A normal week!

Yes, it's true--this is Mallory's little homework book. She is in preschool and they teach drawing, numbers and letters and this is her notebook the teacher is sending home so she can practice drawing.

Aaron and I both have a pattern of making severe situations more depressing. The day Emma Shae got diagnosed with a blood disorder, we had a date night and watched The Book of Eli at the movies--in case you don't know, it's post-nuclear U.S. and while a good movie is not the choice if you are already in a crisis.

So, we are in the full throws of culture shock and in the first few days of moving to Kabale--a unique and overwhelming time of feeling helpless on every level. No problem--to be expected. We have just moved from being high functioning in our own society to low functioning in our new culture. Fine. Well, I was looking around for something to read and spotted The More with Less Cookbook. A GREAT cookbook. I made the mistake of reading the introduction written in the 1980's about how we in the U.S. are over consuming and about obesity and how we live in excess as a lifestyle--totally depressing. I've just moved to a developing country and I am further exposed as a westerner AND I can see with my own eyes the poverty and destruction. If this was true in the '80's, how much more true is it now? Great.

I do like the term "deconsumerism" Now that I am burning my own trash, I am trying to get into it! In the U.S., I can put things in the trash and these nice people come every week to take it away and it entertains my children and I can make a little pre-school lesson out of it. The kids are still entertained by the burning of the trash, but I can't wrap my mind around this.

So, coming out of some severe culture shock, we had a very good week. Not that circumstances have changed per se. Something inside of me has changed, which is nice. Is this acceptance? Power outages, water outages, making from scratch, waiting on furniture to be built to organize our lives... fine. Trying to live my life anyway and enjoy things! Aaron started work this week at the hospital. I enjoy Aaron going to work :)--it encourages me greatly to have a routine and to see him reviewing medical notes and journals. To pray for and support him in what he does brings me joy.

I also like fresh food!!! Wow, this week, Precious who helps us in the house came with a load from the market. She can get better prices than me and after I scoped out what they have I can send her in like a secret weapon. Score. Secondly, there are a couple of nice people who come around to your house selling vegetables that appeal to westerners--herbs, lettuce, etc. I have never been so happy to eat lettuce and salad and he gave me some swiss chard for free. I am a recipe girl all the way, but this week, I successfully adapted chicken pot pie and pizza sauce--from scratch!! So, we had real meals this week. We also had a Subway night with chips :). Bread like we are used to is harder to get in Uganda. There is a bakery in town that sells western type baked goods, which is nice although it doesn't always taste like you think it will. So, we spotted a baguette last week and came home with it to make subs, since we also found salami. Precious got a big kick out of it--it is quite a long baguette--she said, "Is that a walking stick?" ha!

One thing that is great is having Precious because she can do a lot of the work that is harder for me--deboning a chicken :)--and I was chopping some fresh green beans and to my surprise, she came over and did some karate moves and within minutes had the whole kilo "processed" by hand, including removing some kind of hard stem, which I didn't even notice. I have a lot to learn and I hope Micah, Mallory and Emma Shae can pick up some of these skills. We do have to soak the lettuce in bleach to kill the unwelcome critters and I just do the rest too, out of habit from staying in Kenya. Not everyone does this.

Here is a happy site--drying veggies.

Leslie's birthday party. It also feels normal to socialize :) We are so glad to be here with friends and glad Leslie was born!

BBUC Graduation

So, Friday was Bishop Barham University College graduation. I love graduations! I am reminded of my time at UNCG and the graduate school, helping out in a very peon way with the graduations. I always loved how between the faculty and students, there were so many years of work represented. Also, the fresh promise of new generations. It is the same here, only I didn't see any of this kind of dancing at UNCG :).

This dance seemed Hawaiian and turns out it is Rwandan. Several countries are represented at BBUC--Rwanda, Congo, Sudan and Kenya to name a few.
The closing procession. Bishop Barham's grandson (or is it son?) was there, too. It was all so historic and encouraging.

Travis sharing a laugh with the Rev. Scheitacker from Germany.

Here is a movie of the traditional Bukiga dance.

