notes from a wide-open life

28 plus one more

2012-02-01T06:48:00.000-08:00

hello February
hello 29 days - what will we do with that gift of an extra day?

I am using the bloom app on my phone to send me a daily reminder to write something

inside my practice log

2012-01-31T06:52:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you can go back and see that point where things began to change. With my running, it was that last hill in the race. I came so close to walking but I powered through it. At cross fit club, it was that day I was able to jump rope for a full minute without stopping.
With my drums, it was the day I brought home this journal. I saw it in the dollar bin. On the cover was a drawing of an old record player and the words, Music to my ears. I had been looking for a way to motivate my practice time. I was hitting a wall - kind of bored with the same music over and over, struggling to spend time with my drum books. I thought about drumming all the time - in the car, running, even during meetings. I could hear patterns that I wanted to replicate. But without the practice, I was never going to get there. So I began to fill up this little book. I drew six boxes on each pages and filled in the dates. Then I wrote down the book, page #, song title, and the amount of time I practiced. And when I took a day off - I made sure to write that in too. And little by little, I found I could play more complicated patterns. When I got to a new section in the book, I could move on to faster music in a shorter time. This last week, I was able to get all the way to the fasted piece on my practice CD. And each week, it is harder to think of taking a day off and leaving one of those pages blank.
Now, if I could figure out a way to motivate my writing practice.

Inside my writing journal

2012-01-28T06:54:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for a theme to organize my writing. I know I want to write about assessment, and about the stories from the classroom that provide a platform for talking about kids, learning, and development.
Yesterday I met with some teachers to talk about assessment and planning and kids and parents and expectations. It was one of those conversations that opened up some new thinking for me.
This morning I have been playing with this theme of assessment and have created a map to capture some of that thinking.

I am looking forward to expanding this map.

on storytelling

2012-01-26T06:35:00.000-08:00

After the video on creativity from Ira Glass yesterday, I did a bit more searching and found four more short you tube videos. In each, Ira Glass talks about the process of creating stories. The videos are aimed at people who want to use video as their storytelling medium but the content spoke volumes to me about telling classroom stories.
In the first video he talks about the building blocks of good storytelling.
1. Anecdote - a story in its purest form builds interest because there is movement, something is happening, a question is asked, the listener/reader is engaged
2. Reflection - why did I tell this story? what does it mean?

And then Glass says, you have to do a lot of work, write a lot of bad stuff, and be willing to to throw out a lot of bad stuff, and then, you will get to the story that needs to be told.

If you are struggling to nurture your creativity

2012-01-25T06:41:00.001-08:00

You must watch this today

a classroom slice

2012-01-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

There was a time when art in the preschool classroom meant the teacher would create the model and the children would copy it - piece by piece, all lined up, neat and tidy. I don't think I will ever forget the day my creative four-year-old came home with a construction paper art project in her bag and told me it wasn't right because it didn't look like the one her teacher had made.
And there was a time when I would not have been comfortable with an activity I watched in the classroom recently. A four-year-old, carefully drawing a house by following the page by page instructions in a book. But I paused and watched as she studied each page, sometimes tracing the lines with her finger before picking up her crayon, once or twice returning to an earlier page as if to remind herself that she had done each step. Her house was not an exact replica. Her lines were not as sharp and crisp. But she was pleased with her work, holding it up for me to see with that smile that says so much about how a child perceives her work. And in my mind, I re-framed this activity. She was not just copying the lines. She was practicing. In the end, she added some details of her own with stamps and stickers. And then she told me the story of her snow adventures. In the end, the house drawing provided a frame for the bigger work - a place to hold her story.

