The last two weeks have been filled with a full range of emotions. There have been the highs of spending time with the Ruth House girls. Some of these moments come during the structure of the daily routine. Every weekday morning devotions occur at 6:45. We concluded one particular devotion with a “popcorn” style of praying, where one person starts and then, randomly, whoever wants to pray can, until everyone who wants to pray has and the last person closes the prayers. Many girls prayed out loud and had lots to say! We love to hear their hearts. Some are so intense with their love for Jesus, and their praises to Him and thankfulness. Our writing is not skillful enough to capture how we feel praying with these girls.
Other moments come spontaneously. Denny is trying to learn Luganda, the native language of Buganda, which is the region where the Amazima School is located. Luganda is the native language for many of the Ruth House girls. Denny is learning slowly. He can mumble a few greetings here and there, has learned some of the words for the food that is regularly served during the week, and trots out an occassional phrase to say at some carefully chosen moments. Denny has found that Ugandans love to hear white people speak their language and even his feeble efforts are met with big smiles, joyful laughter, and words of appreciation. The other night a handful of girls circled Denny, teaching him all kinds of words about the parts of the body and numbers and food they like. Then they decided to have some real fun. They taught "Daddy Denny" to say, "Banange, ngenda okudokola enkona." It took him a while to get the sounds right, but once he did, the girls roared. They called other individual girls over. "Daddy Denny say it." Denny did. Each new girl doubled up in laughter and went running away.
Denny is not quite sure what the phrase means. He thinks it has something to do with expressing surprise over something someone has done and saying you are going to pop them on the back of the head. He has no idea why saying the phrase got the reaction it did, but he sure had fun and so did the girls. It was a wild night on the Veranda.
Other emotions are more routine. We want the girls to learn. We want the girls to grow in Christ. The Ruth House is learning how to be servant leaders both as individuals and collectively as a house. In our morning devotions we have talked about Ruth, who she was, the qualities she possessed, and what we can learn from Ruth today. We have discussed the story of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. Sandra brought in a personal story, involving Neecie when she was 8 years old and how she was struggling, but learned to turn her worries over to Jesus, and could look in the mirror and see the sparkle in her eyes again. Sandra shared verses in Matt 11:28-30 and 19:14.
Emotions arise because everything is new. In Uganda, they drive on the left side of the road. All the roads are two lanes. At one time, perhaps when the roads were first laid, there might have been painted lanes and other markings, but that was so long ago they have all disappeared. In fact, the idea of lanes at all seems to have disappeared. People just drive. They drive pretty much anywhere they want. If the truck, or other driver, in front of you is going too slow, you pass the driver. If it means pulling out in front of oncoming traffic, so be it. They will get out of the way. If it means going the other way and driving up on the sidewalk that is fine too.
Sandra has learned to drive in Uganda. Actually, she learned very quickly. Traffic is crazy, but it goes very slow. Anything can happen, but you have time to react. Sandra says driving here is no different than driving on ice or in snow or hail in Iowa. She drives slow, she looks in all directions, and she goes. She knows how to stick the nose of the vehicle out into the many roundabouts where nobody yields. She does not flinch when a wildly veering taxi crowds into her path. When she signals to make a right-hand turn (think left-hand turn in the U.S.) and two vehicles careen past her, on the right, while she is in the middle of her turn, she handles it calmly. Denny sits in the passenger seat on the left. Denny is a basket case. Denny is not worried about Sandra's driving, Denny is simply worried about Ugandan driving. Denny has no plans to drive in Uganda.
Emotions are also low. Many of our girls are struggling with illness. It can be terrifying. One girl passed out in class. She had to be carried by three boys to the healing bay. Her heart rate was very high and her blood pressure was very low. She lay unconscious, non-responsive. Was she going into shock? They pumped fluids into her. After about 45 minutes she came to. Groggy, disoriented. We learned her stomach was hurting her so she stopped eating. She was not drinking water either. Since then, we ask all our girls, are you eating, you must eat. Are you drinking water, you must drink lots and lots of water.
