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.