Halfway

Troy and I try to take turns blogging to share different perspectives and we obviously have different styles - his short and sweet and mine, well, ........exactly the opposite.  We had some time to catch up talking over different things this weekend while we were on a weekend getaway to Jinja and blogging came up. He said that some people had commented that they liked both our blogs, but they preferred his short and sweet style.  So, it seems that living in Africa for a while now has not yet eliminated my prideful, competitive side as of yet and I just couldn't believe this could be true; that his short updates (with grammatical errors that I love to point out) could compare with my eloquent, very grammatically correct writings that I take great pride in.  But, if I'm honest, I know he is absolutely correct.  We all have such busy lives - who has time to read all my ramblings?  

Now I write this all with a sense of humor, but I am going to try his style this time and see if I can do it.  Obviously, not going too well so far as I've taken this long to even intro my topic!  When I comment to Troy I am going to try and write my blog that day he always asks me, "What is your topic?"  I think I need to realize it's just not going to be possible to write anything very concisely or coherently when my answer is usually, "I have no idea."  So, here we go.  Trying to stick to a topic and be concise this time.  You can be the judge after reading.  

TOPIC:  Halfway 

We are officially more than halfway through our planned time here in Uganda.  Out flight home is the first week in June.  So, this milestone seems like it requires some reflection on what we've already experienced and some thoughts on what is to come in our remaining months.  Thought I would break these down into a few Top Five lists (my attempt to force myself to be concise!) 

Part 1:  From Our Experiences So Far  

*note that lists aren't in priority order, just as they came to my mind

Top 5 Lessons I've Learned

1.  My children are more amazing than I realized.

2.  How to be more honest, open and engaged in a relationship with God and what it can add to your life.  And also, instead of just reading the Bible, let it speak to you, challenge you and comfort you wherever you are at in your life.  

3.  That welcoming people into your life and loving them is so much easier than we often make it.  

4.  That things that seem so little can really mean so much.

5.  That there is so much more disparity in this world than I ever realized.

Top 5 Surprises

1.  That things that seem so obvious to many of us are not at all obvious to many people in the world.  

2.  That Troy and I can work together and also spend not a single day away from our children and we are all still speaking.

3.  That so many people are open to keep learning more and more, even though their traditional system of learning would have burned me out a long time ago.

4.  That life is so fragile and people are dying every day at a rate of which I was very naive.

5.  That people can be so grateful even though in our eyes they have almost nothing.  

Top 5 Frustrations

1.  I still struggle with patience and pridefulness, which results in me not always treating people that I love the way they deserve to be treated.

2.  That Ugandans live in such a beautiful place, but that so many do not understand or realize how to take care of its beauty by keeping it clean.

3.  That sometimes there seems no solution as the problem is too big you just don't know where to start.

4.  When you work really hard to honor your commitments to people and they do not do the same in return.

5.  Lack of good communication 

Top 5 Moments of Happiness

1.  Experiencing the amazing beauty of God's creation in places I'd never guess I would have the opportunity to see:  On Safari in Tanzania, at Sipi Falls, the Nile River, and at CLD Double Portion Farm

2.  Successful baking in a charcoal oven

3.  Completing saving circle training and having a committed group of members (up to limit of what we can take at 30) that are now saving each week for their futures.

4.  Making so many new friends, hopefully for a lifetime. And also seeing Avery and Henry do the same.

5.  All the time I have gotten to spend teaching and learning alongside people that are so appreciative and eager to learn.  

Part 2:  Yet to Come

Top 5 Fun Things Yet to Do

1.  Welcome my parents and sister to Africa!!!

2.  Visit Rwanda & Ssee Islands

3.  Meet more family members of our friends here

4.  Work on my photo series of amazing feats on bodas and bicycles

5.  Attend a Ugandan Introduction ceremony and/or wedding 

Top 5 Hopes

1.  That our relationships with our new friends and colleagues here continue to grow and strengthen, both for Troy and I, as well as our children.

2.  That we leave each CLD project a little further ahead in professionalism, sustainability, and reaching their goals than when we arrived.

3. That before we leave I will be able to see the new direction of Thread of Life begin to take shape and that at least one of the women I have had the privilege of getting to know will be able to start to begin taking real steps toward supporting themselves and their family.

4. That the teachers at WCIA continue to challenge themselves in small steps to teach in new and exciting ways and see positive responses and results from their students.

5. That discussion and education around financial literacy can continue to happen within CLD's programs.   

Top 5 Fears

1.  How to translate our experience here to our life back home 

2.  That the changes we are trying to help make here in people's lives and the programs will not last

3. That we will feel out of place when we return home

4. That our kids will lose touch with their friends here after we leave 

5. That I am going to have to figure out how we can own and take care of a goat to help make Avery's new dream come true

Okay, since I've already failed at my goal of staying short and sweet, I might as well throw in a few fun ones:

Most Useful Donation Item we Brought Over:  Cash bags from a local bank - every program loves them as everything happens in cash here so you need a way to store and manage it
Most Useful Item I've Purchased Here:  A small wash basin (very multipurpose) and mini bibles for the kids
My Biggest Temptation to Purchase Here:  Jewelry and fabric
My Favorite Snack:  G-nuts
Kid's Favorite Snack:  Samosas
Troy's New Addiction:  Krest soda
New Favorite Drink:  African Tea (I always hated tea and called it dirty water)
Most Missed Item:  Hot water
Pet Peeves:  Fruit flies and mosquito bites
Most Scary:  Being on the roads here (Troy is a master driver, but I still cringe at least once a day as a passenger)
Items I Can't Find:  Pretzels, Tortilla Chips, Yellow Cake Mix

Thanks again for reading.  I surrender and give up.  I cannot be short and sweet. I know that you will all still love me anyway.  :)  

Hope your year is off to a great start.  We'll try to continue writing about our continuing adventures.  Both his and her styles.  

~Heather