This is Thursday, September 6, 2007. This entry is being written at 419pm. This means that most readers can read this at 1030 am on the same day. You can read it before it is written.
The last two days have been somewhat uneventful. Bob C. attended the Mukono Rotary meeting last evening. It was not like the Rotary Club in Franklin. There was no meal, and he didn't even get a flag. One of the goals of Rotary in Uganda is to bring every family up to poverty level. That amount, translated into dollars, equals $334 per month... for a family of eight. It is a different world here.
Byron and Carol are holding a meeting at the Academy this afternoon for all clergy couples. They plan to share from their experience to encourage this group that they can speak to somewhat authoritatively.
There is now only one more day of class. Many students and teachers began saying their goodbyes today. At the close of the Academy there will be a special ceremony with the Bishop in attendance. We are not sure what the ceremony will be like, but we believe that it will be long.
We got a substitute driver for our van today. Moses, our regular driver, was needed by the Bishop in Kampala. No one seems to know the new driver's name and he does not speak English. The highlight of riding with him is the speed, or rather, lack of speed with which he drives. It took us forever to get back into town today. We were being passed by trucks with heavy loads going up hills.
Finally, some thoughts on the professions of Ugandan people.
Most Ugandans barely survive. In nearly all homes there is no electricity or running water. In fact, doors seem to be optional. Often a curtain or some other piece of material divides inside from out. Many Ugandans farm. For most Americans, a Ugandan farm would be the size of nice garden at home. This is the source of much of the Ugandan diet.
Other sources of income include:
The last two days have been somewhat uneventful. Bob C. attended the Mukono Rotary meeting last evening. It was not like the Rotary Club in Franklin. There was no meal, and he didn't even get a flag. One of the goals of Rotary in Uganda is to bring every family up to poverty level. That amount, translated into dollars, equals $334 per month... for a family of eight. It is a different world here.
Byron and Carol are holding a meeting at the Academy this afternoon for all clergy couples. They plan to share from their experience to encourage this group that they can speak to somewhat authoritatively.
There is now only one more day of class. Many students and teachers began saying their goodbyes today. At the close of the Academy there will be a special ceremony with the Bishop in attendance. We are not sure what the ceremony will be like, but we believe that it will be long.
We got a substitute driver for our van today. Moses, our regular driver, was needed by the Bishop in Kampala. No one seems to know the new driver's name and he does not speak English. The highlight of riding with him is the speed, or rather, lack of speed with which he drives. It took us forever to get back into town today. We were being passed by trucks with heavy loads going up hills.
Finally, some thoughts on the professions of Ugandan people.
Most Ugandans barely survive. In nearly all homes there is no electricity or running water. In fact, doors seem to be optional. Often a curtain or some other piece of material divides inside from out. Many Ugandans farm. For most Americans, a Ugandan farm would be the size of nice garden at home. This is the source of much of the Ugandan diet.
Other sources of income include:
- Charcoal. Many people make charcoal and sell it for cooking. No one cooks inside the house. Many families have an outdoor shelter, or what we would call a barbecue pit for cooking.
- Brick-making. Bricks are made from the clay/mud that is everywhere. They are molded into a uniform shape and then allowed to dry in the sun for several days. After this they are fired in a kiln.
- Bananas. Bananas are the main agricultural product of Uganda.
- Sugar Cane. It is not unusual to pass a bicycle on the road loaded with sugar cane to take to market.
1 comment:
Sounds like things are still busy but winding down. We are anxious for your return and the stories that you will share with us. We will continue to pray for good health, safety and continued success in teaching.
Dewey - my sermon Sunday was on service, maybe someone else will be called to go into the mission field.....we can only pray.
Post a Comment