Somehow Busy and Crazy Times

Hey! This is Sarah. I realized I haven’t blogged for months, and have left it all to Stu, who has also left it….and have much to catch up on….somehow (people say somehow a lot in Uganda, and I quite like it and over use it now as well, somehow).

At the end of June, my folks came to visit Stu and I for two weeks and had an AMAZING time. They came to Kamwenge, enjoyed the village life, saw the first bread being baked in the oven Stuart is working on, helped host a Stampede pancake breakfast, ate some local food, went to visit the Samaritans Purse Water Program, bought veggies in the market, were involved with all the daily chores, and went to church with us. They definitely got the full village life picture and it was just so wonderful to be together with them. The next week, we relaxed in a game park- fab-u-lous. They had a pool, wild animals, amazing food, running hot water, don’t need to say more.

Best quote from my Dad when he saw the Nile: “Huh…looks like the Red Deer River”. He later added “but ten times bigger” to make it sound better.

We said goodbye to my folks, and spent a hectic week in the capital- Kampala. My purse got stolen (including both our cell phones, both our credit cards, debit cards, ID (but not my passport), money, my glasses, house key, bible)…a good score for the thieves! Then later that night, there were the two bombings in the city during the final world cup football game- killing 74 people. What is going on with this little paradise of Uganda?

We finally got back to Kamwenge and realized very quickly I needed to say a very sad goodbye to all the people there. I’ve really enjoyed my time in Kamwenge and if it weren’t for friends and family back home I would be happy to stay there much longer. There is such a peace about the town, the people, really the lifestyle there. I love the value people have on relationships, the care people have for each other, and the feeling of a real community. There have been plenty of frustrations, but I have loved the “purity” of life there. They concentrate on the important things in life. They will enjoy the company they are in, wherever they are. They laugh easily, share freely. They are honest with each other but don’t take offense easily. They thank God every morning that they are still alive. They face real (life or death) challenges, and continue to have extraordinary peace and faith in God. I’ve learned so much from these beautiful people. I want to be more like them.

Right now, I currently find myself in Eastern Kenya, sadly alone. Stuart has stayed back in Kamwenge to continue working with the ladies and the bread oven, and I’m off for almost a month visiting Samaritans Purse projects. The project I’m currently visiting (the location is called Tenwek) is nearby the Maasai Mara (probably the most famous game park in Africa), which is also where the Maasai people live. I am completely intrigued by the Maasai- they have captivated my attention. They are true warriors- each man carries a spear and a sword. They mostly wear red. Many are pastoralists (nomadic) and herd their goats, cattle and sheep. They have their unique definition of beauty – lots and lots of jewelry (men too and men also wear cloth “skirts”) they stretch their earlobes, and remove their bottom tooth. You should not look an older men in the eyes. They spit to show disgust if they don’t like what you are saying. Today we went out to visit the project, and had a few interesting learnings on the way:

1. While “working” today we saw giraffes, wildebeest, gazelles and zebras! We didn't see lions, but i found out that lions in the area fear the Maasia. Lions have been cornered and killed by the Maasai- so lions are easily scared away. One of the staff members mentioned that one day he was riding his motorbike and got a puncture in his tire. He started to repair the tire, and thought he heard a second puncture, so was listening carefully. When he couldn’t find the second puncture, he realized it was a lion beside him…breathing. But- he scared the lion off- AMAZING!
2. When young women come of reproductive age, they go to a “blessing” ceremony. The blessing ceremony is 1 month long and for the month they pray together for blessings (or that was my understanding of it). They explained to me that the blessing ceremony was happening this month, and I could go and visit. I thought about it for awhile, but decided against it as I didn’t want to interrupt such a special, traditional time.  After feeling like i was missing something and some snickering from the staff when I asked if there was a “practical” session of the month long blessing ceremony, I realized I was being a bit naïve. Because children are a blessing, the month long ceremony is actually a big sex party. Any man, any time, for the whole month. The women wanted to “ensure” they are blessed. When I asked about jealousy/faithfulness, they said there isn’t a word in the Maasai language for faithful. Huh….glad I didn’t go and “visit” the ceremony. Awkward. But also heart-breaking- the children from this blessing time will have no idea who their father is. 
3. One Maasai I met walked 16km to the town we were in to make a phone call. This is apparently normal to walk this far for a phone callm and then back home again.
4. They say they can eat up to 3kg of goat or cow in one sitting. Chicken is merely an appetizer!

Its been really encouraging here to work with the staff here at Tenwek.  I’ve loved it.  They truly work alongside the community, and let the community set their own agenda.  In one community, the team came in and asked the community to draw a local map of everything- toilets, roads, schools, clinics, homes, etc.  Through some facilitation and “community-realization”, they have decided their community needs serious work.  With their own funds, they are now building a school, improving their roads, have started a local co-operative (local bank), are seeking how to improve agriculture, and have seen water and sanitation as a major gap.  So, there will now be a BioSand filter program in the community- but the community will very much be in charge of their water program.  This sort of development excites me to bits- a love seeing people being empowered.  Being encouraged that they can make a difference.   Seeing a community being united for the common good and common goal.  THAT- to me, is the heart of Africa.  How I love it!

Stuarts Oven.  It can fit 32 loaf pans.

Some of the ladies making bread.

Great tshirt.

Mmmm, cookies.

Some Masai men.

Amazing landscape.