Catching Water In My Hands

That second when you think that things won’t change, that things can’t change, for different reasons known only to you. Then the second’s gone and you realise that things can and do change. No two moments are the same, no two seconds are the same. Everything changes, shifts, moves accordingly per what’s happening around it.

On December 22, something changed for me. When I arrived in Uganda I was well aware that there was this change was coming. I just wasn’t sure I was ready for it. It came anyway. Before you begin freaking out that something terrible has happened that I had somehow foreseen, I’d better explain… December 22. It's the date I was born on, 22 years ago, in a hospital in Kampala, Uganda. For many, the progress of time is something they’ve gotten used to. I've just gotten used to blocking it out. However, this just means that every now and then, it'll catch up with me.

I don't intend to make this post a rant or anything like that, but one thing that always gets to me over Christmas is how we're in the process of loosing the real meaning of Christmas. For so many, its about the presents and the decorations. It never fails to annoy me that people are becoming more and more focused on the gifts, the food, the decorations that go up that they fail to see the blatant sign. Christ as an innocent babe... when did we loose this? No one knows when exactly Jesus was born, though in the fourth century people began to celebrate it on December 25. Another thing that a lot of people don't realise is that in the East, before Christianity came to Europe, the pagan celebrations (namely the winter festival), would take place over this period. A lot of our modern 'traditions' come from these festivals. The date itself, too, was chosen to christianise the Roman festival of the 'birthday of the unconquered sun,' which to celebrate the sun god. I'm not judging anyone for deciding what they'll do on Christmas... at home we exchange gifts, though we know who has bought them and given them (Santa's never had a place in our family). May my prayer for this season be that you will find the true meaning in tomorrow's celebrations again.

Nothing Like It

Here's something you should know about the Kenyan coast. Long after the sun has set, the heat still remains. It's not just the heat, but also the humidity, that work together to cause that sense of discomfort. It causes you to sweat, late in the evening or after you've just stepped out of the shower. You feel it the most when you step out of the heat and into an air conditioned room, then you feel the sweat go cold on your skin. The only other place I've dealt with the heat and the humidity together, other than on the Kenyan coast, was when I was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, back in February 2013. I know that there are people who don't like the heat and the humidity when it comes hand in hand like it is now, but I love it anyway. I love the heat and the smell in the air, the smell of salty water. Thankfully there's barely no seaweed because decaying seaweed doesn't smell very nice. The previous times we've visited, the sand was almost completely invisible because of the seaweed.

The days at the coast are coming to an end and we head back to Uganda. There's a deep sense of sadness as I say that we're going to be staying in the Yellow House. It's the house we stayed in, the house I called home from when I was seven right up until I left for the Netherlands when I was nineteen. It's the house my parents renovated back in 2000. It's going to be so strange going to the house I called home for so long, but is no longer my home. There are people staying there now, they've brought their own furniture in, changed things. The dogs aren't there anymore. Mac, my brother's German Shepherd/Border Collie cross, died about a year and a half ago, and the dashounds are in the care of another family. I've told my mum that I want to see them because I want to know they're alright. I want to make sure they're in a good place. It's going to be hard though, because I'd love to take them back to England with me, but I can't. I'll try to take some photos of my darlings...

Last time we were in Kenya we went to visit one of the local conservation projects. I don't know how else to call them. One in particular is a place I've wanted to go back to. Its called Local Ocean Trust: Watamu Turtle Watch. As the name implies, they're an organization that is trying to raise the numbers of an indangered animal. There are so many reasons why turtles are dying. Mainly because of humans. They get caught in fishing nets and on hooks. They eat plastic bags they think are their favourite food, jelly fish. They're also hunted because of their meat (to make turtle soup) and their shells (to make turtle shell jewelry and other accessories). Their eggs are getting dug up and their young are eaten by birds and other animals. The statistics are showing than 1 in 1,000 turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood. Watamu Turtle Watch works with the local fishermen trying to change the culture and the mindset. The Trust also goes into schools to run educational sessions. It's really hard to see that these beautiful animals are being killed. In the years since Watamu Turtle Watch opened, the number of turtles have gone up slightly in the area, as the nests are being protected by the Trust, which has lead to more hatchlings making it into the water. Also more and more of the local fishermen are calling Watamu Turtle Watch when they find a turtle in their nets.

The photographs. The first and second photos are of the beach outside the hotel we're staying in, and the last photograph is of a Green Turtle that was brought in to the Turtle Hospital at Watamu Turtle Watch. 

The Sunbaked Lands

One thing about the equatorial countries is the light. There's almost too much light, and it's that intense light that will burn you if you're not careful. Its everywhere. It goes everywhere, penetrating into the recesses of the corners of the room. It's one thing I've sorely missed since I moved to England. The sun doesn't shine in the same way as it does here in East Africa. My skin's been lapping up the sun, though I've been extremely careful not get burnt so badly I end up looking like a lobster. There's a sense of beauty in being able to truely enjoy the heat. I'm so glad that I'm here now, when England's so cold and dark. The equatorial lands are blessed with roughly the same amount of light and darkness all year round, and the temperature. It's the same all year round. Sometimes when people go back to England they don't realize how cold it can be, how cold it can get over there. It's something I'm still getting used to and sometimes I don't know if I'll ever totally get used to the weather or the light patterns of the northern hemosphere. 

