Incomplete thoughts on experiencing poverty, part 5: the gifts along side the burn

For our third and final year, there were so many gifts alongside the burn of cross cultural living in a place of physical poverty.  At the beginning of the year, our friends came with their children.  It turned out to be important to have someone from our home culture, in addition to our parents come and share this experience with us.  Jackson took so many photos we did not have the courage to take, so that was a gift to us.  This particular year, we had one conference where we had the chance to serve those who were equipping regional Christians with missional living in their areas.  That year, most of our furniture was finally made (yes, Ugandan carpenters are notorious even among Ugandans for taking a long time.  IKEA... we needed you!)  As the Ugandans would say "You will get used (yoosed)."  We did.

Micah and Jesse with Daniel and Daudi.  They FINALLY had friends and even came over to play. That happened once for our son in three years!

My son was ages 9-12 during this time.  A weapons collection to dream about.  Gift of being a wild boy in a wild place.

Penelope and Jovahn were like an aunt and uncle to us.  This was one of the last times we were in their home.  They are some of the most gentle, wise and gracious people I have ever met.

Spoons remains our favorite game to play with people around the world.  This is Dr. Yvonne losing!  We were with Kenyans, Germans and Ugandans this evening.  

Exotic creatures in your yard NEVER got old!

Leah and Eve in our yard NEVER got old.  These lovely sisters were our neighbors and they always had time for us and these girls.

I never got tired of seeing the tea plantations when we traveled.

I never wanted to forget tea leaves are picked by hand here.  Beautiful and hard work.

I never got tired of good surprises like a car full of tomatoes.

Have I mentioned that we love meeting people from around the world?  Serving Tex Mex to German students in Uganda.

One of our favorite trips was just before the new year.  We got to go with our teammates to visit the university chaplain's family home in Kisoro, a town near Kabale.  It is right on the border of Rwanda and Congo.

Much cooking and washing is done outside the home.

I was grateful for the children to be able to experience this.  Most homes we visited, we would have only been in the front of the house, so this was a gift to be able to just hang out like friends and not visitors.

Andrew showed us his bee keeping by traditional methods. Hives built with banana leaves.

They took us to a giant crater from a volcano. We gathered so many children with us as we hiked.  We learned our friends brought extra bread to share and then when it was done, they said good bye to the children.  They shared what they had and that was that.  Ugandans are so gracious and smooth about hospitality.  I still need to learn to be simple and generous.

These kids kept with us.  They were persevering and very interested in just watching us. Since I knew we would be leaving and not coming back, I took photos this time.  I never wanted to forget what that felt like and how I wondered about their lives.

I never wanted to forget this very familiar sight.

Now, Leslie was my college roommate and is a practical joker.  So is Travis, her husband.  We have known each other for 25 plus years now.  You cannot take the college student out of us.  We have had this hat since college when I bought three to play a practical joke on some friends.  It has been around the world and in photos across the years. Another friend, Laura, and Leslie and I would help it show up in many places.  So, of course, the plush orca hat came out with our Ugandan friends!

I tried to get the sales lady to sell me Fair and Fairy on a dare from Leslie, but you can see her feet in the upper right hand corner.  She would not come help me.  Leslie and I had a good time with that one.  In case you don't know, this is a cream to lighten your skin.

I never wanted to forget this classic Christmas scene.  For weeks at Christmas time, outside my window, as I washed dishes, folks streamed up and down the hill with household supplies.  Some saved all year and this is when it was spent.

We had the privilege of hosting a family who came to visit from the U.S.  Jackson took so many pictures.  It was a treasure for us to have these shots and the encouragement he gave Aaron at the hospital was priceless.

This is one of my all time favorite photos.  This kid is terrified of Aaron.  Aaron tells a story of a young patient who kept shaking her head and saying "something something something Muzungu (term for white person)" in Rukiga, the local language. When Aaron asked the translator what the child was saying, he was told "White people don't eat people. White people don't eat people."  In the village, they tell tales!  I imagine the face of many village children encountering their first white person would look like this.

Of course, we took them on safari and here are a few of the shots.  Now, the zebras were from a different part of the country on the way back to our town.  That was always fun if you could catch them grazing near the road.

This was one of my favorite experiences with safari, when the elephants would pass on through.  So gentle and loving.

This was my least favorite animal encounter and we experienced it twice.  A charging male bull.  Fortunately, they were bluffs, but you can't tell when it is happening if it will be the real thing or not.  I hope I never find out! 

Yes, the driver got some fish on the side of the road and tied it on our car.  That was considerate, no fish smell inside!

This was the scene we would see each time we drove to a Belgian hotel called the Bird Nest.  It was the best place to eat, relax and we would even stay there for a treat.  It was 20 minutes from our house and on a steep mountain road, as well as passing a rock quarry.  It was sobering every time and I hope I never forget what that felt like to see folks working.

Then you would arrive and see this. Such a paradox.

Another familiar sight when eating and staying at the Bird Nest.

These were some of the women I would hang out with.  Most are from Uganda except for Denise from Congo and Stefani from Germany.  These gals were such a gift and again, one of the hardest parts of leaving.

We FINALLY learned to wash hands the Ugandan way.  Each time you ate with people, the children bring a basin with hot water to wash your hands.

I thought I would be working with Aaron at the hospital, praying and visiting the sick.  I never made it down to the hospital in that capacity.  Too much work to be done just to live.  I got to pray over a big group like this twice.  Once was a conference we were a part of hosting our third year. And the second time was at this house in a village. I did feel that I had something from God to read and pray over them.  It was a holy and precious and rare moment.  That was a highlight from the year.

Ankole cattle, don't get a Ugandan started about their cows or their gardens... forgetaboutit!!!!

And then people would appear out of nowhere carrying water.  And then they would disappear.  Ancient paths, ancient ways.

This was a house mother at an orphanage.  There are too many orphanages in Uganda.  Too many parents lost.  I loved the promise on the wall with this house Mama.  Yes, the children of God are revealed among those who serve these children!

The Nile flows south to north and begins in Uganda.  We had the privilege of going there.  At this place, there is still a plane left from when Hemingway crashed it.  He lived an adventurous life.  We have also been to the place where he drank in Paris, Les Deux Magots.  What a guy.  What a world, what a country!