T.I.A. (This Is Africa)

Here are some things that have become part of normal life:

1. Anything that took just a few minutes in the States (ex: sending an email, mailing a letter, paying a bill) takes at least half an hour here!

2. Living life by candle light or with a flashlight always in your pocket because you never know where you’ll be when the power goes out – and it does at least once every day for a few hours.

3. Getting ready for bed involves fumigating your room and tucking your mosquito net under your mattress.

4. Being greeted on the streets as “Mzungu” or just “White Girl”. Especially by kids, who will excitedly yell “Hey, Mzungu, Mzungu,” until you eventually wave back. (All white people are referred to as Mzungu’s)

5. Watching out for falling geckos when opening doors.

6. Milk - it is delivered to us three times a week (usually). We have to boil it, strain it, and then hold our noses when we drink it.

7. Phrases like “Sorry Please” (instead of just I’m sorry) and “It is finished” (instead of we are out of gas…the gas is finished).

8. When the temperature gets below 75 degrees – it is considered COLD and hats, gloves, and thick coats start coming out.

9. Drinking Coco-Cola out of (reused) glass bottles…Ok, I actually don’t really mind this as long as there is a glass or straw.

10. Paying 1,000 for a coke…..100,000 shillings = $65 or $70. A nice meal will usually cost 8,000 shillings or around $6. I just bought a new cell phone for 40,000 shillings ($30). Converting money takes some getting used to!

New Pics!

I have posted new pictures to my site! Click to the right where it says "View my photos". Let me know what you think!

Wax On, Wax Off

I have 2 PE periods with 3 kids each and I am at a loss with how to fill the time. There are only so many games that 3 kids can play. To buy some time, I thought it would be fun to watch one of my favorite movies from the 80’s…The Karate Kid with the intention of teaching some sort of primitive karate skills.

I don’t think that I really thought this through….I have never done karate and don’t know anything about it. But, the kids are really excited and are expecting some real lessons. I am hoping the movie will stretch out for several days!

Seriously – I am open to suggestions for PE. They have already done a lot of soccer, basketball, football and so on. Last year the class was combined and they had a real PE teacher with a real PE degree – so there are high expectations.

Teachers have homework too!

Many have asked about my first week of school - well - it was my first time teaching and I had all of one day to prepare - so, it went about as well as you would expect.

It is challenging, but I enjoy teaching. I guess the most challenging part is being prepared for class. So far, my favorite class is Eastern Hemisphere History. All my students in class are boys ages 10 - 13 and we get along really well...I don't really know what that says about me.

For one of my classes, I teach just one boy math while I watch three others in study hall. Jonathan (one of the study hall kids) is 11 and was supposed to be working on his algebra homework but was talking instead. So, I asked him if there were math problems I could help him with. He looked up at me and in all seriousness replied. "No, I don't think so. These problems will be above your head." I just smiled and tried not to laugh.

This week, I've had a chance to meet the rest of the team. There are three families, 4 singles, and 5 teachers. We are probably one of the bigger mission teams in East Africa.

Here are some pictures! The first ones that I have taken so far!

A few of my students "volunteered" to help me paint my room...this is Jonathan. And, don't worry, just one wall is green - the others will be a soft cream...I can't believe after all those years of being forced to wear green as my school colors...I am actually voluntarily living in a green room.

We don't have a dryer, so we hang our clothes on lines in the hallway - it rains just about every afternoon, so it is difficult to dry clothes outside.

I live with three other teachers - and we share two bathrooms. Below is one of our showers. The shower head is so short that I have to stand to the side and bend over sideways to stick my head under the water. Yes - we do have hot water! I am SO thankful!

And finally, here are pictures of our house. The dog in front is Thatcher, our guard dog. He loves to play and IS NOT allowed inside.

Caught In The Dark With My Pants Down

I have arrived! In Mbale that is...

School starts tomorrow and I am to teach Bible, Economics, World History, 5th grade Math, and PE. I just teach each subject once and will mostly be teaching 5th - 8th graders. Although Economics is just for the highschoolers.

It is pretty overwhelming trying to settle in. I am living in a 4 bedroom house with three other girls and the room I am in for formally a storage room. So, it is pretty dusty and grimy. I am wishing that my mom was here to help clean! I have a twin bed and a coffee table and a closet in my room - doesn't give me much to work with, but I am excited about making my own peaceful get-a-way. I am thinking about painting, but the only colors I have access to are bright green and a light yellow. If someone out there has any connections with HGTV - I think my room would make an excellent makeover story!

Last night as I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed when the power went off. Most of you know that I am scared of the dark - so it was pretty traumatic for me, but I managed to remain calm long enough to feel my way back to my room and find my flashlight, which luckily I had just unpacked. Apparently, the power is unreliable here, so maybe I'll conquer my fear of the dark before I come home.

On My Way!

Just to keep the 12 people reading this blog updated - I've raised around $14,000 - just $6,000 from my goal! Thank you to all those who are supporting me!

Also - after a few set backs with flights - I am finally on my way. Right now, I am sitting in the London Heathrow airport just killing time until my flight leaves in 8 hours. But, I am not complaining! I could use a few hours to rest after maneuvering 3 heavy suitcases from the Gatwick airport to Heathrow. Whew! Blessedly I encountered several kind people willing to help and surprisingly they were all women. The men here could take a few tips from our Southern Gentlemen.

Today is also my birthday! On the flight from Atlanta, one of the pilots came back to talk to me and wished me a happy birthday! Apparently my brother (who was landing just as we were taking off) sent the message to the the cockpit that they had his little sister on board. Too bad Andrew didn't ask them to give me a free upgrade...

Hope everyone has a great August 31st - it is my favorite day of the year!

-Julie

Impossible Things Are Happening Everyday

If you would like to financially support my work in Uganda, send donations to:

Downtown Church of Christ

PO Box 417

Newnan, GA 30264

Checks should be payable to Downtown Church of Christ. (Be sure to include my name on the memo line.)

My goal is to raise at least $20,000 by Sept 1st. Impossible? Yes, impossible for me - But not for my God. I am so excited to see how he works through others to fulfill this need.

Inaugural Post

I’m afraid the rumors are true…I am leaving Atlanta and the familiar world of Georgia politics to serve with a team of missionaries in Mbale, Uganda.

My recent visit to Mbarara, Uganda confirmed that working with missionaries was a dream that couldn’t just remain an idea – but instead an act of faith that needed to be put into action.

Updates will be coming soon. In the meantime – I’m raising financial support, so please let me know if you would like more information on how to support me or others who do good work in Uganda.

-Julie