**read more Slice of Life stories at TwoWritingTeachers*

Sunday Scripture

2012-01-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

This verse found me today and speaks to an important strand that I hope to weave into my life this year. Visit Jess if you have a scripture to share.

one little word wednesday

2012-01-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Part of weaving a life well-lived is going to be letting go of the need to have all my ducks lined up in a straight row. In the past, snow days have thrown me for a loop. I can't enjoy the day off or the beauty of the white world because I am so worried about how we will make up the time at school.
I am reading Life is a Verb: 37 days to wake up, be mindful, and live intentionally by Patti Digh. Yesterday I read about celebrating every orange flag, stopping to cheer the small victories and enjoy the little surprises along the way.
So today, I am celebrating another snow day by building my very own snow guy, complete with a celebratory orange flag.

a slice of a verbs on another snowy day

2012-01-17T06:43:00.001-08:00

It was beautiful and white and so pretty to look at from inside. But we knew we needed to get out and our feet were probably the best transportation in these icy conditions. So we bundled up, strapped on some empty backpacks to hold our groceries and headed out, feeling a bit like adventurers. It was quiet, not many cars on the streets today. Our shoes made loud, crunching noises as they hit the ice beneath the snow. And as we walked, I thought about verbs.

Run
Walk
Drive
Teach
Read
Sew
Drum
Cook
Clean

My life is full of verbs. But too often I push those verbs, trying to make them go faster and faster until I am only moving and no longer stopping to observe and enjoy. And yet there are those verbs that slow me down, put me back in touch with the world outside my window (I love that song).
Sometimes it takes a snow day to slow me down enough to think about those verbs that bring balance to my days.

***Be sure to visit TwoWritingTeachers to read more daily slices. Perhaps today you will write your own little slice of life***

Weaving a wide open life

2012-01-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

The snow continues to fall and I am amazed at the way it stacks up on the bare branches of our buckeye tree.

I am looking forward to re-designing this blog space and making a a home for the words, stories, questions, and ideas that I will weave together in 2012.

There is a wonderful opportunity for writing coming up in March. Visit TwoWritingTeachers to learn more about the March Slice of Life Challenge and begin to share your own stories.

snow and reading and verbs

2012-01-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

It seems we are having a snow day. And perhaps one or two more will follow. It is beautiful. And it forces me to pause and alters my plans.
I had a conversation at work this week about my one little word. A colleague has chosen a word for the first time and she asked me about my word. She noted that my word is a verb (the teacher part is hard to turn off). Her comment made me think of a book that I purchased but put away too soon. A snowy, Sunday afternoon seems a good time to think about the verbs that define my life.

what about the girl who cried

2012-01-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

I was back in the classroom last week. Once everyone was settled into their work and play, I counted the children and said, "It looks like a few of our friends are not here today. Who is missing?" The children looked around and called out some names. We discovered one child named was actually in the classroom so I gave them a hints. "There are two girls missing today." That helped and they quickly identified the two classmates who were not at school and we wondered together about why they were absent. Then a small voice pipped up, "What about the other one, the girl who cried?" "Oh yeah, the girl who cried" said another child. I paused for a moment, not sure who they were talking about. Then it hit me. The first three weeks of school, way back in September. There was a little girl who cried, and cried, and cried until finally her parents and I agreed it wasn't time for her to start preschool. "Yes, remember Mrs. Phillips. She cried and she missed her mommy and she wanted to go home." Yes, I remembered. And I was reminded that even while we, the adults in the classroom, might have moved on, sometimes our students need more time to process things. So we talked for a bit about that girl who cried. We wondered if she was happy now and we wondered if she would want to come to school next year. We talked about times when some of the other children had cried or were sad or afraid. And then, after some conversation, we were ready to move on with our day. But I am still thinking about her, that little girl who cried.

olw - 2011 - OPEN

2012-01-05T23:16:00.000-08:00

My olw for 2011 was OPEN. I haven't quite released this word. I don't think this word is ready to be put on the shelf. But like the words I chose in previous years, I imagine it will stay close for some time to come. And while I did not carry through with the monthly prompts from the olw class, I found this word nudging me in new directions all year - open to using words like write and runner to define myself, open to serving and asking questions about what it means to serve, open to traveling to Uganda (truly something I did not see coming). Open to living a life that isn't small, a life that is wide-open, spacious, and expansive.

