Dear Friends,
That is exactly what I am learning hear in Uganda. Yes, there is a shopping mall, not as fancy but still you can buy shoes, books, get your nails done if one wants to, a supermarket, a coffee shop.. We volunteers live in an apartment that we share. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a DVD player, (no TV though for the Rugby World Cup :o( and we have running water, a washing machine, power…
And then there are slums. There are thousands of people who live in the slum; in huts that are not even huts. It is either a wooden or a tin roof material that is nailed together to keep the worst of the weather off. Most of them have either no windows or only a hole in the wall, maybe a door, maybe not. There is no flooring, just dirt. If it rains, I am sure everything is soaking wet inside… They prepare food in front of their “house” on the ground, make a little fire and then boil whatever they have in one pot. Anyone who loves cooking out there Richy, Egon, Karl, Lisa?? Can you imagine?
There is no electricity, no washing machine, no cloth line… the clothes gets washed in a bucket and then they lay it on the grass or hang it on the fence or sometimes there is a line between the huts. Just beside it their “neighbour” burns his rubbish, beats his wheat, repairs his motorbike, cooks his own food on a wood fire…
Aren’t we so lucky? I mean, I experienced in Thailand sleeping on a concrete bed with a wooden pillow! And how to wash your clothes in a bucket, not having a shower but using your sarong to cover yourself while you wash yourself with a small plastic bowl out of a concrete water container where frogs and all sorts of other things were living it. . . But not having any electricity ever, nothing?
We are so spoilt! At the same time though, I learn so much joy and respect for each other from them. I can see them sitting on the ground with their neighbours and friends talking after a long day of hard physical work… (there was no hot bath either) I mean, when did we talk last to our neighbours? The children are playing soccer, climb trees, help the parents sort out seeds, beat the wheat, they don’t get consumed with facebook, internet and games… they still interact with human beings! Amazing!
My trips have certainly worked in my heart, however, slowly it’s time for me to start thinking about my reality in life. I have decided to leave Uganda early and return to NZ in two weeks. I love New Zealand. I love my church, my house and the people there, however each time I try to think about NZ, there is a grey wall.
I would love to get your comments on my normal private email.
In the last three months I have been so amazed by why God has called me to go on the Logos Hope Ship and why He brought me to come to Uganda.
I am sure for some of you it sounds absolutely crazy to put his call first and loose my wonderful job, try to raise money and book flights, pay for programs and expenses and leave my security to work as a volunteer 6 days a week somewhere, especially in foreign countries. It might sound irrational but God has shown me so much more in those 3 months. I have been challenged in my relationship with Him, I have recognized that I am only at the beginning of my path with God and that He has so much more to do. Today I read in an email from a friend that “…We will almost always want to help the needy but the truth is that they end up helping us. The people around us teach us to live and enjoy the simple things in life. “ That is exactly what I am learning hear in Uganda. Yes, there is a shopping mall, not as fancy but still you can buy shoes, books, get your nails done if one wants to, a supermarket, a coffee shop.. We volunteers live in an apartment that we share. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a DVD player, (no TV though for the Rugby World Cup :o( and we have running water, a washing machine, power…
And then there are slums. There are thousands of people who live in the slum; in huts that are not even huts. It is either a wooden or a tin roof material that is nailed together to keep the worst of the weather off. Most of them have either no windows or only a hole in the wall, maybe a door, maybe not. There is no flooring, just dirt. If it rains, I am sure everything is soaking wet inside… They prepare food in front of their “house” on the ground, make a little fire and then boil whatever they have in one pot. Anyone who loves cooking out there Richy, Egon, Karl, Lisa?? Can you imagine?
There is no electricity, no washing machine, no cloth line… the clothes gets washed in a bucket and then they lay it on the grass or hang it on the fence or sometimes there is a line between the huts. Just beside it their “neighbour” burns his rubbish, beats his wheat, repairs his motorbike, cooks his own food on a wood fire…
Aren’t we so lucky? I mean, I experienced in Thailand sleeping on a concrete bed with a wooden pillow! And how to wash your clothes in a bucket, not having a shower but using your sarong to cover yourself while you wash yourself with a small plastic bowl out of a concrete water container where frogs and all sorts of other things were living it. . . But not having any electricity ever, nothing?
We are so spoilt! At the same time though, I learn so much joy and respect for each other from them. I can see them sitting on the ground with their neighbours and friends talking after a long day of hard physical work… (there was no hot bath either) I mean, when did we talk last to our neighbours? The children are playing soccer, climb trees, help the parents sort out seeds, beat the wheat, they don’t get consumed with facebook, internet and games… they still interact with human beings! Amazing!
My trips have certainly worked in my heart, however, slowly it’s time for me to start thinking about my reality in life. I have decided to leave Uganda early and return to NZ in two weeks. I love New Zealand. I love my church, my house and the people there, however each time I try to think about NZ, there is a grey wall.
I feel I need to free myself and be open to the doors that God is opening for me soon. I have put my house on the market and it will be sold beginning of December. When I imagine that, my heart bleeds a bit as I have never had really time to enjoy my house and not work on it in the last 5 years. But I know I am doing the right thing and I know that doors will open that show me the path I am supposed to walk on. I am open to anything and also to the idea of moving back to Germany for good.
I enjoy how I get challanged and I know and hope that God has got a part reserved for me to do in his greater plan. I also know that sometimes there are more important things than our all day usual living. Moments to take the time for a smile, for a brief conversation, time to listen to a customer… most importantly it is crucial to be aware that the most important person is the one who is in front of you in that moment.
And that is what I am trying to do. I would love to get your comments on my normal private email.
Love Barbara
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