Today we arrived back in the capital city of Kampala. Actually technically Kampala is the only "city" in Uganda (fun fact). All the others are considered villages or towns. I am still loving it here so very much!
Today we stopped at a crocodile farm on our way back to the city. In this croc farm they had some crocs that the Uganda Wildlife Authority rescued because they ate people. One of them had eaten 4 people. I found this interesting as in the US they would be hunted and killed if they were a danger to people, not kept in a "zoo" like setting.
Yesterday our team leader went to the village and bought a goat. The vet students with our program slaughtered it and we spent all afternoon preparing it for roasting. Which is pretty much making a kabob and putting it onto the fire. It was a great experience.
I have had fun keeping the group busy as we taught them how to play spoons and WOW do they get into it! Its so much fun to watch! They all get so excited! They also taught me how to play their game which is very similar to our Uno but you use just a normal deck of cards! I brought nail polish with and us girls had fun painting our nails yesterday as well!
Driving down the streets in the small villages the children jump up and down and wave and yell "mzungu mzungu" which really just means white person. But the most heartbreaking part of this is not that we are white and they notice, the worst part is that all they see is money. They yell to us "give me money" or "100 shillings?" mind you, 100 shillings is about $0.04. Thinking that money is what will fix all of their problems, when in fact, money will NOT fix all of their problems. The children asking these things are the children running down the streets during school hours because their parents cant afford to pay their tuition to go to school since public education is not free here. The 7 year olds are taking care of the babies, carrying them around. It is very VERY different than poverty in the US. The people in the US still have clothes to wear, even if they are full of holes. Many MANY babies are not even wearing clothes.
God here is so very real. I feel him everywhere I am. The people here have VERY strong faiths. I catch my fellow classmates talking about their faith more than the average student at NDSU. Its very interesting and I really enjoy it. There is a great muslim influence here as I saw more mosques on our drive than I did churches. But he is here the same as he is at home and people he is moving. I know he is. I am getting a little sad as I have already been here for 2 weeks and only have 5 more left! That seems like a crazy thing to be sad about, but I truely am. I have met some great and amazing friends and people here I love them all and they have all found a special spot in my heart.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Lions, Elephants, and Hippos
For the past few days we have been traveling around Uganda going to visit the different national parks. We first started out in Kibale National Park where we saw a wide variety of monkeys, birds, butterflies, and medicinal plants! It was so very cool! When you think of Africa I am sure that you mostly pictures a savanna and desert climate, but here was not any of those. This place was a jungle, like a rainforest. It was so pretty! I was just extremely happy to not see a snake! Thank you Jesus!! :)
After Kibale we left on Saturday to come to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This place is super awesome it really takes my breath away its absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Upon arrival we were greeted by elephants. We were very warned though that even though elephants seem so innocent in movies and entertainment, they definately are not! They have been known to kill humans by throwing them into the air or by stomping on them, so we were very cautious. But they are so breathtaking, truely mesmorizing animals and so gorgeous, especially in the WILD. I cannot even describe to you the feeling of seeing one of these wild animals in their natural habitat thoroughly enjoying their life.
Yesterday we went on a game drive, meaning riding around in the vehicle to see wild animals. We took one of the classic "safari" vehicles...if any of you are actually interested in what type of vehicle this is its a toyota landcruiser. The most exciting part is that we get to sit on the top of the vehicle as it is driving, I believe our top speed was probably around 50mph! Truely the time of my life I feel so free here. During our drive we saw a lion, waterbuck, water buffalo, kope (similar to an impala), and a lot of birds and butterflies.
After that we went on a boat ride! When we were on this we saw hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, and fisherman! Very awesome.
