You might not necessarily know them personally but you see them quite often that you somehow get the feeling that you know them. I miss seeing those faces, here its stranger after stranger on the street, I guess with time I will be saying the same things of them.

I didn't mention "Katunda" (passion friut juice), and "dodo" (greens), "Kalo" (millet), "ebyenda" (cow intestines'), the list goes on and on.
I hope Ugandans are counting the blessings.

Strange sights

I took the bus today to meet up with some friends in Centre City. I was supposed to take a tour of the Kimmel Centre with them but unfortunately I was late and Mich didnt help much with all his running all over the place and trying to get into every hole. I was able to meet my friends after the tour so we decided to go to the library, not a good idea. Mich was not about to read or keep quiet for that matter so we had to leave.
I have been thinking and one of my friends suggested that I should get Mich a stroller. That might make our lives less complicated in many ways, 1. I will not have to carry him on my back every where we go, 2. He will kind of be restricted in his movements and 3. We'll both be less tired at the end of the day, well I hope.
On the ride back home there was a girl sitting opposite from me, she was obviously pregnant, probably 15 years old and she was sucking her finger. Hmmm! talk about babies having babies, that was not a very happy sight.
Then the bus stopped to pickup some more people and this grandma about 75 years old gets on. She had supports to help her walk and the bus driver was kind enough to lower the bus for her to get on. Three quarters of the people on the bus were high school students heading back home so all the sits were taken. No body bothered to get up for the old woman to sit, I attempted to but was told not to because I had a child but all these other kids were just looking on. I thought that was out right disrespectful, none of these kids even butted an eye lid, they were so cold. There is a sign on every bus that says "please reserve these sits for the elderly and disabled" if there is none, people can sit but if someone gets on and clearly needs the sit then you give it up. So I'm wondering, is it that they couldn't care less or that nobody has taught them to give respect to their elders? Is life so hard that every one has to fend for themselves no matter how old you are? Honestly I think its crazy.

Washington

Judging from my previous postings it must be obvious that this Ugandan girl is getting settled. Atleast I haven't written anything dramatic, these past posting have pretty much been journeys within my mind and heart. You get to do alot of that when you are placed in unfamiliar sorroundings, thus the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness.

Last Saturday, we took a brief break from the life in the city of brotherly love and headed to Washington DC. It was 2 hour bus ride organised by the International Students Programme, that was cool, it was a cheaper fare, you get to go with other "green" people and that makes its all the more fun.
The best part about this trip was that a friend of ours Mercy, was going to be our tour guide and host for the day. Well there was nothing to write home about the journey but certainly lots to see when we actually got to DC.
We were dropped off at the National Air and Space Museum, I thought that would be really exciting but unfortunatly the physician in me didn't even raise his head. There were Old planes, Rockets and a lot of Science in there, Mich on the other hand was ecstatic, he couldnt believe there was a whole building full of big toys. We had to run after him, grab him, carry him, run after him, grab him again... you get the picture. He was pushing people away every time he saw something he liked and that was pretty much for everything. Sam was alittle too embarrased he decided we should wait for Mercy outside, he was not about to leave school and get a job to pay for the damages.
Within no time Mercy was there, it was a fantastic reunion, I hadnt seen her in months. The last time we had met was very brief, less than 2 minutes, so I was pretty much seeing her again after a year. We sat by the museum for a bit and then she took us to see some of the sites of DC. World War II Memorial,Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, that was good for the day seeing us we were walking and Mich was not too excited about that. We all took turns in carrying him however when we reached the World War II memorial Mich decided it was time to swim, he got aunt Mercy to take off his shirt, knowing that his mum wouldnt buy the idea. Aunt Mercy on the other hand thought he was just feeling hot until he began to take off his pants. No worries nothing happened, we saved the day, just to make him feel better we took him as close to the water as we could.
We later caught a cub and headed off to Mercy's condorminium, very posh place, God has definately been good. We managed to chat with her hubby Moses who is currently in Sweden over a system called "G Talk" technology is really going far, it was pretty much like an audio conference. She prepared assumptuous lunch, very tasty, we watched a movie, had wonder chapaties and were good to go. I know.... Wonder chapaties' is not the actual name they are called "Paratha", these are chapaties that are already rolled and all one has to do is heat them in a frying pan, no cooking oil and they are ready. They are fabulous, I think someone should introduce them in Uganda because honestly after the 45 minutes I spent the previous day making chapos, this was a piece of cake, less than a minute.
She fed us so well, supper was catered for we just got home and slept, that was about 10pm.

