This month my team, and two other teams, have been partnered with Lightforce International. It is a ministry based out of the UK with other bases in Albania and India.
*let me interject that I really love the structure and heart of this ministry. If you’re looking for a place to do missions, visit their site.
Our compound is BUSY all the time with various jobs.
Where we live is also host to 16 kids who are sponsored to study at the P1 – P7 Lightforce school. Many of us spent time this month teaching English, but nearly everyone spent time dancing, coloring, and playing in the evenings.
There is a clinic on campus that some of our medically trained teammates helped to get organized for reopening.
My favorite part is the garden and farm. Much of what we have eaten this month is grown steps from our compound gate. Aside from that, we did TONS of physical labor; building a coal shed, building a goat pen, moving laundry lines, and shucking/de-cobbing/drying/shoveling/bagging acres of corn.
I am TIRED. But I’ll be honest, I think this may be my favorite month. Lightforce is a treasure to me. It always will be. So I’ve written a letter to those who may get to experience this treasure some day.
Dear future Lightforce visitors,
You are welcome here. Really. You are. You’ll probably hear 10 times a day just how welcome you are in this place. Lira, Uganda is glad you are here.
While you’re in Uganda there are two things you must eat: chipati and samosas. Chipati is honestly plain but it doesn’t matter. It’s. So. Good. I prefer vegetable samosas, which are kind of like an African hot pocket, but be bold and try the meat at least once. If you really want some fun, ask Mama and Irene to teach you how to make them. Do the whole thing. Pick the carrots. Peel the potatoes. Cut the garlic. Fold the dough. Fry them all up. It changes everything and I promise you’ll want to know how to make them at home.
Get to know the staff. Please. We have loved our time with them, and a few days ago they shared how much they appreciated it. Most of the time they feel ignored by teams. Don’t! Their hearts and stories are worth knowing. They want to love you. Let them. Learn from them.
When you’re doing physical labor, work hard and work joyfully. Whatever you don’t get done the staff will have to do alone. Share the load. Make the tedious things fun. Make them laugh. But seriously, work hard. They will respect you for it.
There are many deaf or hard of hearing people in the community and some work at Lightforce. Don’t ignore them. Do your best to communicate. They are FUNNY! They love for you to take interest in their language, too, and others will help translate what they know. If you’re with them enough you may even get a sign name (mine has a lot to do with my nose ring).
The kids LOVE to dance. Play any kind of bumpin’ music, but they are especially fond of Shakira and Sinach. Play “I know who I am” and I can guarantee you’ll get a dance lesson. Come with lots of songs in mind.
They also love to have movie nights. We watched “A Bug’s Life” and “The Lion King” so bring some other classics. Pro tip: there’s bags of popcorn for 500 shillings (13 cents) in town. Do a movie night after a snack run.
Walk slow with Liz. When she was younger she contracted polio and her body is still affected. But she is FULL of life and joy. Walk and wait and ask her questions. Her favorite color is yellow and her favorite animal is a cow. We are the actual same. Make her laugh and she may have to pause to get ahold of herself, but her laugh is the best.
If you go to church at the rock, bring some money. Many of the members can only bring their crops as a tithe and they will auction them off for the church. You may have the option of sesame seeds, peanuts, casava, or pumpkin! Give a fair price and bless the church of you can. Then go home and have Hameda and Charlie teach you how to cook your goodies!
Just soak it all in. Hold the goats. Catch the bugs. Eat the posho. Sing loud. Dance hard. Smell the rain. Squish the baby cheeks with kisses. Love Uganda for me until I can again.
Peace and Blessings,
Elise