"I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!"
2 Cor. 6:11-13 (The Message)

use your lovely things

2012-01-04T23:27:00.000-08:00

Cheerful no matter what - some days it might take a bit of extra effort to make sure we go out into the work world, ready to be cheerful, ready to greet others with a smile and a positive outlook. This week I am trying a new practice - using lovely, pretty, and cheery dishes for my lunches. It is easy to toss things into those plastic containers and eat with disposable utensils. But soup served in a cheery cup with a real soup spoon, that makes lunch feel like a special meal. And who wouldn't be cheery when greeted with a lovely little cup such as this?

one little word wednesday

2012-01-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

I have told the story of how my one little word found me. But there is a story of a few other words that found their way into my heart this last month. And I think those words opened my thinking, my wondering, about what I want to weave into this life of mine.
I joined a study group in December. We are reading Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. After our first session, I committed to reading scripture each morning. I have an app on my phone that gives me a few verses on a topic each day. A few days into this practice, I read these words:

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 The Message
Those words stuck with me. I wrote them in my journal. And I wondered about them. What would it look like to be cheerful no matter what? I kept coming back to those words. I wrote about them over and over during my daily 750 words challenge. Finally, I shared them with a few others. I was trying it out. What would they say if I told them that I wanted to weave this verse into my life in the new year (and hopefully beyond)? I was surprised by the reactions I got. Every single person was excited and said they wanted to adopt this verse too. It seems many of us are seeing the impact of over loading our lives, of being too busy, too this or too that. And cheerfulness too easily falls away.
Be cheerful no matter what - something to think about.

you can't stretch a season

2012-01-02T22:55:00.000-08:00

Each November I look forward to that day when I first spot those orange mesh bags filling the displays in the produce department. I grab a full box, barely able to wait until I am home to pull open that nubby skinned orange. The taste pulls me into memories of the cornucopia on our Thanksgiving table and those sweet oranges in the bottom of our Christmas stockings. I take full advantage of this season of sweetness. I know it won't last. Before long, this treat will disappear and I will go back to apples as my take along snack. This season is fading. My last box had three oranges that were too soft, their pulp spilling out from split skins, threatening to damage the whole lot. I will enjoy this last box and then I will say goodbye to Satsuma season. There is no reward in trying to make it last longer than it should.

Writing the ordinary

2011-12-31T02:17:00.000-08:00

"Learn to write about the ordinary. Give homage to old coffee cups, sparrows, city buses, thin ham sandwiches. Make a list of everything ordinary you can think of. Keep adding to it. Promise yourself, before you leave the earth, to mention everything on your list at least once in a poem, short story, newspaper article." Nathalie Goldberg

I finished the 750words challenge this morning. I have written more than 24,000 words this month - and that doesn't even begin to count the blog posts or handwritten journal entries. One day I almost forgot. It was late. I had turned off my computer. Then it hit me like a shock of electricity - You didn't write today! So I sat down in front of the screen and while it groaned to a start, I wondered what I would write about. I wondered if you could just type gibberish and still get credit for words? And then I remembered this quote - "Learn to write about the ordinary." And so I did. I typed and typed about my day and what I did and what coffee cup I used. I wrote about wondering when life became so routine, not really dull, but pretty predictable. And the words spilled out of me. I think it might have been my favorite piece of writing all month.
So I say goodbye to 2011 and welcome a new year of ordinary moment and written words in 2012. Happy New Year!

a slice of goodbye to a great year

2011-12-26T22:36:00.000-08:00

It was cold and dark when we came home from church on Christmas Eve so I didn't venture out to the mailbox. But that made the discovery of a package all the more fun on Christmas Day. Inside, I found one of those lovely, squishy envelopes and inside that squishy envelope was a beautiful, fabric covered journal. What better way to start the new year, with a place to celebrate fabric and words - two of my favorite things.
2011 was a good writing year for me. I stepped up and stepped out, not just writing on Tuesdays but putting pen to paper and sharing my words, my questions, my thoughts, and my ideas with others beyond the Slice of Life community. It was a risk I had avoided for too long but one that I needed to take. I am looking forward to 2012, to filling this journal with writing, and to sharing more of that writing.
Happy New Year!

choosing or chosen

2011-12-25T23:18:00.000-08:00

I was writing about my ideas for a new one little word. I thought I knew what word I was going to claim for 2012 but a few things happened over the last week that made me uncertain. So I wrote out my four top choices and then began writing about each. As I neared the 500 word mark, I had narrowed it down to two. And then, word number 748 was woven. Suddenly I stopped typing. Woven. My hands were frozen above the keys. I was planning to type the word together next but I couldn't type. All I could do was look at that word. I just paused for a minute. Then I finished typing:

