Thursday, June 11th

Thursday June 11, 2009
Yoga aka hello -me again…
Well, I got my “dog howling” card punched last night. In other words I was able to enjoy that experience and don’t feel like I need to do it again. Some of us are still experiencing sleep problems. Falling asleep doesn’t seem to be a problem for most, but staying asleep is a problem. Not sure if it is still the time change or what. Although we have fans, the mosquito nets seem to block the majority of the breeze. Please pray for better nights of sleep so that can wake up feeling refreshed and stay healthy.
Speaking of healthy, I would knock on wood if the termites hadn’t eaten it, but so far so good. Carolyn and I are concerned that lack of sleep will decrease our ability to fight off illness.
We will continue to attempt updates, but the internet access is quite unreliable. Lisa was able to get our update posted, but could not, for anything get an email through to let you know.
Bob is going to attempt to make the coffee this morning … we have a French press coffee maker. It will be interesting.
Yesterday, Wednesday, we went through an orientation with Tim. We learned a bit more about the culture along with acceptable practices, phrases, team rules, suggestions for how to use your free time, safety concerns, and more. We continued our discussion from the night before.
After that we proceeded past the gates of the compound. I ached to do this earlier, to see what was outside, but was thankful for the orientation which gave me more confidence and was able to see and take in more. Tim and Angie have provided us with an exceptional pre-field manual and now continued training.
We walked over to the IDP Camp (Internally Displaced People). These people are in this camp because the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) has destroyed their home. Many have been forced to fight as child-soldiers. The conditions are not good. The huts are small, the UN has provided a couple of porta-potties, there were a lot of school-age children – not in school, but there were smiles on many of their faces. There is a market in the center that we visited. Some of the common products were tomatoes, mangos, casaba (potato like starch), and charcoal. We had an experience I never even considered. Kids were absolutely trembling in fear at the sight of a mzunga (white man). They were not sure if we were ghosts or some other type of spirit – they had never seen a white person before today. We brought along bubbles and stickers. We simply interacted with the kids while the mom’s watched in the background. Young kids continued to follow us along our walk – across the “highway” somehow they must have found their way back home.
Tim purchased some fried ants while we were in the market –many of us tried them upon return. Some more excited than others. I still think I have some stuck in my teeth.
We headed off to the market after lunch and a 20 minute rest period. Try to picture 100’s of people crammed in a very small area, selling everything from shoes to legumes, tea to raw meat. People sleeping on the tables, under the tables, trash, odors, crowds …there were even some of the guys taking pictures of us (OK Kari) with their camera phones. We also hit the internet café, the Om (supermarket wannabee), and the bank to exchange dollars into shillings.
Last scheduled activity of the day was to get a “brief” tour of Amecet. Amecet is a baby shelter run by YWAM (Youth with a Mission). They take babies on a part-time basis and work to return them to their family or at least their community. Some of the babies have come right from the hospital after their mother’s died in childbirth, others of AIDS, or other illnesses. There was a 3 month old who Angie’s sister noticed in the market. Her name is Rukia she weighs 5 pounds. Do I need to say more?
This is where many of us will spending our time Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Ernie will be doing some handy work, Lisa, Kari, and Bonnie will be feeding and holding babies, I will be working with the director to see what can be done at the shelter to enhance growth and development. I hope to do some education with the workers about early intervention. I hope to head over to the hospital to see what is going on in their feeding program.
This morning, Thursday, we went to a larger market called the Arapai Market. Booth after booth after booth of dried fish, grains, deep fried snacks, pesticides, tire sandals, chickens, baskets (of which we bought a few for 2500 shillings each or $1.25), bike parts, pesticides, rugs (once again purchased) and other items of which we are not sure we could identify.
After our return we listened to Francis tell us his story. Francis was captured by the LRA when he was 13 years old. After one week of training he was chosen to be a commander. He told us from his heart of the time he spent in the LRA and his escape. He told of his prayers and pleas for forgiveness and for release. He was involved in one of the Freedom Camps that were funded in part by the ride for refugees. He shared a poem he wrote while in the camp. He continues to receive assistance through the CAAF (Children Affected by Armed Forces) organization. They continue to help him process his thoughts and are assisting him to attend vocational school. Tim presented him with a Bible (in the past he had a Children’s Bible). He was just elated.
This afternoon we went to visit people who are involved with the SACAB (Soroti Agricultural and Crafts Association of the Blind). They describe being reformed through the organization. Before they became involved with SARAB they were considered helpless. Now they can read, cook, grow crops, and even knit. They sell their products for a profit. After that we moved on to a vigorous game of Goal Ball against the blind. A game we would love to bring back to the youth group at church.
We had lovely dinner at the Shaardas (Angie’s sisters) house. It was good to hear their stories and experiences of missions.