Rafting the Nile...

Most of you know I love water...swimming, rafting, skiing, you name it. So when the opportunity came to white water raft the Nile River with some other people serving here in Kampala of course I eagerly accepted. How many people can say they rafted the NILE RIVER!! Now I wasn't going into this completely blind...I have rafted before in the States. I had heard this was pretty intense but thought it can't be much worse than the Ocoee, right?? WRONG! Words can't describe this 6 hour rafting trip. As we got into our boats on the bank we were greeted by Ugandans washing their clothes and naked children swimming in the river. This was everyday life to them. During the 30 kilometer ride down the river we saw everything from monkeys to kids fishing in boats made from the trunk of a tree. We passed grass huts and more people doing laundry and bathing in the river....it was so Africa! (we didn't see any crocidiles though...thankfully)

This picture doesn't really do the Nile River justice, but it gives you an idea of what we experienced. I definitely have a new appreciation for the power of rushing water! The Nile has class 6 rapids (of course you can't raft them...you wouldn't be able to survive) and the largest commercially rafted "hole" in the world rightfully named "bad place". This is where you hit a rapid head on and are thrown out of the raft while fighting the pull of the "hole" (sound fun, dad?). Pretty sure they wouldn't let you raft this in the States. As we began the trip, our Ugandan guide, Charlie, assured us there had never been any deaths (comforting). At one point I thought I was going to be their first victim though.

On our first class 5 rapid our raft flipped...I fell out early in the rapid and was thrown around in 13 foot waves. Now I am a pretty good swimmer...I've been a lifeguard and swam competitively in high school, but I have never felt so out of control in water as I did then. The force of the water was so strong that it took me forever to get to the surface and then as soon as I did I was swallowed by another wave. I looked around and didn't see anyone and I remember thinking "I can't drown...I'm a strong swimmer," and then "what do i do if i can't hold my breath any longer?". (Of course I am dramatizing this a little...but it was pretty scary at one point). Thankfully the speed of the water pushed me past the rapid before I couldn't hold my breath any longer, and I was relieved to see the faces of my raft mates who were also thrown out. I was thrown from the raft a total of 3 times during the day, and I am definitely feeling the whiplash today! To say the least it was pretty intense...but it was definitely worth it and I'm sure I'd be glad to experience the Nile again! (once I forget about my whiplash :)

I was able to celebrate my 23rd birthday (Jan. 20th) with other friends serving here. We had some great chinese food...yes they have chinese food in Africa! But no birthday cake for me....only this awesome watermelon fruit bowl. They carved "Happy Birthday" on it and placed a candle on top while the Ugandan waiters sang to me! It was a birthday I will not forget. 

The other night we ate at some friends' house and we got to experience this beautiful view of Lake Victoria from their deck. Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water lake in the world (I believe) and the source of the Nile River! Isn't God amazing!  

Women's Health Teaching Conference....

This past Sunday I was able to lead a "Women's Health Teaching Conference" for one of the house groups that meets in a slum area here in Kampala. Here I am with Deo and Benon, my translators, teaching about oral rehydration and children's health. This was the first time I have been able to use nursing (well officially at least) since coming to Uganda which was exciting! I focused on basic hygiene and nutrition to prevention sickness and other women's issues. It's amazing...these women were so thankful to learn basic knowledge that we take for granted.

It was a blessing to get to share some of the things I have learned with them, but more importantly I was able to share about the greatest healing of all...and how each one of them can receive forgiveness and have spiritual health no matter what their physcial health condition. Continue to remember these women, some of whom were visiting and may have never heard... that they will come to know the Great Physician personally!

Before the teaching we had a time of worship...and no African worship is complete without drums, of course! 

Most of the people here in Kampala are of the Baganda tribe...this is one of their dances...worship is so different than back home! 

Time of worship before the teaching...signing is such a part of the african culture...and boy can these women sing! 

The children that were there were so quiet...children here are really well behaved....they just sit quietly because they don't have "things" to keep them occupied...you would never see this in Amercia!

About 20 women, 10 men, and several children came to the "women's health teaching"...yes I said men were there. It was interesting teaching about women's issues with men present. Of course it didn't bother me since I am not afraid to talk about anything, but aparently neither are Ugandan men....they asked just as many questions as the women! 

This picture says enough...isn't he precious! 

Group photo at the end of the teaching....can you pick me out?  

Village Life....