Today was an adventure! We got to dart (meaning put into an anestheisa) water buffalo! It was sooo cool! At first it was really scary as they kept telling us buffalo are one of the most feared animals here for their charging. But I truely think they just try to scare us, it is unnecessary. So, anyway we darted the water buffalo and I was suppose to take blood samples. The first buffalo we took down had samples already being taken of it before I got there, so I did not get to do it then. The second buffalo wasnt completely undertaken by the anesthetic the first time we got out of the car, so it got up and we all had to quickly run into vehicles! They laughed at me because my reflexes were not thinking and I was carrying a pan of water and didnt let go..oops! I managed not to spill...just imagine it...you would laugh too :). After that I got a littel nervous for that buffalo, even though we darted it again to make sure it was down, so I was going to draw from the next one we took down. Unfortunately they gave us latex gloves. My latex allergy was confirmed today. I got a small rash on my hand and my eyes swelled a bit, so I decided to be done. It was all good though. If you want an adrenaline rush dart animals! It was a great experience and it was so much fun I'm so happy to have been a part of it!
God is so great, He is the God of this univerise and that includes ALLLL of the nations. How incredibly awesome?! He keeps on reminding me that He is here with me and in Africa every single day. It is so great. He loves us all so much! I had a chance to lead a bible study here while we were in Kibale one night. It was only a few of us but it was such a great reminder that even though we are here He will never leave us. No matter what.
I hope that this finds you all happy and healthy and know that I am thinking and praying for you all! Love You!!
After Kibale we left on Saturday to come to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This place is super awesome it really takes my breath away its absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Upon arrival we were greeted by elephants. We were very warned though that even though elephants seem so innocent in movies and entertainment, they definately are not! They have been known to kill humans by throwing them into the air or by stomping on them, so we were very cautious. But they are so breathtaking, truely mesmorizing animals and so gorgeous, especially in the WILD. I cannot even describe to you the feeling of seeing one of these wild animals in their natural habitat thoroughly enjoying their life.
Yesterday we went on a game drive, meaning riding around in the vehicle to see wild animals. We took one of the classic "safari" vehicles...if any of you are actually interested in what type of vehicle this is its a toyota landcruiser. The most exciting part is that we get to sit on the top of the vehicle as it is driving, I believe our top speed was probably around 50mph! Truely the time of my life I feel so free here. During our drive we saw a lion, waterbuck, water buffalo, kope (similar to an impala), and a lot of birds and butterflies.
After that we went on a boat ride! When we were on this we saw hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, and fisherman! Very awesome.
Today was an adventure! We got to dart (meaning put into an anestheisa) water buffalo! It was sooo cool! At first it was really scary as they kept telling us buffalo are one of the most feared animals here for their charging. But I truely think they just try to scare us, it is unnecessary. So, anyway we darted the water buffalo and I was suppose to take blood samples. The first buffalo we took down had samples already being taken of it before I got there, so I did not get to do it then. The second buffalo wasnt completely undertaken by the anesthetic the first time we got out of the car, so it got up and we all had to quickly run into vehicles! They laughed at me because my reflexes were not thinking and I was carrying a pan of water and didnt let go..oops! I managed not to spill...just imagine it...you would laugh too :). After that I got a littel nervous for that buffalo, even though we darted it again to make sure it was down, so I was going to draw from the next one we took down. Unfortunately they gave us latex gloves. My latex allergy was confirmed today. I got a small rash on my hand and my eyes swelled a bit, so I decided to be done. It was all good though. If you want an adrenaline rush dart animals! It was a great experience and it was so much fun I'm so happy to have been a part of it!
God is so great, He is the God of this univerise and that includes ALLLL of the nations. How incredibly awesome?! He keeps on reminding me that He is here with me and in Africa every single day. It is so great. He loves us all so much! I had a chance to lead a bible study here while we were in Kibale one night. It was only a few of us but it was such a great reminder that even though we are here He will never leave us. No matter what.
I hope that this finds you all happy and healthy and know that I am thinking and praying for you all! Love You!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
We Have Arrived!
