The Howards got a new pet today. Laney used her allowance to buy a chicken. I was sitting on the porch when they returned from the market. I saw some animal in her arms and silly me thought it was a dog. Emma will be so jealous. We decided to give it a good African name… “Obama”. Since the president’s face and/or name is on everything over here these days from bars, jeans, and posters. we decided he also needed a chicken named after him. No political commentary, please. Then Laney had the bright idea to paint the chicken’s claws, so if she escapes the compound we’ll be able to tell her from the others. I’m sure there aren’t too many others with hot pink claws. Then just before dinner, Laney realized the chicken had crawled inside the shoe cabinet on the front porch. I guess it was trying to find a cozy home. I’m just glad it wasn’t on my shoes. Not sure how long Obama will last, but she’s providing some good entertainment and maybe a few homeschool lessons in the meantime.
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| Playing outside |
One of my many days going to court, Beth and I were riding in the car on the way home. Up and down the streets there are vendors selling anything you can imagine. You can buy socks, pots and pans, soccer balls, and a newspaper right from your car window. Beth spotted one particular vendor and got very excited. She called him over and pointed to a thing that looks like a tennis racquet. She said, “I have to have it, how much?” He said, “20,000”. Then Beth practiced her new Luganda phrase which means “I will beat you” and she shook her fist at him as she said it. He cracked up. She told him she’d pay 10,000 and not a penny more. Turns out this thing is a bug zapper that you can wave all around a room. Our missionary friends Herb and Ellen have one and Beth swears it’s the best thing ever and will solve all her mosquito problems. She brings it home and plugs it into charge. It says to charge it for a full 6 hours before using it the first time. So, of course, the kids get it out and start using it within 30 minutes. They are “zapping” things left and right. I am a skeptic and I like to torture Beth. This thing is making zapping noises like crazy when to my eyes there are no mosquitoes in sight. I told her they just invented this thing for mzungus to make them feel better and like there really is something they can do to get rid of bugs. Beth was not amused, but I was very amused. I will testify that I did see Jeremy successfully kill fruit flies with it in the kitchen yesterday morning. Other than that, I think it’s a scam… and now it’s a scam that holds a charge for approximately 3 minutes. ( I apologize for no picture of this fabulous invention. I'll try for one tomorrow, but internet in Uganda is slooooow!)
Last week Beth and Jeremy met a 12-year old boy named, Brian, on the street. He was collecting cans and bottles to turn in so he could buy some food. Through talking with him and also asking his neighbors we learned that Brian’s never known his mother, his father is an alcoholic, and his sisters are never home and he’s never been to school. So basically, he lives alone. He’s 12, but fits in clothes for about a 5 year old. Jeremy brought him home, gave him a shower, food, and some new clothes. He’s come back every day since, many times with a friend. This week, Beth started working on some basic school lessons with him. He’s every excited about it and likes coloring best of all. We’d noticed that his shoes were falling apart, but we didn’t have any on hand in the right size. Today, Beth traced his foot for sizing and found him a pair in the market. He was so excited for his new shoes, he didn’t want to follow house rules and take them off when he came inside. Pray for Brian. Pray for his safety, health, education, and salvation. Pray for Beth and Jeremy as they try to discern how best to help in these situations. It’s difficult when you are surrounded by so many needs. How do you decide who to help? How much is too much? How can you not help? These are real questions they face every day, and they are very tough to answer.
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| Brian's Old Shoes |
