We’ve been in Uganda for over a month now! There are still times when I look around me and I think, “Wow, I’m really in Africa!” That may seem kind of weird, but it still amazes me at times that part of God’s plan for me and my family was packing up and moving half way across the world to a place I never imagined living. Even a year ago, I’m not sure that I would have imagined how I would be spending my days in Africa. For those of you interested in what a typical day looks right now, I’ll give you the run down. This will be continually evolving as we are still settling in on some level, and as new projects and focuses become evident.

As a mama, I try to wake up early before the girls to get in a little time to myself. Maybe work out a little, do devotions and pray. About 75% of the time, even if I wake up at 6 am, this is done with the girls wide eyed and bushy tailed in the living room with me. Sometimes daddy gets to sleep in till seven, and occasionally the girls sleep till seven, though  this is rare!

Breakfast by 7 (because they’ve already been up for an hour). A lot of mornings making African tea is part of the routine. Gracie likes hers with honey. If it’s a Saturday, we’re making pancakes!

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AFRICAN TEA

Black tea (African tea or garden tea)

2 cups of milk

2 cups of water

Combine milk and water and seep tea packets or loose leaf African tea in pot on medium high until it starts to boil. Take off burner and if using loose leaf, strain the leaves. Add desired amount of sugar and serve hot. Will make about 4 cups of tea.

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Start doing laundry. There is ALWAYS a load of laundry to hand wash in buckets and hang dry on the line. It hardly ever rains in the morning, so at least you know it will dry!

On a typical day I try to do some school lessons with the girls. We read a Bible story, work on our ABCs, sing, do workbooks, read, art projects, those sorts of things. Dustin may try to get some e-mailing done and make needed phone calls.

Some days we head into the market.  Other days we may take a walk, or maybe just stay home, get some cleaning done, turn up the music and dance it out. By dancing I mean jumping and flailing.

Lunch and naps. A needed break in the middle of the day for us all!

After naps we often take it easy. Relax outside, or if you are Gracie and Lillie, you will walk up on our neighbor’s porches, chase chickens, or get your legs nipped by all the puppies.  This week we have also gone to the orphanage, Smile Africa, a few afternoons to hang out at the baby center. What do I do there? Hold babies!

Thursdays we often go to fellowship (kind of like a church small group) with the girls. This usually means one of us is inside the house trying to pay attention and the other is outside watching the girls.

We’ve slowly started exploring more as we’ve settled into our new environment. Some days we may go to the pool that is a short walk down our road. We have made the trip to Mbale a few times (a 45 minute drive) where we have learned you can find less common household and food items, swim in a nice pool, and eat American food! Salad and a burger never tasted so good! We have even made the trip to Kampala (a 4 hour drive) and visited a Reckoning project that Dustin is overseeing.

There are days that involve meetings and planning with people for Dustin, Skyping with family and friends, and always lots of relationship building. The evening are a time to relax, work on projects, keep record of finances, and try to plan ahead.

There are so many things different about our days here, yet some things that seem just about the same. We realize there are  a lot of things we took for granted in the U.S. and are learning new ways to do things. It’s a blessing, an adventure, and a challenge all in one! Thank you for all your support and prayers!

Oh, and on the way back from Kampala, you get to see baboons!