Week 5

Week 5, has been really great!  I made pasta and garlic bread for my host family this week.  Everyone gathered for the event.  There were about 12 plates in all served, and I’m surprised that what I made was sufficient for everyone.   So something I have been learning about in my classes is the effects of culture shock.  And all that has been described in the classroom and what I have read in books are not what I have experienced while here.  And I have come to understand why...

According to wikipedia, “Culture Shock is the anxiety, feelings of frustration, alienation, or anger that may occur when a person is emplaced in a new culture.”  Now, I may be in a new culture, and YES the Ugandan culture is much different than anything I have ever experienced, but this is not the first time I have been in a new culture.  Although I have never left the United States before I have experienced this culture shock.  The culture shock I’m talking about is the culture of Christianity.  Not American Christianity, but the truth that is found in the word of God…that Christianity.  It is a submission to the truth of the spirit.

Here is a poem I wrote for one of my classes:

The Ultimate Culture Shock: Submission to the Holy Spirit

I lie here thinking to myself, where is this Ugandan culture shock?

I’m not going through this…Howcome?!

I have read about this in books, talked about it in the classroom…AHH!  Then the clues begin to unlock.

Hmm…Culture shock I have experienced this before!  But it was back at home.

It did not take a different country, but…YES, a different culture.

The submission to the Spirit was what brought me out of my culture and comfort zone.

This submission was what brought me do to things that were unsure.

I learned that through this submission I was not alone.

When we submit to the Spirit, live by the law of the Lord, and act out our faith, we will be living in a   different culture.

Every encounter we have with our neighbor allows for us to experience this.

It does not matter whether that is across the world, family, a friend, or even as close as next door.

When we submit to the Spirit, in any environment, a culture shock is hard to miss.

Uganda is no different than home.

Because everyday the Spirit draws me near.

I could be as far as the city Rome.

But in Him, through every culture shock, pilgrimage is set in gear.

For the next 10 days I will be in the district of Siroti.  This is also nicknamed “Siroasti,” because of the intensity of the heat.  This part of the USP program is called the rural home stay.  Where we are going, there may not be electricity for extended period of times, there is the possibility of living at a farm, and there are some really nice waterfalls nearby (Sipi Falls).  While there I will not have internet or much contact with anyone, besides those who I will live with.  Friends and family, please pray for safety, a fun time, the intervention of the Spirit, and for me to be lead to times of worship.

Week 4

This past weekend, most of the USP group went to Jinja to go rafting on the Nile.  We went with this group called Adrift.  Rafting down the Nile was an adventure.  There was one specific area of the trip, called the “bad place.”  Our raft did everything in our capacity and strength to avoid this area.  But our efforts were meaningless.  We slowly drifted into this swirling whirlpool of water that towered the raft in about six feet. Our raft folded in half and the 9 people that were in the raft flew in different directions.  I was tossed into a whirling wave and went under the water.  I was tossed to and fro, up and down for about a good minute.  I came above the water about 8-10 times, searching for a breath of air, but was immediately tossed back into the water.  Another raft came to our rescue and I was pulled into the raft.  This was probably the worst of the rafting experience.  After surviving the "bad place", all the other rapids we faced did not toss our raft.  We conquered the four other rapids we faced after the “bad place.”  After the rapid adventure, we went back to the rooms we were staying at and we spent the night resting.  The next morning was bungee jumping.  What fun!  It was an exhilarating experience.  The scariest part of the bungee jump was the standing off of the ledge.  But once I jumped, the anxiety left, and I was reminded of the faith and control God has in our lives.  It took some faith to jump, but when I did; I had no control, and I was in for the ride of my life.  The leap of faith was worth it.

