Evening in Uganda

As we left the Kasubi school we were all ready to come back to the compound eat shower and sleep as the days events were long and full of hard work. The city seems to become more alive as the evening sets in. More people more vehicles, more energy. We arrived at the compound to no water and no electric, a slaming blow to those of us just dreaming of a shower even a cold one. Welcome to Africa!!!! As the night drew to a close we were blessed to get a little water that we could take a very short, but very needed shower.

Thank you God. Small blessings are the best at times.

As we started retiring for the night I noticed a change from the craziness of the city to the serene happenings of the night. Upon the hill I watched the bats dance in the night sky driving to catch their pray before their pray got us ( mosqitoes). I was very thankful for those usually scary creatures. Although as one fellow mission worker stood out in the clearing brushing his teeth, he was almost hit in the head by a very aggressive little guy. Was kind of funny to see him run for the porch of the cabin.

As the night progressed on I found myself unable to sleep. I think God gave me a gift that so many poeple sleep through and never realize the magnitude of the night. I heard so many new sounds that my mind either one- got scared and cuddled up with my blanket or two- was in awe of what could make such a beautiful sound. Something nibbling on things in our room (shhhh dont tell my room mates as they might get a little worried). Bugs hitting the screen of window, a rooster crowing at 3am trying to find an answer back in the darkness. Something walking around in the rock path in front of the cabin. The call to prayer of the Muslum temple at least 5 or 6 times throughout the night was a reminder that we have so much to do here. And what could those calls be doing to those how hear it in their sleep.

The rooster was a persistant creature letting me know about every hour that I was getting less and less sleep. But soon in the distance I heard a response to his early morning call and then another and another. Soon they all took turns in the ritual talking back and forth. Then I heard only what I can explain as a walk through the rainforest at the zoo, the sounds of birds I had never heard before. Many of them waking up to Gods new day, singing praises to Him. But I was not at the zoo just listening to the beautiful sounds God gave these birds here in the wild. Soon the sounds of Gods creatures over powered the Muslum calls and the dawn was upon me telling me to sing the praises of God and rejoice in this new morning that God has given us. Isn't that what we all should do daily, wake up with songs of praise, thankfulness that we have a new day to go out and make a difference, and the ability to do it?

What a wonderful experience to have and this is only from the missionaries compound I cant wait to see what the village has in store for us.

Kimberly