Nitty Gritty

So, my friend, Laura wrote and said Hey-where's the bathroom and kitchen shots....nitty gritty.

So, here it is. Our house is concrete and you can see we have painted floors--some were just painted and then the kitchen and the bathroom might need some paint at some point. We have a little storage and then have ordered some more. Some will come in Dec. when the rainy season pauses and the wood dries out, so we'll let you know what Mr. Benson and his crew can do with the IKEA catalogue.

We have 2 water systems, thankfully. The bathroom and toilet run off the reserve water tank. The hospital put in a new water heater--praise the Lord! We have a bath, but don't fill it. We just get in and use a pitcher to get us clean. It is one of my favorite times of the day--I love to bathe the kids this way--I don't know why!! Aaron did the bathing back in the U.S. and Micah has long been on his own, but the girls I still get to take care of.

Right before we left, our friend, Jackson took Aaron to a camping store and got him some decent shoes--thank you, Lord and Jackson!! Which--Aaron does look pretty good on these hills, I must say. Also, here is a camping shower that Jackson got us. We haven't used it yet, but I'll let you know how it goes.

The toilet is in a separate room--which our British friends would think is normal.

The kitchen is on the city water system--it regularly goes out, so we are glad to have reserves. We did bring some IKEA hooks, etc. and we are so happy with those! Poor Aaron had quite a job with hammering in concrete. He finally watched a Ugandan friend hammer and learned that you don't have to put the nail in all the way--you hammer and stop when the nail stops. Brilliant!

I am learning from my Ugandan sisters that we are flexible! When the water runs out, you use the bathroom or you squat down to wash on the ground and use the water outside. They look so good doing it. Maybe in a few years, I will, too!

This dog has adopted us. She was formerly owned by westerners then Dr. Gilbert took her for awhile, but he told us she prefers whites :). ha! I love how matter of fact about race people are here--very different from the U.S. Anyway, she's our dog now and has been a great distraction for the kids. We are just trying to figure out the tick problem and then what to feed her--we heard about some kind of mash involving grinding bones. Ugandans are not really into dogs, so there is not exactly dog food here. Hmmmm.... Her name is Tafti--not sure how to spell it or what that means, but if I find out, I'll let you know.

The Start of Life in Kabale

Well, I have started this blog in my head many times and tried last week to do it, but fell asleep at the computer!

It is tiring moving to a developing country from a developed country! All systems, expectations and productivity scales and actual productivity are turned upside down. Even the lowered expectations and anticipation of getting one thing done a day is turned around when that one thing you thought you were going to get done is not the one thing that happened and the double whammies of power outs and water outs. Hmm....

So, being astute culture students, we have noticed that people are generous, gracious and not in a hurry and that years of living like this have forged incredible character, beauty and grace in these Ugandans!!! While we at times are on edge and look kind of crazy making a life here, they make it look easy and they are looking good--my hats are off to these African ladies for how they pull off heels and suits and fancy dresses on these dirt roads!

So, in the big picture, if we take a few steps back, God has been gracious in allowing us to accomplish so much! We took the first week in Kampala to get a used car (a Suzuki Escudo), some appliances and supplies for the house and made it to Kabale with all of our luggage. Amazing. We absolutely could not have done it without loads of help from Dr. Gilbert, Aaron's colleague at the hospital and several of the folks living in Kampala and the area who gave us hard won counsel of where to go and what might be important to us Westerners coming in. We were welcomed warmly by people who magically found out where we were staying (I still don't even really get where we were staying!) and then once we got to Kabale, we have been so warmly received. We have had a reception at the home of the Chancellor of the University, the hospital, the University Student's Chapel congregation and again at a Ugandan friend's home that had also taken us out to a restaurant in Kampala! We have enjoyed meeting so many Ugandans and a few kind folks from Germany, England and Washington State :)! We also are very much enjoying an Indian family who runs a super market made famous in Lonely Planet. They are great business people and have told us soon there will be an Indian take out place next door--it doesn't get much better than this!