The lowest emotion of the past two weeks will not go away any time soon. Denny learned that his younger brother died. The sadness can be overwhelming, but he has felt the peace and strength of all the prayers so many of you have been praying. Denny thanks you so much for your care and concern.
Other moments come spontaneously. Denny is trying to learn Luganda, the native language of Buganda, which is the region where the Amazima School is located. Luganda is the native language for many of the Ruth House girls. Denny is learning slowly. He can mumble a few greetings here and there, has learned some of the words for the food that is regularly served during the week, and trots out an occassional phrase to say at some carefully chosen moments. Denny has found that Ugandans love to hear white people speak their language and even his feeble efforts are met with big smiles, joyful laughter, and words of appreciation. The other night a handful of girls circled Denny, teaching him all kinds of words about the parts of the body and numbers and food they like. Then they decided to have some real fun. They taught "Daddy Denny" to say, "Banange, ngenda okudokola enkona." It took him a while to get the sounds right, but once he did, the girls roared. They called other individual girls over. "Daddy Denny say it." Denny did. Each new girl doubled up in laughter and went running away.
Denny is not quite sure what the phrase means. He thinks it has something to do with expressing surprise over something someone has done and saying you are going to pop them on the back of the head. He has no idea why saying the phrase got the reaction it did, but he sure had fun and so did the girls. It was a wild night on the Veranda.
Other emotions are more routine. We want the girls to learn. We want the girls to grow in Christ. The Ruth House is learning how to be servant leaders both as individuals and collectively as a house. In our morning devotions we have talked about Ruth, who she was, the qualities she possessed, and what we can learn from Ruth today. We have discussed the story of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. Sandra brought in a personal story, involving Neecie when she was 8 years old and how she was struggling, but learned to turn her worries over to Jesus, and could look in the mirror and see the sparkle in her eyes again. Sandra shared verses in Matt 11:28-30 and 19:14.
Emotions arise because everything is new. In Uganda, they drive on the left side of the road. All the roads are two lanes. At one time, perhaps when the roads were first laid, there might have been painted lanes and other markings, but that was so long ago they have all disappeared. In fact, the idea of lanes at all seems to have disappeared. People just drive. They drive pretty much anywhere they want. If the truck, or other driver, in front of you is going too slow, you pass the driver. If it means pulling out in front of oncoming traffic, so be it. They will get out of the way. If it means going the other way and driving up on the sidewalk that is fine too.
Sandra has learned to drive in Uganda. Actually, she learned very quickly. Traffic is crazy, but it goes very slow. Anything can happen, but you have time to react. Sandra says driving here is no different than driving on ice or in snow or hail in Iowa. She drives slow, she looks in all directions, and she goes. She knows how to stick the nose of the vehicle out into the many roundabouts where nobody yields. She does not flinch when a wildly veering taxi crowds into her path. When she signals to make a right-hand turn (think left-hand turn in the U.S.) and two vehicles careen past her, on the right, while she is in the middle of her turn, she handles it calmly. Denny sits in the passenger seat on the left. Denny is a basket case. Denny is not worried about Sandra's driving, Denny is simply worried about Ugandan driving. Denny has no plans to drive in Uganda.
Emotions are also low. Many of our girls are struggling with illness. It can be terrifying. One girl passed out in class. She had to be carried by three boys to the healing bay. Her heart rate was very high and her blood pressure was very low. She lay unconscious, non-responsive. Was she going into shock? They pumped fluids into her. After about 45 minutes she came to. Groggy, disoriented. We learned her stomach was hurting her so she stopped eating. She was not drinking water either. Since then, we ask all our girls, are you eating, you must eat. Are you drinking water, you must drink lots and lots of water.
The lowest emotion of the past two weeks will not go away any time soon. Denny learned that his younger brother died. The sadness can be overwhelming, but he has felt the peace and strength of all the prayers so many of you have been praying. Denny thanks you so much for your care and concern.
Thanks for your updates. I look forward to reading them. Denny, am so sad for your loss.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your stories and about all your activities and experiences. Denny, we are really sorry for your loss. Prayers are that the Great I Am will give you peace and comfort and fond memories to remember and turn the sadness into joy. ❤
ReplyDelete