Team Five Morris

So today was the big day. We went to Bank of Africa to pay their school fees and to take them for their first day at Ebenezer Primary School. Well, the bank was a fiasco. In Uganda you have to pay school fees and uniform fees at the bank before you start school. I guess they just assumed we do the same thing in America so they just gave us a handful of slips and said go to the bank. Of course we filled them out wrong and had to re-do them. Dan got back in line, his patience wearing thin just to find out we still did it wrong. He was about to snap so we left in a true American huff. Pastor Joel told us we could pay the fees a the school if we paid extra and they'd deal with the bank for us. So we went to the school with the kids all a-twitter in the back seat. We pay the fees successfully after explaining that we have no idea what we are doing. They looked at us like, "well duh...we knew that". So we expected the kids could then enter their classes. No, they needed an interview with the headmaster. We were at our breaking point in the office with all the miscommunication going on and meanwhile Aiden has hit Hannah in the face with his back pack to stop her from anoying him any further. I literally thought I might lose my mind right there in the school office. The nice secretary, realizing our lack of African patience stepped in and said of course the kids can go to class we'll work everything out. So we marched off through a mass of curious Ugandan kids to Hannah's class. Her teacher hugged her and got her settled and I waved through the broken glass window to her as I walked away filled with anxiety. Next we dropped Aiden off at his class and he also was greeted with hugs and smiles. He seemed like he'd survive so we left him too. Ben was clinging to me at this point and all these well meaning Ugandan ladies were pinching his cheeks and saying Oh Baby Muzungu and trying to hold him. I thought this isn't going to work, I cannot leave him here to play in the re-bar laden play ground and eat God knows what. But we made it to the "baby class" and he released his death grip on me, but I didn't release my death grip on him. I choked back tears as the teachers wrenched him from my arms hugging him and showing him the classroom. I thought he was going to freak out but instead he said,"aren't my shoes cool?" to his teacher so I made my exit before he saw my tears. Dan met me in the playground and asked if I needed a moment to hide in the car and compose myself. I said I was fine. And we left. I left my three most precious things in a school in a third world country with strangers. It was a terrible feeling. I got home and cried and prayed and questioned if it was the right thing. Later when I went to pick Ben up he was happily playing and fitting in. He was excited to come back tomorrow. All was well. I was stunned. The worst thing that happened was that he didn't want to eat the food. No biggie...I'll send him with lunch tomorrow.

Later when we went to pick Aiden and Hannah up (they go from 7 am to 5 pm!) I expected tears and horrible news. But once again they both came out of their classes with friends arms slung over their shoulders and smiles on their faces. Again, all is well. They loved it. They ate weird things for lunch, they learned weird things like the metric system and Ugandan geography but they loved being there. So I will keep you posted on their progress. When we were leaving Hannah said, Oh there is a boy from my class...he has the cutest eyes!" Indeed he did. I think they are going to be just fine. But keep praying for their protection against illness and hurt feelings from kids who might not like muzungus at their school. Thanks to all who thought of us today!

There are so many weird things here but I want to be understood that I am NOT bashing my new home country. So often Dan and I have just looked at eachother in amusement, awe or irritation. The first thing is the driving. I have never in all my days seen such disorder and chaos somehow work. There are no rules other than try not to get knocked. They use lots of funny terms here imported by the British. Dan was told he should wait 30 days before attempting to drive here. Yeah right. By the second week he was on the road and driving like a real Ugandan. Our national friends are truly impressed.

While downtown at this HUGE market known as Nakosera Market we saw a muzungu (white guy) driving a motorcyle wearing dutch wooden pointy clogs. No joke. Anyone other than nationals who attempt to drive a motorcycle through the unruly traffic in Kampala are either stupid or optimistic!

Men holding hands here is another one. It is the culture for men to walk hand in hand everywhere they go. They are not homosexual but just enjoy walking hand in hand. Two years ago when we were here we even saw police men with huge rifles slung over their shoulders strolling with fingers interlocked. Not bad, just different. Aiden has had numerous boys his age try to hold his hand but has settled on putting their arms across eachother's shoulders instead.

Women here expose their entire breast while nursing. I am a huge breastfeeding supporter and I personally have no issue with this but it takes some getting used to to see an entire bare chest in any public setting. For the kids it is eye opening too!

Brooms are another oddity. They use these pieces of light twigs and bind them into bunches to sweep with. However this requires bending over to the point of back injury to sweep the house or courtyard. We have often wondered why they never add a stick handle to make it easier. I even bought Lillian a real broom to sweep our house with but she prefers the Ugandan kind. It's okay, just funny.

