Community

As I sit here in front of my computer, I can hear a football (soccer) game on the “field” between the closest school and my house.  This dirt field is just about the only thing between me and IPAD school (there are a few teak trees), so it is close.

President Museveni (president of Uganda) has said groups should be 5 or less and should keep social distance.  It is hard for a society that is communal to stay away from each other.  Even harder for all the kids when school has been canceled.  There are many kids of all ages as families with 4, 5, 6 kids are common.

It appears to be a pick-up game.  No referees. People cheer, regardless of the side they are playing for, when someone scores.  Some of the players are good, some are not.  It does not matter.  They all are on the field playing and having fun.  Some of the neighbors go out to watch too.

We are free to be one in Christ

The prison ministry core team met today.  The purpose of the meeting was to review the draft mission statement and vision statement. 

The mission statement was enhanced and finalized.  All that remains is for me to type up the minor changes and distribute final copies.

The vision statement was replaced – too wordy.  They choose the call it a motto and came up with the short phrase “we are free to be one in Christ.”

Regarding ‘when’, we plan to contact the officer in charge in the coming week to determine if the prison is still serving as a holding place for those breaking CoVid-19 restrictions or if it has regained its normal prison population and returned to normal operations.

Bananas

I am told there are several varieties of bananas in Uganda.  I do not know what variety is growing in my yard.  Those I have asked are not sure what variety it is either.  “I will be able to tell you when the bananas are ripe.”

Only one “tree” was producing when I came.  Looking back, I should be surprised that any were producing because it was the dry season then.  There are three clusters on that tree.  They were short stubby things when I moved in (April 10).  Now the length is reasonable, and they have finally started fattening up to look more like bananas.

Last week I noticed a bloom coming out of another banana tree.  It was just a bloom.  Then a bright purple petal opened on one side and the blossom grew longer.  Repeat, and recently repeat again.  Now I notice that the most recent petal has begun to roll up to reveal a cluster of ‘finger like’ growths – future bananas!  The main blossom is still large and growing longer so I am anticipating more banana clusters.  This one is moving much faster than the first; probably because it is now the wet season.

Burial Service

I was hesitant to write about this topic.  It is part of every culture; however, with the tensions arising due to the CoVid-19 restrictions I was second guessing myself.  Should I write about death?

Obviously, I decided yes.  It is part of every culture; however, the way we handle it changes.  In the Kakwa clans it is customary to bury the body quickly.  If not the same day, then the next day.  The grandmother of a good friend passed away on Friday.  He (my friend) is also a local political leader and his father, a nephew of the deceased, is involved in parliament.  (I know that does not make the deceased his grandmother, more like great aunt, but in this culture, it is grandmother with all the rights and authority thereof.)  Both my friend and his father are well liked and well known so many people wanted to express their condolences.  They coordinated with the school near me, IPAD (see separate post) to use the school grounds for the services.  I was among those seated outside the school grounds looking in.  I was seated inside, on the school grounds; however, when the services were delayed I stepped away thinking they didn’t need someone watching their efforts to set up. When I returned the school grounds were full.

My friend lives across the street and just up the hill from school and the extended family lives in many of the near-by compounds.  They have a family plot somewhere behind the house and the service ended with a small party making a procession to the family plot for the burial.

The clergy of the Church of Uganda presided because my friend is active in and a lay leader in the Church of Uganda.  Clergy was also present from the Charismatic Church and the Charismatic Episcopal Church of South Sudan.

In this culture, funeral services follow burial services.  Let me explain.  The family gets together later to settle things and make sure all concerns, claims, grievances (if any) are resolved.  This is often an all night with music and celebration event called a final funeral.  (Currently they are not all night due to the CoVid-19 curfew.)  If something comes up later, even months later, then another final funeral may be held.

This is the first burial service I was invited to.  I have not been to any final funerals; however, I have heard the music of several.

Prison Ministry

A few CoVid-19 restrictions have been eased, eased not lifted.  We still cannot enter the prison.  However, we continue to have team meetings. 

I have been cautioned that initially interest is high but keeping that interest is hard.  This is beginning to show as attendance at the last two (weekly) meetings has been half of expectation.  Yesterday’s meeting was slow to start.  There is no hurry in Africa.  Eventually people began to arrive.

The presenter had not prepared ahead of time, so it became an instructed preparation meeting.  I learned a lot.  Most people in Uganda learned by rote.  The use of an outline is challenging for them because they are not familiar, let alone comfortable with working from a concept or idea instead of repeating exact text.

I also learned there are some words that are common to me, but unknown or not well defined for some of them.  The candid discussion will help make me more effective when we can enter the prison. Hopefully the discussion on how to work from an outline will do the same for each of them.

Rolex

Have you ever eaten a Rolex?

Here in Uganda it is a fast food item.  A soft taco shell around eggs.  I think there are tomatoes and other items in the eggs (like an omlate).  I’m sorry, I don’t seem to be able to spell today and spell check is not offering anything useful so I changed it to be phonetic in hopes that you would know what I was trying to type.

I don’t get to eat rolex often, but I like them.

Security camera

The government started installing security cameras in the West Nile region.  Two weeks ago, I heard about it on the radio.  Arua received the first one and the second was installed in Koboko last week (North division I think but I am not certain).  Yesterday I heard they were digging a hole for a pole to hold a security camera in Small London.  Today I passed through Small London on my way back from town.  The pole and camera installation appears to be a spectator event.  Lots of people are seated in front of the shops closest to the new pole (in front of the vehicles).

Small London security camera

Recharge

It started when a neighbor and good friend mentioned that his solar system was not so good, would I be willing to recharge a laptop.  I was warned when I bought the solar power system that the batteries on a solar system deteriorate and I should plan to replace after a year, two if I am lucky.  I looked for quality, when I bought into solar power, so I am hoping for the two-year plan.  Still, I do not have to replace the whole system after a year or two, just the battery.

That warning gave me background to understand my neighbor’s request.  Of course, I let him recharge his laptop.  Now, his daughter comes by every couple of days to recharge the laptop again.

Those helping me, the watchman, with cleaning, and with learning Kakuwa have asked to recharge their cell phones.  Two of them do not even have power at their home.  I look at it as another way of becoming part of the community.  As long as the solar system holds up (it is only 2+ months old and the draw is minimal, so it is holding up), why not?

Another friend reminds me a ministry is where you meet the world’s need. The Lord created the contacts where it evolved. God does the hardest part, He provides the sunlight. It’s His ministry.

Borders

The Ugandan borders were closed Sunday, 22 March 2020.  A day or two ago Uganda made an exception and allowed 4,000 refugees to enter Uganda.  I did not get the details (are they being quarantined?) but I did note a humanitarian move to help people fleeing renewed conflict in South Sudan.

Father’s Day

It seems Father’s Day is an American holiday.  That is okay.  The Ray family is celebrating the occasion and invited me to join them.  They were planning to roast pork; however, about an hour after we finished our church service it started raining.  [We are gathering as a family plus one (me) for church because the churches are still closed, and CoVid-19 group size limits still apply.  They like to bring up the recorded service of a pastor they know who has a congregation in Tennessee.  I like to follow the service of the local Church of Uganda on the radio (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and then I join the Ray family for their service (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).]

Father’s Day preparations began around 1 o’clock.  I came home to take care of a few things since I would only be in the way if I was there before 4 p.m.  They have some covered areas so I am confident the plans will only require minor adjustments.

Due to the Ugandan border still being closed, Grandpa Chris is still here in Uganda.  Therefore, there will be two fathers to celebrate, Chris and Leroy.