Certifications

One of the things I want to accomplish during my time in the USA is to update my certifications.  Today I received an email saying it is time for the annual renewal of one of my training certifications.  I tried to log into the website, but I had forgotten the user id. 

Fortunately, it has a process for that.  The process has problems.  The answers to the security questions are case sensitive and I did not capitalize the answer to the security question the first time around.  Further, the email update (completed years ago) only updated the email it sends information to, to confirm identity.  The profile still has the email address deleted 8 or 9 years ago, making it harder to confirm details and gain access to the system.  Another detail to remember in a safe place.

Storage

One of the chores of moving is figuring out what to do with all the stuff that does not fit in the new place, but you want to keep it.  As the family moves out of my childhood home, we are downsizing.  We, because the items that I kept and could not fit into my luggage going to Uganda need to be reduced too.

A significant part of the sorting and deciding is done. A storage unit has been selected.  My sister-in-law and one of my nephews came over and took a carload for storage, while I took another.  We were able to get in and store the items.  However, getting out was more challenging.  The automatic opener on the door to the storage area broke and the door would not open.  We had to push the emergency release bar to get out.

Truth is Light

Truth is Light held its monthly board meeting in Koboko, Uganda.  I am a member of the board; however, I am in the USA.  I was able to connect with them between the prayer day and the business day; however, we did not try to connect during the business meeting due to the eleven time zones between us.

The various ministries are going well and those looking over the ministries that I normally report on are doing well.  It was great to connect.

Please hold the children’s ministry in prayer.  They will be conducting a children’s conference near the end of October.

Kairos

Kairos Monroe held its monthly reunion prayer and share virtually.  Unfortunately, attendance is far below what it used to be when we could meet in person.  To begin with, the Kairos graduates cannot attend a virtual reunion prayer and share.  What technology is allowed inside is limited and the prisoners access is restricted.

It sounds like program and ministry will be allowed back into the reformatory, slowly, and in limited numbers (two people per program).  We do not know, yet, when that might begin.

Fr. Bill

Fr. Bill is retiring.  He has been the vicar of St. Antony of Egypt Episcopal Church (in Silverdale) for over 13 years.  We gathered on the evening of the 10^th of October to celebrate his calling and all that God has done through him during his tenure as vicar of St. Antony’s.

There were many memories shared.  One of the big ones for me was his patient leadership through the first phase of the building project.  From getting everyone to agree to buy land and move, through discernment of what the building needed to provide. Now we are celebrating his service in that building.

Fr. Bill during the service 9/26/2021

Fr. Bill at his retirement dinner, 10/10/2021

There were new memories too.  Like Sam wanting to help dish up the leftovers so people could take them home.  His mother helped him put on serving gloves.

Jane trying to put serving gloves on Sam

Jane putting serving gloves on Sam

Laura

My friend, Laura, and I attended the Diocesan School of Ministry and Theology (DSOMAT) together in 2008 and 2009.  We were the two red heads from the peninsula (west side of Puget Sound).  Everyone else traveled into the diocesan offices in Seattle, for class, from the metropolitan (east) side of Puget Sound. 

The next year found both of us in Asia as short-term missionaries.  She was in China for a year, and I served in India for four months.

Life has taken us in different directions.  She went to seminary.  I returned to the work force as a freight forwarder.  Now she is the pastor of a church in Indiana, and I have returned to mission work, now as a long-term missionary.

She visited the Puget Sound region for the first time in seven years.  I am visiting the Puget Sound region after a little less than two years in Uganda.  It was good to meet up.

Dentist

I have been receiving dental care from the same dentist for decades now and I trust him.  For this reason I did not transfer to a dentist in Uganda.  I called his office shortly after I arrived in the US to try and make an appointment.  To my surprise he had an opening on the 30^th of September.  I was seeing people on the west side of Puget Sound that week so that was convenient.

Too convenient.  On the morning of the 30^th something came up that required him to cancel all his appointments for that day.  I have rescheduled.  Last minute changes to appointments are not just a Ugandan thing.

New Phone part 2

The saga continues. 

I took the new phone and the tablet with the setup website pulled up to the store where I bought the phone.  I showed the website message to the salesperson.  He had not seen that message before.  He tried using a store computer and was able to get into the website. 

True to the other salesperson’s word, he did help me set up the phone.  I now have a phone number.

After going back to my host’s house, I tried to use the phone and the setup app wanted me to log in.  Everything I tried failed.  Finally, I tried forgot my login.  It asked for my phone number so it could send an email to the address in the file.  Instead, it replied (after some time) with a message “there is no login information associated with this number.  Would you like to create a login?”

It is a new phone, never had a number or a login associated with it, but I had to go through these frustrating steps before it offered a chance to create a login (or discover I needed one).  Wonderful customer interface, not!

New Phone

‘O the joys of purchasing and setting up new phones.

This is a belated post.  A few weeks ago, after arriving in the USA and then completing the self-isolation period, I went shopping for a phone that works in the USA.  The phone I use in Uganda uses a different system and cannot get a signal in the USA.  I knew this ahead of time, so I planned to get a pay as you go phone for use during my time in the USA.

I bought a Tracfone and was directed to a website where I could set up service.  Later, when I was with my host, I tried to reach the website using the tablet that was loaned to me.  “This website is under maintenance, please try again later.”

I tried later.  My host also tried.  I tried again the next day.  The only other way to set up the phone was to call a phone number (provided).  However, this requires having a phone that works in the USA and if I had that I would not have needed to buy this one.  Back to the store.  They said to come back if I had any trouble, and they would help me.  I hope they meant it.

Youth

I have completed the CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines of self-isolation following travel.  Now I am beginning to meet with people and share about my mission work. 

One of the insights shared with me during one of these meetings is that life is different for the youth today.  The speaker was talking about his experience as a youth.  His generation went outside and play, and he did not come back until dark.  He was commenting on the current generation of youth (in the USA) and their preference for digital entertainment, whether it is on a phone, game boy, or a computer.

The contrast was significant to me because, in Uganda, the youth do go outside and entertain themselves until dark.  Frequently it is football (soccer). However, I have also seen the youth working the fields all day long.