The LORD’s Palette

You, O Lord, have painted the sky.  It is a reflection of I AM…

 

At dawn, You dip Your brush in orange and yellow and red.  I peer from the window with sleepy eyes as you whisper, “I AM faithful.”  For You have brought a new morning.  A second chance.  I praise You, LORD, for You are with me. 

 

At midday, You dip Your brush in blue and green and paint crisp, white clouds.  I walk along the road as You whisper, “I AM good.”  For You have poured out Your love on me.  You have filled my heart with joy as You have given me strength to obey.  I praise You, LORD, for You are with me. 

 

At dusk, You dip Your brush in violet and indigo.  I sit on the porch as You whisper, “I AM just.”  For You are our King, and You have called us to obey.  You see the acts and hear the words and read the thoughts of all You have created.  I praise You, LORD, for You are with me. 

 

At night, You dip Your brush in black and call the clouds and thunder and rain.  The wind whips around the walls.  I lie in bed as You whisper, “I AM forgiving.”  For in my sinfulness, You bend my heart back to You.  I praise You, LORD, for You are with me.

Cattle People

Till the cows come home… 

We are cattle people. 

Our herds need water to drink and grass to graze.  And since we are cattle people, our work is to lead them to water and grass.  Then they will be well-fed and fat.  We move across fields and through villages.  And we keep our cattle well. 

I am a school boy.  But right now I am out of school on holiday.  I like to learn.  My favorite subject is math.  I do well with numbers–adding them, subtracting them, multiplying and dividing.  I like to think about numbers.  I like to make problems in my head and search for their solutions.  Maybe one day I will be an accountant, but for now I am a school boy leading cattle to water and grass.  And for now, I count our family’s herd. 

At home, mama works with my sisters.  They wash the clothes and sweep around the house and dig in the shamba (garden) and cook our meals.  When I am not leading our cattle, I like to sit outside with mama and my sisters and stir the beans in the pot.  I like to cook, but I don’t know how to make very many kinds of food.  Really, cooking is a woman’s job.  And if baba saw me outside next to the pot, he might give me a stick and send me out with the cattle.  Leading cattle is a man’s job. 

Sometimes, men have to cook for themselves.  Sometimes leading cattle takes a man to lonely places where there are no mamas and sisters.  And even though baba thinks that cooking is a woman’s job, even baba knows a man has to eat when he is alone.  So it was baba who taught me to cook rice.  When I reach a lonely place beneath the stars in an open field, I build a fire.  Three rocks surround the fire, and on the rocks, I place a pot.  I use my cup to measure the rice, and then I pour water over the rice.  When I dip my finger into the water and the water reaches my second knuckle, I know that there will be enough water to cook the rice.  And then I wait for the fire to get hot and the water to boil.  When the water has disappeared and only the rice remains, I know it is time to eat my meal under the stars. 

The stars aren’t completely lonely.  Even in the silence I can hear my sisters talking and snickering.  I can hear mama washing the pots.  I can hear baba talking outside the door to an uncle.  I hear the school boys playing outside on the football pitch in the school yard.  And I hear the teacher lecturing about algebra and geometry. 

School will start in three weeks.  And I will leave the cattle behind for about three months.  I will sit on a bench during the day with my classmates and at night I will study by our parafin lantern.  And in between listening about algebra and geometry and solving problems from the blackboard, I will think about cooking rice under the stars.  I will think about leading cattle to water and grass.  And I will even think about some of those lonely places. 

After all, we are cattle people.       

Nagawa

today is special. 

usually, i finish my breakfast and sneak out the door before mama sees.  she might tell me to wash my face.  and i don’t like to wash my face.  the porridge is sticky, but i don’t mind. 

but today, i washed my face.  today is special.

usually, i don’t wear shoes.  i finish my breakfast and sneak out the door in just my bare feet.  actually, i don’t have shoes, but i don’t mind.  my feet are tough and strong.  and they carry me where i want to go. 

but today, i put on shoes.  my new friend gave me a pair of shoes.  black shoes.  i don’t know how to fasten them yet, but i don’t mind.  they are so black and shiny.  and today, i am wearing my new shoes.  today is special. 

usually, i wear a dirty dress.  mama washes my dress for me.  but it doesn’t stay clean for long.  sometimes i fall and it gets dirty.  sometimes i spill some porridge and it gets dirty.  sometimes i sit on the ground and it gets dirty.  but i don’t mind.

but today my dress is mostly clean.  and i get to be measured for a new dress.  i will have a new dress.  and i will wear my new dress everyday.  today is special. 

usually, when i sneak out the door before mama sees, i forget to take something with me.  i have two small hands and i have two small tough feet.  they get me into just enough mischief.  and i don’t need to take anything with me.  usually i don’t take anything with me, but i don’t mind.

