Water and School

Last weekend I decided that only one time going white water rafting was not enough! So what did I do? I gathered a band of people who were as crazy as I am and went again. There was a kayaker who went ahead of everyone else with a camera and took some sweet pictures of everyone, and I have about 65 pictures of our group but I’m going to try and put one up here so you can understand the awesomeness of the Nile.
I finally picked me classes for Messiah this upcoming fall. Boy am I going to have a hard semester, but it will be worth it. I figure I’m going to take advantage of my education and try and learn as much as I can cause when will there be another opportunity to gain a liberal arts education again? Probably the year after this one, and the next, but then what? Haha. In addition to my Politics and International Relations major I decided to add a Peace and Conflict Studies minor, so don’t be surprised when I am asked you readers to pray for me next semester when I have a ton of stuff due! Thanks in advance.
Also… school is ‘starting up again’ because work is starting to get due again! I had about 2 weeks of hardly anything but it’s almost finals week. Wow did this semester fly. Fortunately enough, it’s not quite over! I’m gonna live these next few weeks as much as possible, so I apologize in advance if I don’t blog too much anymore because I’m doing stuff here instead. BUT I promise to tell anyone who wants to listen – any story you want to hear!

Last week

Last week was crazy. I added the amount pages done, and I did 27 total pages... ugh. But the good news is everything is a coast until finals from here on out pretty much. I'm just glad I got it all done.
This past weekend was AMAZING! I spent friday with some of the guys just hanging out being MEN and it was refreshing. Then we went to Jinja to go rafting down the white nile. Yes you heard right I went rafting down the white nile! the rapids would be converted to a class 7 in America (which is nonexistent). It was amazing time just being students and being able to relax with each other without having meetings thrown on us by the staff. Also had some great conversations with my buddies Julianna and Dave. Yeah everything was sweet.

Some things I learned durirng Rural Home Stays

I recently got back from Soriti (a district in Uganda) where we spent 10 days and lived with a family in the rural area in Uganda. It was one heck of an experience so let me tell you a couple things I learned
1. You MUST eat seconds - if you look up from your plate that means you're hungry. Be prepared...
2. Free time = relaxing in silence with each other
3. All vehicles respect the speed limit - there is none
4. Flies are your friend - if not you'll be swatting ALL day. Mom... you'd hate this place
5. Baby goats are now my favorite animals. They are hilarious to watch
6. A good way to encourage a cow to move is to drop kick it
7. All Ugandan men are interested in American women (i.e. a question that was poised - "How easy is it to get a white girl to marry you?")
8. Even the dirtiest bathroom back home doesn't compare to their 'latrines' aka holes in the ground
9. Ugandans get "Jonda" from riding in cars - "Jonda" it means an immense joy
10. Football (soccer) is king
11. Running water has a new respect when you carry two 15 liter jerry cans 1/3 of a mile 4x
12. Unripe oranges are better than the best oranges back home
13. Running around like a headless chicken has new respect when you actually see it
14. A moonless night is still bright from the stars
15. People who have less material things usually have more spiritual things

That's about all I can think of. Also waterfalls are seen better when you're underneath of them for future reference.

Kampala

Yesterday we had class and because we had the remainder of the day to do whatever, I went into Kampala (the capital of Uganda) and had a great day! First I had lunch... a salad and chicken alfredo. AMAZING! Then we went to the craft market, and I got a ton of stuff for family, friends, etc. So if you are my friend you'll be happy! I probably spent about 100 US dollars for stuff that would have cost 250-300 dollars back at home. Then I had dinner, and ate a fruit salad and a pizza with a couple of friends. Just an all around great day! AND there's a guy doing IMME (which means they stay at a home instead of on campus like I'm doing) and he's just had a really rough time so he's moving in with me and my old roommate moved out to a Ugandan's room. So if you ever pray for me, pray for my roommate 2x! He needs it. He's a nice guy, just having a difficult time. Thanks!

Jinja

Simply put - I found the Garden of Eden. It was by far the most amazingly beautiful place in the world. Hmm, I'm not sure if I have said anything about this. Well this weekend I went to Jinja (a city in Uganda) and we stayed at this place, which was practically a resort. If it wasn't for the malaria ridden mosquitoes, or the disease filled water, it would easily be top 5 places people visit. We went on the Nile river and we got to take some awesome pictures. I wish the internet wasn't so slow so I could post some for you, but I'm afraid that everyone will have to wait. Everything is so great, but please continue to pray for me/my family/my friends cause I mean who's ever heard of too much prayer?

Great day

Today has been great. It started off by getting rolex’s (a sort of egg burrito not an watch haha) for breakfast from my host mother. They’re amazing. Then Julie called me – always amazing. It’s so nice to hear from her and to hear she’s doing well. After that I went to politics and we are talking about methods people look into for the developing world. This stuff is soooo interesting. It’s weird, because I’m excited for classes haha! For lunch we had ‘irish’ (just buttery Irish potatoes), and pineapple. That means deliciousness. Now I'm planning on going into town to buy a couple of things which is always an adventure. And we go to Jinja, a city near the source of the Nile tomorrow and I’m really excited. We stay at this semi-resort place and get to explore the city. I’m so pumped. Everything is just going well. No complaints. Thanks for keeping me/my family/friends in your prayers!

Relevance

Today in our Faith and Action class we talked about how different cultures have very different ways of approaching things. So once again I found out how westernized I am. Everything seems to point to that fact that your faith should be relevant. Like it's hard to tell a mother in Africa who has 7 children and only 4 reach adulthood that God has a plan. Or a german pastor that the Nazi's will be overthrown someway somehow eventually. I agree that faith needs to be relevant but I'm afraid that we are getting to the point of asking God to bless our work when He has work for us that's blessed. It's just hard to differentate between the "Law" and the "Spirit of the Law". Good thing I've got 4 months to figure it all out.