Hi All,
Are you ready for more? I must admit that I am ready for more of your updates! I have so much loved getting some of your summer updates. Thank you to those who have filled me in on swimming floaties, beach trips, birthday parties and reading lists. Hearing from you makes me feel not quite so far away. So, thank you. Now, it’s my turn to bring you a little closer to my world.
The Latest. You know how much fun it is to have a slumber party with your best friends where you stay up late and giggle and eat ice cream and tell secrets? Well, I have just had 2 weeks of slumber parties! Amanda and Erin came to visit. For those of you who may not know these two characters in my life story, Erin and Amanda are some of my most kindred spirits. Erin is my best friend and roommate of 8 years. Amanda is one our besties from university who has stayed a constant source of friendship even though she lives thousands of miles away. While Erin has been to Uganda several times, this was Amanda’s very first time out of the U.S., and she loved it! We ate street food, rode public transportation, visited the village, played with the kids at Christopher House, rode boda bodas (motorcycles), made macaroni and cheese, hosted a 4th of July party with a house full of Ugandans singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and we even managed to paint our toe nails by the light of our headlamps. It was so good to show Amanda the rhythm of my life here.
Oh, quick story. We took Amanda out to Shiloh for a couple of days of sleeping under a grass roof and walking around a place that the city air has yet to pollute. Shiloh is technically a property of CHM about an hour outside of Kampala. It is Shelly’s home when she’s not at the center. She, Galabuzi and Dick have been growing a few crops out on the land—eggplant, green bell peppers, carrots and lots of other veggies to use during our meals at the center. Shiloh is basically what we call a resting place—a quiet getaway when the busy city pace becomes too much. So, while we were out there Shelly wanted to take us to meet some new friends, Yusef and Alice. They must be in their 80’s at least. As we approached their yard, Yusef spotted us and began waving us in. We sat and listened to the story of how they fell in love and how they have lived in that house nearly forever. I sat next to Alice on the floor and held her hand. We all laughed like old friends. It was getting late in the afternoon when a hurdle of school children passed by on the road. When they spotted us they came running up to the yard. Alice waved them in too. Soon enough the room was cluttered with about 25 school children singing to us. Of course after they did, Shelly insisted that Erin and I return the favor. We did, and they clapped ferociously. It was one of those moments when I clearly remembered, “Oh, I am in Africa!”
Amanda left not too long after our afternoon visit with Yusef and Alice, but Erin has stayed for an extra two weeks. We’ve been drinking lots of tea, talking late into the night and drifting into our old routine. It’s hard to remember that she won’t be here forever, and each time I am reminded my heart aches a little more. Still, it has been such a gift to have her here to ease this time of transition and to remember our first days in Uganda. How far we have come!
The Greatest. So, one of my Creative Drama classes is attempting to write monologues from their own life experiences. At the end of the term they will perform them for the class. It has been a pretty challenging task to expect creativity from each student when uniformity is what they are accustomed to producing in their work at school. It took a couple of weeks for them to understand that they had something to share. They sat with blank stares for the first writing session. But then, finally, there was a breakthrough! Charity approached my desk and asked if I would look over her work. After reading a handful of the similar, if not identical stories, I was reluctant to read another. But her work totally surprised me! She wrote a monologue about the first time she saw a television. Throughout the piece she describes this box in her house. It frightens her, and she fears that it is evil. She calls out to her dad to take it away, and then suddenly gets caught up in watching it and laughing at the figures on the screen. Finally, she calls out, “Dad, what did you say this thing was again? Oh, a television. It might not be so evil after all.” It is a monologue that oozes with creativity. The audience doesn’t know it is a television until the end, and she keeps them guessing. I am so excited to see her perform it, and she beams with delight every time I ask her to show it to someone. Since sharing her example, the class has begun to challenge themselves with their work—trying new concepts and beginning to feel like they have valuable stories to share from their lives. Being with this group feels like so much more than giving assignments. I cannot wait to see how things unfold with these precious students.
At the end of each class session we gather in a huddle for prayer, and each time I tell them, “You are precious gifts, and I am so glad that each of you are in this class.” I am trying to learn each student’s name in order to call them all out, but I am still learning. It is amazing how these kids respond to such a message. For some of them, it’s as if they have never heard those words before. When they hug me before leaving, it’s as if they sink into me and hold on tight so the hug will last until the next week when I see them again. Oh, it’s my favorite part of the job!
The Worst. Every community has those little places—stains of cruelty, signs of injustice, places where the worst kind of humanity is displayed. Bunga is no exception. With the rise of robbery here, people have become restless and fed up with crime. Most thieves have been murdering as well as robbing. Unfortunately, the police force in Uganda does little without monetary bribery, and when they do come to help, the thieves usually get released soon after they are arrested. The community has become enraged by the trends of crime and injustice, and last week they chose to take it in their own hands. When a young man stole from an outside refrigerator, a group surrounded him, beat him, poured kerosene on his body and burned him to death. I never have understood the mob mentality or the cruelty of killing that a group can justify against any individual, but I also stay baffled by the police department here and what they call a justice system. Even now my stomach turns to think of the ashes that stain the sidewalk where the life of this young man was taken. My heart breaks for this community, for this man’s family, for this way of dealing with injustice, and for this community reaching such a breaking point.
Prayers. Please pray for Bunga and the challenges this community faces. Pray for the leaders in this community to function out of a commitment to justice and not personal advancement. Pray for Christopher House to continue to be a place of noticeable difference—a place where peace is promoted and children are lifted up. Pray for Shelly, Dick and Enoch as they continue to lead this organization—financially, spiritually, operationally.
Pray for our older kids who come on Saturdays. We are beginning to do a new time of discussion, and we’re focusing on the body. We’re calling it “Everybody Matters.” We’re going to be talking about theology of the body, HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, rape, condom use versus abstinence. We’re going to cover everything, and these kids are desperate for a safe place to talk about these things. Most parents are not educating their kids on the significance of knowing the facts and protecting themselves and making wise choices. Pray that this series will open doors for honest conversation, education and godly results.
What’s next? August is an exciting month for us at Christopher House. Christine, who works in the Athletic Department, is getting married! We are all so ready to celebrate with Christine and her husband to be Patrick on August 9th. We’re all going for the ceremony and then returning to the center for a Shelly inspired reception. I’m sure there will be pictures coming soon. Shelly and Harriet have made the wedding dress, and we’re pretty sure the food is going to be amazing too. Christine has been waiting for the pastors to select a date and now she is growing impatient to say “I do.” I’ll be sure to fill you in on the celebration next time I write.
Well, a day of work awaits. Loving You from Uganda,
Namubiru Alisha