They "take tea" at specific times. I have been given odd looks when I have offered workers or friends tea at inappropriate hours of the day. I guess I'll have to brush up on my tea etiquette. We drink it all day long, who knew?

Back to the crazy driving...this makes it difficult to walk down any street. In America cars watch out for pedestrians. Anyone who passed their drivers test knows that pedestrians have the right of way. NOT true here. As a pedestrian you are responsible for being ready to leap off the road into the sewage drainage ditch at any moment. A car can drive freely on the sidewalk, median or any walkway whenever they want. Your job is simply to survive anywhere you walk. Dan has had his shoulders brushed with the mirrors on the motorcylce taxis numerous times while walking to the store.

We are very happy here in Uganda and are thrilled to be learning a new set of cultural rules. So many people here have welcomed us heartily and have invested in us as they teach us how to be effective missionaries here. So what if Dan has to get used to hand holding with his buddies? We are where we are supposed to be and we are enjoying all the new ways of looking at life. Miss you guys in our old life somethin' fierce though!

We went yesterday to find a school for the kids. We have decided they need to be in school in order to really learn the culture and the language. Pastor Joel took us all over Kampala yesterday and we finally found one in our own backyard. Now remember, we live in the slums so I wasn't expecting to find a good school in this area. We opted out of going to see Silver Spoon Academy as the name implies wealth and well...lets face it, we are missionaries. We had a good laugh at the name though and thought it would be funny to contact our supporters and say we need more money so our kids could have a silver spoon in their mouths! Greenhill Academy is a beautiful school that looks more like a club med than a school. We went there with high hopes for enrollment. The people we spoke to though were less than friendly and were horrified that we had been homeschooling our kids. That is unheard of here. They informed us (rather snootily I might add...) that we were too late to enroll because classes started last week and there is currently a waiting list. We had the option of interviewing in October for enrollment NEXT year. After hearing that the cost was about 150 US dollars a month for Aiden and Hannah not to mention uniforms and books, we made a hasty exit. So we have decided on Ebenezer...which makes me think of Scrooge. It is a good school on the hill behind the slums. It has many kids and some are Indian but no white kids. Aiden, Hannah and Ben will be the only ones. We are apprehensive about that and what it will mean for them to adjust but we are trusting that God will see us through this. The kids will be learning french and will be taught in english. They will also learn swahili in the upper grades. All three kids will go but only Aiden will stay all day. Ben and Hannah come home after lunch. Please pray for their adjustment. We desperately want them to fit in and be accepted in this community. Pray that people here will not see their skin color and treat them poorly or differently. It is so weird to be the minority here. Thanks so much friends...we miss you all!

In the spirit of total honesty, I have to be totally honest. Today was a low day for me. We were told to expect this "honeymoon stage" during our settling in. I must have skipped it. I feel neither at home here or back in America. Today I would have given anything to worship in a "normal" western church. I can't get used to the distorted sound systems that blare off key worship music in a language I don't understand. So all these lovely African brothers and sisters are worshipping their hearts out, dancing, singing, jumping, twirling and laughing. And there I stood...sullen, lonely and empty. For any of you who have been here, you know what I'm talking about in regards to the music. For some reason everyone here thinks louder = more spiritual. The music just grates on me and it's all I can do to maintain my sanity while I try to pray as they sing. I find it so hard to reconcile their worship with ours. Now I realize that my way isn't the only way. It's not their fault I can't relate. They are truly worshipping God. Maybe that's the problemb. I am jealous that they are worshipping while I can't seem to remember how.

I knew this would cost us everything to be here but I didn't realize what EVERYTHING was. A brother from the Congo asked me yesterday how America and Uganda compare. I said there is no comparison. There is NOTHING familiar here to us. The food, clothing, driving, language(s), manners, music and culture are as far from our american culture as it can possibly be. And it's not that I really miss america or our own countries warped sense of morals. But I miss hearing God. I feel unable to pray and connect right now. I know He is still here or else it would be easy to leave. I think this may be an exercise in obedience for me. I have really had to examine myself. If I lived in a nicer neighborhood or had friends I could relate to would this be easier? Maybe. But maybe it's simply a matter of me holding firm to God as the only familiar thing in my life. Dan keeps reminding me that is has only been two weeks. So please don't think I've lost my mind and I'm packing my bags and leaving. I am in this for as long as God keeps me here. Please pray that I would be able to worship God in a new way. That I would be able to minister to the lovely people here and would be filled with joy for the opportunity to do so.

All of your comments are wonderful. I love hearing from you all. But please don't ever think that we are some super-Christians for doing what we are doing. I am struggling in these early days. The only ability we have is from Jesus. Keep praying for us please! I know better days are coming and it helps to know that you all are rooting for us! We miss you all!!!!