One Big Blur

This past week is a blur--a cluttered collection of days and happenings that will at least fill up this blog entry. A busted window in Shelly's van by careless boys throwing rocks. The lecture that followed the broken window. A game of pictionary with the kids. An afternoon at the Internet cafe. Dinner with Duke Divinity Friends. A call from home. Attacking the kids with kisses. A couple of hours separating beans. A lesson in Luganda. Napping at Shiloh. Teaching the teenage girls about the life of Eve.Going to the Dry cleaners for my dirt stained linen skirt. Playing cards with Shelly to pass the time. Losing at cards. Playing netball with the boys. Attending staff meeting. Going to a Muslim funeral for a beloved grandmother in Lukwanga. Cutting my finger nails to the quick. Washing my clothes by hand. Attending another staff meeting. Riding a boda boda to church. Eating M&Ms. Holding Isaac and chasing him around the compound. Trying to teach Freddles to dance the Tush Push. Bathing from a basin. Seeing Indiana Jones during its opening weekend. Drinking African tea. Sweating. Walking the kids up the hill to cross the street. Loving Uganda.

Well, I'm off to buy juice and bananas for breakfast.

This is Alisha on Location.

Peace Talks in Uganda

There have been serious peace talks this week at Christopher House. In 2005, a certain 1 year old by the name of Isaac hated me. I mean it...HATED me! With clear conviction, he would scream every time I came near. I even tried to pick him up when he had fallen on the pavement, but he would have no part in it. it was clear, he did not want to be my friend. Oh sure, it got comical. Everyone thought it was funny that he feared me. I tell you, it was not funny. I am proud to announce that we have reached an agreement to be friends. I'm not sure exactly how it happened (or how long it will last) , but now he's calling me Auntie Lisha, falling asleep in my lap during staff meetings, running as fast as he can into my arms and playing jump rope with me too. I'm confident that there will be no more turmoil until I leave because I just might cry like a baby when I have to say goodbye in August.

In other news, my favorite thing happened this week during staff meeting. It was raining and the sun was shining at the same time. I just love that. "It's my favorite," I whispered to Sylivia who was sitting next to me. "It means something in Uganda--it means God delivers." What a beautiful reminder.

The Sylivia who works at Shiloh found out that she is Positive. She has also recently lost her husband and is working hard to make it financially. Pray that God will be present with Sylivia as she struggles with this new crushing reality. Her joy has not been taken. She still smiles from deep within,and her laugh is contagious. Still, I know she fears for the future of her children and the unknown future for herself. How I wish God could magically deliver her from this pain.

Well, I'm off to play with some of my favorite kids in the world.

From Bunga, this is Alisha on Location.

The Eagle Has Landed... on a Boda-Boda

The eagle has landed, and by eagle I mean me. On an almost cool morning, I breezed through immigration and baggage claim (that's right, both of my suitcases arrived) and found Shelly waiting with a cup of hot coffee to share with me. There was something familiar in the air. Something sweet and welcoming. It was something foreign, but it was also like home. Maybe it was the smell of burning plastic that suffocates Ugandan air. Anyway, whatever it was, it certainly made me feel good to be back.


Shelly (who is the director of Christopher House, my supervisor, and a treasured friend) took me first to Christopher House for an afternoon with the kids. Plenty of hugs and "well be back" greetings. Then it was off to Shiloh. Now, Shiloh is a campground that is still being built. It's about an hour out of town and it just might be a piece of heaven on earth. It's one of my favorite places to be! Grass roof cottages, recently stoned pathways, greened trees, plenty of shade and the distant sounds of birds and children laughing or crying, and on top of it all...Galaboozi is there. He is a 63 year old delightfully joyous man who does all of the farming and land management for Shiloh. Last summer, I created a theme song for him. It's to the tune of "Don't cry for me, Argentina" from the musical Evita, but I sing Galaboozi instead of Argentina. We pulled up and I began singing as loud as I could out the window. Soon enough Galaboozi and Sylivia came running from the field. They're hugs almost swallowed me whole.


