Tidbits and Tales

"What's the first animal you think of from Uganda?"

"Mosquitos!"

The name of our team for pictionary given on impulse by a 13 year old Ugandan that I adore!

I figured it's about time for a different look at my life here. This week was filled with it's share of hardship -- as any other week -- but a good amount of laughter as well. I think you should see this side too!

It's ridiculously warm here, so swimming is nice!

I went swimming at a local pool this week and my hair turned green. My friends in Masese said I look like I'm ready to party, but I felt much more like Anne Shirley. Sigh.

As we were meeting for Bible study in Masese, one of the girls pointed at my neck and exclaimed, "Auntie Kate! You have ringworm!" The conversation continued and they compared it to another woman that has ringworm. I was rather confused as to what they were talking about until Irene moved my tank to find it continued on the side. That pool day also brought a nice sunburn (sorry mom, I forgot sunscreen!) that caused my skin to peel. Apparently ringworm and peeling look the same -- good to note!

Trying to get in the Christmas spirit! 

When they were teaching me how to plait hair last week they kept telling me to pull harder, so one of the girls demonstrated on me. To her surprise, my hair came with her yank. "Auntie Kate! We need to bring you to the clinic!" When I showed them that I could pull out single strands without any pain, they were astonished and wanted to see it again, and again....and again.

"Auntie Kate! You have a disease!" Are you starting to see a trend here? This was said by another friend in Masese who was looking at my face. When I asked what my symptoms were she said, "You have brown spots all over your face!" Ohhhh how I've always hated my freckles.

Eating peanut butter cookies with a Christmas movie!

Today I got caught in Masese in a rain storm so we sat in Chio's room with Naduk for two hours sorting rubbish out of the nuts. Naduk hardly speaks any English and Chio knows a bit, but we spent a good amount of it pointing to objects and repeating, then laughing at the pronunciation. I once sang the word "akidadok" to a little tune and it's now one of our favorite things to do together. The word means...frog.

Naduk and I love to laugh!

During this time Naduk pointed on the ground at a cockroach and said, "Auntie Kate! You know!" I gladly shouted, "abebe!" as Chio grabbed it and threw it out of the door. Some minutes later it returned and she threw it out again. This cycled for a few more times as Naduk and I kept laughing and she said, "Abebe love Chio. Chio no love abebe." Language barriers fall in the presence of laughter!

 I love little times like these when I'm a friend. I don't have all the answers, I'm not big and powerful, and the label "missionary" scares me. But I do have Jesus living inside of me and by the grace of God, I'm being changed more like Him daily. While I do love being able to share in Bible studies, I also love letting them see the broken sinner that I am that is daily in need of forgiveness. I love being able to be their friend.