but today, i took something with me.  i get to carry a backpack today.  and in my backpack i have some pencils.  and i am so happy.  i have a new backpack.  today is special. 

usually, i go to the school and peek in the gate.  i watch the teachers and the other kids.  sometimes i even go inside and sit.  some of the teachers will let me sit for a long time.  if i don’t get into mischief i get to sit for a long time.  but sometimes i get into mischief and i’m not allowed to sit any more.  the other kids know how to speak. and they know how to read.  and they know how to write.  i’m good at getting into mischief, but i don’t know how to speak or to read or to write yet.   

but today is special. 

today i washed my face.  and i put on shoes.  and i am getting a new dress.  and i am carrying my new backpack.  today is special. 

today is my first day of school.  i will learn to speak.  and i will learn to read.  and i will learn to write.  just like the other kids.  today is special.

Writing the letter A.

Leaky Windows

Dry windows.

Last night, a storm hit. 

We have been waiting on the rain for a few weeks.  It’s been a little dry and dusty.  And the temperatures have risen slightly from their near-perfect degree.  Sometime around this time of year, we make the transition between dry season and rainy season.  People will begin planting when the rains come, and then it will be time to wait for the crops to grow and food to become plenty once again. 

Last night, Mark and I woke up to the sound of wind and rain.  We jumped out of bed and began closing our bedroom windows to keep puddles from forming beneath them.  After all the windows were closed we climbed back into bed.  But it still felt as if it was raining inside the room! 

There are ventilation bricks positioned above the windows, which are not closable.  Realizing that the ventilation bricks were the inlet for the shower, we moved the bed into the very center of the floor, and climbed in once again.  Because the wind was so strong, we still felt the pitter-patter of rain drops on our faces.  We pulled the covers over our heads and then began an almost uncontrollable laughter.  It was like camping at home.  A leaky tent–a leaky window. 

And we finally fell asleep to the sound of a hefty wind and hard rain as it brought nourishment to the earth. 

He Is…Exalted

He is exalted. 

We attend a Life Care Group every Wednesday night with a small group of other members of the Kampala Church.  Each week we begin our time with singing.  And tonight we sang…

About His exaltation. 

He is exalted!  The King is exalted on high!  We will praise Him!

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let your glory be over all the earth…
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let your glory be over all the earth.”

Psalm 57:5, 10-11

The sun setting over Lake Saaka.  A glimpse of glory…

From P.O. Box 72022 to P.O. Box 810

We received a letter in the mail from an elementary school in Texas.  A second grade class read a book about a fictional character named Flat Stanley.  Flat Stanley is a boy who was flattened by a bulletin board.  When he wanted to go on a trip, his parents folded him up and mailed him to a new place. 

Flat Stanley came to us with colored green and yellow clothing.  And we took him on a few adventures in Uganda and learned a little more about this interesting place. 

So if you would like to learn a little more about Uganda second-grade style, here is the return letter: 

MTN Race

December 9, 2007

MTN is one of the cell phone companies in Uganda, and every year they host a marathon event.  (For non-marathoners, there are also half-marathon and 10K options.)  As soon as I saw the event advertised on a billboard, I wanted to give it a whirl–not the marathon, but the 10K.  (I’ve got to start somewhere!)  And, seeing it as an opportunity to join with some guys from church, I announced that Mark and I were running and then twisted a few arms to join us.  We totaled eleven on December 9th–Race Day. 

 Top row from left to right:  Jamir, Peter, Joseph.  Middle row from left to right:  Ellen, Moses, Darla (standing behind Moses), Isaac, Fred.  Front row from left to right:  Abel and me.  Mark took the picture. 

Leo is “Today”

“Leo” is the Swahili word for “today.” 

And Leo is our dog. He is a Black Lab/German Shepherd mix.  His sister (not by birth, but by proximity) was called Kesho which means “tomorrow”.  Unfortunately, she is now Jana (“yesterday”).  Kesho’s original owners liked the sound of the Swahili word “kesho”, so that is how she got her name.  And when Leo came along, it was only natural that if “tomorrow” was present, then should be “today.”

 

Leo

Five Month Anniversary

Left-over enchiladas. Hot dogs. Tuna sandwiches. And grilled cheese.

Romantic anniversary dinners.     

 Mark worked out at our property in Kira today.  Between the rain showers he and the few guys who he was working with were able to pour concrete around some more of the base of the fence that is quickly going up, keeping the goats out and beginning to create our new home. 

I had a Luganda language lesson this morning, followed by a planning meeting for our upcoming ladies’ retreat.  And from there I went to Coronation Primary School to read a couple of picture books with a class of kids. 

So sometimes, after a day of hard work, a simple meal, even warmed up from the night before is enough.  Sweet conversation and an occasional hand squeeze.  Our five month anniversary.  We’ve had five good months. 

 (I just forgot the candlelight.) 

Honeymooners