Murchison Falls

Today we headed north to Murchison Falls for safari. What an amazing day! Here are some of our favorite pictures from an afternoon game drive. All the pictures, except one are pretty self explanatory. The picture of the water is of the Albert Nile.

There were actually six little cubs playing around. We were about 15 feet away. Very exciting!!!

Trip to Mukura

This weekend we took a trip to our friend Livingstone and Stella's house in Mukura, Kumi (East Central Uganda). The main purpose of our visit was for Jennifer and the kids to join the clan. It was a great day. After we get all the pictures loaded to the computer I will post more about it.

Here are some pictures from along the way.

Around Town

This has been the most time consuming blog, I started it 3 hours and 15 minutes ago. The internet here has a mind of its own. I think I have been kicked off at least 30 times. But, finally I have all the pictures loaded. Last Saturday, Jon and his boda-friend James, took a tour of the city. Jon took about 550 pictures. Here are just a few.

Kiah goes on her first boda ride

Every day, this woman roasts corn down the road from us.

A man hauling wood on his bicycle.

Here is a good picture of how builders place scafolding around a given structure. Click on it to get a better view.

The green banana's are called Amatooke. When roasted, they taste a lot like potatoes. The man walking by is trying to sell the clothing he is carrying on his head.

A furniture store and graphic printer in the same building.

Carrying 3 foam mattresses down Kampala road, the busiest road in the city.

A local grocery store and fruit market.

An offer you cannot refuse

For several years, Jon has had a desire to pursue doctoral studies. After much research, he had picked one school that he wanted to attend. We went and visited this school and really liked it. In August, Jon applied to this school.

Jon with his several hundred page application.

In December, we were notified that he had been accepted into the Faculty of History. His application would then be sent to the Board of Graduate Studies for further review. On Wednesday night, we were offered a placement and we gladly accepted.

We will have to wait and see the details of the official offer once we get back to Wilmore, since they are sent by mail. We were able to view parts of it online.

Needless to say, we are excited and so thankful to God for this opportunity. We will be moving to England sometime in September, as the term will begin October 2nd.

Week in Review

Here are some of the events that have happened in the last couple of weeks.

Jon brought two fellow Itekok clan members back to Kampala with him two weekends ago, they are public school teachers. Since Jon drove them back, it is very customary to give a gift. They brought three chickens with them, so Jon received a chicken as a gift. On the six hour journey back it (or at least one of the other two) laid an egg in our vehicle, Jon also got to keep the egg.

Returning from Kumi, Jon stopped and took this picture of a Jinja tea field.

Last Saturday, we were blessed to have the family of Rev. Charles Elobu in our home. We had a great time of fellowship, laughter and a good American feast of Sloppy Joes. Charles and his family minister in an area called Acholi Quarter. This area is populated by a few thousand displaced Acholi from Northern Uganda.

The last couple of days have been interesting. It started Sunday night with a huge storm. We woke up with rain pouring into our bedroom, needing to close the shutters on our windows. As we were doing that, a big bolt of lightening hit very close, in fact I saw orange outside as Jon was battling to get the shutters closed. The next morning when I went out, I saw that the banana trees just in front our our house were struck.

Since then we have had a combination of "problems": no power, no toilet, no water and no washing machine. Sometimes it has been all of the above and other times just one thing has not been working. But as of tonight (Friday) everything is up and working. Praise the Lord!

Ogugu of the Itekok Clan

Last weekend, I was blessed to experience an incredible event and honor: I was made a member of the Itekok clan of Teso. Further, upon given entry into the clan, I was given the name Ogugu.

I first was introduced to the Iteso people some seven years ago as an undergraduate intern. I had been working with pastoral and theological training under the supervision of World Gospel Mission in Uganda, and this meant spending time with the Iteso people, one of the larger tribes in Uganda-perhaps third or fourth largest. During those days of traveling around teaching, and learning culture, I cultivated a strong liking and interest of Teso culture and language.

Some years later, when Jennifer and I (along with Kiah) returned to Uganda, I was appointed training coordinator of Teso with World Gospel Mission/Africa Gospel Church. Our time in Teso was a mixed bag, so to speak. My love for the Teso, that great tribe which claims descent from Solomon and Sheba, was once again cultivated. I studied Ateso- the Teso language, and attempted to learn as much as I could about the culture and work of the church in this area. Without going into a lot of tedious detail, the difficulty arose when we discovered that our area overseer had been involved in a prolonged and complicated web of thievery and deception. God was faithful during this time, but it was difficult nonetheless.

