MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 03-23-2013

It has been a very hectic month. The time has come to return to America, which requires brutal levels of preparation and organization. I just thank God we’re only returning for a visit. I thought the first move we made coming to this country was going to kill us off, so this seems relatively easy by comparison. We’ve got a great place to live, we only have to bring ourselves and a minimal level of luggage, and it will all still be here when we get back – we’re not moving everything we own.

We have all this work to do, and naturally, the flu virus that conquered North America made its way to Uganda via Entebbe Airport. I suspect when our dear friends the Tracht’s were on the way here, they were exposed somewhere en route. We’re all overjoyed and happy to see our friends, and then they and we immediately get violently sick and can’t spend any time with each other. Those of you who had it know how it is – high fever, cough, body aches, and flat on your back from it for 7 straight days. Terrible timing. It hit our family like a bomb. I missed church and institute from it. We’re already missing our Ugandan family, and right at the end when we’re needing to be around them, we’re laid up with flu.

After having a week of life siphoned off by influenza, it has been a race to get everything pulled together for the impending furlough. It seems to us that Africa is trying to give us the final send off so we remember it fondly. In the past two weeks alone we got all the typical experiences one after another:

1) extended power outage. Turned out two of the load bearing wires that came into our changeover switch had been cut (gremlins?).

2) extended water outage. The men came to turn off our water because we hadn’t paid our bill. I had not received a bill in over a month. They went to disconnect our meter and damaged it. At the same time, there was a problem at the pumping station. We were without water for 2 days. Naturally, we didn’t know there was a problem until we’d already ran our tank dry. I sent my men to fill 11 jerry cans with water from a nearby well. Then I climbed the water tower each time (it took four trips) with a knotted rope and hauled the cans up and filled the tanks manually (you have water reservoirs on an elevated tower, which gravity feeds to your house and supplies you with water pressure. Also serves as auxiliary water when something happens and the water turns off).

3) stuck in the mud. I decided to take the “short cut” on the way back from church last Sunday. Got stuck so bad even L4 and 4-wheel couldn’t get me out. Fortunately, the Bassett’s were right behind us. Thank God I had my rubber boots in the car, carried for situations like this. Took my church shoes off, changed into my boots, and me and Jeff and his son got us out. The problem with these situations is you’re always wearing your church clothes when it happens. Good times.

4) loud, awful, African pop music (think the bastard offspring of hip-hop and rap with heavy, unnecessary use of auto tune) most of the night and now all day today. Honestly, if anyone ever invents a method of practical time travel, I won’t be going after Hitler first. No sir. The first guy on my list of assassination targets would definitely be the creator of auto tune. I have responded with the only cure that serves in a situation like this: bluegrass, sufficient to drown out the auto tune.

Our time here is very short. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, but I have to say, my feelings are mixed. I am missing my people and friends here something awful. Uganda is my home now. Plus, it feels like I just got here. I can’t believe three years has gone by, just like that. We love Uganda so very much, and love the work God has given us to do, and it’s tearing us up to have to leave it. I understand what Paul meant now, when he said, “For I am in a strait betwixt two…”

That’s all I can think of for now. Back to packing.

God bless you all!