Surprise

Its already Friday and I just realized the last time I jornaled was Sunday, hmm! I wonder if that's good or bad. Breaking news, yesterday I received a call from my pastor Bradd (gees! that sounds funny, its always been Gary). Anyway he was calling to ask me to join them in leading worship on Sunday. I freeked out, I know I had mentioned to his wife that I used to sing but eh! that was a bit too fast. I think I would like to first blend in properly before I start getting involved. He read between the lines and said, you might want to visit one of our practices first to which I responded very emphatically.

Its very important to have your priorities right especially in this place. Sam has a class mate who came in when she was just about ready to have her child. The first time I saw her I thought she was a partner but no, she is a student. This place is really hectic book wise (I have mentioned that several times) you don't want to be having babies now. If you miss just one class you will be left behind, its almost like not being there for a whole week. Enough happens in one day that you just cannot afford to be MIA. Lets just say that if there was a test or exam on the day you go into labor and give birth that's it, you might as well forget getting scores on those paper because no professor is going to give you a makeup exam. Obviously Sam and I felt for her and once he sat with her for lunch and the topic of the baby popped up. She said she hoped to have the baby and be back in class the day after.
Either this is going to be her first child so she has no clue what to expect or she has had several that now its a piece of cake. Her mom must be in town, that's my conclusion and I'm sticking to it. The good news is she did have the baby, not sure if she came to class the next day but I know she sent pictures of the baby soon after. Can you beat that?! this place is definitely full of geniuses. Did I mention that her husband is a student too?!

fellowship

I'm beginning to think that either the Christians here are too luxed about working out their salvation or the Christians in Uganda are too "spirii".
Last night we were invited to the Wharton Christian Fellowship (WCF) it took place in one of the apartments in Centre city, thats a bus ride away from home. The party was hosted by a nice guy called Kim David, he is studying for two degrees at the same time, people can really be sharp or is it having too much zeal for life?! He is studying for both his medical degree and his MBA, now how about that?, maximum respect I tell you.
We were so looking forward to the event that we got there an hour and ahalf early.The communication we got was that it started at 6pm but as it turned out it was scheduled for 7:30. The host was nice, he invited us in and told us to feel at home while he went to buy food for the party. We watched TV and read some books, time went by and people begun to show up. The usual, introduce yourself, where you come from, what you are doing and AOB. There are no announcements, well apart from the prayer to bless the food.Its was kinda like a pot luck where people offer to bring a dish, so we attacked. As usual after or during the meal which ever the case maybe one would need a drink and guess what?! there was lots of beer. I'm slowly growing a tough skin to some of these things, on sunday I saw one lady walk out of the church and immediately light a cigarette. It can be very confusing I tell you, I need God to help me have the right attitude. I have spoken to some of these people and its amazing how deep they are in God, its clear that they have a relationship. Its not what goes in but rather what comes out that makes the difference, right?

