Recently there were a few moments I wished I could have on film. For now, this will have to do. Thanks for sharing them with me:
Playing ‘the Knot Game’ with a
group of the girls (you make a circle, then all join crisscrossed hands and
have to go over and under each other in order to undo the knot). We start with
one girl attempting to breastfeed and her 11 month old hanging off her nipple as
we are trying to untie the knot. We all laughed so hard. Her baby wouldn’t let
go, so eventually she had to prefer him and quit the game. We thought the knot
game would give them a chance to experience a little bit of life as a normal 17
year old. Not quite so normal. But close. And hilarious.
Seeing men in the market place
playing checkers using plastic bottle caps as pieces.
Having feedback where at least
half my team members confessed either that they hated our team or that they
were praying for team changes. The week following these confessions spurred
spades games and long talks and extra hugs and laughter. One team member even
started to point out how funny (and funny looking) I am in the mornings, making
me feel known and loved. (Because it’s a known fact that I am funny looking in
the morning.) The week following these confessions started more prayer in my
personal life for our team. Confession night was about 10 days ago… and now I
have a team I would fight for. A team that I would be upset if they busted us
up. (I attribute a large part of this change of heart to prayers, both mine and
I’m sure some of yours.)
Joining in Acholi dances one
afternoon. Some girls played goatskin drums. Others hit huge dried gourds with
metal scrapers to make rhythms.
The girls would switch off calling out songs and chants and
demonstrating the dances to do. One of the dances included tomahawk props.
(Always a nice touch.) Most of the dances included shaking my hips in ways that
I do not know how to shake them. After that it was Mzungu dance time. We attempted to do
‘Thriller,’ emphasis on the ‘attempted’. We also tried some normal moves that
you would see at any white person’s wedding (the shopping cart, fishing, etc.).
We ended it with skanking to Five Iron Frenzy (hats off to jr. high). After all
of that, they asked us when the mzungu dancing would start.
Tearing up because I got to talk
to my host family (the Hagues) for the first time since leaving America. It was
weird skyping with them while they sat in the chair that I used to Skype from.
Sitting in my cocoon of a
mosquito net hammock and reading ‘Ender’s Game’ or watching The Office. Being
reminded of 210 days where everything you needed was in arms reach of bed, be
it a journal, a Bible, a cookie, or (roll over) there’s my Nalgene.