         
This past week, I have been learning so much the discipline of simplicity.  The lifestyle, idea of possessions, and mentality of the where I’m living feed off of a simple way of life.  I bring home hot sauce, jelly for bread, or any of the pens and pencils I have at home are for the entire household.  Even when, my brothers will bring something home, it is meant for the entire house and is communally shared.  According to Richard Foster, in his book Celebrations of Discipline, he says, “We cling to our possessions rather than sharing them because we are anxious about tomorrow.  But if we truly believe that God is who Jesus says he is, then we do not need to be afraid.  When we come to see God as the almighty creator and our loving Father, we can share because we know he will care for us.”  That does not mean that we should be giving and sharing everything we have…there needs to be an essence of common sense involved.  But when we seek first the Kingdom of God, anxiety truly does not have a role in our lives, and we realize that the things we have were never ours to begin with.  In this simple lifestyle, I have been lead to times of worship.  

Week 3...Part 3

This past week was a roller coaster.  I was sick for a couple of days with a running stomach.  I will let all of you figure out what a running stomach is.    Maama’s care and hospitality was incredible.  She would always hover over me and would be constantly giving me herbal medicines for healing.  With about 20 or so trips to the toilet I have become a master in the art of going to the bathroom.   But while I was sick I could not help but smile.  Taata said, “I don’t understand this.  You say you are sick, but yet you are smiling.”  I could not explain it to him.  The joy of the Lord has been so captivated in my heart that I could not help but smile. 

            This past weekend I went to Kampala with my Taata to see Trevor who was sick in the hospital.  When we got off of the Taxi, Taata had explained to me that his pants were torn.  We immediately found a tailor and then went to Mulago hospital.  Trevor was not well and was suffering.  We gave Trevor’s Mom some money and then left.  On our way home we stopped at my Aunt Miriam’s house.  To my surprise Rebecca, Joseph and Andrew were there.  It was great to see them all.  We headed back home and I rested.  Sunday I went to church with Robert.  Then I spent some time alone up at the top of a place called monkey hill.  I spent some time praying and meditating.  It was very peaceful.  I also met some great people up there, who will be good brothers and sisters in Christ in this journey.            

            This past Monday morning when I woke up Taata came in my room.  He started off by saying, “I did not sleep well last night.”  I said, “Why Taata?”  He said, “Trevor went on.”  I was shocked and did not know how to respond.  So I did not respond.  The rest of the day was filled with sorrow and weeping.  I had an 8AM class that morning.  I went, but I did not want to be there.  After class I went back up to monkey hill.  I finally had time to process what happened and I was able to mourn.  So I did.  I cried…And cried.  Afterwards I went home.  Maama was surprisingly smiling, she was glad to see me.  I gave her a hug and told her I was tired.  So then I went to bed.  I woke up a few hours later and my friend Jordan, an intern from USP, was there to see our family.  He gave his condolences and explained that if we wanted a vehicle for the funeral they would provide.  Maama was thrilled and gave Jordan a lot sugar cane and a live chicken before he left.  Jordan and I smirked at each other because of Maama’s amazing generosity.

              The next morning we had arranged for a vehicle to pick us up to go to Maama’s village for the funeral.  We left around 11AM.  When I got there I was able to meet the entire family.  There were about 200 people in all for the funeral.  Everyone gathered.  The funeral was filled with sadness and joy.  I spent most of my time playing with the children.  We had some head balancing competitions.  The saddest part of the funeral was the burial.  The kids were crying.  When I saw the tears from the children’s eyes I wanted to hug them all and cry with them. 

But I noticed that at this funeral everyone was there for each other in mourning, prayer, encouragement and most importantly love.  The abundance of love at this funeral was overwhelming.  On the ride back home I was crying with joy, because of the love.  I was reminded of the closeness I have with my family back home, but instead of few, there were hundreds.   Through the sadness, sorrows and tears I have been waiting for the Lord.  The end of Psalm 27 talks about this, “Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”  All of Psalm 27 talks about worshipping through difficult times.  But as for now, while I suffer I wait for the Lord.  I will persist through this time of hardship while I mourn the death of my cousin Trevor and will continue to be lead to times of worship.