The Chucky Effect

As in the creepy phrase, "I'm backkkkkkk" (Actually, I used to describe the Chucky effect as that guy who you never ever saw but on the rare occasion he popped back into your life your head got all dizzy and your voice got all giggly. That was before Ethan, I promise).
Anyways, I'm back from Africa and I'm in the U.S. of A. I know, I've been back for over a month and I only blogged..er...twice while there, but I promise a lot happened and living it just sounded more appealing than recording it. I know, I'm selfish and quite rude, but will you please forgive me? I'm so not a blogger. I don't know what in the world we're doing here. Thanks for hanging in there with me, guys.
Anyways. A lot has happened. I really would have updated you quite some time ago but just after I got back from Africa my computer crashed with a great big bang (and i do mean a BANG) and it cost the prettiest penny to get him fixed so it took a few paychecks to get him back. Now that Huego (my trusty laptop) and I are reunited, I can update you.

Well, I lived in Uganda for a month. It's quite sureal. If I didn't know better I would insist to you that I am two people, a person who lives in Africa and a person who lives here. I was quite certain I would find a completed version of myself over in Africa: some non-clumsy, rather graceful White Ugandan who fit in as though she had grown up in that red dirt, but such was not the case. I took about two weeks and a whole lot of sickness to catch my stride there and even then I did crave bagels an awful lot (the only bagels over there are in this tiny little shop in downtown Kampala which we could never, ever find. But we did hear rumors and oh how beautiful those rumors were). Still, I did catch my stride and I left my heart with the sweet babes who burried their faces in my shoulders, laughed and my raspberries and wiped their spit up on my pants.
I promise to tell you more about them, but tonight I leave you with the memories I brought home with me. Pictures of little faces and tall trees and red dirt.

              

              

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." -James 1: 27

Sweet Baby James

  

I don’t actually have a baby at the baby’s home whose name is James, but I sing James Taylor’s lullabye almost daily to these precious little guys. I don’t know how I’ll make it in the states without a baby to hold.

I have been here in Uganda for 13 days and I have 18 days left, so I know, I’ve been a terrible blogger. Let’s see, a lot has happened. Mostly I had a severe allergic reaction to my malaria meds and so I’ve been to the “surgery” as they call it twice and had to postpone moving into the village until I had malaria meds that wouldn’t kill me (heh, exaggerating there…I hope). So I spent a lot of time stuck in the house watching The Mentalist. Not that I have anything against the Mentalist (especially bootleg versions that only cost about a dollar USD per season), but I would kindaa rather do Ugandan things while in Uganda. But now I’m up and about and playing with babies and will move to the village on Tuesday.

I’m learning a lot here. I’m learning the difference between being like Paul (who God sent on a his journey but allowed him to be shipwrecked, stoned, tried unjustly and just plain persecuted) who still praised God despite his journey’s troubles and being an Israelite (who God sent on their journey and as soon as they felt out of their comfort zone they got mad). I was so disappointed that God would let me get so sick and let me get so lonely in the place he told me to go. I felt as if I had done this great thing for him and he had sort of just..left me there.

Ah, I could not have been more wrong. I am never “left” but I do have to learn things. And getting sick and being lonely comes with the package. I am well aware that I have not signed onto a simple life and that’s OK because it’s all being guided. Yes? Yes.

Meanwhile in Africa..

So, hey there. Eh, I can’t think of a clever way to say it: I’m in Uganda!

There you go.

The past couple of days I’ve had back spasms, and apparently holding three babies doesn’t help with that so much, so I’ve stayed home today- thinking I would lie on ice all day, but the housekeeper and security guard decided to move the beds around. So instead, I ventured outdoors. With. The. Birds.

I don’t know if any of you know this, but I am seriously afraid of birds, and these guys? They’re black and big with pointy, curvy beaks and loud noises (they sound like monkeys) and they have the front yard as their residence. So venturing outdoors to read is a serious feat for me. One that should not go ignored. I will accept congratulations in any form you care to send it (ok, now that just sounded a bit self centered, didn’t it. I apologize, and I digress..)

So, I went outside. It’s sunny and warm and there are tropical trees everywhere and if you look over the wall you can see a hill with hundreds of houses dotting it. And there are also lots of flies to keep you company, I think they were just worried about my back spasm, it’s cool guys, you don’t have to spend all your time with me, really, go hang out with the birds.

