Merry Christmas: Poop is Raining from the Ceiling

As explained in my last blog, since Christmas in Africa can’t ever truly “feel” like Christmas, why not make it as different as possible. And we succeeded, Christmas 2007 will not be lost in our memories. You know what I’m talking about…. when in the tradition of not breaking tradition, ten years of Christmas holidays all blur together into one general trend of triviality. From Kampala, Uganda, we took a 45 minute drive to Lake Victoria (largest lake in Africa and source of the Nile) and took a wooden boat on the 75 minute ride to Bussi Island. Our mission? To show the Love of God to 165 orphans, or in other words, take on the Santa Claus occupation. Out on a beautiful lake on a gorgeous sunny day, reaching almost 95 degrees, seems like a lavish holiday to those digging there cars out of piles of snow and ice all around the States. The name of the Orphanage that we visited was called Ossanide. It is ironically pronounced “Oh Sunny Day”, but is actually translated into English as “He Is Worthy.”

What a joy it is to bring Christmas to orphans. We came laden with boxes of toys – dolls, airplanes, cars, jump ropes, shirts, kitchen play sets, and doctor play sets. And come prepared to bring the entire Christmas experience to the kids, including hot chocolate, popcorn and Christmas movies. How many people have made 200 cups of hot chocolate over an open fire? Well, I have. And I doubt that many others have found themselves in the same company. Please pardon this expression, but I felt like a witch from fairy tales, bent over her magical pot of potions, with my big ladle, open fire, and black kettle. I brought 40 liters of “Long Life” milk (the brand that doesn’t need to be chilled) and plenty of sugar and coco powder and we mixed and boiled it in two batches over an open fire. We found out later that the orphanage had never had milk before. The “house moms” kept wanting to dilute it down with water to make it last longer. But, not for Christmas, we said! The popcorn, also cooked over the open fire, turned out a little burnt and a little unsanitary, once the “house mom” and kids had finished cooking it and putting it into bags. We also came armed with my DVD Player and Projector, as well as a video screen and gasoline for the generator. Then hooked it into their ancient sound system and the kids all gathered around to watch Polar Express and The Nativity. Many fell asleep in their chairs and on the cement floors, but, a faithful few (around 50) lasted all the way to the end of the night at 1am. Even I started feeling like it was little bit like Christmas sitting there watching Santa on the screen with my hot chocolate in hand!

But, to be truly honest, this is a story of which the telling of is much more fun than the living of. We had to sweep out and kill at least 20 spiders from our little hut/room. Those were only the ones near the floor, we didn’t even want to disturb the one’s above our heads. I brought my bags and shoes into my bed with me, tucked in my mosquito net tightly into my mattress, and slept fully clothed and with my shoes on, praying that I wouldn’t be attacked by something in the middle of the night and that morning would come soon. Then, I woke up, and cocked my head as I focused in on the “poo droppings” resting on top my mosquito net. (I was reminded of the episode from The Office when the bat gets in and Angela screams Poop is raining from the ceiling. Poop!) Turns out that, that scratching I heard all night above me was the bat the lives in that particular hut. I was happy to not go to bed with that knowledge; then my dreams all night which were full of creepy-crawling things, would have included creepy-flying things as well. And like I said, the telling of this adventure is more fun then the living of it, since my ideal Christmas doesn’t usually include peeing out behind a tree on Christmas morning. In my journeys here in Africa, I have discovered that I can stand almost any “third-world” setting…….but, please just give me a toilet! So, after barely a few hours of sleep, we got up to deliver Santa’s gifts. It doesn’t matter how you organize, the simple fact that you are giving gifts to 165 kids and to be honest combined with the fact that we are in Africa and disorganization is a way of life, chaos took over for about an hour. But, to see how much fun they had, was worth it. This is the only toy that these kids will get this entire year and I made a mindful decision not to ask, if they had ever gotten a gift on Christmas before. I didn’t think I would be able to take the answer. It’s not really until looking back on my pictures that I can see the true joy, we got to be a part of on Christmas day. It won’t matter how many years pass, the simplicity of this Christmas holiday will not be forgotten.