Woven.
Wait. What about woven? Is that what I want to invite? A life that is woven together with all the bits and pieces making up the story?

a classroom story - planning

2011-12-19T22:30:00.000-08:00

It was one of those last-minute table activities. I was standing in for a sick teacher and some of the activities on her lesson plan were going to be used for assessments which she wanted to observe. So I told her I would switch to it up - after 32 years of teaching, I could punt. And it was Christmas time so there were plenty of fun things to do in a preschool classroom. I found a box of envelopes, some stamps, and some stickers. Perfect. We would have a card making station. The children decorated their cards, worked at writing those important words - mom, dad, love - and then folded their work until it fit into an envelope. One by one, they licked the edge of the flap without instruction and sealed their cards. All except this one. She seems to have a different view of life. She watches, with her head slightly tilted to the side, and then proceeds on a different path. I have watching this many times over the last few months. It can be interpreted as failure to understand the directions or the routine. Sometimes it looks like defiance. But as I watched her at the table, I found myself noticing something else. I think she had a plan. She surveyed all the materials before beginning her work. She picked up one stamps and examined the image. She put it down and chose a different stamp. She is adept at writing so she put her words down without any assistance. She struggled a bit with the folding part, determined to get her card in an envelope that was just slightly too small. After a bit, she got up and found a pair of scissors and trimmed the edges of her card. When it finally fit, she sat back and smiled. She pressed the flap but it would not stay closed since she had not licked the edge. Her brow began to furrow so I pointed out how the other children had licked that shiny edge and told her that once it was wet, it would be like glue. "NO" she said with her words and her body. She reached over for a sheet of star stickers and began to use them to seal the edge. Sticker after sticker until she had achieved her goal. She paused briefly, her smile spreading, and then she quietly picked up her card and put it in her school bag. Done.
There is a lot to learn about how a child thinks just from sitting back and observing.

52 stories

2011-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

This year is winding down. I am officially on Christmas break. I am beginning to think about what I want to do with my writing life in 2012.
This idea of collecting stories has been in the back of my mind for a while.
In July, my husband made an anniversary card for me. On the cover were 29 pictures. I have kept that card on my desk and pondered the stories behind those pictures.
A few weeks ago, I asked my daughter to help me design some journaling cards to fit in a tea box I had been saving (Tazo Joy tea). We played around with design but the size was rather odd and tough to fit. Then I found this small tin with the word JOY on the front. It seemed a much better size for the cards I had in mind.
Putting this all together brings me to this place - twenty-twelve, a year of stories. My plan is to gather and print 52 photos currently stored on my computer and phone. As we enter 2012, I hope to write out the stories behind those pictures. I don't know that they will all fit on my little journaling cards (2.75" x 4.5") but it will be a good start to collecting those stories.
Now the photo collecting begins.

The time in between

2011-10-30T21:03:00.001-07:00

Today we talked about listening for that call, the call to service, the call to action. And I am thinking about that time in between the call and the action and the next steps. That is where I am living now, a time in between, a time of uncertainty.

words

2011-10-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

So much to think about

missing Uganda

2011-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

A week ago, I watched a presentation that included many of the photos from our trip.
This week I wrote a short piece to share with our congregation, telling of the purpose for our trip.
Yesterday I began reading a new book about helping and serving.
This morning I saw photos and posts from another who is currently in Uganda.
And I am missing, very much, that beautiful place. I feel that I have just barely scratched the surface of what I am to learn about Uganda, about people and places, about unity and diversity, about God's plan.

Hopeful

2011-09-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

progress

2011-09-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about Pastor Paul, the village of Namabaale, and the people who wanted to build a school.
Yesterday I received some pictures of the progress being made on the school building. Just one month ago, we were standing around the frame of this building, hearing of the hopes and dreams for a school. Today, that frame is being filled in with walls for four classrooms.
What a joy to be a part of watching this dream come to fruition through the hard work and faithfulness of the people of Namabaale village.
My heart is full today.

