Fitting In

Unexpected Culture: -In Uganda they do not see the "man in the moon" they see a woman sitting and holding a baby.
-Often times people will say, "Oh, you have gained weight" or "You are looking fat" which is actually a compliment! What they consider to be fat, we would consider average or healthy, so I am almost fat and that is a good thing to them!

There were so many new experiences this weekend, it's going to be hard to choose what to write about.

First of all, we met our mother on Wednesday, Mama Irene. She is such a sweet person, and it's too bad she is only home Wednesday through Sunday. The things that are going on in Kenya have hiked fuel prices to about $5 a gallon here, so it is much to expensive for Mama Irene to travel back and forth to work 3 days in a row.

Our family attends St. Philip & Andrew's Cathedral of Mukono, an Anglican church. Our father preached the sermon and directed most of the service yesterday, but I think he was filling in for someone else because he said many of the bishops were gone that day. I loved the service because of the liturgy, reciting the Apostle's Creed, and the music, which was mostly famililiar. We sang some choruses but also some hymns like Blessed Assurrance, Standing on the Promises, and What a Friend we have in Jesus. The hymns were familiar but the music was so upbeat and lively - it was great! It reminded me of Lakeview Wesleyan in Marion, IN because everyone was swaying and dancing! One of the choruses was in Luganda and it was so great to praise God in another language.

"Tusiime Mukama, Aleluya
Tusiime Mukama, Amiina, Amiina"

It means, "Come let us praise the Lord / Alleluia / Amen"

After church we had a quick lunch and then began preparing dinner. Grace taught me how to peel Matoke (green bananas used to make the sweet yellow mush we eat at almost every meal), and Mama Irene taught me how to peel Irish potatoes and cut them into "chips" or fries basically. They do everything with huge knives so it's not quite as easy as using a peeler. I love helping them prepare food because there is so much opportunity for conversation and language learning. I am learning a decent amount of Luganda already, and it is beautiful but difficult because it is a tonal language. If you change the inflection or tone of voice the word means something different.

For several hours on Sunday our parents were away, so we got to see quite a different side of Grace and Ema. Grace draped some toilet paper around here neck and said "I am the pastor!" Then, she imitated a shampoo commercial and also did a short skit with Ema - they are so funny! I will try to post some pictures, but the internet here is very slow so no promises. Our baby brother Enoch is also warming up to me, and he makes us all so happy as he is always dancing and "talking".

I am beginning to find my place as a member of the family, but there are still a lot of times when I am uncertain of what to do. It is so different to live in a community oriented culture rather than the individualistic culture of America. Everyone is usually doing something together, or at least in the same room. If you go to your room by yourself to do something or take a nap they assume you are sick or something is wrong. This will be a positive adjustment for me, I think, but at times it can be overwhelming.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers - I am sleeping peacefully now (7-9 hrs a night!), and I am finding adequate time to do my homework during the day. I actually don't have any class on tuesdays so it makes a nice substitute for a Saturday. Since we aren't really supposed to do homework at our home stays, it takes the stress away at home because I can spend time with my family and not feel like I should be doing homework. I never expected it to work out this well!

Prayer requests:
-Continuing to find my place in the family
-Continued health
-Learning how to express love and appreciation in a culture that is so different