I played soccer with Michael today who I’m dubbing Smiley. But with these kids, that’s like saying boy or girl because they all grin from ear to ear. Their dimples help distinguish them from each other. Michael has some good foot work for being eight, but he has more my tendency on the field- out run ‘em. He’ll circle around until he speeds by his opponent or outlasts him. Well, it worked out for him since he schooled me a time or two. And on top of it all, he’s wearing a long sleeve shirt, jeans, sneakers while I’m struggling away in my t-shirt and rolled up shorts. What’s a girl to do but SWEAT.
While this is probably story 56, the muggy weather we’re experiencing in North Carolina reminds of the time I visited SMU in Dallas for a college tour. Some southern belles were “perspirin’” (add your own cute drawl), but I was SWEATING! DRIPPING! Alas, I’m glad I can fully encompass the Mzungu characteristics: a white person who turns pink in the sun and sweats the whole way through.
Of course, such assumptions and stereotypes do not fit…usually ever. Except Smiley. That’s just the kids. ☺ But any other expectations about Africans or Westerners or Uncles or Christians will always be off both in good and bad ways. We all underestimate or overestimate in a critical way. And yet again, I’ve been reminded in the last week how I could miss the rare opportunities to really know someone by dismissing him/her by what I imagined. So I play soccer, cook meals, eat dinner, and ask questions in order to change stereotypes into a face of a unique friend. I’ll try to stick to that category: friend.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
words, words, words
A day off is never quite complete and satisfying without a few hours surrounded by volumes of books. I enjoyed such a pleasure this afternoon at Border’s where I took only a few minutes to collect a mountain of reading materials and snuggle into a comfy chair.
My perusing took me through a few good books discussing God, religion, and forming words about these ideas. Do You Believe? Interviews on God and Religion spoke to several artists including Toni Morrison and Martin Scorsese. Author Antonio Monda asked them how they viewed religion, what or in what they believed, and how those perceptions shaped their art. The majority of the interviews I read (a fair sampling) denied any concrete belief if God though most admitted to having an understanding of a higher being. They were unable, however, to fully describe such a being or how its existence plays out in their lives. One said using words to capture God/the higher being limits such a deity from encompassing words such as omnipotent and omnipresent.
Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller and Phase B: Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamont also peeked my interest. Again, with only a small taste, I sensed a completely different approach to their search and understanding of the aforementioned topics. They told stories. Their books revealed real life events, and yet God was somehow present. Is it possible to so perceptively pick out the divine in a remembered story about the “total geek in school” or of the death of man’s best friend?
I find the paradox of understanding and explaining God to be such a profound statement of faith. Despite being some of the most brilliant minds, and certainly the most literary and articulate, interviewees of Mr. Monda’s book fail to find the words. And yet, maybe there is nothing there to fail at, for appreciating the essence of God and faith might not require or even be designed for words. It really leaves me speechless. Yes, in awe and wonder and complete fascination at the multitude of mysteries of God. But more profoundly, I somehow relate more to the relating, to the stories, to the life as describe in the latter books. If I were to think about it and be honest, theoretical or doctrinal statements can merely grasp that which we have experienced whether physically or spiritually. That is why Jesus came to earth. To make an abstract, unknowable being real, flesh, life. And in his walking, talking, weeping and celebrating, God knew and knows the experiences and feelings and thoughts, that like Him, are so indescribable. This is the faith part, believing in the God of flesh and divine, regardless of ability to express it with words.
My Fair Lady takes a woman from the street and gives her a new persona by “fixing” her words. Just at the climax, the transformed character Eliza bursts into song about words. “Words, words, words. I’m so sick of words….SHOW ME NOW!” In her plea to her lover, she asks simply to be shown all the emotion and feeling of love, joy, excitement, and anticipation that he only wants to sing to her. Her plea reminds me that I have a similar longing that can’t be ushered or answered by words but only in the living. So I praise God that I wake up to sun which SHOWS me his joy and life-giving ability. I eat apples which SHOWS me God will provide, and his purpose for the growth and well-being of all creation is ever present. I play soccer with Michael from Uganda which SHOWS me God has a plan for our lives, “a plan to prosper us and not harm us; to give hope and a future.”
Some have a way with words. All of us have a way with life and therefore a connection to God. I just pray I do justice to that connection of love in the words I use.