This past weekend I got to visit a village called Mityana. It was an experience...it made me realize how great I have it here in the city! A lot of the travel was on really rough dirt roads. Here is a house we passed on the roadside. We stayed with another friend serving here so our accomadations we much nicer, but this gives you an idea of how people live. By the way...no it is not autumn with the leaves changing colors...they should be green. They are a brownish red color from the dirt road that turns everything brown along the roadside. I felt so bad for these people walking on the side of the road...can you imagine living and breathing all this dirt?

Sunday we went to church here in the village. Ugandans sure know how to worship....here the choir is dancing. It was an interesting service...although we had a translator his English was hard to understand so I could not follow where we were I thought we were in 2 Chronicles 24 but I kept hearing him say Jehoshaphat and knew that was not chapter 24! Finally by the end of the service I realized we were in chapter 21.....the 3 hour service got pretty long to say the least. I was entertained though by the goats and chickens walking around outside. There is a strong charasmatic influence here in Uganda. While most people have heard about Him...they only want His benefits and not a real relationship. There is such a need for discipleship and good teaching...even in the church. Pray that God would raise up leaders to preach the Truth!  

Aren't they sweet! The boy in the blue sure could dance....I wish I had taken a picture of him breakin' it down in church. It was his first time to come to church...he said he wants to come back next week too.

As we walked outside the church doors....we saw this boy washing clothes. Even children work hard here...if kids in America only knew how blest they are (me included!) 

A day at the market....

Here is one of the many open markets. We are spoiled with all the fresh fruits and vegetables. We can get a fresh pineapple for about 1,000 shillings which is less than a dollar! Mangos, passion fruit, papya, you name it...it's here! Don't worry I have plenty to eat! For most people; this is their job. Everyday they wake up and take their goods to sell at the markets....as I walk through I can't imagine this being my life. These people live literally day to day...just trying to get by. If these people could only see that there is more to life than making money and getting by....they can have LIFE abundantly and hope for eternity in Him!

Matooke is the staple food here eaten every meal of the day. They look like bananas but taste nothing like them! They are cooked and then mashed up to look like mashed potatoes, but they really don't taste like anything...they are so bland! Sometimes they add a ground nut (like peanuts) sauce which helps a little. They are grown everywhere here...we even have a tree in our backyard.  

What's nice is that right by the fruit stands are these hugs piles of rubbish! And these men are just digging through it...why, I am not sure. Oh the things we take for granted in America! 

Trashcans are hard to find here...unfortunately. But people here try to keep things clean and take pride in what they have no matter how little it may be. I wake up many mornings to the sound of sweeping. They use these little handheld brooms. I couldn't believe it though when I saw this man sweeping trash on a busy street with a broom like this....it makes me so sad to see people working so hard. 

People here can carry anything on their heads! This woman here is carrying a basket of mangos. The other day we saw a man balancing the back seat of a car on his head....the things we see here...words can't desribe! 

Ugandans are some of the most friendly people I have ever met. They always want to do whatever they can to help us...of course we do kind of stick out! Not many white people here go to the downtown markets. But it's a lot of fun because you can bargain (and most of you know how much I like to find a deal ;) Of course you have to deal with all the staring and remarks like...."Take me to America", "You are beautiful", "I love you", or my favorite...."Marry me Muzungu"(white person). I always tell them I live here...and try to speak as much language as I can. I tell them I am a Ugandan now...they like that!

Here are some new "friends" we met in the market. They weren't trying to marry us though, thankfully. Thomas to my left stopped traffic just so I could take a picture! I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a country where people didn't want you there...I am truly blessed to be in a country where people want to know me and why I have come here. Of course they wanted their picture taken with me to be shown back in America.

Experiencing new food....

Looks yummy...huh? Grasshoppers both deep fried and alive are sold everywhere on the roadside. These are fried. All the men selling them were dying to see a muzungu eat a grasshopper!

Well....Christy and I couldn't let them down...I'm not too good to eat a grasshopper! I look scared don't I? My friend I met on the street...Thomas keeps assuring me it'll be ok...but I'm not so sure! 

Here I am eating my first grasshopper! It really wasn't that bad....it just tasted greasy and crunchy. I don't think I would want to eat them on a daily basis, but I'm glad I experienced it...I guess. I made the men selling them happy. :) 

Boda Bodas (or motorcycle taxis) are the way to travel here! I rode one for the first time a few days ago. Since I was wearing a skirt (of course) I had to sit sideways and hold onto whatever I could find. It's not the safest way to travel...these guys zoom in and out of traffic like crazy, but it's pretty fun and so much faster than trying to drive! I have seen as many as 4 Ugandans on one of these...I'll have to get a picture of that!