Serving

2011-09-13T21:54:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about serving. For some time I have wanted to push beyond that place where writing a check is enough. Last weekend we went to serve breakfast at a women's day program. We have done this before. We show up with the food, set up, serve, clean up, leave. It is good. The women are hungry. They appreciate the food. But this time I left wondering what we had missed. What might we have learned if we had stayed and made ourselves available? What does it mean to serve?

contrasts in the classroom

2011-09-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

At our school, we have beautiful classrooms, workrooms filled with paper and copy machines, and many resources. We also have people who come in the summer to paint, clean, fix broken things, and put the rooms back together. In Uganda, we spent some time working on this classroom. The chalkboards are very important because students don't have their own books and paper is in short supply. So even a chalkboard in need of repair is better than none at all. We tried to patch the walls where the brick was most damaged and applied a few coats of paint. We left plenty of paint and the teachers were excited to add a skirt of color around the whole room. The desks and chairs are back in the room by now as the children are returning to the classroom this week. And I sit here, in my school with so many resources, and think about the teachers who worked alongside us in Uganda. I wonder how they might have been impacted by our time with them. I cannot put them out of my mind and I wonder if they were encouraged or discouraged by our the ideas we shared.
But I don't know that I can compare the classroom settings anymore than I can compare the traffic. Life in Uganda is not life in the Pacific Northwest. And school there is not school here. There is much to learn before I can make comparisons or try to resolve the contrasts in my mind. It isn't about throwing money out to fix things. You think, no books, why not use the computer to make notes for students? Well, there is the matter of electricity to power the computer (sporadic at best). It is complicated. That is not an excuse but it is a reminder to pause and make sure my understanding is deep enough and broad enough.
Once again, I am left with many questions.

contrasts on the road

2011-09-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

I was talking to someone the other day about going to Uganda. She mentioned the condition of the roads and the traffic as a concern and I remembered that I had snapped a few pictures because I was so amazed at the sheer quantity of vehicles on the roads in Uganda.
A few years ago, they began putting in traffic round abouts in our area. At first I was sure this was a big mistake. I didn't think Americans knew how to use round abouts and that there would be hesitation and a lot of honking as cars did or did not enter the lanes. Somehow, we seem to be adapting and are, for the most part, pretty courteous.
Uganda was part of the British Empire for a very long time so there are round abouts and driving on the left. But the similarity ends there. In London we saw a very orderly flow with cars stopping at intersections to wait for pedestrians. I cannot imagine crossing the road in Kampala. I also wondered how one would come to know the rules of the road for it seemed a bit random. I did notice that the larger the car, the more right of way (something I also see in the states). There were times when we saw 4 vehicles occupying what appeared to be one lane! It was something to see. If the traffic was this bad in the states, there would be much swearing and finger waving but our driver was calm and patient and even when I was pretty sure he was saying something corrective to the driver next to him, the tone of his voice was gentle.
Just one more of the contrasts I am recalling as I go through my pictures files.

under the mosquito net

2011-09-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

Before we left, we had all the required shots and picked up our anti-malaria pills. I thought, once or twice, about mosquito nets but I never got around to asking anyone about them.
So that first night, we unwrapped them (they were knotted about 3 feet above the bed) and pulled them down around us. It seems we had some of the best mosquito nets in the house - big enough to tuck into the edges of our mattresses so we had plenty of room inside, and in pretty good shape - no holes! One night I found a mosquito inside the net when I climbed into bed but that was the only mosquito I saw in our room. There were plenty outside as we sat on the porch for our nightly meetings but I was happy to get only one little bite.
The mosquito net was just one more example that we were not in Kansas or anywhere near to home. As I have talked with people about our trip, I find myself remembering more of the differences - food, traffic, language, absence of paper products (napkins and paper towels for instance), ice cubes, and did I say food? I was happy that I went on this trip with very little concrete knowledge about what we would experience but I also know I have a new list in my journal for things to take along next time.

A story

2011-08-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

This is Pastor Paul.
He is telling us the story of the people in this village - Namabaale ~ people who have a dream and a plan for a school.
And he is showing us the evidence that this school is already coming to be. The people have come together, donating the materials to build the frame for a four room schoolhouse. Behind Pastor Paul is a stack of corn that can be ground into flour and sold to raise funds.
This is the story of a community who is working together and there is power in that story.

And then what?