We are here! After a very, VERY long flight we made it to the ground around 10pm on Sunday evening Uganda time (8 hours ahead; 2:00pm CST), got to our van around 11pm, and got to our hostile about 12am! We did not get all settled in until about 1am and had to wake up at 6:30am (remember this is about 10:30pm CST) to get to our class in the morning! It was a very long day of lectures yesterday (Monday), we were busy 8:30-5! We stood out very much as we all began to fall asleep in class around 2pm or so because we were totally exhausted, everybody noticed. But I think they were understanding of our jetlag.
Regardless of our falling asleep during lectures, the topics and information we were learning was very interesting and there has been very good discussion with it. We have a very small class compared to anything in the US, there are about 20 of us. We have been learning a lot about the different structures in the health system here and about infectious disease. The diseases we are learning about are very interesting to me as they are not anything we have been exposed to while studying in the states! I love it so much! The main difference I find in what we are learning here is that in the classes I take back home focus very much on genetics causing disease and treatment where as the classes here focus very much on pathogens and vectors (such as the tsetse fly causing trypansomosis), it is very interesting and different and I really am enjoying it.
We have found out more of our itinerary as we were mostly left without knowing it before we left! On Thursday we will begin our journey to Western Uganda where we will travel to Kibale National Park (has primates, birds, and lab work). Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (Hippos, Lions, birds, water buffalos), Lake Mburo National Park (antelope, livestock ranches), and the only crocodile farm! I also was told we will be able to see a giraffe which I'm totally stoked about since we were told that we would not see one here and I was a little bit sad about that. We will arrive back from western Uganda on the 29. We will have a free day here in Kampala (the largest city) where we will probably be doing some tourist stuff, and then head to eastern Uganda. In eastern Uganda we will be visiting mostly health centers, farms, and a research institute in trypsanomyosis. We will also be doing a bit of site seeing on this part of our journey. We will be climbing a mountain, visiting the source of the nile and crossing over the nile (AWESOME), and visiting a national forest. We will then have another free day in Kampala. After that we will have a boma, which will last a few days, where there is a fire, food, and sharing between cultures we were told there will be approximately 150 people there. After the boma we will attend a conference for about 2 or 3 days.
I have already learned so much while here! I am loving my time here. Some may say it is still in the "honeymoon phase" but I believe I truely like it here. The food is not AMAZING, there are about 3 types of food here, rice, posho (cooked plantains--a type of banana), and matoke (corn starch). But it is not so bad. I have made friends with people from all over Africa; Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda! Sweet deal!
God is so awesome! I love that he has given me the opportunity to be here with people that are all so different, but essentially all the same. That is what this all comes down to. We all have differences but we all have the same concerns, issues, and in the end just want to meet new people and experience the world. Some of our concerns may have a different face, prevalence but at the very core we all want to help improve the conditions we are living in regardless of where we are in this big world.
Until next time...ta ta!!
Regardless of our falling asleep during lectures, the topics and information we were learning was very interesting and there has been very good discussion with it. We have a very small class compared to anything in the US, there are about 20 of us. We have been learning a lot about the different structures in the health system here and about infectious disease. The diseases we are learning about are very interesting to me as they are not anything we have been exposed to while studying in the states! I love it so much! The main difference I find in what we are learning here is that in the classes I take back home focus very much on genetics causing disease and treatment where as the classes here focus very much on pathogens and vectors (such as the tsetse fly causing trypansomosis), it is very interesting and different and I really am enjoying it.
