Kampala: the Equator, Restocking, and a Poolside Day.

After the retreat, Mindy and I stayed with our friend, Carolyn, who lives in Kampala.  It was so pleasant to be in her home for several days.  We ate more veggies and fruit than we had in a long time.  Never thought a plate of veggies and a salad with lettuce and dressing along with the side plate of fruit followed by a dessert of homemade cookies and ice cream would be such a treat.  But it so was.

The view from the top of the hill where Carolyn's place is...Kampala is gorgeous!

We made a little day trip to the Equator!  Touristy? Yes.  Exciting?  Sort of.  Cool thing to do and get to say you did afterwards?  For sure.  After admiring the yellow line and big white hoops that signified the equator, we crossed over and ate lunch in the southern hemisphere.  Lunch took an hour, and the poor guy had to bring our plates in the rain, but the meat in chapati thingy I had was pretty good.  Crossed back to the northern hemisphere and headed back toward Carolyn's.  Made a stop on the way by this big grocery store aptly named Quality.  Teehee.  Did a little restocking, including two packages of peach O's (or as called on the package "hola hoops").  Got more fresh fruit and veggies and headed back for a restful evening.

Mindy and I on the Equator

 In two hemispheres at once!

 Carolyn and I falling off the edge of the earth.  

Not.

 Did you know that water swirls to the left on one side of the Equator and to the right side on the other side?  And that right on the Equator the water goes straight down?  Well, now you do!

Mindy and I on other sides of the world.

Even though we're approximately 11 inches from each other.

The next day was spent at a lodge on a hilltop overlooking Lake Victoria.  Beautiful place to sit by a pool and just...read.  We got fresh salads for lunch.  I had several flashbacks to La Jolla, California where my family has spent time in so many summers.  And that, of course, made me smile.

The View.

And the sunburn you ask?  It got to looking quite strange, with some spots worse than others...

And oh yes, notice the scabs?  Those are from rafting.  Well, truthfully, they are from before rafting.  My foot just slipped on some rocks as I stood still before we got into the rafts to go down the first rapid.  Silly foot.

And for the faint of heart when it comes to gross things like dried skin, you may want to stop reading...

Because this is just that.

One piece.

Of dried skin.

From my sunburnt thigh.

Uganda: Thanksgiving Part 1, Christmas, and Prayer Retreat

Kampala, Uganda
We stayed with our friend, Carolyn, for the night.  We also met up with Mindy's British aunt and uncle who were leaving Kampala that night.  They are the greatest.  :) I could not stop smiling the entire time I was in their presence.  Carolyn and I had pizza for dinner--we're buddies from way back in training in Zambia!

In Zambia, on our last night there for training.

Jinja, Uganda

Us at Cafe Javas

Where we both got one of these tasty smoothie treats.

We went to Cafe Javas, because we got up early in the morning to catch a shuttle to Jinja where we would do this...

 And this...

And this... 

 AND THIS...

 And this...(me far left attempting to find the surface and breathe!)

 And this.

Yes, Mindy and I rafted the Nile.
Yes, like the Nile River.
Yes, we really rafted it in a raft on the level 5 rapids.
Yes, it was terrifyingly fun!!!

On the way to the rafting dock crossing over the Nile

You know you live in Sudan and spend lots of time together when in Uganda you whip out your one and only rafting outfit for the one and only time you plan to do so, and...you look exactly like your jman partner.  Ha!

As a result of being in the sun and the water all day, we both got horrible sunburns on our legs.  In our defense, we did wear sunscreen.  But it just wasn't enough to handle all those rapids and that near-the-equator sun.  We spent the night at the backpackers dorm that night in these squished bunk beds!

Me in sunburn pain.  I am crazily wearing jeans even though they are causing me much distress, because I was freezing!!!  I did not move all night long.

Thanksgiving Part 1:
The prayer retreat started off with a Thanksgiving meal which consisted of dishes prepared by the other families meeting with us serving in other East African countries.

Felt nice to be around families and lots of food and in a very crowded, noisy house.  Felt like home.  Mmmm.

Christmas:
After a restful afternoon back at the hotel, we went back to this house for the second go-round of all the wonderful dishes, this time though, for Christmas!
The kids put on a little Christmas play.  Mindy and I felt like aunts to the Lewis boys, snapping away with our cameras and capturing some great moments.

 Davis was Joseph

And Walker, in yellow, was the "hotel manager" whose line was, "No room!"

And we had a white elephant gift exchange with over 50 people.  YES.  So weird, so chaotic, so strange, so...lovely.

Of course, I had two of the best gifts stolen from me very quickly, but I still ended up with a pretty decent one.  Some Rwandan coffee, a pair of Rwandan earrings, a random CD and notepad, and...13 gravy packets!!!  How could I not be pleased?

