PB ice cream & white chocolate shavings

SPOILER ALERT (WARNING): 
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN IMAGES INAPPROPRIATE FOR THOSE WITH WEAK STOMACHES 

(aka. gross bugs)

Aside from the gross bugs... today I will be serving you a few scoops of peanut butter ice cream infused with a serious tone, topped with some lighthearted white chocolate shavings. That would accurately describe my experience here. Each day I learn or see something that burdens my heart cold. The Lord then adds a few silly things here and there to lighten my heart. We’ll start from the bottom of the bowl, and then make our way up.

1st scoop: Jenny

This past Thursday we went for outreach (mentioned in my last post). This time we only went to the hospital. We went intentionally to visit one of our women’s friends, Jenny. We walked into the ward and turned the corner to meet her; my eyes ached. She was basically a skeleton with skin. I have never seen anyone so close to death. Christine asked me to speak hope to her, and then I would pray for her. What I would say would be translated into 2 different languages before it reached Jenny's understanding. I have been nervous before – but this felt like the pre-roller coaster nerves times 12.

What was I supposed to tell to a woman on the brink of death brought on by HIV who was refusing to take any medication, because she didn’t feel as though anyone cares about her?

Nothing. I am to say nothing.

I prayed the Holy Spirit would speak through me, and that’s exactly what happened. As soon as my mouth opened my nerves fled. I remember thinking “Wow. My heart is racing and lips are moving but I don’t even know what I’m saying.” The Lord wanted to speak to her – not me. I pray that she received His love and truth, as we found out yesterday she had passed away.

2nd scoop: Nancy

Sarah had all of the girls try to memorize Romans 12. There were 6 who were able to recite all 21 verses! For their reward, we took them to Uchumi (a store in town) to get a few things with a set amount of money. Some girls got chips, others bread (that’s a treat here), and a few got cookies. While we were in there, a nicely dressed man searched the juice next to us. Nancy, one of our girls, recognizes him and says, “Hello Doctor.” He greets her then turns to me to introduce himself, “I delivered her baby”.

Nancy is 14 and gave birth to Emmy - the baby in the room next to mine, being looked after by Janet - last year. Come to find out, the doctor wasn’t even there during the birth; he just did the prenatal care. Only a few nurses and some of the women from Zion Project were there. 

That’s beside the point.

  A 14 year old just greeted a doctor who treated her during her pregnancy. I was in a store, walking behind a precious jewel of a girl who was taken advantage of by a man. Anger sparked deeper in my heart the more it sunk in.

3rd scoop: STREET KIDS

Sunday I went to a Street Kids meeting with Sarah, who is involved. Street Kids is a group of people who are trying to provide shelter and schooling to kids who live on the street. Some may be orphans, and others have homes but being on the streets is sometimes safer than at home (abuse, etc.) It was one thing when Sarah would tell me about it, but a few of the kids were at the meeting. Some would speak, but there was one (maybe 14 yrs old?) who would keep his head facing the ground with one hand holding it up and the other in his lap when it was his turn to speak. I would try and catch his eye to share a smile with him. The meeting shed light on what happens to these kids while they're on the streets. My heart, again was cracking.

This was the first time I've ever asked the Lord, "God. Where are you?" I was not doubting the Lord, but I was searching for Him. He continued to break my heart through out the meeting. Then it dawned on me: I am at a meeting for an organization hoping to take off that is to bring aid and hope to the street kids. He is here. He is working. It was difficult leaving the meeting, knowing these kids didn't have a home to return to. 

We've made it to the white chocolate shavings (= thanks for stickin' with me! Now for a few helpings of lightheartedness...

* While walking home from dinner one night, Sarah and I were escorted by her Ugandan friend (and my new friend!). We tell him we don't wish to travel through a certain part because it's not safe. He responded with, “All the thugs, they fear me” haha! what!? no they don't. And we continued on the safer path. 

* So we have what you'd call.. a cockroach problemo. While I was searching for my earplugs one night, I flipped my head upside down to look under my bed and was met with this: [please ignore the dust/hair/feather]

Insert gag reflex here.

I left papa roach there partially because I was hoping it'd scare off any others of its kind.. and mostly because I didn't want to touch it (he's still there). My plan didn't work. I have successfully killed off about 4 cockroach families of all sizes. At first I was using my hairspray, then quickly realized I needed to save that. I didn't spy any Paul Mitchell products at Uchumi (; I've decided on my closest flip flop and Doom (spray that kills 'em!) for my best weapons. While killing off my first family, I noticed I was serenading them with the tune of 'Shout' by the Isely Brothers with a swapping of words:

Weeeee-ee-ee-ee-eeee..eeee-llll....

You know you make me want to barf

Kick my heels up and barf

Throw my hands up and barf
Throw my head back and barf
C ' m o n     n o w

We have an agreement, the creatures and I: If you're on the ceiling - you're clear. If you're at eye level or lower - you're fair game. Cockroaches don't tend to be ceiling critters (even 'critter' is too much of an endearing name for them).. so we've had a few blow outs. 

Since then I've found them in my laundry, on the bathroom floor, in the sink, in my bed crawling across my computer screen while skyping with Steph!! I'm sure she got a good laugh while we battled. Last but not least as I reached in my purse to grab my phone at church, and one crawled out on my hand! At least he/she was trying to be holy...

It's gotten better though! Praise God!

[last one, I promise! You all are going to have a sugar high after this]

* Speaking of church, this past Sunday the pastor (American) tried to show how we sometimes believe things even though they aren't true:

 Pastor: “Raise you’re hand if you’ve ever heard that mzungus [white people] can only have two children.” (I was about 1 of 8 other mzungus in there)

People looked around to watch if anyone else would raise their hands. Soon every one of them had courage enough to snicker and raise their hand.

Pastor: “Okay, now keep them raised if you believe that.”

I was suurre some people would put their hands down. But laughter exuded from each of them as they all proudly kept their hands raised!!

Pastor: “What?! How can you believe that? I have FOUR children!”

Richard (from congregation): “You learn from us!”

I was shocked and belly laughing at this point. Apparently they really do believe we can only have 2 children! hahah!!

Well I hope you enjoyed your full helping of PB ice cream and white chocolate shavings (=