We have found out more of our itinerary as we were mostly left without knowing it before we left! On Thursday we will begin our journey to Western Uganda where we will travel to Kibale National Park (has primates, birds, and lab work). Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (Hippos, Lions, birds, water buffalos), Lake Mburo National Park (antelope, livestock ranches), and the only crocodile farm! I also was told we will be able to see a giraffe which I'm totally stoked about since we were told that we would not see one here and I was a little bit sad about that. We will arrive back from western Uganda on the 29. We will have a free day here in Kampala (the largest city) where we will probably be doing some tourist stuff, and then head to eastern Uganda. In eastern Uganda we will be visiting mostly health centers, farms, and a research institute in trypsanomyosis. We will also be doing a bit of site seeing on this part of our journey. We will be climbing a mountain, visiting the source of the nile and crossing over the nile (AWESOME), and visiting a national forest. We will then have another free day in Kampala. After that we will have a boma, which will last a few days, where there is a fire, food, and sharing between cultures we were told there will be approximately 150 people there. After the boma we will attend a conference for about 2 or 3 days.
I have already learned so much while here! I am loving my time here. Some may say it is still in the "honeymoon phase" but I believe I truely like it here. The food is not AMAZING, there are about 3 types of food here, rice, posho (cooked plantains--a type of banana), and matoke (corn starch). But it is not so bad. I have made friends with people from all over Africa; Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda! Sweet deal!
God is so awesome! I love that he has given me the opportunity to be here with people that are all so different, but essentially all the same. That is what this all comes down to. We all have differences but we all have the same concerns, issues, and in the end just want to meet new people and experience the world. Some of our concerns may have a different face, prevalence but at the very core we all want to help improve the conditions we are living in regardless of where we are in this big world.
Until next time...ta ta!!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Today is June 16!
I have been waiting for this day for over six months, I cannot believe that it is FINALLY here! This is the real deal. Sitting at home with my family I cannot even begin to fathom how blessed I truely am here. I have an amazing God who lets me experience this world and show me new and different things, a supportive family who loves me, an awesome second family (Peterson's, Preble's, and other Peterson's), fantastic roommates, and a group of 13 beautiful girls all of whom I get to share my struggles, triumphs, and doubts with. Can anyone really ask for anything better than that?!
God is continuing to show me new things, I am just in awe of him. It never ceases. In the last week I had been trying to decide if going to Africa was REALLY what God wanted for me. I wished so badly I could be in both places at one time. So I could be here in the states for my family and my best friend as they go through difficult times but I also just want to fix everybody's broken heart and be in Africa too. But lets be for real here. Physically, I cannot do that. Then God just whispered in my ear.......we are ALL part of the body of Christ, so I am a part of that body. If I am part of that body and YOU are part of that body, then really I am still here even when I am in Africa. I am everywhere that God is and He is omnipresent (meaning literally everywhere). And really it isn't MY heart that is yearning for these things, to fix all these broken hearts, and mend all of these relationships, but it is HIS heart that He has given to me since I have given Him all of my earthly self (or at least to the best of my abilities). How awesome right?!
I cannot wait to see all that God has waiting in Africa. He is moving people! How sweet! He is going to be able to use this trip in awesome ways that I don't even know about or can begin to imagine yet. Everyone keeps telling me "This is going to change your life". I cannot even begin to know how, but to be honest I hope this trip doesn't just change my life. I hope it RUINS my life. Ruins my life so much that I cannot go back to living the "normal" American life that I do I don't want the American dream, I want God's dream for my life. I hope that it RUINS my life so much that my heart BREAKS for the people there and I have to do something about it. God has placed a desire (Psalms 37:4 again) in my heart to go to Africa long, long ago. So I intend for this trip to ruin my life for good and all for the glory of our beautiful Savior. Plane boards in 4 hours...ready. set. go.
God is continuing to show me new things, I am just in awe of him. It never ceases. In the last week I had been trying to decide if going to Africa was REALLY what God wanted for me. I wished so badly I could be in both places at one time. So I could be here in the states for my family and my best friend as they go through difficult times but I also just want to fix everybody's broken heart and be in Africa too. But lets be for real here. Physically, I cannot do that. Then God just whispered in my ear.......we are ALL part of the body of Christ, so I am a part of that body. If I am part of that body and YOU are part of that body, then really I am still here even when I am in Africa. I am everywhere that God is and He is omnipresent (meaning literally everywhere). And really it isn't MY heart that is yearning for these things, to fix all these broken hearts, and mend all of these relationships, but it is HIS heart that He has given to me since I have given Him all of my earthly self (or at least to the best of my abilities). How awesome right?!