Wharton Kids club

Things are looking up again, my last blog must have sounded really sob but not anymore.
Life at Wharton is pretty hectic right now, apart from the books, all the clubs are in the season of recruiting and advertizing. There is a dancers club, the whartones (singers), the writers at Kelly writers house, different business related clubs to name but a few. Students actually have their heads spinning trying to figure what club they need to join (for info and networking sake) and what would be nice to do. So apart from sorting through assignments there is the clubs. This has been fun for me because I on the other hand am rubbing my hands wondering what other club I can join, most of the clubs are open to partners as well. The down side is that most club activities take place in Centre City which means taking the bus and half them start at 11pm that pretty much says it all.
One club though that is sane in every way is the kids club, we joined it and Mich and I had our first interaction with other Wharton moms and children today. It was really nice, the interaction, the similarity and difference in our experiences, that was beautiful, the kids got a long well and enjoyed playing indoor games. There was a lot of information that I obtained from just this one meeting, in many ways its a networking ground too. I met two ladies who have taken up the responsibility of finding fun things for mothers and kids to do, they have drawn up a rota for each day of the week through to Sunday. One of the days includes an investment class for women, an introduction to different investing styles with the eventual goal of a stock portfolio competition. How cool is that?! I'm excited.
This evening we had another get together for students, Wharton partners and Wharton kids club, that was another great success. Meeting more people, just chatting, they organized it in a family setting, we had about three tables and chairs all around to make it look like one big family. We ate together, introduced our selves as we moved around and the kids had a great time. Again I love these family get together because you get to eat all the nutritious foods. I'm not very good with names but I have met three ladies talked at length with them and even exchanged phone numbers.
I realize now that there is lots to do, the sky is the limit, I just need money.

Tough

Last night was a long one, I tossed and turned and failed to sleep. I was thinking again,feeling down because my life seemed kinda empty. Looking back over the period I have been in Philly, I want to have more meaning, something to do. After all the excitement of coming to the US, meeting new people, seeing lots of beautiful sceneries and my adventures, everything kind of becomes routine.
So I was thinking, maybe I came to Philly too soon, I should have stayed home for a while longer and then Mich and I would visit Sam over Christmas. Now it was making sense because then I would be occupied, I really enjoyed my work at the bank and it was promising, I was just about to move into a new field, well atleast that is what my boss told me. Charity was there to help me with Mich, I still had the car, friends, family and ministry in the church choir. Things were going real well, now I was looking back with some kind of regret. Yet again I remember we discussed this with Sam and decided it was best that we move together, separation has its strains. Now I see it comes with the growingup package, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Our relationships should come before the things we like to do and in this case my most important relationship is with my husband. There it is!
I realise that I need to make the most of what I have.
As I prayed, God brought to mind one thing that I can do as I wait for something to materialise and that is writing. Then this morning I recieved an email with a scripture "it is better to trust in the Lord than put confidence in man". I will carry that scripture in my heart and keep reminding myself that God is in control.

Wrong day

Today started really late for me, seeing as Mich and I slept very late and were paying this morning.
I was only able to leave the house about 1pm to run a few errands and also attend an introductory class on "Dance", I had been looking forward to joining this dance club so I made sure I had the location and time right. At 3pm the scheduled time for the class I call Sam to confirm the location of the lecture. I get there about 5 mins late, class is already in session, seats are all taken, people are standing at the back. I listen for a few minutes and figure something is definately wrong, for starters the person giving the lecture has a dog with her and she is discussing types of dogs and how they are not dangerous. This has nothing to do with dance thats for sure. I take some time and look around the class and they all have name tags and its a very serious setting. By this point Mich is restless and I'm getting abit uncomfortable seeing as I'm standing there with a little boy, I must have looked ridiculous, anyway I decide to go and do other things because really....!!!!!
Sam comes home and I tell him the story, he cant believe it, he is certain I went to the wrong class but no it was not the wrong class and the time was just right, I mean it wasnt like the previous class was running late or anything, and anyway that doesnt happen here.

I checked my mail afew minutes ago and discovered that the meeting is tomorrow not today uhuh hehehe....

9/11

Today, five years ago America was changed for ever, completely and immensely. Just from watching the documentaries and listening to the stories of those who survived from the towers one cannot stop the tears from flowing. Its a very painful wound even 5 years later but the fear in the eyes of the Americans that day was indescribable and very real.