The prayer retreat was a wonderful time of fellowship and worship (in English!) and prayer.  It was great meeting so many new people, and even greater getting to spend time with them in small groups praying to the King for our ministries and families and people groups in this part of East Africa.

Mindy and I at Ling Ling Restaurant with our whole retreat group.  I wasn't in a Chinese food mood that night, but it turned out to be delicious!!!

breathing easy in Nairobi.

Restful afternoons, long nights of sleep, movie watching from a couch, hamburgers and salads and new friends.  Just a few snapshots of us breathing easy in Nairobi...

From the plane window at the Mombasa airport 

 Jgirls, Emily and Ester, and TCK Jadyn with Mindy and I at Java House

YUM.

 Me and Mindy's Emily 

("my" Emily, another jgirl in Nairobi, went out of town this morning!)

 Ester and Mindy

ode to Unchanging One.

Guess where I am right now.

Well, I guarantee, unless you've talked to my mother recently, that you will be wrong.

Because, I am in Nairobi on an unplanned three day fun, see some jgirl buds, restock a little, rest trip before heading to my planned trip to Uganda for a prayer retreat!!!

The week (see post below) became even more crazy and completely chaotic as my dad and three men came from El Paso to see me and the team in South Sudan.  They finally made it to Kapoeta, earlier than planned, in the midst of a raging rainstorm!!!  And it was so great having them there for two days.  Thank you Dad, Pastor Mike, Craig, and Ken for coming all this way to see me.  I cannot tell you how much it meant that you'd cross oceans and ride many planes just to come and see a glimpse of my world in Sudan.  Thank you!

 A trip to the nearest village with the team

 Me and Dad outside a Toposa tukel

 The plane they rode to get here--these are the kind I take on R&R trips!

Chillin' on the porch with the team 

 Me and Dad with Lino

The Popster and I

Many thanks also go out to ALL who contributed to the boxes of joy.  I wish I could give each of you giant hugs and tell you thank you, literally, 100 times.  You will never know how much you have blessed Mindy and I.  And the whole team for that matter!  Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...THANK YOU.

Boxes of blessings...

Right before and during their trip everything kept changing.
Continuously.
Constantly.
Nothing firm, solid, immutable, finished.

My plans, you ask?  Shattered, punched, ripped to shreds.
Emotions, you wonder?  Yes, up and down and around the corner.
The Plan B to Plan A turned into Plan C and then D and then back to B.

It took all of this for God, once again, to remind me of Himself and His Eternal Sameness and Sovereignty--He remains, He always is.  And control?  Reign?  Power?
Always in the palms of His hands.

And everything turned out better than I imagined.
Naturally.  Duh!
His plans are ALWAYS better than mine.
Every single time.

Thought it was really bad to not have the team share the gospel in their short time in Sudan, and then...I received wonderful rest time to really be with them and show them around.  God knew I needed to be ministered to!
Thought I was going to have less time with my dad and the team, and then...I got four extra hours with him on the airplane!
Thought we might not get this trip out and not going away, and then...I get extra days out with friends in Nairobi!

So this post is an ode to Unchanging One.
Who was and is and is to come.
The Great I AM.

Who opens shut doors and knows my every need before I ask.
Who is forever in charge and never not His position.
Who stands for His glory and for those who are His.
Who always wills and acts and purposes in order that His name is made famous even in, and maybe especially in, the middle of things like change.

To Him may my lifesong sing!

Me with one of the Lewis' puppies

Mindy cleaning Buck the Truck after a major stuck in the mud moment

 Little friends

Mindy and I in our first official picture together in South Sudan!

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites
 and say to them, 

'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,'
 and they ask me, 

'What is His name?' Then what shall I tell them? 

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.  

This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you."

God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' 

This is my name forever, the name by which

 I am to be remembered from generation to generation."

Exodus 3:13-15

my week.

This week I...

-found out about a new regulation in South Sudan--all foreigners on flights entering or exiting the country must go through the capital city of Juba first to clear customs.  Trusting God with all of the good and bad implications of this rule.

-got terribly stuck in the mud, like really really deep mud, with Carrie and Mindy.  We conquered that giant deep puddle after uprooting two trees with the wench!

-drove passed two women peeing standing up on the side of the road.  We were sure to wave emphatically!  Yes, they waved back mid-action.

-also passed what looked like a bunch of heads in a mud puddle.  Nope!  As we approached in the vehicle, the heads stood up--it was a group of boys bathing!

-fixed our plumbing from our shower by, naturally, digging a trench behind the kitchen for water to drain out completely instead of stopping up and coming out in the shower.  I do not think I have ever sweat so much...

-sweat a lot this morning doing this crazy turbo kick cardio workout dvd with Carrie and Mindy.  It was fun!  Haven't worked out like that in a while!

