It's Different...

DSC00357
Originally uploaded by alscalvin.

being back in the States! I haven't even made it to Billings yet, thanks to missing my flight (I ended up flying into a town two hours down the road) and going straight on to our vacation spot. But God is good, and even when things don't go according to my plan A, they've worked out well. Here's a picture of some of the weeders in the work-for-food program...I think Melodee posted a bit about this day. I tried to upload some other pictures but it's being too slow, so sorry for that.

Anyway, I had a great time with all my friends in Karamoja and am so thankful for the opportunity I had to go there. Thanks for your prayers and comments! I'll try to post more next week...

Kopetatum

Sorry for not keeping you better updated! Amanda is doing well - she's working hard on helping the mission families organize stuff, and she's been helping Martha format a Karamojong songbook. Last weekend they had a "Nakaale Fine Arts Fair and Medieval Feast" which involved good food, Shakespeare, more.

Here's a note from an e-mail we got on Tuesday:

This morning Em woke me up early so I could go with her to the service at Kopetatum. Riding in the back of the truck (for kicks, not because of lack of room inside) was the most freezing cold I've ever been here, but it was fun! Soon after we arrived, we heard much shouting, and suddenly a small deer came running toward the village, being chased by someone. So immediately a bunch of men and boys started after it. I think one was armed with a big stick, but there were no arrows or spears. They were all running very fast, but I think perhaps the deer got away anyway. Then we sang and Al talked about Simon the Sorcerer (from the book of Acts), and what the power of God really is - to change a heart and a life. It was very good, and helpful to have heard it once already when listening to it during the Nakaale service. I'd say there were maybe 10-12 adults there, and more kids. There was a lot of people (relatively speaking; attendance has been way down) in Nakaale, so the singing and clapping was LOUD. It was awesome.

Amanda is coming home next week, but she has a family vacation right after she gets home, so you can probably expect her to post some time after May 31.

Sick

Please pray for Amanda. She not only has malaria, she's also picked up some amoebas that are being nasty. Yucky parasites. She's in good spirits though; she's a real trooper! She's having quality time with her friends at the mission, even though she's sick.

Update

I'm so sorry I haven't been updating you all on Amanda. She has been quite faithful in e-mailing, so I'll put up a couple highlights:

It was also fun going to the kids' sunday school. They have a new thatch-roofed hut in the Wrights' yard, so the class is now protected from inclement weather and snakes dropping from trees. They're all very cute. Joyce's Aleper and one of the village boys, who's been around from the beginning and now has the small-blanket-around-the-waist-shepherd-boy-look going on, are apparently now best buddies. Afterwards they walked home with their arms across each other's shoulders. It's good to think how these ones might be when they grow up. (April 23)

So today I actually needed my mud boots - it completely poured while I was at Martha's helping sort and organize school supplies. So we tramped back over in boots, and it's a good thing because the path was complete puddled over in many places and the mud was slippery the whole way. Martha says if we keep getting rain like this, followed by incredibly hot, sunny mornings, there will be a *very* abundant harvest! (April 24)

They've been going out into the fields and villages quite often and telling Jesus' parables. Here's the reaction of one crowd:

Martha and I went out into the fields were the weeders were working, and told the parable of the rich man (ekapolon, "chief") who gave a banquet. . .There were maybe 40 women there, all sitting in the dirt but careful not to squash the corn and bean plants. They all looked and sounded somehow shocked that the friends would not come to the feast, and were very interested when the host, like Jesus, invited the poor and the blind and the lame to come and be satisfied. So I think it was hit. (April 27)

More thoughts on the parables:

We have spent a lot more time in the villages lately, so I'm very thankful to be here now as a really concerted effort is being made to tell some of Jesus' parables wherever we can. And here's where Karamojong culture is a good thing: no one minds listened to a story, and are always amiable about having you around. They also seem interested, not just putting up with the mzungus! (May 1)

In other news, the Wrights went to Kampala and are returning soon with Amanda's luggage! So she only had to go a couple weeks without it (too long for me!) Also, she has malaria, but is feeling "somehow better" today. Please pray for her and others at the mission - a good number of them have malaria right now and one of the church members is very, very sick with something else.