Aftermath by Hillsong

Only twentyish days since my last blog! I’m rockin’ it.
So much has happened.

Africa has done me well this first month, pollution, dust, and all. I really love what I am doing here. I am in awe of what the Lord has done through Watoto. And daily I learn things about the ’Ganda that contrast profoundly with all I’ve known in the U.S. -- these differences keep me fascinated. An example of this would be when Walter got sick a day or two ago. Brenda nonchalantly said, “It’s probably malaria. You might want to get that checked out today.” Now, a month ago, the only two things that would’ve been brought to my mind by the word “malaria” would have been 1. Angela Murray’s World Race team getting it in Tanzania (even though they were taking malaria medication), 2. this was the sickness that so consistently killed my Oregon Trail players that I eventually quit playing the game. In other words, I didn’t know much. So, when Walter was, indeed, stricken with the disease and showed up at work the next day, I was astounded. Man, I totally would have milked a diagnosis like that had it happened back in the States!

I truly enjoy every moment I get to spend with the three pleasant people. I particularly enjoy working with some of the children in the Watoto village 20 km away (called Lamenadera Village). Most of the ones we work with have behavioral issues due to having been born/raised in captivity, having been abducted during the war, having been habitually abused as a child, or from having been raised in a “child-headed” household. Social work here looks so different that I don’t know where to begin. A good starter would be that we pray with clients. Also, our once-a-month Watoto social work staff meeting took place this last week, and the whole meeting was focused around getting in the Word together and praying over each other. Staff meetings couldn’t look more different in the States; staff meetings there are typically spent attempting to work out minute issues within the agency. I have been so blessed to get the opportunity to see what social work looks like outside of the U.S. It’s been an enlivening experience.

On Monday of this week, I got a call from Brenda as I was getting ready to head into the baby home for work, and she asked me to come along with her to pick up a new baby. She said, “Walter is staying at the office… Can you go? We need to leave immediately; we lose babies when we wait to pick them up.” She called the baby home supervisor and got me out of work! Woot! Within 30 minutes we were on our way to Lira to pick up a baby girl that wasn’t even 12 hours old. The mother was mentally ill and couldn’t/didn’t want to take care of the child, and the father was nowhere to be found. Halfway there I realized that under these circumstances the baby probably hadn’t been named. My assumption was correct and I was given the honor of giving her her African name (children here have a “tribal” name and an English name). I named her Nimaro, which means “beloved.” Brenda gave her her English name, and named her after me. As you can imagine, this melted my heart. The children in the baby home go by their English names, so it’s been so sweet to hear my name all time and realize they’re not speaking to me, but the absolutely perfect newborn in the house. Cristianna and I were put in charge of taking care of her at the baby home, and it has been a complete joy. I didn’t know I could have so much love in my heart for a child I didn’t birth. I am utterly in love with my namesake, as well as a couple of other babies that have stolen my heart (yes, they have). I’m getting attached to many an African, family.

In other news, I played drums for church on Sunday, and the Lord confirmed that, unsurprisingly, I am no longer a kit player. Haha. Sunday’s services went well, but we had an EIGHT hour practice on Saturday that was straight miserab. I don’t think I’ve ever been so relieved to have anything be over before. Except maybe my Bachelors.

Other than that, out of a heart of generosity, Cris and I have taken turns being incredibly sick and taking care of the other. The Lord’s healing touch has left its mark on us and we’re finally/continually gaining our strength back.

Thank you so much for your kind words, prayers, and emails you’ve sent my way. You bless me. And a blog full of what I’ve been learning will be posted within the next day or two… this one was just to catch you up on some of the recent happenings in my world. I’d love to hear about what’s been happening in yours.

-- EPP