Marissa Chick 9th august- 8th September 2011

Greetings from Uganda!  My flight from San Francisco went very well.  I changed planes in Amsterdam, then stopped briefly in Kigali, Rwanda.  Upon arriving in Entebbe, I was met by a couple of my new teammates with a sign. What a relief it was not having to find my own way.  After sleeping in Kampala at a small bed and breakfast for the night we took a 5 hour bus ride.  We stopped 10 times,  having chicken and liver on a stick for lunch along the way.  The plan is to stay in a city called Jinja on the shore of Lake Victoria before heading northeast to the mission. What a blessing to be with this team which prays often in thanksgiving. 

 

Arrived at the encampment

silvas_travels

August 13th, 11:44

We arrived at the compound at Nabilatuk in eastern Uganda near the border with Kenya. Travel from Mbale was rough because the roads are all dirt roads and it poured rain.  A number of big trucks fuil of rock got stuck including two that blocked the pass.  After noting a hugely flooded river nearby we decided to backtrack two hours and spent the night in Sipi Falls.  I enjoyed Sipi Falls. It is a gorgeous 3 tier water fall.

The road was only slightly improved the next day.  Our Land Rover got quite stuck in the mud at one point.  It took us and 6 locals pushing and pulling to free it.  Tired and cover in mud we finally got to Nabilatuk.

It is Ramadan and there is a new mosque in town.  The Muslim call to prayer  happens day and night, but it doesn't stop them from feasting on American music videos such as Magic by B o B.  Astounding.

Yesterday I connected with Kachep aka The Karamoja Christian Ethnovet Project.  I will work alot with their goat and chicken projects.

The best part so far is the consistant ebb and flow in and out of prayer.  Everything is accomplished through prayer.  Here prayer is the first and most valuable option. It strenghtens my heart!

There is much laughter about the roads and all the silly things that happen.  I'm so blessed to be here and am excited about the work ahead.

Blessings!

 

Being sick and other things you shouldn't do in church

silvas_travels

August 15th, 15:48

Monday, was my busiest day so far after waking up for a hour long devotion with the team that I led as a special surprise.  If was then off to the hen house.  If you haven't looked up the Karamoja Chick Project you should.  We have 53 hens we feed and check on twice a day along with 50 chicks in the community.  I've learned how to dispense rations to the local women who exchange eggs for feed.

I was led to a sick cow and was told that it was my job to treat it.  Talk about learning on the job.  Thankfully vet Jean came out and we examined the cow together.  The cow had East Coast Fever which is a tick born illness but is easily medicated.  The Karamajonj have a funny relationship to their cattle.  They have all these herds they use for trading and marriage and they lose them when they get raided.  But they barely eat beef.  Mostly beans and posho which is rice.

The reason for my title for this day's blog is that we went to a special 4 hour Catholic mission confirmation service yesterday and got sick for the first time on the trip., hopefully the last.   I had felt a little queasy but it was the smell of incense put me over the top.   In short I was grateful for my teammate Miriam.  She took me home made me peppermint tea and stayed just outside the tent.  When I finally was able to sit up she and vet Jean prayed over me a special blessings from two very God trusting women.  Just like at home, people here take the power of prayer literally.  If you need Gods help I learned you ask.  As I hear the words of Arabic over the loud speaker we praise God that he speaks to us English, French, Karamoja and pig latin even if we needed him to.  Thank you for you prayers!
Love,

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Marissa