I knew it was a terrible experience but now more than ever I see that it was something wicked, heartless and evil. Only God can truly bring healing to the Americans and only God can bring justice on whoever was behind this. May God grant healing and restoration and renewal to those who lost family and friends and to America as a country.

I keep wondering about the natural events that took place after that, the tsunami and the floods in New Orleans, is God trying to get our attention?

Power of the mind

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.Mine was ok, I'll think back to see if anything drastic happened but for now I just want to say hello and also say how much I'm missing home. Something happened to me today that has made me look at myself in a whole new light. I know that being alone is a healthy thing, well, not too often but once in awhile, here I'm faced with it, not exactly out of choice. Its happened to me quite afew times that when the house is quiet, say Mich is sleeping and Sam is in reading or not in the house my mind tends to wonder in all sorts of directions, I think alot. I have literally stopped and almost looked at my self (if that is possible, I guess in the mirror it is) but just the things I have thought are shocking. For clarities sake I'm not running mad, I didnt think of killing anyone but eeh you!.The thoughts can be really loud, just confirms that I need God every moment of my life. I will not tell you what I thought, I just wanted to confirm that it is always important to think what is pure, what is beautiful, what is nice and what is praise worthy, ofcourse its a conscious effort but well worth it. I'm accustomed to having people around and being busy with work but this period of freedom is teaching me alot about the potential of my mind.After church today we were invited for a small meeting for those interested in joining the church. There was about 10 of us, we met with Bradd and Becca (pastor and wife) in his office and went through a session of study about Vineyard; who they are, what they believe, how they influence the community for Christ, their vision, values e.t.c, very detailed stuff and very enriching. I now know its history, what the church believes, what to expect and what is expected of me. I like the way they just live out the christian life, its not so much about greeting "praise God" all the time or using all the phrases we do back home. Their actions speak louder than the words and that is something I appreciate "its a lifestyle".

Some pics

Its been a quiet week and nice at that, nothing drastic just the everyday routine settling in.
Monday was a holiday, labor day, it also happened to be Rachel's Birthday. Rachel is "our daughter" she is Ugandan, came in about a week ago, she is studying for her first degree and planning to be an Actuarial scientist. Don't ask me what that is but you might want to check it out on the Internet, when I first heard about it, I thought of aquariums and fish but no, they are not related in anyway.It has something to do with mathematics. She did her A levels at Namagunga and decided that Makerere was not the place to be so she applied to Wharton and was accepted.
We met her and her parents before leaving UG and seeing as she is very young, is a first born and she is leaving UG for the first time, her mother thought we would be good company. We are pretty much family.

I did a search on the net for the 'Navigators ministry" in Philly and I was able to get an email address through which I could contact them. I got a response the other day and today I met Brent and his wife, they asked for directions home and we had a good time. Of course I had to pray seriously seeing as its a scary world and after watching so many movies and reading stories, you never know who will show up. Apart from that, its not something I would just do,..... but I just did.
They are a wonderful couple, very helpful and passionate about knowing Christ and making him known.
By the way I met up with Becca, the pastors wife, nice! Banange the rain here can be so irritating, the kind that goes on all day. The day we were scheduled to meet it rained like that, I thought it would stop but it didn't. We have only one umbrella in the house and Sam had taken it, so I thought I would cancel. I called her cell phone but she wasn't picking, so Mich and I had to brave the rain. One thing I have learned about this place is, rain is no big deal, life goes on unlike in Ug where people just chill until it dries up. Anyway I was late for our meeting and lucky that I found her because she was just on her way back home. It was a good meeting just getting to know each other that's all.

Praise Report

I would like to thank you all for being supportive and for the wonderful suggestions on how to make life in Philly better for me and Mich.

