Hi. It's me! I am in town tonight using the internet. My roommates and I were supposed to go to Kampala today, but one of them was sick yesterday with the stomach flu and I came down with something last night that I am trying to fight. Some kind of bad head and body ache. I am fine though and I know I will be ok. Hopefully we can go tomorrow. There are some things in the big city that you can not get here in town in Tororo. Life has been going well. On wed. we did an outreach clinic at the local market. It is interesting to set up immunizations and check-ups in the middle of a market, in the dirt, where children gather around to watch everything you are doing. The women that come with their babies are very grateful, and sit and listen closely as we speak to them about nutrition and health for their babies. It was a new experience and we will be doing more next week, one outreach will actually be at one of the far villages.

We have been completely out of water for the last 4 days. There is a man on site called "waterman" who brings us water from another village a few miles away. He is so kind and he loves his job. He comes to our house every day and calls out "sisters, is there anything i can do for you?" We try to find little jobs here and there for him to do so we can pay him. We now have another woman who is friends with the pastor and she has been assigned to us to do anything else we need. We have a hard time asking her to do things, but I will tell you it was extremly helpful to have her do our stacked up loads of wash. At first I felt bad, because its not like I couldn't do it myself, but I have been reminded that it is helpful and not rude, because she needs the money. (I digress as I am watching a HUGE lizard climb up the wall in the internet cafe next to me...). Yes, I am learning to live with all kinds of creatures. I am starting to understand that I will never be able to kill all of the fruitflies in our kitchen and that sharing my food with them and with ants really isnt that bad of thing.
We were invited over to one of our Ugandan friend's home for dinner the other night. His name is Klephas and him and his wife both work at True Vine and are so nice. My roommates and I are having a hard time with the fact that we live in this "mansion" and then we go to dinner at our friends and they live in small mud huts that are only 2-3 rooms, with no electricity or running water. But the wonderful thing is how welcomed you are. They put some much effort into making us feel comfortable. We use a keroseen lamp to see, and the 7 of us, minus Judith (Klefious' wife) played Hong Kong Rummie all night. And they were so funny playing a card game they have never played.Klephas kept saying, "Oh me Gosh" "oh, let me win, please". Judith was in the kitchen cooking for at least 2 hours. I felt awful, as I don't think I have ever spent a night in the kitchen cooking when company was over. It is not customary to help the woman cook if you are a guest. And it was nice to see that Judith was allowed to eat with us, as many wives are not allowed. One custom that I could NEVER get used to. Thank god for the freedom I have. Eating dinner there was really a reality check and has once again reminded me how blessed I am. How much I take for granted and I that I must be grateful everyday for all we are free to experience in the US.
But, the company was amazing. And the food was customary, Rice, Potatoes, Posho (a very fine corn grain), millet and beans. Oh and chicken, which I try really hard to stay away from here, ekk! And for dessert, bananas and watermelon. The one thing I was surprised that no one makes is banana bread. So I tried to make it the other night, and now I know why no one makes it. There are no ovens! So, I decided to use my roommates Sigiri, which is an outdoor coal burning oven and you use two big pots to stick the bread pan in, and hope it cooks. Well, last night we tasted the bread at our dinner party we hosted, and it tasted like Playdoo! Yes, banana Playdoo! So, no more banana bread here. I have added a photo of the baking process on the other site. Haha. Making dinner for 10 people is a challenge without an oven, but we pulled it off. We made American food, spaghetti, veg soup and chimichangas. The Ugandans dont enjoy our spices very much. Maybe I SHOULD live here as everything they eat is bland! Just the way I like it. It was a fun night though, card games and Cranium and many laughs.
Oh, I have to change my name to. NO one can pronounce Heather. It always comes out as Hezha with much hesitation. So now I introduce myself as Heatha. Still not that easy, but getting easier.

All for now, need to go. Much love! xxoo

Peace & BLessings
Heather

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