Teaching in Uganda

January 10 to January 19, 2012 - Journey to Uganda

Tuesday,

Left home at dark o'clock. My grandson, Jesse, took me to the bus station and helped me load my bags onto the bus to take me to O'Hare. Following a sleepy ride to Chicago, I arrived at the KLM/Delta terminal. When trying to check in my bags I found I was overweight on both of them. Anything over 50# has an added fee of $75.00. On top of that the maximum weight the airlines allow is 70#. One bag was 78 and one was 65, so I had to repack to balance each bag at 70# and the rest I had to try to shove in my backpack. Unfortunately, one of the things I stuck in my packback was a jar of peanut butter they would not let me take through security - it was a "jell". However, after all of that fuss all I lost was a jar of peanut butter. Pretty good!!

My plane left Chicago at noon and arrived in Detroit at 2:30 where I met my mission partner, Sue Miller, a teacher from Ohio. Our plane took off for an overnight flight to Amsterdam at 3:30. No sleep all during the 8 hour flight. We then spent 4 hours on the ground in Amsterdam and left on Wednesday morning at 10:00 for another 8 hour flight to Entebbe to arrive there at 10:30 p.m. No Sleep!!! We were picked up by the hotel shuttle - very light sleep. Thursday morning my friend Pastor Peter Obbo arrived to drive us to Tororo - a five hour drive. On the way to Tororo we stopped to change money, buy Sue's phone, and some household items: a 2-burner gas plate for cooking, bed linens, bath towels, dishes, cuttlery, and a few odd kitchen utensils and most importantly, PILLOWS. The pillows in Tororo are as if they are stuffed with cotton batting (or is it batten?).

We stopped in Mukono to deliver a small package to a bee keeper from a member of McFarland Lutheran. We finally arrived in Tororo and had our first viewing of our new home. Pstr. Peter had some of his church members there cleaning up for us as it is new construction. Sooooo we found 2 beds with mattresses and an overstuffed chair. We had the few things we had purchased so we put sheets on the bed. Then went to town to purchase our internet service. Got back home - the power went out, we had little water pressure and a high wind. That first night we slep lightly because of so many unfamiliar noises.

This whole first week as been trying to set up a household so that all necessities are working, meetings here, there and everywhere with directors of the ministries we will be working with, their pastors, head masters and teachers. Meeting old friends with much joy and excitement and meeting also many new people - all a bit overwhelming, especially for Sue. This is her first time in Africa.

Pstr. Peter used the Genesis creation story to describe "beginnings": the earth was without form and empty and gradually God added all of the details to make life good JUST LIKE our new house. Oh Fun!!!!

Talking with Pstr. Charles of Busowa yesterday, another lesson was learned by this muzungu (white person). This congregation has 5 treadles sewing machines sitting, gathering dust, literally. Why? Some good-hearted muzungu raised the funds, bought the machines and had them delivered to Busowa. What he/she failed to understand is that no one knows how to use them and no one knows "tailoring". They have to make their own patterns to make any garment. SO the machines are sitting unused because no one can afford to pay a teacher to teach the women/men who might be interested to learn. Thus, we muzungus need to ask questions and listen carefully to the answers to learn how best to help AND how to best spend the money we have to share.

Next week we will finally begin setting up classes for adults. Sue will be meeting teachers as the children are on holiday until the new term begins January 30th.