I have nothing to connect to. I look out the window as we drive to the northern slums of Kampala. My background knowledge serves me very little useful information. Remember kiddos how I tell you to connect what you know about your world everytime you pick up a book and read? Well I can't make that connection. Only one out of every 200 things have any familiarity. Like reading a book and all you recognize are the words: and, the, like, and because. All the other words just don't compute. Are you following my analogy:)? Go outside and take a deep breath or even take a deep breath where you are. You recognize that smell, or should I say lack of smell, right? Now go out to your garbage and burn it. (Not really... but imagine if you will:) As your garbage burns take a deep breath. No matter where I go around this city... that smell (although constantly morphing due to the variety of items in trash) fills my nostrills. The only connection I can make with that... is the campfires as a little boy throwing a wrapper to some food item into the fire just to watch it burn, or the times I melted a G.I.Joe figures arm so I could attach some hecka-sweet weapon to it. Do you think those memories help me understand life for Ugandans? Yeah... not so much. I have ZERO schema for walking through a three foot wide alley with open urine/feces running through it whilecarrying water in two three gallon containers. I will probably have to throw those socks and shoes away, right Sara?
Although my background has very little to connect with what I did today... I am quickly gaining new memories and experiences that will make me a new man. Today (for example) I was able to take part in demolishing a rotten home and then start the foundation for a better one. The families house that we were working on today is the same family Sara and I chose to sponsor... TODAY. Her story is one of the most tragically brave histories I have heard. *Parents please pre-read this so you can filter what you need... Her husband (whom they believe had some mental illness) had come home one day in a rage. He killed 3 people (one of whom is my support families grandmother) and had beat Cece to near death. All the while, the youngest daughter (Brenda) watched it all happen in front of her. As a result of the assault, Cece is now blind with other complications. Cece also contracted AIDS from her husband. When the community found out that this happened, "mob justice" was put into action and the mob killed the husband. This is not some sick movie... this happened to a family. Until now Cece had no help. Her health was going down, people eventually went on with their lives, and Cece had a crumbled life. Horriffic memories, no sight, a family to take care of, and no one to help. But now, we start putting her life together, one thing at a time. Tomorrow I will get her a radio so she has something to listen to and a way to hear the time so she can take the meager pills they give her to help with the AIDS. I need to get her one of those hand-crank powered radios so she will not need to rely on batteries for her radio. Obviously that kind of radio doesn't exist here in Kampala... so I will have to get her a battery powered one until I can find a cranking one. We also need to put a "bathroom" (in quotes because it doesn't look like any bathroom in North America:) into her house and what we were able to raise financially doesn't pay for that. Cece is blind and has to walk about 25yds. to the nearest place to go. In some places there are wide open 4ft. x 6ft. (and bigger at times) holes where people go to the bathroom and these holes are NOT covered. These holes are about 15 feet deep. So I need to get her a place to go to the bathroom in her house. I will find out this week, hopefully, what that will cost.
While tearing down a decrepid house and getting the foundation set for the new one I was overwhelmed. Dozens of Ugandans watched us while we worked. Children with torn and dirty clothes, barefeet or flipflops that were way too big for them were all around us. No school... they can't afford it. Their toys... basically trash. I have already described the smell in the air and much of the ground I walked on. Oh, and yes... these children played on ground like the ally. My words are so futile. These conditions are just above description... but I will do my best. Tomorrow we head to a place no where near the city and the conditions are even worse. Again, I have no idea what that means. Stay tuned and I will give you what I can of that journey.
Although my background has very little to connect with what I did today... I am quickly gaining new memories and experiences that will make me a new man. Today (for example) I was able to take part in demolishing a rotten home and then start the foundation for a better one. The families house that we were working on today is the same family Sara and I chose to sponsor... TODAY. Her story is one of the most tragically brave histories I have heard. *Parents please pre-read this so you can filter what you need... Her husband (whom they believe had some mental illness) had come home one day in a rage. He killed 3 people (one of whom is my support families grandmother) and had beat Cece to near death. All the while, the youngest daughter (Brenda) watched it all happen in front of her. As a result of the assault, Cece is now blind with other complications. Cece also contracted AIDS from her husband. When the community found out that this happened, "mob justice" was put into action and the mob killed the husband. This is not some sick movie... this happened to a family. Until now Cece had no help. Her health was going down, people eventually went on with their lives, and Cece had a crumbled life. Horriffic memories, no sight, a family to take care of, and no one to help. But now, we start putting her life together, one thing at a time. Tomorrow I will get her a radio so she has something to listen to and a way to hear the time so she can take the meager pills they give her to help with the AIDS. I need to get her one of those hand-crank powered radios so she will not need to rely on batteries for her radio. Obviously that kind of radio doesn't exist here in Kampala... so I will have to get her a battery powered one until I can find a cranking one. We also need to put a "bathroom" (in quotes because it doesn't look like any bathroom in North America:) into her house and what we were able to raise financially doesn't pay for that. Cece is blind and has to walk about 25yds. to the nearest place to go. In some places there are wide open 4ft. x 6ft. (and bigger at times) holes where people go to the bathroom and these holes are NOT covered. These holes are about 15 feet deep. So I need to get her a place to go to the bathroom in her house. I will find out this week, hopefully, what that will cost.
While tearing down a decrepid house and getting the foundation set for the new one I was overwhelmed. Dozens of Ugandans watched us while we worked. Children with torn and dirty clothes, barefeet or flipflops that were way too big for them were all around us. No school... they can't afford it. Their toys... basically trash. I have already described the smell in the air and much of the ground I walked on. Oh, and yes... these children played on ground like the ally. My words are so futile. These conditions are just above description... but I will do my best. Tomorrow we head to a place no where near the city and the conditions are even worse. Again, I have no idea what that means. Stay tuned and I will give you what I can of that journey.
6 comments:
My Husband...my hero.
I am praying for you. My heart bears the burden with you somehow. Thank you for describing what you are seeing SO well.
You guys are making a different. Tell Cece that I love her in the Lord already!!! And the kids!!!
I love you!!
Dear Mr. J.,
I am proud of you for helping Cece and all the other people you are going to help. I am praying for you.
Do Cece and the other Ugandans speak English?
Sincerely,
Paige H.
Jonathon,
Wow! What a wonderful opportunity to show God through your hands, your skills, your smile, your laughter, your tears and your heart! You will never be the same. Blessings and prayers as you continue to help in Uganda and I am very proud of you for using your time, talents and money for such a worthy cause. You expressed the smells, sights and feelings very vividly but I realize that I could never fully understand the life that the people there live. All my love and prayers.
Aunt Cindy
Mr. Johnson,
What do people use to draw with? I'm sure it's sticks in the dirt. How's the new foundation coming? I'm still wondering what it will look like when it's done. Have a good trip!
Keith J.
I wanted Keith to ask you what you were doing in the second picture, but he didn't. Are you playing a game? You are in our prayers. Thank you for sharing your experience. We all need a worldview smackdown.
Keith's mom (Dawn)
It is amazing to see the progression of your journey. You are in mid battle my friend. Do not look beyond this moment. Keep your gaze straight ahead and lift your spirit up to Jesus; it is His work to be done. We are all so encouraged to be a part of your faithfulness, passion and commitment to the cause of Christ. Your superhero outfit is great, even though it might need a touch of cologne. Keep up the fight against evil; we are in it together with you in prayer and spirit.
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