God continues to watch over us in more ways than I could have imagined I am really grateful and thank Him for being there for us. You may be wondering what has brought on all the praise but truly its just the way I feel His presence and in the things He does for us.
I think I can confidently say that we have found the church where we will be attending while we are here. This might sound funny but indeed it is "Vineyard Community Church" the very first church I attended. Pastors wife with the nose ring, remember?!, speaking of I haven't yet met with her, we set a date for 5th, that is Tuesday.
We've been to two other churches and as we visited my prayer was always that God would confirm it in our hearts. Today we went back to Vineyard and honestly it was simply amazing, nothing miraculous, just a peace and feeling comfortable there. They are really down to earth, not fussy about being flashy or anything, its an atmosphere of "come and meet God for yourself". Feel free to express yourself to God, also I like the way their vision is very practical, today's sermon was about "investing locally", find two people that you can pour your life into, share your gifts,abilities and talents, basically mentor and increase just like Jesus did with the disciples. We were also encouraged to have a focus 6 list, people that we purpose to pray for. Sam said he was quite happy attending here and to crown it all Mich had a great time in Sunday school, wasn't too happy to leave.
Something interesting, every parent who takes a kid to Sunday school is given a pager so that in case there is an emergency they can page the parent in the service. Sam had the pager and apparently he was paged twice but he didn't hear, why was he being paged? well Mich needed to go to the bathroom, since there was no response they took him. I was wondering why that was an issue, couldn't they just take him in?, then I was educated on how these people take the child abuse thing very seriously. If they are not very familiar with you, they would prefer you take your child to the bathroom lest you sue them for molesting your child.

Later this afternoon I took Mich to play and a couple came with their child, after a while the guy comes over to me and shares a brochure about his church. He then introduced me to the lady to give me details, I was really amazed at how she really blew for the church, how she thinks its the best, I would be really at home there ....
The teaching is solid and all but I just found it interesting that I would meet her soon after it was pretty much settled in my heart where I want to be. She was so helpful, giving me info about day care, voluntary work, finding my way around the town. She prayed for me, gave me her number, even said we would be welcome to her home for lunch and we talked for quite sometime.
Now is God watching over us or what?

Lost in Franklin Mills : 31st August 2006

Today there was a trip organized for Wharton international students to go shopping at one of the malls out of town called "Franklin Mills". I'd been there once before with Sam but since I was nothing doing I thought I would go again. Franklin Mills is a maze, really really huge, like five times Game Store and some, so the time I went with Sam we didn't quite go all round. Of course I went with Mich, I happened to be the only black person and non student but it was okay.

We were told we had four hours to walk around or shop. It went well until five minutes to the time we were scheduled to get back to the bus. Mich had wondered off, at the start I thought he was in the Jessy Penny store, we had walked in earlier and played a little hide and seek among the rack of clothes. I walked around once, then twice, by the third time I was getting freaked, I couldn't see him. At this point I decided to let the guy at the counter know I was looking for my little boy. The shop was really huge I thought he could have run into an office or something. The guy asks for Mich's name and makes an announcement hoping that he would hear and come out, wa!. 

He then talks to one of the lady shop owners who helps make another search, now I'm thinking "just wait till I get my hands of you little boy". Anyway, Mich is nowhere and so she decided to alert police/ security who asked me to "describe what he was wearing", I couldn't believe I had to do that, never imagined I would have to be in such a situation.

At some point I had to call the guys in charge of the group to tell them I was running late because my son had wondered off, they said they'd wait twenty minutes, after twenty minutes there is no Mich. I call again and tell them they might have to go cause it looked like I was going to be much longer. They say they would have one person stay behind and help me get back, I appreciated that. Well forty five minutes later we get a call from security saying they found him just walking around but quite far away. They managed to track him using the video cameras' thank God for advanced tech and the efficiency and helpfulness of the security. That was a relief. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him, but his smile when he saw me got the better of me, and everyone was so happy. 

I head out and guess what?! I find the whole team had decided to wait for me, that was awesome, and more to that some of the guys had gone to help with the search.

Phew!!!!!!!!! and I thought my stories were over.