I cannot wait to see all that God has waiting in Africa. He is moving people! How sweet! He is going to be able to use this trip in awesome ways that I don't even know about or can begin to imagine yet. Everyone keeps telling me "This is going to change your life". I cannot even begin to know how, but to be honest I hope this trip doesn't just change my life. I hope it RUINS my life. Ruins my life so much that I cannot go back to living the "normal" American life that I do I don't want the American dream, I want God's dream for my life. I hope that it RUINS my life so much that my heart BREAKS for the people there and I have to do something about it. God has placed a desire (Psalms 37:4 again) in my heart to go to Africa long, long ago. So I intend for this trip to ruin my life for good and all for the glory of our beautiful Savior. Plane boards in 4 hours...ready. set. go.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
And the Countdown Continues..
In exactly one week we will be on our plane heading to Uganda! It is coming up so fast I can't even believe it! God is still teaching me new things each day before I leave to make sure I am fully prepared for this trip. Lately He has been showing me how temporary our life here on earth really is. He is teaching me to live for him with each and every second because every second here is vital. What if we all make a difference for Him each day? With each minute? What can YOU do for him today? What is your role in the body of Christ?
Maybe you don't know that yet, but I encourage you to figure that out with God, He will show you if you ask! Our life here does not promise us a tomorrow and it does not promise us another breath, so make the most of every one that he offers to you!
He is also teaching me to trust Him with all that I am and give Him my everything because He really is in control and everything happens for a reason. No matter how hard or how easy the road he gives you is. He doesn't give you anything that you can't handle. I have been reminded constantly of the song by Matthew West "Strong Enough"( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es). I am so excited to give God my everything and trust Him with everything new, challenging, and wonderful that He is giving and showing to me in my life! I hope that you are too!
Packing and tying up loose ends for my Relay for Life team is all that I have left to do before I leave and of course spending some much needed time with my family and friends before I leave! That is my agenda in this last week before we board our plane! I hope you all have a great week as well!
Maybe you don't know that yet, but I encourage you to figure that out with God, He will show you if you ask! Our life here does not promise us a tomorrow and it does not promise us another breath, so make the most of every one that he offers to you!
He is also teaching me to trust Him with all that I am and give Him my everything because He really is in control and everything happens for a reason. No matter how hard or how easy the road he gives you is. He doesn't give you anything that you can't handle. I have been reminded constantly of the song by Matthew West "Strong Enough"( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es). I am so excited to give God my everything and trust Him with everything new, challenging, and wonderful that He is giving and showing to me in my life! I hope that you are too!
Packing and tying up loose ends for my Relay for Life team is all that I have left to do before I leave and of course spending some much needed time with my family and friends before I leave! That is my agenda in this last week before we board our plane! I hope you all have a great week as well!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Departure is Fast Approaching..
This summer God has provided me with an amazing opportunity to spread his love all the way across the globe in Africa! I have always wanted to go to Africa..ever since I was little. Psalms 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart". This verse is said over and over in our church services but it has really been proven true in my life. If you delight in the Lord he will grant you desires that will give him glory and praise and that is what I intend on doing while on this trip.
God's timing is so evident in all of this, He has shown me so much that some days I can't help but to just stand in awe at what he has done and is doing in my life. This opportunity has come to me at a time when my heart is so very ready to be opened up and shown new things. A time when I am no longer focused on myself but on those that are around me. A time when the power of His love and healing is so overpowering in my life that I cannot go a single day without thinking about it.
To show his love to others in Africa is going to be both challenging, scary, and a blessing and it WILL change me. I am ready to take on this challenge with Him and go to where He told me to go.