Out of this difficult time specifically, and time in general, I developed a close friendship with Illakut David Livingstone. Over the past three years, we have grown close to one another and I count him as one of my dearest friends and colleagues. It was into his clan, the Itekok clan, that I was made a member. This clan, dating back to the mid-19th century began as a very small family unit amongst a larger clan populace. Thus, the name Itekok means “from smallness.” Since the 19th century, during the time of Kakungulu's Ganda expansion, the clan has expanded to include some two thousand members.

The service of induction was a true gift and culturally fascinating experience which lasted around six to seven hours. The service entailed formal introductions, singing, historical insights from the elders, speeches, food, a choir, and singing. From my perspective, the highlight was the naming ceremony (as seen below). When a person enters a clan, which is a very rare occurrence, they are given a clan name which supersedes any name that has been previously given. The name I was given is "Ogugu," and it is the name I am now known as. The name means "leader," and was the name of the original father of the clan, and the name of the son of the specific sub-set of the clan that I am now a part of. Needless to say, I was speechless to have received a name with such richness.

As you will see below, there are three pictures. The first is the gift giving ceremony which was coupled with the naming ceremony. It is the responsibility of the oldest woman and man of the clan to present an inductee with a gift, which in my instance was a wooden frame crafted to contain a picture of my family with that of the clans. Next, you will find a picture of me eating with a number of the clan leaders. Finally, you will see the oldest living member of the clan. It is the oldest member’s responsibility to give the name, especially as they will now be “my parent,” in this instance mother. As a matter of fact, the next day when I saw my clan mother, she greeted me as the mother of Ogugu. Such a greeting reflects what I have called the historical continuous tense, and speaks to the means of identification within the clan.

We are excited that at the end of the month, Jennifer and the kids will joining the clan for a ceremony that will entail the induction of Jennifer and the kids. This is a great honor, one of the highest given in their culture, and we are beyond grateful.

What is Africa?

I was trying to think of how to explain what Uganda is really like. However, I cannot think of any words that would do it adequately. I found this quote from the Invisible Children('s) website:

Africa? How was Africa? Africa was amazing. Africa is amazing. Africa is a million and one things. [Africa] is more diverse than any other place on the planet. It has experienced the greatest combination of foreign thievery and foreign goodwill. [It] is strong, joyful and resilient. Africa is filled to the brim with song, dance and soccer. It feels your lungs with life with every burnt breath. [The] sun blazes, the rain pours. It has more sky than your eyes could possibly take in. Africa is humbling. Africa rips the heart out of your chest and buries it in the rich red soil, knowing that you will someday return, to see the growth. And there is no doubt it will grow. [Africa] knows the value of friendship. Time is not money in Africa. And money goes a long way. Africa holds a mirror up to your soul - letting you see all your selfish desires, and not letting go, until you're completely broken.

A trip to the pool

On New Year's Day we decided to head to the pool. Kiah had been asking us about the Africa pool since we left Wilmore. Here are some pictures of things we saw along the way and also some of the kids.

These are soda crates. I remember them as a child. They do have cans of soda here, however they are expensive.

It is incredible what an Ugandan can carry on their heads.

This is a bag of charcoal. I thought as a child riding with no hands meant I had conquered riding a bike. Once I saw what an Ugandan can do with a bicycle, I realized I wasn't so good after all.

Recently, it has been really warm. Playing in this tub has become an afternoon activity. Also since we only have a shower this tub also serves as the bath tub at night.

Magna Doodle Art

The kids Magna Doodle was sitting on the front porch. Our day worker, Bosco saw it and drew this picture of a Ugandan village. Pretty impressive, since I can barely draw a stick figure on it.

Cause and Effect

The political unrest in Kenya has an affect on things here in Uganda. While things are fine here, gas prices have gone through the roof. One gallon of gas is normally about $5.63, but since there is no new fuel coming to Uganda, the price per gallon is now $23.07. We went to one station today and they were out of fuel.

We would ask you to keep the delicate situation in Kenya in your prayers. Also, Eastern Uganda is now receiving a number of refugees - a situation also needing prayers.

This picture was taken about a week ago.

The price seen here is per liter in Ugandan Shillings.

Jennifer's Day

Well my day is not as exciting Jon's adventure through the city. I work in the morning. Since we have gotten here I have been spending most of my time auditing accounts. I look through old transactions and compare numbers and make corrections if needed. Doesn't that sound exiting!!! So I won't bore you with accounting details. In the afternoon, while Jon is at language I am at home. I do more fun stuff like laundry, dishes, and cleaning the house. When Jacob wakes up from his nap we usually all go outside any play. A new family has arrived and live in the other house on the compound. They have a puppy, so the kids have spent a lot of time chasing the puppy.

Everytime we go somewhere we have been taking the camera along. Here are some of boda-bodas (motorcycles) and what you will find on the back of them.