Let it Snow; Let it Snow; Let it Snow

No streets lined with light, Christmas trees or decorations, no eggnog latte’s. or chilly weather. Does it sound like Christmas? No. And it doesn’t feel like it either. Here in Uganda, driving in the car listening to “Let it Snow”, “Jingle Bells”, “Frosty the Snowman” and here we are in the middle of summer – living in a pleasant temperature of 90 degrees every day. We were talking about how nice a white Christmas would be! Well, we almost got our wish..........

No, it didn’t snow in Africa, but we did have an attack of lake flies. Millions of little flies about the size of a fruit fly converged on our living quarters. And strangely enough, under the glare of our porch lights and the beam of our flashlights, as we dashed to the dining hall, you had the impression that it was snowing outside! Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last long. You were soon completely distracted, trying to avoid gulping down these bugs!

Fact is, it feels like I’m missing the Christmas experience this year; the houses wrapped in lights, the smells of pine and cinnamon, the appearance of Starbucks holiday cups, movies about Santa Claus and the holidays of dysfunctional families. I even miss the bustle of people in the malls and I’ve never been one of those crazy Christmas fanatics. I get annoyed when I hear Christmas music too early and I really don’t enjoy eggnog or pumpkin pie that much. In humorous moments, I’m a self-proclaimed Grinch. But, today, I’ve realized I’m not and actually I’m far from it. And though, I have always enjoyed candlelight services, the excuse to throw a good party, and I especially like buying that “perfect” gift for my friends and family; I’m quite sure that beginning in Christmas 2008, I am going to appreciate this season so much more; and maybe even get a little fanatical about it (though don’t get your hopes up that far!). As for Christmas 2007, I am going to enjoy the stocking hanging on my wall (sent from home).

I Like Big Butts

Does it seem odd to visit a zoo on the continent that all the other zoos import animals from? Well, Kampala has a zoo – the Entebbe Wildlife Center. It’s not hard for this zoo to put the animals in their natural habitats. The zoo feels like the Ugandans found an animal and just put up a chain-link fence around them! My partner in “adventure” is Molly Nixon; visiting Uganda for two weeks with Tim and Merrill Smith from Pastor Jess Strickland’s church (Living Hope) in Aloha, Oregon. It was nice to spend time with people from home. Even though Molly and I just met here in Africa for the first time, we were “forced” to be fast friends, since we were constantly in close quarters in taxis, buses, and boda-boda rides! J We really did have a lot of fun exploring together. Molly is finishing up nursing school in May, and very well may find herself back here Uganda soon! There were no giraffes or elephants at this zoo… guess those can only be seen out on “safari” or in the “wild” here, but we did get most unreasonably close to the animals; hence, the picture of Molly’s foot on the Rhino’s horn and my uncertainty to shake hands with the monkeys due to my trepidation at getting rabies. As you can see, the African idea of safety is not comparable to the American mentality on safety, which was probably inspired by our litigious precedent. Nevertheless, we found ourselves hiking through the hidden trails of the zoo, getting close and personal with the animals, but ended up getting plenty of “butt shots” of animals instead. Our favorite animal of all was the Rhino…. “I like big butts, I can not lie” J

Rafting Down the Nile

I never would have thought that I would be on the Nile twice in 12 months time. Last December (2006), I was in Egypt riding down The Nile on a Falucca. We spent three days and two nights wrapped in sleeping bags on top of these ancient sailing boats, sleeping under the open skies (and actually freezing to death in the night desert wind).

