look right, and don't let the bedbugs bite

Apparently I didn’t get the memos.

Jinja is the second largest city in Uganda, and while not huge, it has its share of traffic.  A congested mixture of trucks, taxi vans, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.  While there are no lines on the roads or traffic control devices (lights, stop signs, crosswalks…), traffic generally stays on the correct side of the road for the direction of travel.  Thanks to our friends, the Brits, who colonized this part of Africa, that side of the road is opposite of what we’re accustomed to.  Therefore when we go to cross the street I tend to look left for an opening, which I can usually find.  As often as not, though, a beeping horn, a shout, or sometimes the tinkling of a bicycle bell will remind me I’ve looked the wrong way.  Outside of town there is an established hierarchy on the highway:  Pedestrians to the far left, then bicycles, bodas next (motorcycle taxis which we knew as motos in Cameroon), then the cars, taxis, and trucks.  Of course there is the constant vying for position based on speed which makes for some very interesting passing situations.  We were reminded of that last night when the mirror of the boda we were on was clipped by that of a passing van.  No one was hurt, glass didn’t break, and we continued on apparently with hardly a second thought.

We’re not sure if they’re bedbugs yet, but I am covered with itching bites which has me thinking maybe so.  How could there possibly be bedbugs here, right?  But in the unlikely event that’s what it does turn out to be, I will try to find some DDT, which I think is still available here, and treat the room.  The stork population here is thriving, so I don’t think their eggshells are suffering.

As far as our roles on base and purpose for being here, we are still in the very early stages.  There is a vision for a health care clinic and other health services, and a men’s vocational training school.  None of which have been established, so we will be helping with that.  We will be part of foundation building; physically, figuratively, and spiritually.  It is intimidating, there will be many challenges, but we are excited about what God has in store, and have no doubt that we are supposed to be here.  I know that I have to be patient, not necessarily one of my strong points…

We have been able to spend a few hours with Bryan, so far, and look forward to more in his last week here.  We both have commitments, but we will have more time spent together which will hopefully include a trip to Musana.  That’s where this whole journey began for us, and it has now become a model and standard for what can be achieved here.  There are (too) many organizations here, especially in and around Jinja, nearly all with good intentions, doing good things, but it has also created a dependency which needs to be broken, and Musana has been very successful in that regard.

Hopeland is the biggest YWAM base in Uganda, and right now is very crowded.  There are four schools underway, and several individuals staying on base as well.  There are also more families here with young children than when we were here before.  We are staying in the same guest room as last time, but it’s supposed to be only temporary, though that could mean several weeks.  We’re still adjusting to the way of life which I would call casually structured.  We will go through a staff orientation next week which should be helpful.

temporary home

Our travel here was very smooth.  Our flights went fine, getting through customs here is easy, and then an easy ride to the guest house near the airport where we stayed before being met by Bryan and a driver the next morning.  (Yes we were screened for Ebola; a questionnaire, chemical wash of our hands, and a guy in a mask and apron taking our temperature.)  We’re still adjusting to the time difference (it’s 4:30 am now, I’ve been wide awake since midnight), my experience tells me it will be several more days.  It’s also rained every day so far “which means the next rainy season won’t be as long, or maybe it will”.  There has been a thunderstorm going on for the last several hours with more heavy rain.  It doesn’t seem to slow anyone down, but it does make it difficult to stay mud free.

We adapt