2011-08-29T20:19:00.001-07:00

I have been pondering this question- I went, I came back, and now?
I know it has only been a week but patience is not my gift and I really want to know, to catch a glimpse of what will come next. Should I be doing something different? Should I sit with the memories? I know there is still much to discover. So I am practicing a slower pace, allowing the possibilities and direction to rise up. And if you have a question, please ask. Maybe you have a place in this journey too.

contrasts

2011-08-27T05:01:00.001-07:00

When I was in Uganda, I was very aware of the differences between life here and life there.

Over the last week, I have been looking at the pictures I took and wondering what more I have to learn from this trip. In the moment, it is hard to process everything. The colors, sights, smells, words - a lot coming at you. But having photographs to hold in my hands is providing a different pace for reflection.

This classroom is empty now but soon the desks will return and the children and teacher will gather here to learn. Could I teach in this place? Could I suspend my expectations for supplies, technology, and matching furniture long enough to create a community with students in this room? Could we make it our own? When I look at this picture, I think about a book I read in graduate school, Other People's Children by Lisa Delpit. I know that I need to dig deeper to understand how the Ugandan people think about school and education. I heard many say it was their hope for their child's future, with education comes opportunity. I would love to talk more with the teachers about what is most important, what do they learn in their teacher education programs, how do they filter the advice brought to them from American teachers? So many questions I didn't know to ask.

two weeks ago . . .

2011-08-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

I was looking for something to keep me from repacking my bag one more time;
I thought I knew what I was getting myself into,
Yet I had small pangs of feeling unprepared.
I was excited and anxious, curious, and looking forward to finally taking off.

Today I am so very tired yet wide awake;
Anxious to see my co-workers, yet missing our friends in Uganda.
Curious about how our time in Uganda will impact the school year, wondering if our time there will impact the teachers in another school.
Today we head back to the work of a new school year.

people helping one another

2011-08-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

There are many stories of corruption and greed in Uganda. Many of us have seen the movie The Last King of Scotland and know the horror of Idi Amin. But what I want you to know is that there are people helping one another in Uganda.
We visited Set Her Free on Tuesday afternoon where we met a group of girls who have been rescued from a life on the streets and in brothels. We heard the story of a woman who found these girls in the slums and began to visit them, to help them understand they are loved and that there is a way out. When they come to live at the house, they are sent to school and provided with training so they can get work. And they make these beautiful paper beads.
It was a sad thought, to see these young girls and know they had been hurt in so many ways. But it was heartening to know that there are Ugandans who want to raise one another up.

webale nnyo!

2011-08-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

On our last morning at the school, we opened the boxes and bags of school supplies that we brought for the teachers. We were told that parents generally send a few pencils for their child but that those get used up quickly so I was happy to have brought over 400 pencils in our bag. You know how it is at back to school time. The stores are full of pencils, glue sticks, paper, pens. This time we brought the back to school store to the teachers. Again and again we heard webale nnyo! (thank you very much) as they sorted through the supplies.
We struggled with the idea of bringing too much stuff and wondered what was the best way to distribute the items. In the end, we just opened it up and told the teachers we hoped their work would be blessed by the generosity of those who had contributed the items. I know this is an area where I feel ill-equipped but also an place where great learning and deeper understanding can come. More work for me to do.

2011-08-19T08:23:00.001-07:00

Make a photo album

Home again

2011-08-18T20:49:00.000-07:00

This has been one long day! We had a few hours in London where we found the Uganda embassy. Then it was back to Heathrow and a final, long flight home. My goal is to stay awake for another hour so I can get back on track.
Lots of great memories of our time in Uganda but mostly thinking about how kind, welcoming, and generous the Ugandan people were to us. One woman told us she had much joy in her heart because we came to visit her. Tonight, I also have much joy in my heart. And much need for sleep!

Round and round

2011-08-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

One of the questions we had for this trip is " how will I learn to be an effective traveler?"
I am a fairly seasoned traveler in my own country but this was my first time traveling to a place with so many people and a language I could not begin to understand. Even though English is listed as the official language, we heard very little of it being spoken between Ugandans. We had a wonderful driver who translated for us and guided us to people and places. But I go home wondering how I could be better prepared to travel I a developing country.

London - Wednesday

2011-08-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

On the tube into town and heading to get some dinner and walk along the river. Many stories to tell in the next few days.

