Rafting Moses Style

The Nile... there is the bungee platform in the left corner

In front of one of the falls we visited last weekend. BEAUTIFUL!

Sorry it has been such a long time since I have last blogged. Things here are great! I love Kampala and I am loving living here and spending time with our group. It is definitely bittersweet when I think of leaving. I am so excited to come home and see everyone I have missed so much, but I am really sad to leave here and say goodbye to everyone as well. We have all been having a really good time exploring the city. For example, two weeks ago we went to Salsa dancing lessons at this fancy shmancy restaurant and bar. The instructor was an extremely little, frail, old Ugandan man. He looked like he would be more likely to break a hip than be able to shake ‘em. He was probably about 5 feet tall, had a few missing teeth, and what seemed to be cataracts… quite the character. He was really sweet and it was amazing and a little hilarious how well he knew Salsa.

This past weekend was the one of the best I have had in my time here. On Saturday morning we all got in a bus and traveled to Jinja, which is about 2 hours away from Kampala. There, we went white water rafting on the Nile! THE NILE RIVER! It was amazing!! I honestly cannot even begin to imagine baby Moses cruising down that thing. It was crazy. We went down so many rapids, including three class 5 rapids. At the bottom of one of them there is this huge wave that our guide told us is about 10 to 15 feet. It was insane coming down and then seeing a huge wall of water and crashing into it!  Our raft was approximately 300 lbs with 10 people on it and we flipped multiple times going down the river. That’s how crazy it was. It was so so so fun. Again, I repeat, so so SO fun! I cannot wait to do it again, hopefully this time with the family (Yes, Mom, Mariah, that includes you J). There was also the opportunity to go bungee jumping but I was pretty thankful to be on the other side of the situation taking pictures of all of the other crazy people. I started feeling nauseous just watching.  I was worried about jumping off and pooping myself; that would have been quite unfortunate. Hopefully someday I'll do it...just need to get a little bit braver! We stayed on the river in a hostel over night. It was really cool meeting people from around the world and hearing their stories, why they were there, what they do, etc…

I loved our awesome weekend trip, and this weekend a few of the other students and myself are going to take a trip to Kitgum. We will be able to visit the orphanage, which will be a huge blessing! My mom, Mal, and I are trying to start up a thrift store in SLO to support the children at the center there. So just as heads up to all…don’t get rid of any of your stuff that you don’t want, give it to me, please!!! People have already been amazingly supportive; I cannot properly express my gratitude. I’d love your continued prayers that this opportunity to help will work out. Gods is so good and I know His plans will go forth. He is continually teaching me things here, not only about Himself but how I ought to be living for Him, about being a servant to Him and others, and about His greater heart for the world. Praise His name, huh?! I love you all and I am so thankful for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Mmm mmm mmm...Turkey Day!

PS: I am sad I will not be there with all the family in SLO and Morro Bay; those of you who are following, pass on my love to the rest of our crazy crew J.

Mallory, Megan, and I after a long day of rafting... everyone got super sunburnt. 

Me and Mal hanging out in Kampala.

10 Things I Love About Kampala

1.) Ugandan men can shake it like no ones business.

            We went to a traditional Ugandan dance show and it was truly amazing. I do not think I will EVER be able to move my hips the way they can. I have tried… its not pretty.

2.) There is an italian market down the street with really good gelato.

            I didn’t see ANY ice cream in the north and it was soooo hot. Weird.

3.) We have a variety of food for our meals. Including, but not limited to, fresh fruit, granola, skim milk and brocolli! Oh, happy day!!

            I have made a pact with myself to not eat white rice for the rest of my time here.

4.) There is a Calvary Chapel in Kampala.

It was so nice to go to a service that was a little bit familiar. It felt like home; my brain could relax a little bit. Being in such a different cultural setting all the time, makes your head hurt and it is exhausting, so this was a wonderful breather.

5.) Real coffee

            No Nescafe instant nasty stuff J

6.) Going down town.

It is crazy and hectic and I have almost been run over a few times but I love it. There is so much culture and so many people. It will be nice when we get a better handle of public transport and know how to find our way around the city. One time I crossed the street, and then stupidly ran back because I got scared with cars coming at me. A Ugandan man came up and said, “No, No, No, you never stop! You keep going. They will not run you over. You are very expensive.” So that was interesting.

7.) There are completely different ways of interacting with people here.

For example, it is totally fine for men to grab you in the market and pull you toward their booth. One time I was walking and a guy really creepily peered from behind a stand of sunglasses and whispered, “I want to marry you” in my ear. I never saw his face, just began to walk a lot faster. It was a little scary. Also men say “You are my size” sometimes to you. I am still not 100% sure what that means. I don’t know if they legitimately mean we have the same pants size or they like what they see. Either way, it is a somewhat funny/unwarranted expression. Ok, I admit, number 7 is not really something I love about Kampala.

8.) We have a monkey named Simon who comes to visit us on our porch.

            It’s a monkey. So awesome. Enough said.

9.) We have access to Skype again.

I miss everyone so much. I cannot even express how much of a blessing it is to be able to talk to my lovely friends in SLO and my family. Praise God for technology, huh!? J

10.) I am reunited with Mallory.

            Yes, last but not least, Malsky. I missed her. Together, we can handle it all: male harassment, homesickness, crazy matatto death traps, diarrhea causing parasites, gorgeous Ugandan dancers...yep, what could be better?