Daily-ness. That's what has always brought me down--the mundane. Sometimes I find pleasure in it and sometimes you just think "seriously?, wiping crumbs and kids and noses and sweeping and cleaning and oh yeah, people have to eat AGAIN?????" Thankfully, mutual friends passed on the names of two people who could work for us and help us make some order. We have an older gentleman caring and helping for our yard and garden and hopefully, soon, helping with language, of which he is an amazing teacher. He is a father of 8 and just a real delight to get to know--he has lived an amazing life. His daughter, a student in guidance and counseling, is helping out with household tasks and also, hopefully soon with language. She is also a joy to get to know and a great teacher. We are learning a lot from them and hopefully not being too big of a pain right now as we settle in. The adjustment for us is doing by hand what the machine does at "home" and learning to live without convenience foods and helps. I am excited about that, but it seems a long way off before we can get organized with containers and shelves and so on to facilitate my "Little House on the Prairie" dream. I'll do a whole blog on shopping and products soon.

We still don't really have a daily routine, except for taking the kids to school. Ugandan school begins in February and for the primary school, they go 3 months on and one month off, except for Dec. and January. So, we are in the third term and chose to keep the kids in their same year to get them used to the different system. It has been a rough start. Poor Micah got sick for several days with anxiety, culture shock, and the shock of being back in school after 4 months off. Micah is doing better with the support of Jesse in the same class and a nice Ugandan boy named Kevin and a girl named Ruth, who have been very helpful. Emma Shae fared a little better, being more of an extrovert, but even she got a little overwhelmed with differences. Mallory was a bit shy on day one, but is quickly becoming a part of the group. She has Lucy as her little buddy, as well as a German friend, Tabea and Merab, who is Dr. Gilbert's daughter. She is in what is called the middle class of nursery and she is enjoying getting to know the rest of the students.

So, I hope to highlight different things we are learning as they come, although take it with a grain of salt as it comes from a newcomers' lens! ha! We have taken the month to settle in and Aaron will begin working in October, so that will also bring changes. Our lives will be a blend of university and hospital as our team serves both. We are opening the university chapter and look forward to opening the hospital chapter soon. I am including photos to show a bit of our the start of our life in Kabale.

Our house. It sits right outside Bishop Barham University College (BBUC).

We have an avocado tree! Now, we must figure out when they are ripe!
This is one of the ways we get water--a rain cistern. The other way comes in through the kitchen and is on the city system, which goes off at random times.

This is our living room. The furniture belongs to the hospital! There is not much ready made furniture here--you mostly just order what you want. So, we brought an IKEA catalogue and have just finished negotiating a price and details. Some of the larger pieces must wait until Dec., when the rainy season is over and the wood will be dry. Wow. Wait and wait some more makes for patient and understanding people! We have a lot to learn in this area.

The girls bed--called a double decker. Mosquito nets--Aaron just killed a mosquito and identified it as the type that is capable of carrying Malaria. So, to the American, it looks romantic to have a net, but it can be life saving!
Well, at a price, some familiar western type products can be had. We learned that most of these type of products come from Egypt or South Africa. We also learned there are green oranges here. Of course, fruits and vegetables are amazing and inexpensive. We definitely need to learn to cook either Ugandan or make from scratch to keep the costs down. Note the Nutella rip off--New Cream. ewwww, BUT, it's cheaper and also from Italy--can it be that bad?

After chapel, some students dancing. Our house is right below the student chapel, so almost every morning we are greeted with drums and beautiful singing. We have also discovered that there is an echo when we come to our house that makes it sound like the music is coming right from our living room. Nice!
The Hines and Morrow families are often blended as we swap kids. Here is a sweet picture of 2 year old Julia with Travis and Aaron walking on the campus.

Good old Sawyer water filter's. Thanks to a friend who is local for the heads up on a cheap way to filter almost everything out! The kit is great--comes with instructions to drill a hole in a bucket you buy locally and then bam! a million gallons from this one filter. Awesome. Clean water was a concern. So, far, so good. We brought water containers that have a tap.

First day of school--they started off happy :).