Let’s see. What am I doing here? Right now I live in Kampala (the Capitol of Uganda) and I work at Watoto Baby’s Home here, but in about a week they’ll be moving me to a Watoto village to work in the Baby’s Home there (many more babies there). I’m excited to move out there, it’s lovely. What you think of when you think of Africa (minus the elephants and giraffes- they don’t really just walk around, I know, you’re pretty bummed aren’t you? Haha, Ethan thought I would see them out my window). The babes are amazing. In Kampala there are mostly new babies and/or sick babies because Kampala has the best medical facilities. As soon as the babies are old enough/healthy enough they move out to a village baby’s home.  So, I’ve been playing with very little babes (and a few very sick babes), I’m talking mostly under 4 months. So sweet, and very tiny. They all remind me of little monkeys with their black curly hair, large curious eyes, chubby cheeks and mouths that make perfect ovals when they’re trying to tell you about their day. I can’t show you pictures of them without permission (legal issues and whatnot) but I did include a couple pictures from the other side of the world for your viewing pleasure:

view from where we're all living now (there's about to be 10 of us living in this house)

view from where I'll be moving to in about a week

Seven

Hey guys.
Yeah, so havn't so much been around.
I know, it's shameful, but blogs just feel so self-centered to me. I like other people's, but my own feels strange. I really only did it to prep for creating one for my trip to Uganda. Now, my trip is only a few days away. Literally three days away. I'm supposed to go on malaria meds tomorrow. Woah, also I have to check in for my flight today (Don't let me forget to do that).

Anyways, I do think I'll check in during my trip, but after that Ms. Such-this blog may have to retire. I suppose we'll see.

I do have to tell you something today. Seven.
It's been seven years since I first was called to Uganda.
And now there arn't even seven days until I board the plane.
A Quick Story for you:
I fell in love with Jesus when I was twelve, but by that time I had already figured out how I thought my life should go. I mean, I had it all down, what college I wanted to go to, what I wanted to major and minor in, I even knew what scholarships I would be eligible for (I'm a geek, I'm aware), I never wanted to move out of the tri-state area.
But then everything changed. I was reading this book about a girl who went to Uganda to work at a school/orphange/hospital/church and fell in love with the country and the people there. I only read it because I read anything I could get my hands on at the time. While reading I heard a voice say, "I want you to do that." I had heard of this before- God talking to people- and I always thought the people who tried to tell God 'no' were so ridiculous, he was God, wouldn't he win? But I joined the ranks of the 'no'-ers- I told God no, because 13-year-olds are oh-so-wise.
But then God won, a few months later, before I could think it simply flew out of my mouth one day, "I'm going to work in Uganda." Shortly there after I fell in love with Uganda, my heart moved over there. God made sure of that. I've been working towards going ever since.
And so now I'm going, soon.

Awkwards meet Awesomes

Awkward:

I own a pair of Ethan's old soccer pants. They're kinda big. Sometimes I jog across campus to the work out room while wearing them. Sometimes I forget to pull the drawstring. Sometimes when that happens I have to grab my pants for dear life before Mr. Man over there notices. 

 Couples who choose to get all close and touchy-touchy on the stairs. Why oh why can't you move 5 yards in either direction. So many un-used coaches. One of them could be yours today!

Getting called "Ma'am." Come on, I have atleast another few years before that name actually describes me, don't I?

Third Wheeling. This is pretty self explanatory. Don't feel too bad for me though, I haven't had a good third wheel date in about a year. I feel it's good for you every once in a while, keeps you humble. Also reminds you how not to be while coupling around other wheels.  

 Awesome:

Watoto stuff. I may never, ever stop talking about it- a plane ticket, dates, a volunteer job description, pictures of sweet, chubby faces. I can't get over it. 

My camera charger arrives in the mail today! Have you been wondering about the sore lack of photographs as of late? It's because my charger doesn't like me anymore so I had to order a new one. He comes today! Pictures to arrive shortly thereafter.

My best friend, Haley has finished her first year of college! A round of applause if you please! 

Oh yeah! Mind if I brag a bit on that Ethan-man? He got into University of Michigan's Architecture program. Check that out! 

Long drives.  

Little boys who hand you a penny to buy the action figure they're eyeing on the top shelf. 

"Get Vomited on"

I bought a plane ticket to Uganda!
Ha!
And then I got my volunteer description from the Babies Home in Uganda.
The description reads many things, You must be able to change a dirty diaper, lift a 15kg baby, do laundry, etc. but my favorite ones are "Be Vomited on" and "Give Cuddles."

Watoto.
Uganda.
May 20th.
Can't wait.

Dishes

I know you feel I have forgotten you!
I am remiss.
But I have not forgotten.
I've just been up to a lot.
Like Uganda.
And Cover the Night.
And finding a home for next semester.
And breathing.
Stuff like that.

So, I promise to fill you in on those things.
But for tonight I will just tell you, dishes are my least favorite chore.
I hate doing them so much that I would rather take a picture of my ridiculousness than actually carry them down to the bathroom sink and wash them. I mean really, they live here too, shouldn't they pitch in? They should really learn how to clean themselves, it's basic hygiene (Did you know there was an 'i' in hygiene? I was not aware). So anyways, I shall go and do my dishes and tell them my woes of how much I am frustrated with their existence.
I write this post mostly to make you feel better about your quirks, you probably don't talk to your dirty dishes. Or argue with them. I might do both.