-attempted to story in Nyaronyit three times to practice the short version of REAP Life but was unable to do so due to translator location miscommunications and lots and lots and lots of rain.

-ate macaroni and cheese.  Family Size Box.  From my grandparents in the bag they sent about three months ago.  For probably five meals now.  (alongside other things of course!  And yes, Mindy enjoyed the fake cheesy goodness with me!)

-learned that polar bears are left-handed.  How they discovered that I will never know!  Also, re-learned why leaves turn colors in autumn.  It is so similar to why fingers and toes get cold first.  All of that preserving nutrients and energy and water and heat in the most important inner parts.  Love how Creator God keeps the same patterns in His creation.  Beautiful!

-have experienced a little over a week now with on and off and on for a few seconds and off again solar power issues that seem unsolvable.  I've learned that the only reason I need electricity is for freezing veggies/meat/cheese that I cannot buy here in Sudan and for my computer for internet to communicate with my family and friends all over the place.  Have learned that it is so easy to get comfortable and start trying to take back control of my life.  So grateful that He is in control and am so grateful for dark nights where God removed all other things that distract me and allowed for extra time praying and spending time with Him and His Word.

-suffered a large, or rather GINORMOUS, bump in the mud and rain with Mindy at the wheel during which my body left the seat, my head hit the ceiling, my body slammed back down on the seat belt buckle, and body jumped back up again.  We laughed so hard.  I am surprised my headband didn't crack!

-was splashed on the same road trip as above by muddy water, once again with Mindy at the wheel.  (She did not get wet.)  More laughter.  So glad to have these crazy moments with a friend!

-ate an apple from Nairobi.  Joy in every sweet and juicy and healthy and fruity bite.  Never has an apple tasted so delicious.  It was the best in my whole world (to use a Walker-ism).

-wish I had taken my camera everywhere with me so you could see all of this in action.  Alas, I did not.  But let me assure you, if I had, they would be some seriously legit pictures!

noise.

silence....

Whoa! Oh! OH!
Caw! Caw! Caw!
Ruffruffruffruffruff.  Ruff!  Ruff!  RUFF!
Hoot.  Hoot.
Whoa! Oh! OH!
Toooooot!!!  Toooooot!!!
Caw!
Ruffruff!
Ra-er, ra-er!
Wop, Wop!  Wop!
WACK!!!
Tootootootootootoo!
Tweet, tweet.  Tweet, tweet.
Coo, coo, coo.
Cock-a-doodle-do!
Whoa! Oh! OH!

silence.

I never would have thought that living in the bush can be so noisy.

The smallest noise becomes so loud when it is silent most of the time.  A tree branch falling on my tin roof yanks my heart out of my chest and I jolt up from my sleeping position.  "What was...oh tree branch."  And I lay back down.

The Lewis dog, Samson, is our best night guard.  He barks, and my eyes open.  "Is it a snake bark? Does it sound different?"  My eyes scan out the windows, as best they can without seeing clearly, as my glasses are one foot away and outside the mosquito net, for signs of a flashlight.  None?  Rolling over and back to my dreams.

Then, there's a sudden burst of people--wailing.  I stop sleeping and ask myself, "Is that close or far away?  Is that funeral mourning wailing, or is it drunk man wailing?  Will have to find out in the morning."  And I shut my eyes again.

Or there's the hooting and wooting and whoa-ing of those celebrating and koroting.  That's a constant noise for several hours.  My brain has pretty much learned to acknowledge the celebration as I put my head on my pillow and then, thankfully, tunes out the shouts and singing and clapping.

The thing, though, that has pulled my heartstrings lately is the lack of one noise amongst all the other noises.

Silence might be golden.  But here, silence is the norm.  Noises come and go and are always signs of something happening that is a little, or a lot, out of the ordinary.

It is noise that is noticed.  It is noise that is questioned.  It is noise that is wondered about.  Noise draws people closer.  Noise makes people stop.  Noise brings out something that is worth a look.

The noise that is absent in most places in Toposaland is the Sound of Praise to God.  Real, unadulterated, genuine, unhindered, sincere, and unashamed Praise to the King.  In that area alone is there constantly... silence.

Now, hints of this Noise are arising.  In certain areas on Sunday nights, there is the noise of a leader leading his people in songs that speak the Name.  On Mondays and Tuesdays, the team begins times of listening to God's Word with song.  And yet, after those times are over, there is still silence.

And I shudder at this silence.  At the thought that so many of my new friends among the Toposa do not care to make or want to make or even plan on ever making this Noise.  And there are so many more Toposa that I do not know and will never know who have not even heard that there is such a Noise to be made.  Other things get in the way: gardens, money, family, goats, distant family, marriages, alcohol, fear, cows, and bulls.  I think about me and my culture, and I see so many similarities.  Work, relationships, money, and possessions also distract me and those in my culture from making this Noise.