I still can't believe that I'm here, that I'm back in East Africa, that I can visit Uganda and Kenya. Both countries have had such a big impact in my life, both in a good and bad way. It's been a dream, to come back, since I finished my DTS* in March 2013. However, at the same time I'm really grateful that I didn't end up coming back then because I wasn't ready to come back to this part of africa. In a way, I wonder if I'm still not ready to be back. Though, I'm sure The Lord would have shut the door on my coming back now if the timing wasn't right. Yet here I am. In East Africa. Sometimes I do feel like I'm dreaming as I've wanted to come back for so long that I have had dreams about being back. I don't think I've been able to celebrate my birthday in Uganda since I turned nineteen, and that was almost three years ago.

*DTS = Discipleship Training School

In Kenya

The Maasai

We're at the Kenyan coast! We flew in yesterday afternoon after traveling for quite a few hours. One of Caleb's school friends flew up from South Africa and is spending the rest of the holiday with us. He's also going back to Uganda with us. Its exciting being back here after so many years (two and a half, to be exact). We've been coming to the coast for as long as I can remember. We're fortunate to be able to come! The hotel we're in is a lovely all inclusive hotel that encourages their visitors to come back again and again. I'm not going to say how many times we've stayed here.

One thing that really shocked me this morning is that in twelve days time I'm turning 22. Its hard to believe how fast the time goes as it feels like only last week I turned 21, on the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast in South Africa. I didn't think or even dream that I'd be celebrating 22 in Uganda as I wasn't sure if I'd come back. I'm still processing everything.

I'm Back In Uganda

The view from my parents' land

I still can't believe that I'm actually back in Uganda after about two years and three months. I've been praying about coming back since I finished my DTS (Discipleship Training School) back in March 2013. However I didn't think think the time was right, until now.

It's was quite an ordeal getting here. Hannah missed the flight to Uganda because her flight from Paris to Amsterdam was delayed, so the computer system at Schipol automatically moved her and her luggage to the next flight out, which left at 9pm (Dutch time). I had made the flight to Uganda which meant that we didn't end up flying together, which had been the whole plan. So she flew with Kenya Airways and had to change at Nairobi. I must say that KLM is an amazing airline to fly with. Even though I've flown via Kigali, Rwanda before, this experience was so much better than the previous time. The cabin crew on both flights were great. I do admire how smoothly they can flick between English and Dutch.

One of my brother's first catches... it was released again!

Hannah arrived in Uganda on Saturday morning and soon after we traveled to Kampala, before driving through to my parents' land near Jinja. Its really nice being here, but I'm still adjusting to being here. I'm not used to the lack of noise level, compared to London, but all in all, I'm enjoying being back in Uganda!

Caleb's in his element being back, as you can see by the photo on the right. He loves snakes and has the knack of knowing if they're poisonous, semi-poisonous or harmless. He's also extremely fast so can catch them with lightning speed, so that they almost don't know what's hit them... This snake was released soon after he caught it! No one was harmed in the process, nor was the snake!

Tomorrow we're heading back to Kampala before heading to the Kenyan coast for our family holiday. A school friend of Caleb's, will be joining us. I'm really looking forwards to the next few weeks, and I'm glad to be with the family again after almost year since we were last together.

News Feed

Fireworks on 5 November

Walking down Oxford and Regent Streets today, I realised all over again, how big an effect this city has had on my life and how the people I live with have changed me so much. I've lived in London for eight months now, but every day I've come to see as a blessing because I'm always learning so much about God and those I'm living with. Being a part of the house staff has something very special about it. Even though I'm the youngest of the house staff, my age doesn't place any weight on my role in the house. The students will be leaving on mini outreach to Luton next week. Like what happened on my outreach, the students won't be going with any of the school staff, rather they'll be spending their outreach stepping out as leaders, though two of the students will be over seeing the leadership of the team.

Guy Folks Fireworks

Part of the reason I'm writing this post now, and not in a few days time (closer to when the school leaves on outreach), is because tonight is my last night at the YWAM London base. Tomorrow evening I'm travelling to London Heathrow to catch my flight to Uganda. I'm heading over to Heathrow in the evening because the Underground doesn't run when I need to travel to the airport, so I'm going when it is running so that I do get there. Yes. I'm going back to Uganda for the first time in about two years and three months. I left Uganda in September 2012 to go join YWAM Heidebeek, the Netherlands. I haven't been back since then and I must say that it still hasn't totally hit me that I'm actually going back. Its been a rather vague dream that I'll heading back to the country I grew up in. Yes, I'm really looking forwards to it, but I can honestly say that I'm really looking forwards to coming back to London and joining the base again next year.

One of the joys of living in a strong Christian community is that my relationship with God has gotten that much stronger. They've all had some part in encouraging me in my walk with Him. Because there are so many different nationalities and countries represented, everyone has their own opinions. It adds to the joy of living with these incredible people. I'm definitely going to miss them when I'm away and I'm really looking forwards to seeing them all again in a few weeks time! I'm looking forwards to hearing all their stories too!

Hopefully I'll be able to post something over the next few weeks!