Quiet time by candlelight this morning. Huge storms came through last night and knocked the power out. I'm amazed at how hard it can rain here! And it's not even the rainy season yet! This is such an interesting place. Such contrasts. The countryside is probably as beautiful as any place that I've ever been but most people here live in such poverty. We live in a very modest home - 900 square foot brick home with cement floors and no frills - yet we live like royalty compared to most everyone we meet. Yesterday, the Director Carolyn and I went out to one of the villages not too far from GSF to talk to the 'auntie' of a couple GSF students. Her home was one side of a very small cement building. She and the kids that she takes care of share one room. Curtains separate the beds from each other. Everything they own can fit into that 8x8 space. Most of their 'living' is done outside in the predominately dirt-filled yard. Life is hard for these people yet there seems to be a joy and contentment that can only come from the Lord. There doesn't seem to be the restlessness and constant desire for more that we certainly battled with in the US.

I'm slowly learning about the culture and am understanding a little bit of 'Ugandan English'. Went by a 'curbside' market the other day. It is quite an experience! As soon as you drive up a dozen or more women run at your car and frantically shove all sorts of fruits and veggies in your window, yelling "mommy, carrots?", "mommy, tomatoes?", "mommy, bananas?". The first time I went there it blew me away! It was all I could do not to push the power button and close the window! This last time the women must have remembered me because they looked so pitiful that I came home with all sorts of vegetables that my family doesn't even like. Next time I'm determined to only buy things that I want!
Betsy