This December (2007), I find myself in a totally different place on The Nile and a totally different experience. Since The Nile finds its source from Lake Victoria in Uganda, this end of The Nile is fast and violent. Unlike the slow, meanderings of The Nile in Egypt, this trip was in a raft, holding on for dear life in the midst of Class Five rapids. And since this close to the equator in Uganda the temperature rarely drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, getting tossed into the river is an inviting thought. At the beginning of the six hour rafting trip, Josh, our guide (a world wanderer from Canada) explains we will get tossed from the raft during this wild and adventurous trip and therefore we must practice being overturn in calm water and how to hold on to the raft in such occurrences. The three other guys, on our raft were from the States as well and had just finished studying abroad in Kenya. They had gone already the day before and had been over-turned three times the day and were quite excited about the prospect of being thrown around a second day in a row. These two factors made me question what kind of risk I had put myself into. If Class Six rapids will kill you, what will Class Five rapids do? Only maim you? And for those thrill-seekers, who are worried that the rapids may well kill them, why not go bungee jumping first! And, finally, if the bungee-jumping and the rapids don’t kill you, then the crocodiles will. Yep, I laughed when our guide told us to stay in the boat during a 30 minute portion of our rowing because there was a 15ft croc living in this portion of the river, but it turns out he wasn’t joking.The fact is, for all this preparation and intimidation, the day was amazing; exotic scenery, beautiful weather, and eight exciting white-water rapid experiences. I never felt nervous or fearful once we got going. Maybe I am a true adventure seeker, but more than likely it’s because I grew up in the water. I’d prefer to be in the water than the boat and I feel very comfortable in it. And just in case, two very talented, kayakers went ahead of us, in case any of got thrown, they could rescue us and bring us back to the raft. They also send a kayaker down ahead of you with a video camera to tape your triumphant journey through these rapids, or your tumultuous excursion, which ever may find you. So for $45, I am able to relive my white-water experience for years to come. J

Gravel Girls

An entire generation of fathers are missing here in Uganda and maybe Africa as a whole. Some died of Aids, others go to other countries to find work and send money back home, but never return, and many to be honest, just leave. This pattern extends into the church. The churches are full of single mothers. Everywhere you go you see and meet moms who are only 20 years old, already with two kids.

For example, you meet women, like Immaculate, who make gravel for a living. She is 24 years old with three children, ages 1, 3 and 4. Every day, on my way into town we pass the “gravel factory” where she works. The gravel factory is just piles of rocks on the side of the road, available for purchase. This particular gravel factory is owned by a woman, who employs another six or so women, who sit all day on banana mats and chip away at large rocks, with hand tools. While their children, sit next to them and play in the rocks – no 11am play-dates or 1pm nap-times, just manual labor day in and day out. Immaculate, works everyday, but Sunday for hours on hours in the heat, pounding away, in order to make a living. Immaculate will make enough to feed her three children, but probably not enough to send them to school. The only reason she herself was educated growing up, was because of the kindness of a Canadian named Sarah. The Iverson’s have started recruiting friends and family to sponsor children’s school costs; for $10 a month you can send an African child to school.

Where is father of Immaculate’s children? Well, he just left one day. It’s hard to imagine how these women find time to nurture their children after such long days. That is probably why they suggest at times that maybe when we go back to the United States, we would take their children with us; because the love for their children wishes for a better future. They were thrilled to let us take their pictures. Immaculate even went and changed into the black top you see her in, so she wouldn't be in her dusty work clothes. These women are survivors and troopers. Their strength and perseverance was worth a tribute.

RUN Bible Youth Camp

Our church put on a youth camp all this week. There were 270 kids there in an age range of 11-21 years old, with the majority of them, 15-18 years old. Anyone who remembers going to Twin Rocks camp in Tillamook every summer for youth camp, and thought they were “roughing it” – how wrong we were! These kids get up every morning at 5:30am for prayer (Morning Glory, they call it). There services and sessions are under a large tarp and they sit on wooden benches, while electricity goes in and out on the PA system. They sleep on mats on cement floors under leaking roofs and nightly visits from lake flies. But worse yet, all 270 kids and adults share only four latrines (ie. holes in the ground) for their bathrooms! Many ladies of the church also stay on the grounds and make breakfast, lunch and dinner for them. Close to 100lbs of Mitoki and Beans every meal, and then they slaughtered a cow on Tuesday to have meat for a few evening meals. I learned that a cow is one of the few animals, of which you can eat the intestines and not get sick. As I watched them squeeze “stuff” from the intestines, I decided to not stay for dinner that night.