This is the primary school chapel. The kids go to a Christian school started by missionaries and now staffed by Ugandans. They meet at the flag pole at 7:40 am (so, we've been told, we are late every day so far) and then go to chapel for singing, a message and announcements. It is awesome!

Emma Shae first day of school in P1.
This is the short cut to the school from our house. Crazy gorillas in the mist!
Mallory's class marching back to the classroom. They start outside on the basketball court with singing and exercises.

Constance (Dr. Gilbert's wife) and Merab at Lake Bunyonyi.
Celebrating my birthday and Julia Hines' turning 2 years old the day before my birthday. We went to the lake and Aaron made brownies from a mix we brought--delicious!
Travis preaching his first sermon at BBUC student chapel.
Our German friend Matthias teaching sunday school--he's a great story teller.
A commissioning of the two families for student work. We knelt and were prayed for by the Ugandan faculty and Dr. Paula, an American who is retiring this month. Powerful.
The university reception with faculty and students.

We live on a hill among hills. From a distance, you can see an extinct volcano (not in this picture :)). It is incredible. We live on Rugarama Hill and the town center is below us--about 30 min. if you are walking and a 5 minute, steep and bumpy car ride. This is one shot of the town from our hill.
Ugandan longhorns.


One unsettling thing is "exotic" wildlife! Here is a flock of Crown Cranes flying by--I usually just hear them in the evening, but finally caught them in action.

Another Ugandan longhorn.
Another view of the valley where the town is.
Some kind of heron?

The Barn

Well, we never thought we would live in Garland, or on a farm. Never thought I would have a house with a porch, but realized that deep down, I had always wanted one. huh, funny.

Micah commented when we moved here that he had always wanted to live on a farm. Cool.

Never say never.

So, these are the serious gifts from God--we are still in shock as we sadly leave Garland, and now Sachse (where the barn is)--2 suburbs of Dallas. Wow. We knew our time was limited in the FBC Garland house--the next family was coming in May. We needed a place to stay for 3 weeks as finished up school and now will make our way to a cross cultural training course, also for 3 weeks.

Our friend Janie sent out a prayer request and the owner of this place generously offered it up--it's for sale and we are staying there--still has linens, dishes, etc. from when they lived there--incredible peace and loads of interesting things. Here are a few pictures.

Felt like the house in Garland was our safe house as we dealt with a health crisis and now this place is a place of restoration--so gorgeous!!!

The front porch where we can read and just look at everything--see lots of birds -- I think we are on a birdie and insect back country road--we just get a regular stream of one bird/insect or maybe 2 just meandering on their way--so funny.

We have also seen lots of friendly dogs and a coyote...

The coyote--think he's young and bold--came before dusk, just trotting by like no big deal!

I did not know that horses act like dogs--they are so cute! They greet us--coming up right to us. They can be mischievous, too...one day, Reagan started chewing on the seat of my parents' van!! I was trying to catch Reagan below greeting Aaron through the window, but just missed him. The driveway is in the pasture, so they come right up to us and stick their noses in the windows and just get all up in our business! One day, Sunny blocked me from leaving the driveway--just put himself right in the way and wanted me to pet him--I was like, "OK, I have to go to Target now... ok, gotta go--move on... ok, I love you!" He immediately moved on when I said I love you :). ha!!! Either I scared him with too much love OR he was waiting for the secret password and that was it?

Here's the barn part...to the left of the back alum. door is a regular door that leads to the driveway...

We walk past the stalls and then, the door that leads to the living quarters in the barn.

The sign says Texas is No Place for Amateurs--right below is the Ugandan flag--we kept it up during our time here--I like the blend of our lives :).

Here is the kitchen and living room and hats...

Yes, it's true, if we stay with you, we will wear your stuff... Cheeky!

Day one--I love Aaron holding Emma Shae!
Mama and baby!
Soccer practice and horses--this one is Micah's--he calls him Stallion, but his name is Reagan.
Another shot of the land and some of the animals... Sunny is the Black horse and Phoenix is the light horse... Cows come and go--someone keeps their cows on the land. There is always something new.
I love this!