Winding Down the Time

Winding down the time ☹ A big change that came this week was that it is official now that the government is going to make the kids move back into the camps so their last day on the land is December 6th. So we now have two blank weeks. We plan on spending a few days packing at the land after the kids leave, then we are going to do a feeding program in Jinja, Uganda on the 11th of December and then we will be leaving Uganda the night of the 12th. With the upcoming election in February we got some advice that if we do not have any reason to be here, don’t play with fire. So I will be coming back home a little early, like 5 days, and the rest of the girls are going to do some light traveling in Europe for the last few days. So I think my official arrival date is either the 13th or the 14th of December instead of the 19th.

11-21-10
Do the church thing in the morning and we get a warm welcome back. Then spend the whole day hanging out with the kids. I finally break through to the last house which I have never really connected super well with. Eventually a few of the girls from that house and I go down to the well and pump some water. I carry my two jerry cans (plastic containers that weigh 40 pounds when filled) back and have to stop a couple of times. Now I know why the girls only carry one and they carry it one there head. After dinner I go to the kids study time (prep) and work on some English with some of the kids. This upcoming week they have their end of the term exams so it is getting to crunch time.

11-22-10
Slow day, then the kids get out and we hang out. Then prep time before bed. Sounds boring but was a great day, just no highlights ☺

11-23-10
I go with Mike today to pickup some sand because the workers have started building another staff house for the 8 new teachers that will be coming at the end of January. We are opening our school up to the public and adding a few more grades to our school so we thought it would be nice if the new teachers had a spot to live. Have a very good discussion with Mike about culture shock and also the idea that maybe my family should come out to VOH sometime… hint, hint. How that came up is that the kids have been telling me that they have been praying for my family and that next time bring them because they want to know them too. Eventually the kids get out and we have a good time. Teach a bunch of kids math at night and it goes very well. I hope they do well on their test with such a fine teacher ☺

11-24-10
Wake up and have a discussion around breakfast about how to celebrate thanksgiving tomorrow. Apparently I have been out of the loop because a full-fledged meal is already being planned. Sam (one of the workers) and I go out behind my hut and start digging a whole to make a makeshift oven for cooking the turkey. Yes, we are gonna have turkey. After doing some more prep stuff for tomorrow the kids get out and it is time for cards and last second questions before tests start tomorrow. It is Social Studies and English tomorrow. Good luck!

11-25-10
Thanksgivin’! Sam and I work on getting the pit ready. The idea is that we are going to start and fire to heat up rocks. After that we are going to wrap the bird in banana leaves and then the rocks with steam heat the bird. Going to take about 8 hours total. After we get the fire start we slaughter the turkey. Yes, I watched. One good machete to the neck we do just about anything in. We then de-feather the bird, which I helped with and then weighed it. 20lbs. Not to bad. We get that ready and then put it in the pit and cover it. The youngest kids (P3) have already finished their tests, so I play cards with them until dinner. For dinner we have, turkey, pumpkin, stuffing, carrots, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie and no-bake cookies. Maybe the greatest Thanksgiving ever.

That’s it. It was a very good week and I have about 17 days left. I can’t believe how short of a time that is. Tom made it home safely and had a job interview the morning after he got back. He said it went okay but be praying for him for that as he is now doing the job hunt thing with a heavy heart. Suzie is also leaving on Sunday morning and we are all going to miss her so continue to pray for our team and for Suzie as she will have long travel time back to Hawaii. Thanks as always for reading. See you sooner than you think!

-Collin