Only two days and there is already so much to tell you. First, a confession. I did something last night that I swore I would never do. I rode a boda-boda in town. For those of you confused by this confession, let me explain. A boda-boda is a motorcycle that transports people. They're fast, unreliable and possibly dangerous. No helmets are involved, not even cute ones. Let's just say, I nearly peed my pants. Something makes me so uneasy about riding on the back of a motorcycle while a complete stranger drives. Anyhow, I didn't die. I didn't fall off. It was a beautiful miracle.


So, this Saturday begins the Girls' Bible Study! Pray with me that these girls will connect with the material. We're studying 10 women in Scripture. We're not focusing on the all stars or the most remembered women. Instead, we're looking at some of the women in the shadows, some without names. We're looking at how God sees these women in their life situations, and then we're going to talk about how God sees us in our lives too. We'll be trying a few things that will be new to them...a foot washing service, communion, jewelry making and mosaic art. I'll definitely keep you posted on how this study goes. I know these girls have rich contributions to make to this area of study. Pray that they God will use this study to strengthen them, encourage them, empower them.

Well, I suppose I should get back to the center. My butt is getting numb from sitting in this seat too long. I love you all from here, and I continue to thank God for your presence, your prayers and your support. They mean everything...

This Alisha on Location, signing off...

Is it time to pack again?

The last few days have given me the opportunity to re-connect with my secret passion for packing. Don’t be fooled—it truly is a talent. It involves lots of zip lock bags, a pinch of creativity, persistence and a dab of elbow grease. So, you won’t be surprised by my confession—since Wednesday of this week I have been packing and unpacking, then packing again. I can’t decide if this makes me really thorough and fantastic or just crazy. Either way, I’m pretty sure of one thing…I’m really excited! Last night Nyanga Moses (adopted Ugandan brother and the student that Erin and I sponsor) called about his school fees, and when I told him I’d be back in Uganda in May, he did one of those Ugandan squeals. It’s not loud or too high pitched. It’s the perfect blend of contentment and thrill. Call me sometime, I’ll be glad to do it for you over the phone. Anyway, his squeal was enough to remind me of all the squealing I’ll be doing in a few days when I get to see my friends again and dive into new ministry opportunities. Woo!

For now, I’m just waiting for the days to go by…I’m lunching with friends and saying goodbyes. I’m stocking up on duck tape, deodorant, cotton balls and crayons. Ok, my room’s a mess. I gotta go pack…again.

For those of you...

For those of you who know me, you know that I am in love with Uganda. I fell in love with a place called Ekitangaala Ranch in 2005 when my best friend, Erin and I spent five months there teaching, tutoring, directing a high school play, and rocking babies. We returned to Uganda in 2007 for a two month summer reunion with our adopted Ugandan family and our precious Ugandan friends. And even then I knew I would return to Uganda again.

As of May 12, 2008 I will be off for yet another amazing African adventure. This time around I will be working with Christopher House Ministries, a community center focused on “Building Christ Centered Families." In order to have a long term, life-changing effect on the people of this poverty stricken, AIDS ravaged, war-torn country, CHM uses theologically based programs to teach children art, sculpture, music, sports, reading and soon theatre arts. They also teach parenting classes and English to adults in the community. Outside the city they are building a campground in order to do and holiday camps to take the kids out of the city for Bible Study, games and good times they would never have the opportunity to experience! I will be serving in the area of reading, theatre arts and spiritual formation groups for youth.

As my vocational calling takes shape, I see in myself the gifts and abilities to disciple and empower youth and children especially in international settings. There is part of me that always knew I would spend part of my life outside of the US. This summer will be a time for me to gain a more concrete sense of that calling. This summer’s journey will be a time for me to ask some difficult questions and do some serious searching as I seek a permanent ministry placement after I graduate from Duke in May 2009. So, the journey is definitely not over in August. But for now, I’m Alisha, (packing to be) on Location in Uganda, East Africa!