My perusing took me through a few good books discussing God, religion, and forming words about these ideas. Do You Believe? Interviews on God and Religion spoke to several artists including Toni Morrison and Martin Scorsese. Author Antonio Monda asked them how they viewed religion, what or in what they believed, and how those perceptions shaped their art. The majority of the interviews I read (a fair sampling) denied any concrete belief if God though most admitted to having an understanding of a higher being. They were unable, however, to fully describe such a being or how its existence plays out in their lives. One said using words to capture God/the higher being limits such a deity from encompassing words such as omnipotent and omnipresent.
Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller and Phase B: Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamont also peeked my interest. Again, with only a small taste, I sensed a completely different approach to their search and understanding of the aforementioned topics. They told stories. Their books revealed real life events, and yet God was somehow present. Is it possible to so perceptively pick out the divine in a remembered story about the “total geek in school” or of the death of man’s best friend?
I find the paradox of understanding and explaining God to be such a profound statement of faith. Despite being some of the most brilliant minds, and certainly the most literary and articulate, interviewees of Mr. Monda’s book fail to find the words. And yet, maybe there is nothing there to fail at, for appreciating the essence of God and faith might not require or even be designed for words. It really leaves me speechless. Yes, in awe and wonder and complete fascination at the multitude of mysteries of God. But more profoundly, I somehow relate more to the relating, to the stories, to the life as describe in the latter books. If I were to think about it and be honest, theoretical or doctrinal statements can merely grasp that which we have experienced whether physically or spiritually. That is why Jesus came to earth. To make an abstract, unknowable being real, flesh, life. And in his walking, talking, weeping and celebrating, God knew and knows the experiences and feelings and thoughts, that like Him, are so indescribable. This is the faith part, believing in the God of flesh and divine, regardless of ability to express it with words.
My Fair Lady takes a woman from the street and gives her a new persona by “fixing” her words. Just at the climax, the transformed character Eliza bursts into song about words. “Words, words, words. I’m so sick of words….SHOW ME NOW!” In her plea to her lover, she asks simply to be shown all the emotion and feeling of love, joy, excitement, and anticipation that he only wants to sing to her. Her plea reminds me that I have a similar longing that can’t be ushered or answered by words but only in the living. So I praise God that I wake up to sun which SHOWS me his joy and life-giving ability. I eat apples which SHOWS me God will provide, and his purpose for the growth and well-being of all creation is ever present. I play soccer with Michael from Uganda which SHOWS me God has a plan for our lives, “a plan to prosper us and not harm us; to give hope and a future.”
Some have a way with words. All of us have a way with life and therefore a connection to God. I just pray I do justice to that connection of love in the words I use.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sounds and Shopping
The symphony of sounds that come from the choir could not be mimicked except by accident. The morning starts with thumps on the floor from kids “climbing/falling” down from their top bunk of three. The bell rings people to attention and to place as they gather for meals. Cereal bowls create a nice clinking sound with hungry spoons; there are no Cheerios left behind or milk residue for that matter. Morning prayers said in unison before school have a sweet melody. Pencil sharpeners grind around the clock until play time. And then the real concert starts. The kids have found trash cans to bang on, but because they have rhythm, it sounds more like a scene from a Stomp show. In the background, bonks on the head from a soccer ball or skip of the jump rope add to the percussion piece. While I don’t plan on recording “The Sounds of the Children” (or at least not until the day before they leave), I do enjoy smiling at the sound of life all around.
I never thought about putting "shopping for 30 people" on a five year plan, and yet I found myself touring and scavenging the aisles of Sam’s Club with two other aunties this morning. Now, I am usually a person who goes with a list to the store, knowing the essentials I need and will probably use before nature starts eating the food. For this trip, however, I take a menu. A menu for the week with detailed ingredient lists. While for some getting enough potatoes to go with the meat in the freezer would be sufficient (and maybe some BBQ sauce), we try to provide a balanced meal for the children including VEGGIES! Well, a couple of hours after filling up 4 huge carts (which goes without saying at Sam’s where everything is BIG), we headed home with the groceries for the next few days. The kids were a bit perplexed by the food that just kept coming from the van.
I learned a few new Luganda words including:
Turtle/ tortoise: enfudu (ain foo doo)
very bad: kibinyo (chee bee Nyo-nasal sounding)
Did you like school?: Oyagalo soma?
