Uganda

Good to be back in Uganda… at hotel fang fang.  Arrived late Saturday night/early Sunday morning… checked into my chinese hotel… jumped in the shower… crashed in bed…  wanted to make the most of my Sunday and day off and explore a bit.. successfully made my way to a local gym which happened to be located in a mall with a large supermarket.. wandered there a bit. I do love wandering supermarkets!

Then on my walk back to the hotel, heard loud Christian praise music blasting from a hotel that usually does blast music but pop/rock/popular music.  I take a little detour to the front of the hotel gate, and ask the guard what’s going on…  if there is church service of something… he says the music is just for the people hanging out by the pool.  Wow… praise God for that.  So then we start talking and he asks if I’m a Christian and I say yes and he says “praise the Lord!”.  Amen brother!  And then I started thinking…  what if… just what if… God has brought these many chinese people to Uganda, for the Ugandans to reach out to these chinese people, who once saved go back to china nad reach out to their country!  Just an interesting thought..  I think he was surpseid to see a chinese person who professed their faith in jesus… 

on another note.. it's funny being called and considered a white person here.  i mean, i thought i totally was one growing up but it's just interesting when other people call you that!

My English is SO good

on my flight from Douala to Entebbe... several people commented to me... “you’re English is really good”.  A chinese dude kept wanting to practice his English with me… and he spoke loudly at me asking me how to pronounce words.  I guess that is how I sound when I am speaking to other foreigners… slowly and loudly in an effort to be clear.  

Cameroon

I’m meeting our partner in Cameroon.  It’s quite a long journey… flight from Dulles to Addis Ababa, then Addis to Duoala, then a 6 hour drive from Duoala to our partner in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Good times with our partner there. Thought I’d be going out to the field to meet their microfinance clients and get some exposure to their work there, but ended up spending most of the time inside their office, helping htem prep for a board meeting.  Realized despite that – having time to just sit and work with the partner was the best way to get to know them and build relationships with the leaders and staff. Definitely moments where I was twiddling my thumbs and asking “what in the world am I doing here… what happened in the planning of this…” but then God reassured me and reminded me that my purpose was to build relationships with them, and this was indeed the best means to do that.  So thank you!  He always knows best.

enroute to Africa

Well it sure was a long night!  I should really figure out my transportation when I book my flight.  Realized Sunday night public transport would not get me to dulles in time to catch my flight.  After celebrating my friend’s bday, got dropped off at philly airport to rent a car… eventually made it home to start packing…late night… super late night… and super early morning to drive down to dc… through the notorious dc traffic.  Definitely had to stop a couple times on my way as my eyes got weary but thank God I made it there alive and on time!

First time on Ethiopian airlines… overall satisfied. People were nice.  Passengers in general were quite nice… happy people… patient… just enjoying themselves.. loved the familial atmosphere… people with babies just handing their babies over to random strangers to hold and take care of… so cute.

Mulan – never thought that would be considered a ‘blockbuster’ favorite right now in 2013… alongside life of pi, the hobbit, and others.  Btw, there was a separate childrens’ movie section but I guess Mulan is a blockbuster in Africa now?

broad street run

Broad Street Run – hearts for Boston.  Sea of red socks running before you… beautiful.  A sense of unity and solemnity, but also excitement as well.  Hard to describe.

I think I just love seeing people come together.. random strangers from North to South Philly cheering random strangers along..  a sign that even said “Good job random stranger!”  Free high-fives.  Encouragement along the race route… people of all races, colors, accents, ages… Churches, bands, a drummer…  and one of the most meaningful parts for me… ran by Shriners Hopsital.. 2 kids… both looked like cancer patients, connected to all sorts of things… down on the sidewalk along the race route with their nurses… big smiles.. cheering people on.. and the rest of us… cheering back at them.  That was the kick in the butt I needed… suck it up tammy… you think running 10 miles is hard?  Look at these beautiful kids and the race they are running.  Had to catch my breath after seeing those kids… 

Anyways… the race is done.  Not a bad time given I was feeling like I didn’t have enough time to train with all the recent travel… 1:28:09.  8:48 a mile.. I’ll take it… now I’m just really sore and tired. Yay.. and I get to board a long flight tomorrow to Africa!  When I will pack I don’t know.. whaever..