AWP drama in Agama

The town center consisted of various “bars” (several circles of men around pots of brew sipping from long straws), a few women with some tomatoes and various other staples, and a one room clinic & pharmacy. I had come with Bena and her youth drama group; they were going to do a drama on HIV/AIDS. It was supposed to start at two, but Bena told me we didn’t need to leave until at least 3 since the drama team would not arrive till late. We arrived around 3:30pm and didn’t see any of the youth yet. There was a charismatic catholic mass going on at the place where we were going to meet the youth. We decided to join in the mass until the youth arrived; at least it was something to do. The room was filled with ladies on the left and men on the right, ladies on the floor men on the benches. There were some 30 women and maybe 8 men.Of the 30 women I counted at least 5 pregnant ones and there were many who already had young children attached to them. The singing was beautiful; I love just the voices with the djmebe drum. The “priest” had them read about the story of Martha and Mary on the day that Jesus visited their house. His teaching was opposite of what I’ve always been taught. After a while we went outside to look again for the youth, finally we saw some of them approaching from the distance, they had walked a long way, some more than an hour. By the time we had the whole group assembled it was about 4:30, by the time we made it to the town center and had everything set up it was about 5pm. Only three hours late. It didn’t matter much anyway, except that those who were drinking were more drunk. Overall the drama went ok, many people watched it, from babies to old men. I found it interesting the parts they found funny; to me often it was sad because it would be something bad that was so true to their culture.

I’ve found that even though there are many cultural differences between here and America, sin is sin, and causes pain and despair no matter the culture; substance abuse, greed/jealousy, sexual immorality, just to name a few. It broke my heart to see so many young fully capable men living hopelessly, stuck in the grip of alcoholism and poverty. Please pray for our team; that more men would join this team to reach out to the young men here. There are so many different organizations around town reaching out to orphans and widows, but so few to the men. They need discipleship and mentoring from men committed to following Jesus. They need to know that there is hope even when it seems like there is no hope. They need to know that Jesus can help them overcome.

this picture is of an old man asking his wife for money to continue drinking...you see the stick in his hands? he's willing to use it for more than just an assistant in walking...if she refuses he threatens with beating...what's a lady to do? You can see the look on the lady's face says a lot. what a hard position to be in.

some of the engaged audience during the drama:

one scene in the drama about HIV/AIDS:

Lake Nakurut Kenya

Some pictures from the time in Kenya:

Me and the giraffes...

Jennifer pondering the meaning of life...no probably just on the look out for dangerous predators...but i guess you could be pondering the meaning of life while on the look out for dangerous predators...especially since later that day we heard there were lions found in this area...woops...people, please stay in your vehicles...
this one's for you mom!
hmm...what have we here? I don't know, but it looks yummy!
this is me with a zebra in the background...i wanted some proof i wasn't just copying and pasting animal photos from National Geographic or something =)

Pictures-harvesting

Here is my friend, co-laborer Bena with some small relatives amidst the cassava bushes. The poor boy has worn right through his britches.

This is me at Bena's mother in law's house with one of Bena's mother in law's neighbors harvesting g-nuts (they're really a lot like peanuts). we spent all day picking and if i was a paid laborer i would have made the equivalent of a quarter for my work. wow. but it was a good time with a good friend, so I didn't work for pay.

Pictures-in Omoro

These pictures are from our time with the former child soldiers in the Omoro area. Here Rachel (a teammate) is explaining how to play connect four.

Here Bobby (teammate) plays parachute games with some of the children.
Some races were run.
and books were read.
all in all it was a fun day. good to watch kids just being kids.

Why did the children cross the road?

The other day I was driving down the main road into Soroti with my friend Lawrence when I saw a group of very young school children on the side of the road. All of the sudden they ran across the road. Then they waited on the other side of the road and a handful of them ran back across the road. I thought this was funny (yet dangerous) game to play with small children…but Lawrence said that they’re being taught how to cross the street. I remember in Michigan when we were taught to cross the street it was make sure you walk, don’t run, remain calm. But here there are different rules to the road. You are taught to sprint to the other side because you just don’t know what could come down the road next nor how fast… after we passed the group of children with their one teacher, the rest of the students safely sprinted back across the street.

wonderfully made

A poem one of the teachers at a school in Soroti wrote and shared with me:

I am Wonderfully and Fearfully Made

You are who you are for a reason

you're part of an intricate plan

you're precious and perfect unique design

called God's special creature

You look like you look for a reason

Our God made no mistake

He knit you together within the womb

You're just what He wanted to make

The parents who bore you were the ones He chose

and no matter how you may feel

they were designed with God's plan in mind

and they bear the Master's seal

No, that trauma you faced was not easy

and God wept that it hurt you so

but it was allowed to shape your heart

so that into His likeness you would grow

You are who you are for a reason

you've been formed by the Master's rod

you are who you are beloved

Because there is God

by Annet