Thanksgiving in Uganda

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday because Sara and Anthony were still busy at school on Thursday. There were also librarians here from the U.S. who were able to join us. The 6 of us had a lovely dinner at the Mbale Resort. The resort is in walking distance from our home, 11 doors North according to the Embassy guard. Actually, Friday was also the first day I was back on my feet, after feeling pretty sick for a few days. Why? I don’t know, there’s all kind of speculation. I’m sure when you read about my exciting Saturday you’ll also draw some conclusions. At any rate, Dad is very thankful I’m well again and prays that I remain that way.

Sara and Anthony Sytsma are our neighbors; they are part of our team with CRWM. The librarians in town were Ray and Barb Bouma, also with CRWM. During their stay, they reorganized the college library. They left today. Ray and Barb were amazed to find us here. we had them here for dinner the previous week.

As you will want to know, the cows are here! Or I should say, heifers are here. They arrived the week before Thanksgiving. Much happened during the weeks prior - much is better left un-said, or summed up in “That is Africa.” I’m just glad Dad is a good politician, able to find his way through the maze. And I’m very thankful that he has some good buddies with whom he can share. Patrick Mutono and Dad walk at 6 am most days; when Patrick is not in town Dad goes alone. The (other) Dutch farmer also is a good listener and someone to laugh with. Then there is a very nice Palestinian family who has been here since 1985. They are great people to visit with, and also belong to our Bible study. Yuseph Eid wants to take Dad to visit some other farmers in the area.Grandpa told the people at church this morning that he does the dishes now and sweeps the floor because that is the way we do it in our country. You should have seen the people’s faces, the women laughed and shouted but the men just shook their heads. Whenever we go to a new church here, we muzungus (white people) always have to come up front and tell who we are, where we come from, what we are doing here, etc. etc. People just love to hear that we’ll be here at least 1 year.

Actually, this morning’s church service was very affirming to me because sometimes I wonder about my role here. Dad is the farmer, who am I? Our neighbor lady had been inviting us to come to her church for a few weeks already. Judith is in her 30s with 2 little girls, and a husband trying to make his fortune in Zair. They own this place and she rents out parts of it for income, including to her youngest sister, Martha, who just had a baby. Martha has a little neighborhood store at the gate of their compound. They also have a huge vegetable garden. Judith wants me to teach her girls and other neighborhood children the CEF lessons - in fact she has begged me to. Last week she told Dad she was praying that "mama" would get well real fast. She would not let me walk to church this morning, instead she sent the head teaching elder to pick us up. The elder introduced himself as: “Meshach; as in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.” (Don’t you just love people’s names here?) Anyhow, as he was returning us home Meshach very quietly said to Dad, “Seems to me that God had a plan for sending the two of you to Uganda.” Dad agreed. Meshach is the head security guard at the Resort; he has been with them from the very start.

This coming weekend we expect the CRWM team here for a check up on things. Dad and Anthony can’t wait, Sara and I are planning meals. And we are all praying that the right decisions will be made in regards to this farm. Dad does not go out to the field very often, the place is over 9 miles from here and I won’t let Dad buy a bike to get there nor ride the boda-boda, (motor cycle taxi) out there. The trip is one-half highway, and the other half much worse than going to Kanginnema. Though Dad has some good and dependable Boda buddies we’ve now figured out that it would be cheaper to rent a taxi for getting to the farm. Those drivers have also been very helpful. Dad loves going into town at least once/day - where he talks to many people - and he takes the Boda for those trips. Last Thursday one of the store owners came out here to take Dad to the farm so he could see it for himself. This man and his wife sell milk and yogurt.

Have I introduced the 5^th member on this compound? His name is Melchizadeck, or Mel, who showed up on our compound on Nov. 2^nd, out of nowhere; a small whimpering puppy. We love him and feed him, dad takes care of the needed shots and I want to call him "Puddles." At first he was inside but now is outside, along with 3 hens and a big fat rooster. Mel and the rooster at times have big stand offs over food - the rooster usually wins, for now.