Blog: Just Peachy in Uganda

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this website are entirely my own and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps.

Still no running water (since August 12), but I receive plenty to fill my jerry cans. Sometimes, I will collect rainwater as many Ugandans do. It comes off the gutters and is dirty so tonight I spent a couple of hours boiling the water and pouring it into my jerry cans through a filter in my electric hot water heater pitcher thingee ;-). That pretty much prepares it for use with bathing, washing clothes, or doing dishes. Then I boil it a second time for drinking and cooking. I’m still pretty careful with all this, but haven’t been sick so I guess that is good!

One of the classes has been having written exams this week. They write 1 ½ -2 ½ hour exams in First aid, pharmacology, nursing fundamentals, anatomy/physiology, microbiology, and sociology/psychology for this group who are in their first semester. The questions may be multiple choice, matching, short answer, essay, or fill in the blank. They will take two tests daily Monday thru Thursday.

We visited my supervisor’s farms in an outlying village. They consist of about 5 acres total. She has chia, guava, jackfruit, rice (with a coffee tree in the middle), simsim (sesame), cow peas (on a vine on the ground), pigeon peas (on a tree), sweet potato, Irish potatoes and sorghum. It is in a beautiful setting and she is having a 3 room house built there. We stopped on the way there to take pictures of a tea plantation and to purchase some cassava. Cassava is a root which they peel and boil. Again not much flavor but OK when mixed with things. In the picture you can see the exposed cassava root along with a bit of the top of the plant.

I discovered the school had a Christian club. It is call the Christian Union Club, interdenominational, and has written goals to reach other students and give service to the school. They put on a celebration to honor the students who are graduating and to pass on duties to those who are staying. The guest speaker was from a church in the area and his energizing sermon was on “remembering the Lord your God” especially after they enter the community as nurses. I was totally caught off guard when a "muzungu" (white person) came to watch. What a Godsend! His name is Jonathan and he is from Virginia. He is a young Baptist pastor who has come through a special Southern Baptist program to teach pastors here. He will be working at an independent Baptist church in Hoima for the next year. He introduced me to the pastor of the church and I am going to join them this Sunday for services. I have been praying for fulfillment in this area and am so excited to get back to worshiping with others. I also learned that the students have a Bible study on Wednesday evenings and worship time with singing and dancing on Saturday evenings.

Things I never want to take for granted again:

• Cheese
• Toilets
• Running water
• Electricity
• Prime rib
• Hamburgers (American style)
• Good tape
• Feeling clean
• Butterfingers
• An oven
• Movies
• Washer and dryer
• Basil, dill, and other spices
• Puffy Q-tips
• Good crispy cereal
• Towels that absorb water