Saying goodbye- Tuesday morning

2011-08-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today we had a short time with our new teacher friends and we had gift bags for each of them. Margaret was so happy with her new umbrella! We exchanged email addresses and took many snaps (photos) and had a few more laughs together.
At first I was disappointed that the children were on break but it was so good to have these days to work together with the teachers, to share our love for teaching, to ask questions and problem solve together.
This afternoon we are going back to the village of Wamaala to visit a few new friends.

Saying goodbye - Tuesday afternoon

2011-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

We walked through the village and delivered sugar and soap to a few families. Our last task was distributing crayons and paper to the children. They held their gifts close to their hearts before they began to draw and write with them. Just when we thought everyone had crayons, a new child would appear but we had plenty to distribute. Finally we had to say goodbye and head back to Kampala.
Tonight we will have a final meal and pack our bags. Wednesday morning we head back to London.

African coffee

2011-08-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

We have a very busy day but I got up early to snag a bit of time on the guest house computer and to tell you about Good African Coffee. We found this place on our first day and it was great to have a good latte after all that travel (you know, the small comforts). We have been back most every day because it is on the way to the school. The other day, we had a bit of a break in our schedule so we were able to sit and sip our coffee and have some food - also very good. After a time, the manager came over to talk with us. He was very happy to hear that we liked his coffee but even more, that we are from Seattle and we like his coffee. He invited us to make Good African Coffee our playground.
That is the spirit of the people we are meeting. They are friendly and warm and generous in a way I have not generally experienced in my travels. We have asked so many questions, trying to understand the Ugandan culture and we have learned so much. I think my favorite thing is that when you ask, Can we do . . .?, the response if most often, Of course, or It can work.
Today we will have our last time with the teachers at the school and then visit a few of the people we have met in the village. We will also visit a place this afternoon where a woman is trying to help street girls and we have been told that this will be a tough experience. Then tonight we pack our bags and leave first thing tomorrow for London.
Soon we will be home.

Monday musings

2011-08-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

During a break from painting, I visited with Yusef. He was very interested in my KOBO e-reader and my I-phone.

Drums

2011-08-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

We are still here. Power goes out frequently as does the wireless and the internet so I am composing posts that I will send from London and home.
Just know that we are having an amazing time. We worshiped in a village church today - no electricity but they did have drums!
We have wonderful stories to share.

On the road - Sunday

2011-08-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

We hit the road early today because we are headed out to Namabaale to worship at a village church. Fortunately we had the pastor in our van because when we had engine trouble, we knew the service would not begin without us. While we waited for the mechanic, TK started a soccer match with a group of children.

Before you can paint - Friday

2011-08-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

You might need to repair the stucco. We spent a few hours filling holes in the brick walls and sanding them to prepare for painting. But many hands made for strong work.
The best thing today was going to the paint store with the headmaster and hearing more about the education system in Uganda.
We arrived back at the guest house in a rain storm and no power- something not uncommon I am learning. The guesthouse has a generator for the main house but we were happy to have a flashlight as we walked up the stairs to our room in the back house.
Sleep is good.

The children

2011-08-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Everywhere we go, the children wave and run up to our van calling muzinga, which means white visitor. They love to have their picture taken. This group kept getting larger as the children ran to get their friends.
I am conflicted about taking pictures of people but we have also had our picture snapped by a few curious folks.
We do stand out.

finally here

2011-08-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you can see from this picture but the traffic is amazing! Huge numbers of cars and motorcycle taxis and lots of honking.

We finally got to sleep in beds and eat at a table. We have been to The African Choir Children's school and to the John T. Miller school, walked through the village, ate jack fruit and mangos off the tree, bought paint for a painting project - very busy indeed.

A few highlights:
We were told not to worry about time - it has a very different meaning in Uganda so I took off my watch and for those of you who know me well, that is huge!
With late night flights and delays we were very tired when we arrived but I could not risk closing my eyes - so much to see and so much that is new and I never could have imagined.
Wireless connection is not so easy either so I will do what I can and fill in when we get home.
Off to our evening debrief.

