Sunday Sunday

Sunday, October 4

This morning I let myself sleep in. I didn’t get to sleep until late the night before (because of hanging out with Morris and his family) so I finally got up at 845. I was just going to do my devotions, until the girls said they were going to be going to Watoto Church at 10 and asked if I’d like to go also? Yes please!

We all go ready and because it was so close to when church would start we decided to catch bodas. Jessie and I climbed on one and Alli was going to get the next. We started going down a street that normally wouldn’t be used, and in an attempt to avoid the mud and potholes, the driver took a precarious route, which ended unfortunately with the boda dumping over on the driver, Jessie and I. It was totally a slow motion thing, but in the end we all took a quick survey of the damage. Thank the Lord it wasn’t much. Just a little dirt on clean Sunday clothing and maybe a little more cautious approach to this frequently used mode of transportation. I really was very glad we all go out of it safely. Thank You Lord!

At church (which the worship was wonderfully lead by the same worship pastors as Watoto Kampala) we took communion at the end. And as we passed the red juice and bread, I was overwhelmed by the incredible sacrifice those two articles represent. I could barely keep from crying as I saw Jesus up on that cross, His naked body broken so that I might live. I think that being here, and seeing all I have has shown me much more of what He went through, and that it wasn’t a clean, civilized thing. Realizing that seeing someone get hit in the face hurts me, I can’t imagine what was done to Him. Its something that I think I take for granted but that when I realize it, ruins every bit of pride I might have accumulated. Realizing the amount of pain He endured ON MY BEHALF is the most humbling thing I have ever become aware of, because I know what I’ve come from and what I’ve done, but He still hung, naked on that cross for me. Dang..

Today marked my half way point. Only two more weeks of being here in Gulu. I have really enjoyed my time, but as I told Bethany (whom I spoke with at dinner at Fugley’s) I feel like I’ve sort of been in survival mode. I haven't cried over what I’ve seen here, nor do I think I’ve let it penetrate my heart. I don’t know if that is good or bad, but it does bother me some. I have never wanted to be closed off to what I’m immersed in, and et I feel like maybe thats what I’ve done. But at the same time, it feels like this is my survival time. I don’t know. I do know that I’m going to need some time by myself to relax and decompress from all of this. I don’t know what that will be like or how to do it really, but even if its just a few days of thinking, writing and praying, that might prove to be enough. 

This afternoon I was able to go visit my friend Jeremy, whom I had met on the bus from Kampala to Gulu. We had both had a little bit of time to see Gulu life and be at work, so we got together to share stories and some food. He graciously shared some avocados and tomatoes with dressing on them with me, as well as fresh squeezed orange juice. I brought chapati and the meal was complete!! (I’m really going to miss that food!) We just sat and shared about various things for a couple hour, but to me it was really great. Being friends with Jeremy is definitely not something I would have foreseen happening, but I welcome it whole-heartedly.

I went home after lunch and was tired so I took a little nap. I ended up waking up to the biggest craving for a burger and fries so I decided that I’d head to Bomah, as I knew I could enjoy some quiet and solitude along with my food. However, just when we were about to pull in the Ketchup at Fugley’s overpowered my desire to have a guaranteed quiet evening. (Who would have thought I would frequent a restaurant simply because of Ketchup?! Its powerful stuff though.) I asked the driver to continue on to Fugley’s and I was able to have my chips with Ketchup!

I sat at a table a little further out and began to write. But within a short time I was joined by a girl who I had seen the week before at trivia night. She introduced herself and sat down to talk. (Oh well on the writing...)

Bethany is here as a ‘supported volunteer’ working with an HIV/Aids support organization. She’s been here for a few weeks and will be here until November, with a possibility of staying longer. She is really funny and we had a great time chatting. It was actually really great to talk with her because of her understanding of medicine and the challenges of medicine here, in a developing country. As we spoke, though, we were able to talk about how even though we are in these potentially dangerous and infectious situations we are covered by the blood of Jesus. Her boss, even, is now TB+ and got her exposure by working with these patients here. But God is bigger than TB, HIV/Aids and every other disease. He is covering us and in Him we need not fear. Even though some things are difficult here, I just keep on being blessed by these sorts of encounters.