School bag: ensawo eyokusomalo
Can I go for more?: Weyogeza? (za is low)
One day I’ll have the vocabulary to actually communicate with the kids in their native tongue, but of course that is only if they stop laughing at me long enough to hear.
I never thought about putting "shopping for 30 people" on a five year plan, and yet I found myself touring and scavenging the aisles of Sam’s Club with two other aunties this morning. Now, I am usually a person who goes with a list to the store, knowing the essentials I need and will probably use before nature starts eating the food. For this trip, however, I take a menu. A menu for the week with detailed ingredient lists. While for some getting enough potatoes to go with the meat in the freezer would be sufficient (and maybe some BBQ sauce), we try to provide a balanced meal for the children including VEGGIES! Well, a couple of hours after filling up 4 huge carts (which goes without saying at Sam’s where everything is BIG), we headed home with the groceries for the next few days. The kids were a bit perplexed by the food that just kept coming from the van.
I learned a few new Luganda words including:
Turtle/ tortoise: enfudu (ain foo doo)
very bad: kibinyo (chee bee Nyo-nasal sounding)
Did you like school?: Oyagalo soma?
School bag: ensawo eyokusomalo
Can I go for more?: Weyogeza? (za is low)
One day I’ll have the vocabulary to actually communicate with the kids in their native tongue, but of course that is only if they stop laughing at me long enough to hear.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Dr. Who? I bet Horton heard...
Who knew reading storybooks could be so entertaining! Today Uncle David read the Cat in the Hat and One Fish, Two Fish, Red fish, Blue Fish by none other than Dr. Susu…? The word for “relieving oneself” in Luganda has a similar sound to Seuss. Little kids giggle easily. I just hope that if I ever learn a language well so I can read it, I’ll appreciate the subtleties enough to laugh.
Today, rain drenched our home area. The coats that were airing out on the clothes line were drenched overnight and then got another wash throughout the afternoon. As is typical, though, rain doesn’t stop kids from playing outside. In fact it makes it all the better. Tony’s sweater weighed as much as him, soaked in water.
I dig my team. It’s odd that we have the same number of aunties as uncles (4x4), but the even ratio keeps us real, grounded, and a bit silly. The team is so tight (cool and close) that I can’t wait to be on the road with them. They love to joke around, spend time hanging out, and be present and active with the kids whether it be at meals or playtime. House time will be extra good since we’ll have an opportunity to build friendships and trust before becoming road warriors.
Did you know?
Suess is actually pronounced “soyce”- sounds like voice. But Soose is much better and makes for a better story at least while Ugandans are near. (reference: my 6th grade autobiography report)
Today, rain drenched our home area. The coats that were airing out on the clothes line were drenched overnight and then got another wash throughout the afternoon. As is typical, though, rain doesn’t stop kids from playing outside. In fact it makes it all the better. Tony’s sweater weighed as much as him, soaked in water.
I dig my team. It’s odd that we have the same number of aunties as uncles (4x4), but the even ratio keeps us real, grounded, and a bit silly. The team is so tight (cool and close) that I can’t wait to be on the road with them. They love to joke around, spend time hanging out, and be present and active with the kids whether it be at meals or playtime. House time will be extra good since we’ll have an opportunity to build friendships and trust before becoming road warriors.
Did you know?
Suess is actually pronounced “soyce”- sounds like voice. But Soose is much better and makes for a better story at least while Ugandans are near. (reference: my 6th grade autobiography report)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
workouts
The first day back with kids was something like being back on the track my sophomore season. I knew some people and new folks joined, but I felt at home. I knew how to handle the workouts (meal prep and learning kids names), connect with people (who likes mustard?) and be an asset to my team (give encouragement and clean up the school room). Yeah, I didn’t know all the rules and routines, and I had 26 names and faces to learn. And yet at the end of the day I know I have stretched muscles and grown stronger and wiser from my “workout.”
We have 3 pairs of kids with the same names. Thankfully we can use their African name to avoid confusion. Nothing like Mugambwa and Lubega to make life easier. Joshua B. and Godfrey have promised me all their pizza for the rest of the tour since it’s not their favorite. I guess liver for pizza is a fair trade.