I have also noticed that with noise comes more noise.  If there's a jackal on the compound, quietly growling near the chicken coop, then the chickens will start rustling around, the roosters will crow, and Samson and Delilah will begin barking.  There will some sort of confrontation noise, whether it is between the dogs and the jackal or the jackal and the poor chickens, quickly followed by the noise of someone on the compound getting up and going outside with a flashlight.

Noise is contagious.  One noise makes other noises.  And people can't help themselves.  They hear a noise and always want to know more about it.

The motto of those working in the Sub-Saharan affinity is: "Shatter the Silence."  I understand the goal now more than ever.  Thanks to the, albeit annoying and sleeping-reducing, plethora of noises of the night.

Please pray with me.  For our team.  That we'd make a Racket as we follow God.  That through us and our being here, God would make a Rumble for His Glory.  And that the Praises sung by those who turn and follow Him would shatter the silence.

After all, one Day there will be a multitude worshipping the King.  And among this multitude there will be people from every language, tribe, nation, and tongue.  Even Toposa.

And on that Day, there will no longer be any silence.  There will only be one thing.

Noise.

tidbits.

A few tidbits from this past week through pictures...

My friend, Katie, lives in Nairobi, and, last time I was there, she gave me one of her old skirts that did not fit anymore to give away to a little girl here in South Sudan.  People, men, women, and children, ask for clothes everyday.  But I was waiting for the little girl who would be the right size and for just the right time to give it to her.  And I found her and the right moment.  A group of kids was on the compound.  And this group included my new little buddy, Abutur, a precious little girl who stole my heart first time I saw her in a nearby village.  One of the women asked for clothes for Abutur, who had none on at that time, and I remembered!  Katie's skirt!  I was about to say no, and then, "Yes!  Eh!" I ran to my tukel and grabbed the purple, blue, and green striped skirt.  I helped Abutur put it on, and then I stepped back and smiled.

She was beaming.

And grinning from ear to ear.

She couldn't stop petting the skirt or twirling from side to side.

Thank you Katie for making Abutur's day!  :)

During the school day, random people stop by the gate and holler at us from the other side of the fence.  Most of the time I ignore it, or respond quickly, "I am teaching school right now! Alimi ayong losukul peekona!"  But on Monday, we had to stop our study of "Instructions in a Letter: An Example" in English and go to the gate.  Some of Davis' friends found a baby dikdik (basically a small member of the deer/antelope family here in Sudan)!

And here's Walker with his mountain I told him to make.  He, naturally, included army men!

A truly delightful tidbit from the medical team that was here last week (no pictures, but this story is worth telling!!)...One of the team members, Jennifer (who we'll call "Jenit Cat") called for her next patient to come forward from the line where Mindy and I wear diligently keeping the Toposa waiting behind the tape, or at least attempting our very best to keep them close to it.  A young girl sat down, and with no prompting or questions or anything at all, began to say this (in Toposa, so through a translator) to Jenit Cat, the nurse practitioner from the team: "I go to church here every Sunday night, and last Sunday night I accepted Jesus as my Savior.  I have him in my heart, and I want to be baptized."  YES!  So Jenit Cat explained to her what baptism means and assured her that her belief and her turning away from her sin was enough.  She is saved now!  The precious girl, Nakuta, was so excited.  She too was another beaming face I saw last week.  We connected her to the leader in that area, and hopefully she will be baptized soon!!!

Oh yes!  There are roughly eight nests on a giant tree just outside my window and just outside the school container.  Eight nests of these medium sized black birds that are extremely noisy.  And the branches upon which they are nested are much too high for whacking.  Davis and his Toposa buddies have given their best shot with rocks and their slingshots to get the birds to fly away, but they keep returning.  Which only means there are eggs.  Which only means more loud black birds by my window.  Mer.

This one's pictureless too, but I just had to tell you readers.  I was spit on for the first time yesterday.  As a blessing.  I stuck out my hand to greet an old lady, a nyakimat, and she reached out and took my hand while simultaneously lightly spitting on my face and other hand!  I knew it was a blessing (the Lewis clan warned me), but it sure was a surprise!

And on a strange note to close...I had a dream this weekend about a snake that kept coming back to life on the compound and then on the walk to church Sunday night we encounter three snakes!!!  One that Shannon rolled over in the car earlier in the day, one dead but hanging in a tree, and one very much alive that Shannon and Davis successfully killed (with the help of a Toposa boy and his stick!) on our way back home.  And I wonder, if next time I dream of two snakes, will we encounter six?  Wait, no, actually, I don't.

Back to pictured tidbits...

Yes, it's still raining!

Kids on the compound

Me with a giant head of cabbage that will last Mindy and I for several meals--hip hip hooray!