I had all three of the morning sessions on Wednesday – which equals four hours; 9am – 1pm. I guess you could call this my inauguration to preaching African-style! Since it was so much time, I made it pretty interactive. I purchased journals and pens for anyone that didn’t already have them at the camp with them. Then in my first session I talked about the Seed of Potential that God placed in each young person. So then I had them journal their future dreams and plans and then a couple brave ones came up and shared with the group, what they had written. In the second session, after talking about how they need to protect their potential, which includes sexual purity, I broke them up into groups to discuss the lies of Satan to young people, and to the Ugandan people as a whole. Again, I had several teens come up and shared the results of their group conversations. Finally, in the third session, I addressed past hurts and abuses in their lives. Then had them journal what they needed God to heal them from, in order to move to their future. Over 50% of people raised their hands to the two things I asked if I could pray for them about. I was so relieved that God helped me communicate through an interpreter and more importantly that I had enough relevant stories and illustrations that my points were understood and received. On Friday, they had a testimony time and it was exciting to hear how the kid’s lives were touched during the week. I remember how great camp was every year for me growing up and was an impact it made the choices I made as a teenager growing up. So it was fun to get that same camp feel and to see the same impact in the Ugandan youth.

Otino Waa - Our Children Orphanage

The missionaries that we visited for Thanksgiving in Lira (Northern Uganda), started building an Orphanage four years before. It was great to get a vision of what Hope Village will look like one day. One approach/strategy that I love about this orphanage is that they print their own money. The kids are given a monthly allowance of Otino Waa money and are responsible for purchasing their own school uniforms and school supplies. So if they lose something, then they must have the “money” to replace it. It teaches the kids responsibility and even monthly budgeting. If they are responsible with their “money”, then they have extra each month for treats. Real money (Ugandan Shillings) is considered contraband. They use to do give a monthly allowance in shillings, but they kids would go spend it all. Many had as many as 13 pairs of pants!

What a pleasure it was to walk around and visit with the kids. Here are some of my favorite pictures.....

Current Projects

"So, what is Sarah up to exactly?” For those detailed friends and supporters out there, here are the details…

Youth Outreach:

Currently, the students in Uganda are on their “summer break” until February (even though it always “feels” like summer). They take two other breaks during the year for one month – one in May and another in August. It is during these times that we are targeting the youth with the AIDS education and other topics including Peer Pressure, Making Right Choices, Abstinence, and God’s Plan for their lives.

Please remember in prayer the upcoming speaking engagements; there will be a range of 100-300 young people at each event.

¨ December 10^th – 15^th RUN Bible Youth Camp
¨ January 14^th -18th Youth Camp:

Specifically, pray that God gives me relevant analogies to communicate the principles to the youth and that I would be comfortable speaking through a translator. Also, we are still working on getting the New Testament Bible’s that have youth-focused devotionals. I was hoping to have them by the January camp, but not sure if that will happen.

AIDS Education for Pastors

Praise Report – God has really given me favor with World Vision Organization here in Uganda. They are talking about including me in their AIDS Education Facilitator training in South Africa in February. They would mentor me to be able to facilitate my own Aids Education Conferences for Pastors. This program is specifically directed to help pastors educate their congregations, create their own outreach programs, and care for the HIV positive people in their communities. Since Pastors are truly the front-lines of the epidemic here, this is a unique opportunity. I would be able to incorporate this program into two Bible College’s and we are talking about planning a Pastors Conference around this topic in the Spring.

Hope Village Construction

No construction is currently being done because we are waiting for the Hope Village Board of Directors to be established. They will be responsible for making decisions on building and policies as well as to keep accountable for the financial decisions. Please pray for wisdom as the governing structures of this 1.5 million dollar project get put into place, and everyone can be happy with the accountability in place.

Medical Clinic

Another praise report - God brought us a great resource for the Medical Clinic! A man randomly contacted me by email. He started a clinic in another area of Kampala and since it such a tedious process, he has a heart to help others that have to go through the same process. He has really helped to break-down the steps for us and even given us contacts within different agencies and organizations. I will need to visit ten different locations and find the “right” people at each office in order to get us recognized as an official clinic as well as receive the drugs and materials needed to stock the clinic. Please continue to pray over this entire process – as I am going to take the lead on navigating this process.

I also came to help build the local church here and they have determined to keep me busy! Here are the projects I am working on at RUN Bible Church.