Now I know these kids can dance and sing, but rehearsal today was intense. They squatted so low that MY quads were burning. They repeated a part several times before getting it right, but boy, did they look crisp when Auntie Alyce let them break! While I dig the dances of the previous choir I was with, Choir 31's choreography gives me new dances to learn. I better stretch my IT band and glutes if I want my hips to move with such pop. (I love this: I’m getting the specific muscles I need to work from a Belly-dancing web-site. Oh technology!)
We have 3 pairs of kids with the same names. Thankfully we can use their African name to avoid confusion. Nothing like Mugambwa and Lubega to make life easier. Joshua B. and Godfrey have promised me all their pizza for the rest of the tour since it’s not their favorite. I guess liver for pizza is a fair trade.
Now I know these kids can dance and sing, but rehearsal today was intense. They squatted so low that MY quads were burning. They repeated a part several times before getting it right, but boy, did they look crisp when Auntie Alyce let them break! While I dig the dances of the previous choir I was with, Choir 31's choreography gives me new dances to learn. I better stretch my IT band and glutes if I want my hips to move with such pop. (I love this: I’m getting the specific muscles I need to work from a Belly-dancing web-site. Oh technology!)
Monday, May 26, 2008
On the Road and In the Air
Tour began again this morning at 6:30 when my mom and I hopped into the car on our way to Denver. While I was at the house, I answered lots of questions, took many pictures, and gave tons of hugs. My host family (aka my dad) even packed me a lunch. Thanks guys!
The little things can make or break a trip. Despite the potential for delays due to rain, it ceased right out of Douglas (45 minutes from home) so we arrived in Denver early. The coffee shop man took my large bill even though there was an obvious sign under my nose stating that the shop usually avoided such transactions. Plus his breakfast burrito was rockin' awesome. Even though she took my money for an extra bag, the airline counter lady informed me that her sister had a pretzel business near the Raleigh/Durham airport so now I have a new friend potentially. The airport provided free wireless in order that I might check in with the world before boarding. Finally, I'm right by the lavatories in the plane, but on a 4 hr flight to Atlanta, they might come in handy.
Thank God for perspective. Thank God that He's bigger than airline security, long lines, and road construction. In the end He gives me the opportunity to choose how I respond to all the random circumstances that could happen on the road/in the air. And as a wise coach once told me, take care of what you can and pray about the rest.
I can lean my seat back even though I'm in the very back.
If I avoid the caffeinated pop and taking off my seatbelt, I should only have prayers of thanksgiving: safe flights and sleep on the plane.
P.S. What did you learn today? Check out this clip from one of my favorite radio shows, NPR: Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me. Adam Savage from Discovery Channel's Mythbusters tested a long disputed question: Can a plane take flight if it is going down a conveyor belt which is moving at the same speed in the opposite direction? For all those physics majors out there, I hope you knew this.
Click on Not My Job: Adam Savage and be astounded!
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35&prgDate=05-10-2008&view=storyview
The little things can make or break a trip. Despite the potential for delays due to rain, it ceased right out of Douglas (45 minutes from home) so we arrived in Denver early. The coffee shop man took my large bill even though there was an obvious sign under my nose stating that the shop usually avoided such transactions. Plus his breakfast burrito was rockin' awesome. Even though she took my money for an extra bag, the airline counter lady informed me that her sister had a pretzel business near the Raleigh/Durham airport so now I have a new friend potentially. The airport provided free wireless in order that I might check in with the world before boarding. Finally, I'm right by the lavatories in the plane, but on a 4 hr flight to Atlanta, they might come in handy.
Thank God for perspective. Thank God that He's bigger than airline security, long lines, and road construction. In the end He gives me the opportunity to choose how I respond to all the random circumstances that could happen on the road/in the air. And as a wise coach once told me, take care of what you can and pray about the rest.
I can lean my seat back even though I'm in the very back.
If I avoid the caffeinated pop and taking off my seatbelt, I should only have prayers of thanksgiving: safe flights and sleep on the plane.
P.S. What did you learn today? Check out this clip from one of my favorite radio shows, NPR: Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me. Adam Savage from Discovery Channel's Mythbusters tested a long disputed question: Can a plane take flight if it is going down a conveyor belt which is moving at the same speed in the opposite direction? For all those physics majors out there, I hope you knew this.
Click on Not My Job: Adam Savage and be astounded!
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35&prgDate=05-10-2008&view=storyview
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