We are here for now

2011-08-09T07:10:00.001-07:00

Nine hours in the air - you must love the whole thing-and now we are wandering in London, coffee in hand. We have one more flight and then we will be in Uganda.
Thank you to Mr. Apple for the free wi-fi :)
I do love all of this travel stuff- even lack of sleep is worth the destination.
Back in a day or so - until then, thinking of those we left at home and wishing you were here. Off to take some pictures.

Ready to launch

2011-08-07T18:44:00.001-07:00

In church today I got to play drums on an African song. I am looking forward to music in Uganda and perhaps a new drum :)

Thanks

2011-08-07T11:58:00.001-07:00

We are sorting all the items you donated in our last minute collection. Thanks for your generosity and if you didn't get to bring anything, we hope you will contribute to the many Back to School drives in our area.

I can't resist

2011-08-04T15:49:00.001-07:00

I need this countdown to keep on top of all the little things left to be done before we leave :)

have you always wanted to go to Africa?

2011-08-03T12:18:00.001-07:00

I have been asked this question a number of times and I have to say that it never crossed my mind that I would one day go to Africa. I have done quite a bit of reading about the conflicts in Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda but even when this trip was first mentioned, I didn't think I would be going.This was work that someone else would do.

So, what made me change my mind? My daughter. She amazed me with her desire to travel in college and at some point she had said she might want to go to Africa someday. So when I mentioned it to her, she didn't even hesitate - yes! And with that, I was off, filling out forms and applying for the trip. As I was filling out those forms, answering questions about why I wanted to go on this trip, I found something inside that I didn't know was there. I really did want to go.

Recently I read a book that has deepened my thinking about this kind of service/travel - This is a Soul: the mission of Rick Hodes by Marilyn Berger. This book left me wondering at the things I take for granted such as opening the tap and getting a clean glass of water. I had a similar experience in June when I went with a group to help pack meals to be sent to children in developing countries. Here I was, voluntarily taking soy out of my diet, but packing meals that rely on a soy protein base to provide the nutrients that will keep a starving child alive.

I just want to be aware. And I believe this trip is part of that awareness - a time to open my eyes, my ears, and my heart.

One week - seven days

2011-08-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

It is beginning to feel real.
This time next week I will be posting from the airport!

Final team meeting

2011-07-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

article to read, plane tickets, journal - check!

Last night we had our final team meeting. I was happy to hear Shelli, our team leader, talk about this trip as an opportunity for being more than doing. When I have told people that we are going to Uganda, the first question is usually, "What will you be doing?" And while I am confident that we will be plenty busy, we will also focus on building relationships and learning to listen.

We got our tickets and lodging information, talked about what to pack, all-important.

Just a few more chances to practice blogging from my phone (and trying to out fox the auto-correct function).

14days

2011-07-25T17:41:00.001-07:00

Time to practice posting from my phone.

trip numbers

2011-07-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

5 – vaccinations to guard against disease

4 – books loaded on my e-reader

3 – batteries to keep my camera charged

2 – prescriptions to keep me well

1 – journal to record the journey

Where are we going?

2011-07-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Uganda is on the eastern side of the African continent. I am trying to get familiar with the geography of Africa before we leave.

It seems the weather will be late summer - early fall so not too terribly hot. I have added Kampala to the weather app on my phone so I am tracking the daily temps (lows in the 60's, highs about 80 degrees).

By the end of this week, we will have completed our shots and medical tasks. Then we can begin to think about packing.

In a few weeks, we will have a gathering of our team and will learn a bit more about the kinds of work we will be doing in Uganda.

38 days, shots, details

2011-07-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

Now that my early summer obligations are behind me, I can focus on the details of our trip. We got most of our shots last month but we still need the Yellow Fever shot. We have scheduled a travel consultation where we will learn about the medicines we need to stay well on our trip. I picked up a book on CD yesterday at the library. I have also been following two groups who are currently in Uganda, Tonya and the other travel team from our school. It has been fun to see pictures and hear stories and know that in 38 days, we will be heading to Uganda too.

who's counting?

2011-06-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

School is finishing up this week and the focus will shift to summer and planning for our trip.

I loaded Serving with Eyes Wide Open by David Livermore on my KOBO reader. Interesting thoughts about short term mission travel with a lot of good questions to think about. I am hoping to re-read The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns before we leave too.

And I found this cool countdown ap for my phone in case I lose track of how many days until we depart!