Assimilation Program

I am working with Staff Pastors at RUN Bible Church to put an Assimilation Program in place for the church. In other words, help them capture visitors, make them feel loved and then connect them into Membership Class and Cell groups. We need creativity for the strategy because on 50% of people have phones and there is no addresses here. So following up with people’s prayer requests and needs are 10x more difficult! In this process, we are also pulling new curriculum together for a two-month Membership class. Currently, the class goes indefinitely!

Church Cell Groups

Pastor Wilfred has asked me to help him organize and launch Cell Groups in their church. They started to put them together last year, but never got it launched. We have scheduled Cell Group Leader training in January and are pulling curriculum together for that. Cell Groups will be launched in February. Please pray that the leaders catch the vision to be “Pastors” of their people.

Singles Ministry

Finally, I am helping the church launch a Singles Ministry. Again this is difficult because of the technical barriers (lack of phones and emails) and financial barriers, since many of them may be looking for jobs. But, just like in the United States, this group of people are looking for a relational community, not just another church service. We are planning to do Quarterly Events and Cell Groups for singles. Our first event will be on New Year’s Eve. Please pray that we will find a good venue for our event and that we can motivate them to get plugged into Cell Groups and evangelize their communities.

When did poverty become a virtue?

When did poverty cover a multiple of sins and prosperity become without any virtue?

We, as Americans, and maybe even more so, as Christians, we live with a guilt for our prosperity, for our success. We grow up hearing, "there are starving children in Africa, finish all your food!" Four years after high school and 30 pounds later, I realized that, that voice speaking to my conscience was helping no one, least of all me!

The other countries and cultures constantly reinforce that feeling. As if I, not finishing my mashed potatoes, would solve the problems of poverty in Africa, let alone feed one child.

Please, don't get me wrong. There is a principle here, everything in moderation. The availability of resources does not forgive gluttony or excess. We should recognize our abundance and be grateful for it.

And Americans are grateful. They are the most generous people on earth. And here are stats to prove it. Research done on charitable giving around the world reveal that in the United States' is the ONLY nation's whose charitable giving is the equivalent to OVER 1% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The United Kingdom is in second place with 0.73% of its GDP going to charitable giving. France and Sweden, who enjoy an even higher GDP fall to the bottom of charitable giving in developed countries. They are out given by countries like South Africa. I am proud to live in a philanthropic generation. And I believe, why not strive for 2% or higher?

I am currently living in Uganda for 9 months, working to establish an orphanage and medical clinic as well as, establishing a Christian Aids Education Outreach to high schools. It's a big vision that requires a lot of great people who give out of their God-given abundance. And as a result of this endeavor, I am constantly amazed at the sacrificial generosity of Christian people. Ultimately, one day, my own vision is to make enough money that no one has to fund my own philanthropic work. I can come back to Africa or wherever the need is; and fund it myself. When I return from my time in Africa, will you judge my efforts to increase my wealth? Will you know my motives? Do you judge the hearts of many of those around whom God blesses?

Strive. Move forward. Win. Succeed. These are not sinful words. Yes, excess and abuse of abundance sadly occurs even among Christians, yet is it not just another extreme to be poor for poor-sake? When did poverty become a virtue? The fact is, in an effort to "relate" with the down-trodden, we may very well remove our ability to create change. I see the faces of Africa daily, and I wish I had the money to meet every need. If we, as Christians, all become poor, who would benefit? I choose to be faithful with little, that God may trust me with much. But, to whom much is given, much is required. Instead of settling for little, I choose to decide to meet the requirement.

Thanksgiving Turkey RIP

I definitely will never be a vegetarian. If I can meet my own Thanksgiving TURKEY and still enjoy the Thanksgiving MEAL, then there is no hope for me. Here is, Herbert the Turkey, (or Herb, may he rest in peace) on Thanksgiving morning. While so many American’s enjoyed an “Organic Turkey” for their Thanksgiving holiday, I think the terms “fresh” and “organic” take on a whole new meaning here in Uganda. And, I believe an African would be shocked at how much we American’s pay for an Organic Turkey! But, it was really nice to find Thanksgiving so familiar this far away from home, thanks to Herb, may he rest in peace.