There are many different places I will be travelling during this time! I will be departing for my trip on June 16th from Minneapolis with my fabulous roommate Ellen and one of the other girls from NDSU (Kaylin)! We are getting very anxious, a little bit stressed, but very excited to go! From Minneapolis we will fly to Amsterdam where we have a layover, to Rwanda where we have a layover in which we only stay in the plane, and finally we will arrive in Uganda on Sunday night. We will be studying there until July 15. At this time I will be flying by myself (yes NERVE-RACKING!!) from Uganda to Burkina Faso. When I arrive in Burkina Faso I will be joining my good friend Mari for our medical mission trip! A couple of weeks after we arrive a team from Williston will be coming as well and we will be joining them! I will be testing kids for Malaria and Mari will be treating malnourished children alongside others who are already completely educated in these subjects. The other members of the team will be doing an optometry clinic and preaching. We will depart from Burkina on August 3rd and have a day layover in Paris. From Paris I will be flying to MSP and returning home on August 5!
While still here in the states I am trying to have an "impact" attitude. Living every day with the thought that I don't come across any one person on accident. Whether I am sitting at the cash till at JCPenney or working in the greenhouse at the USDA my intent every day is to impact who I see and show them just a little bit of Jesus. Whether that is GENUINELY asking how someones day is at the till or having a meaningful conversation in the greenhouse, nothing happens by accident. This is helping me to prepare my heart for what is to come and I cant wait to see what is going to go on while in Africa.
I challenge you to live with an "impact" attitude every day. You never know the power of your words, good or bad! You may never know, so influence people positively today. I invite you to join me on this journey through this blog and I cannot thank you all enough for all of the support that you have given me. Whether we have known eachother forever or are just starting to get to know eachother now. I love you all!
God's timing is so evident in all of this, He has shown me so much that some days I can't help but to just stand in awe at what he has done and is doing in my life. This opportunity has come to me at a time when my heart is so very ready to be opened up and shown new things. A time when I am no longer focused on myself but on those that are around me. A time when the power of His love and healing is so overpowering in my life that I cannot go a single day without thinking about it.
To show his love to others in Africa is going to be both challenging, scary, and a blessing and it WILL change me. I am ready to take on this challenge with Him and go to where He told me to go.
There are many different places I will be travelling during this time! I will be departing for my trip on June 16th from Minneapolis with my fabulous roommate Ellen and one of the other girls from NDSU (Kaylin)! We are getting very anxious, a little bit stressed, but very excited to go! From Minneapolis we will fly to Amsterdam where we have a layover, to Rwanda where we have a layover in which we only stay in the plane, and finally we will arrive in Uganda on Sunday night. We will be studying there until July 15. At this time I will be flying by myself (yes NERVE-RACKING!!) from Uganda to Burkina Faso. When I arrive in Burkina Faso I will be joining my good friend Mari for our medical mission trip! A couple of weeks after we arrive a team from Williston will be coming as well and we will be joining them! I will be testing kids for Malaria and Mari will be treating malnourished children alongside others who are already completely educated in these subjects. The other members of the team will be doing an optometry clinic and preaching. We will depart from Burkina on August 3rd and have a day layover in Paris. From Paris I will be flying to MSP and returning home on August 5!
While still here in the states I am trying to have an "impact" attitude. Living every day with the thought that I don't come across any one person on accident. Whether I am sitting at the cash till at JCPenney or working in the greenhouse at the USDA my intent every day is to impact who I see and show them just a little bit of Jesus. Whether that is GENUINELY asking how someones day is at the till or having a meaningful conversation in the greenhouse, nothing happens by accident. This is helping me to prepare my heart for what is to come and I cant wait to see what is going to go on while in Africa.
I challenge you to live with an "impact" attitude every day. You never know the power of your words, good or bad! You may never know, so influence people positively today. I invite you to join me on this journey through this blog and I cannot thank you all enough for all of the support that you have given me. Whether we have known eachother forever or are just starting to get to know eachother now. I love you all!
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