Jef's take on being back state-side

After being back in the states for a couple weeks, I too find that I enjoyed the "go with the flow" attitude of Africa rather than here in America. After spending just two weeks of "whenever" time, it is tough to return to "exact" time. There's so much more pressure here in America than in Africa. So much weighing on the minds and hearts of everyone. I look into the faces of my dear friends and realize they are equally as stressed and overwhelmed as I am, yet compared to Africa, we have everything.

Spending the last couple weeks recovering from malaria and getting back into the swing of work demands, I am daily reminded of my need for Jesus. Though I may be completely helpless as to how to fix the dire poverty that has overtaken Africa, I am equipped with prayer to the One who can do something about it.

It's somewhat humorous at times to realize that one month ago I was sitting in the smelly slums talking to the Karamajong through a translator. Today, I sit in front of the City Council trying to get a major redevelopment issue passed through. My body may physically be here in Lubbock, but my heart is most definitely still in Africa. Through everything our team experienced in those two short weeks, I am still sorting through exactly what my full response is. I have but three million options and none seem good enough. Thus, I cling to my Savior, who does have the answers.

Back to Texas, not quite back to normal...

We are back from Africa, and have resumed the daily tasks we so happily left behind. To say that all is back to normal, however, would be quite a stretch. I am now acutely aware of the fact that the rest of the world is very different from the one in which I currently find myself. For example, if you tell an African you'll meet them at 9:00, you should plan on being the lonely awkward white person in the corner, until about 9:30 when they arrive. For some, this tardiness would be highly irritating. Personally, I love the "go with the flow" attitude, and now resent having to be on time here in America.

On a more serious note, my heart is now broken for the continent in a way that I have never experienced. Having trekked through houses in Belize built on two-by-fours so that they would stand up over the swampy land-fill, I thought I'd pretty much seen the extent of poverty that I would ever see. However, nothing I've seen in this or any other country could have prepared me for the extent of physical needs which need meeting in Africa. The most angering and heart-breaking part of it all was the realization that feeding them would only leave them hungry the next day. Taking them to the doctor would not fix the fact that they would just drink dirty water again and be sick again within the month. I found myself overwhelmed with a sense of utter helplessness. Even more frustrating was trying to see past their physical needs and recognize their ultimate need for Christ. In some ways, this, for me, was the hardest thing I did while I was in Uganda.

-Lauren

Detour: All the lies in the world won't get you a tour of the brewery, thus, re-route to horseback riding along the Nile.

Lessons Learned (some the hard way)

Church is the one thing in Africa that starts on time, so don't be late.
If your driver has some incentive to get home, he will turn on the hazard lights and drive in the right lane, forcing oncoming traffic to use the shoulder.
Horseback riding along the banks of the Nile is a must-do (however proper clothing is a must).
Horses will try herd monkeys if given the chance.
Riding a horse and riding a bike are not synonymous.
Riding a horse pre-puberty is very different from riding one post-puberty. For people of both genders.
Mutatu rides break down all social barriers.
It is relatively easy to get into a secondary school, multinational non-profit organization and hospital, however, very hard, nay impossible, to get a tour of a brewery. (interesting prioritizing, Uganda)
Great Danes are in fact bigger than humans.
Wearing Vibram five-finger shoes causes us to stand out even more, as though our skin wasn't enough.

Score: Africa 28-Muzungus 2

For those of you keeping score at home, Africa is kicking our tails.

Let's go ahead and mark off the following on the "To-Do List"
Survive two 8+ hr flights. Back to back. CHECK
Ride a boda boda (motorcycle carriage wrecklessly driven by native)...and live. And Lauren survived the same, but did it riding side-saddle.CHECK
Go to the slum. 3 times.CHECK
Survive a hail-moonsoon. In the slums. With 20 people who don't speak English. In 10 x 10 "room".CHECK
Leave quickly as the locals tell us "it's about to get crazy. You might die".CHECK
Go on a search for the most hated/misunderstood people in Uganda. And find them.CHECK
Tick off said people group.CHECK
Negotiate with their chairman thus bringing peace.CHECK
Become welcome members of their tribe.CHECK
Survive the running of the bulls on a boda boda.CHECK
Visit a terrorist mosque.CHECK
Survive 40 kids stampeding us and yelling "Muzungu! HOW AH YOO?"CHECK
Play UNO with an Australian.CHECK
Long-jump across the swamp (aka raw sewage).CHECK
Make fun of Kyle for smelling his money because it smells like veloci-raptors.CHECK
Make great friends with locals.CHECK
Make fun of Jef for asking if Uganda had a bob-sled team.CHECK
Get questioned by anti-riot military police.CHECK
Buy food for an entire village of starving Africans. CHECK
Truly understand the phrase "Africa Wins Again".CHECK
Get on Ugandan National TV.CHECK
Witness a rap video being recorded.CHECK
Negotiate with people who don't speak English.CHECK

So as you can tell, we're in Uganda. Being awesome. We may be Americans, but we have come to love the Ugandan people. Pictures to be posted soon.

Next post...Horseback riding along the Nile.

3 Countries. 2 Friends. 1 Amazing Adventure: The Adventures of Jef & Lauren

How this madness began...

Jef: I want to be on the Amazing Race. I've applied a few times but have never gotten to do it.
Lauren: (Sarcastically...) hm....I can't imagine why they wouldn't want you on their TV show? (aw snap).
Jef: I mean, c'mon! After three times I should at least get the pity vote!
Lauren: Well your application would look a lot better with me on it.
Jef: True.
Lauren: Let's do it. I've had just enough to drink to go along with this crazy plan.
Jef: I'm game.
Lauren: So what are we going to do to convince them we will be good contestants?
Jef: I know! Let's document all the crazy travel adventures we go on, start a blog, have a youtube channel and be discovered! (Please note..I have had nothing to drink)
Lauren: Done and done. What crazy adventures are we going to go on?
Jef: Well, we are going to Uganda in 5 days (with a quick stint in Amersterdam he turns around to tell the camera). Let's start there.

So here goes nothing.
3 countries. 2 friends. 1 Amazing Adventure.

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