Staying busy...

The weekend was busy and I felt useful. Helped three persons from church during church so only spent and hour and a half at the local church on the hard backless bench rather than 3 and a half hours. Bless his heart, the pastor speaks in English but I still have trouble understanding his accent. The previous weekend at the Kampala Pentecostal Church was spectacular. I’d go there every Sunday if it weren’t 5 hours away. Their new name is Wetoto Church and their orphan children are the ones that tour the US and I had heard twice at Abundant Life in Houston. It’s been hard for me here, no regular Bible study with those I love so much, no dear, dear Sunday school class and no church service that is a comfort, convicting and enlightening. Anyhow, I am trying to be content in all situations but sometimes when I get called out of church early, I think God is taking pity on me. I do have to say that if anyone knows precious Mary Ann Bridgewater of Pray the Word Ministry, she’d be so happy to hear the children of Lulwanda pray scripture. While I was in church this Sunday I’m always glad to sit next to 7 year old Sara Futumah. She prays so fervently and quotes scripture; it tears me up every time and I know that God is just so pleased with her faith and trust and belief in her Heavenly Father. I’m not totally used to a practice here of everyone saying their personal prayer petitions out loud at the same time but when I’m next to her , I usually stop my own prayers and nod in agreement with what she is saying so powerfully at age 7.

The rainy season has really hit full force: the winds are gale like and the rain deafening on the metal roof. Yesterday sweet Alex who is a yardman/animal tender/overall great guy with the kids braved lightening and thunder to get the torrents of water to flow in the concrete tough that runs through the property. It looked like we would be flooding otherwise. I have dearly missed the beautiful sunrises and sunsets the past two days.
The kids are on holiday but are attending to school for additional help and review in the mornings but overall things are more laid back and fun for them this month. Not so rushed in the morning and the children wear street clothes to school.
It’s funny how the malaria comes and goes in waves. A few weeks ago I was seeing two new cases a day and other than the little girl at church Sunday, haven’t seen one here in several days. Now its more scrapes, scratches, aches and pains since the kids are outside playing all afternoon.

I have a new pet. I hadn’t named him until someone named Susan Ballard suggested I do so; so my resident toad (lives most the time under my mop in my bathroom)is now called Ballard. Very proper and formal so I hope he lives up to it eating bugs and especially mosquitoes in there. I have to confess I was afraid of him at first but now just say hi when he appears.
I gained a few pounds in Kampala eating food pretty close to American-style but now the white glop is easy to cut back on here. So I should have a normal weight for height in a few more months. I am planning on doing something fun for the kids this Sunday. I’m going to make pancakes from scratch (had to google for a recipe since I use Bisquick at home); I hope I can find syrup in Mbale tomorrow and if it isn’t 7 or 10 dollars a bottle. If so, the kids may need to use jelly instead on . I know it was an olfactory hallucination but I was sure I smelled the wonderful smells of Antonio’s Flying Pizza on Hillcroft while reading in the clinic this morning. Every now and then I do smell something from home and its usually a food something, hmmmm.

Dr. Patrick came to look at two kids I’m worried about. One will be needing surgery for a congenital issue and we will wait until a team comes from Texas to do surgery at Dr. Patrick’s hospital. The child had surgery locally and it was not effective/successful/done correctly?? The other child is a cutie that spends a lot of time in the clinic and NEVER feels good or smiles. He is 4 and complains everyday of headache. I hope it’s not a brain tumor; Dr. Patrick doesn’t think so as he thinks his headaches would be more severe but we’ll see. The only place for surgery that I would trust would be in Kampala or out of country altogether.

If you’re gamblers, you may want to bet on whether the umpteenth visit from the plumber will fix my leak. He has been in here, in this newly built clinic—I’ve lost count. The really good news is that the water has been flowing nearly continuously the past week. I have finally learned though to make sure the water is really on before shampooing; I’m a slow learner or an optimist?!

My first attempt at planting bushes was a success so will buy more plants tomorrow. I’m a bit skittish though, I’m hoping to find garden gloves in town as I’m pretty sure I picked up pin worms in the last dig I did.

I appreciate emails with news from home and about what friends are doing so keep them coming. I get lonely but keep my quiet moments busy with reading. I’m reading all they have here at the LCH which included Beverly Lewis, Lynn Austin and now Gilbert Morris. Learning about history and also get a nice dose of inspiration and convicting about whining about little things. I save J Tisdale’s gift of audio books for nighttime in my “screened porch” (my bed under the mosquito net). Mornings, I read a Psalm, Proverb and am finishing ACTS right now—Paul, what an inspiration!!