Stars and Stripes

With a backpack on my back filled with one change of clothes and drinking water and a live chicken in hand, I hopped on the back of a truck headed for the villiage in "the bush" of Africa. We got off the truck and walked to our destination: a compound surrounded by fields of crops and trees. There we met our new family Joseph and Kristine and their three little kids Rebecca, Alfred and Sara (pronounced with a rolled r). They welcomed us with much excitment as they showed us which hut they sleep in, eat in, and cook in. Kate and I were excited to begin cooking as we hadn't eaten all day. So we chopped fire wood and started 3 fires on the cround outside. With Kristine's instruction we learned the tricks of the trade in African cooking. We started cooking at around 6 and did not finish cooking until 10 (which is a pretty typical dinner time for an African).

A few days in the villiage will change your life. That night I killed the chicken that thought I was his friend. With only the moon to light the compound I cut the chickens neck with a dull knife, rolled it's body in hot water (to make the feathers pull out easier) plucked all of the feathers off, chopped him into smaller pieces, cut out all of the intestines.... and boiled him for what seemed a few hours.

Yes, then it was dinner time. Now let me tell you... I have never experienced a dinner at someones home that made me feel more welcome. Not only was cooking a huge meal like this out of the ordinary... but very special. We ate rice, beans, posho, cabbage, vegetables, potatoes and chicken. Rice is very expensive so it was a real treat that they would prepare rice and posho for us. Then off to bed. We brought a little tent and tried to sleep. I thought Africa would be a quiet and serene place... not true. The sounds of night are unreal. Lots of cattle right next to our tent... crickets, hens, snakes... you can probably imagine knowing how little noise a tent can drown out.

That night I woke up to go to the bathroom and saw a sky like nothing else I had ever seen. Stars that popped out of the blackest night. No city lights to dull the stars.... it was a sight. The next day was filled with daily chores. We walked for a mile or so to get water and carried it back on our heads. (we wanted to get the full affect). We prepared a huge lunch, washed dishes, peeled casava (looks like a potato, they grow it on their property) and were covered in dirt from head to toe. It was awesome. I will never forget life in the villiage... or how good a shower felt once we were back in Soroti.

So it's almost July... that means fireworks, stars and stripes.. right? haha. Well for the few Americans in Uganda we will be having a get together in Mbale to celebrate America's independance. Mbale is only about an hour away and where some friends of ours live. Wierd to say it's already going to be July that means three weeks.... crazy.

SO on the fourth eat an extra hotdog with lots of ketchup for me! We'll be celebrating on the other side of the world.

Kelsey Joy

Tan lines and Lizards

"The same sun that rises over castles spills over the streets where orphans play" -Bethany Dillon

When I think of a typical day I ask myself, "hmmm what is a typical day anyway?" On the way to the school today I counted 13 lizards, 3 little goats, 1 cow and a woman carrying more than her body weight on top of her head.. To let you in on a little secret... school is just across the street from my apartment. So what I now consider typical daily events, would've made me laugh a month ago.

At about 6:30 am Kate and I awake to the melodic beeping of a standard beep beep beep alarm clock.. (You know the kind I'm sure. The kind that makes you cringe when you hear it in the middle of the day). Oh and side note: this is after about 4 roosters were ahead of the game and did there kockodoodledooing hours too early. Half asleep we make our way outside to the main road (a dirt trail made from bicycles, cattle and pedestrians.) This is when my favorite part of the day begins. I put my headphones in my ears and get lost in the depth of the music. I mean really copeland and an African sunrise- what more could you ask for?? We have faithfully jogged every morning that we've been here and I am starting to feel a little athletic again. haha watch out Belmont track team.. just kidding. But it feels good to work hard and have a routine.

Then off to school we go! We teach a class of 5 students who are 5 and 6 years old. We start out with math then move to handwriting and reading. If they're good (which is pretty often) I will read them a story. Now this story time isn't your typical three little bears page turner. When your dealing with a language barrier you do what you have to... which is me jumping around the room making faces and acting out the story. It's really funny. The kids laugh so hard... it's great. Totally worth the humiliation.

Every Monday Katie uses her artistic skills to teach two art classes. Here in Africa we call her Achin Syren. She has them doing incredible things. The first week they worked on still life drawings, now they are painting events from there life and really getting expressive. Kate is amazing!! I am so thankful for my dear friend who teaches me things every day.... talk about wisdom. We have so much fun talking in stupid voices, making up songs, and catching each other up on the 19 years of our lives before we new each other. It's been fun to say the least...

I teach music classes on Wednesdays. These kids are born with amazing rhythm so my job is pretty easy. They always laugh when I sing... I still can't figure out what that means.

Well before the power goes off I need to post this entry. Lots of love and lizards from Africa.

Apio Terry
aka Kelsey

Apio is my new african name. Terry is an old name... haha

a walk in your shoes

I came to Uganda wanting to walk in someone else's shoes, wanting to know something more than I have always known, and to experience something more than the comfort of the States. The kids I now call friends are almost always barefoot... and have probably owned only one or two pairs of sandals in their entire lives. So this whole walking in someone else's shoes thing has been a bit of a change.

I never thought I would see the day that I would learn all 43 of our orphane's names... but I'm getting close. Each one of them has a story unlike anything I have ever heard. From Rebels coming in and murdering their parents before their eyes, to aids tearing apart families... it's unreal. One of the teachers at the school told us on the first day that the children "love quickly." I know this is true. I find I'm the one who is starting to love each one of them. Today we had a track and field competition with the kids. The nursery bunch, kids from 3-6, were so funny. Running as fast as their tiny legs could move- and the expression on there face was priceless. The others are true athletes! Wow!

The sky is bigger here. That's the only way I can desribe it. It looks like a painting. I think God saves the special colors for the African sky. He must... when I look up I can't believe what I'm seeing.

I read every comment and am so thankful for all of them! I miss all of you and wish I had more time on this computer to write. I guess all I can say is to be continued...

I read in the Bible yestarday that the clouds are the dust of God's feet. That is incredible. Wow God must be a huge God!

Love,
Kelsey