Locked in the squatty potty:
We were in Moshi, Tanzania. A beautiful area with a wonderful view of Mt Kilimanjaro… when it is not too cloudy, as it was most days we were there. Near the area where we lived was an internet café and a river. Most people on the team had walked to one or the other for the afternoon, but I decided to stay home. I headed over to the squatty, and as I was taking care of business, I heard the rattling of the latch outside. I thought someone was trying to come in, so I hollered to let them know that someone was inside. Whoever it was, did not know too much English… They apologized. Then, I heard them head over to the boys squatty to lock that door (they didn’t like the doors left unlatched and open, so I guess they check on them throughout the day).
Here is where I had a problem… They may have apologized, but they forgot to unlatch the door.
As I walked over to open the door, it wouldn’t open. Shoot… everyone just left. I will probably be stuck in here a few hours. “At least these squatties are nicer than the ones I have been in at other places,” I thought.
After standing in there a few minutes, I finally got smart. There was a small space between the top of the door and the ceiling. I climbed up on the crossbars of the door. For a moment, I thought about trying to stick my head out to see. I quickly realized that if I did that and the board I was standing on broke off the door, I would them probably hang myself and end up dying alone in a squatty… not the way to go out of this world.
So, I simply reached out over the top of the door. Felt around for a few moments, and yep…my arm was just long enough to reach the top of the latch and pull it over. FREEDOM! Whew… thought my next few hours were going to be sitting… oops, nothing to sit on in a squatty… I mean, standing, trapped in a squatty alone.
Some things about pooping on the world race:
In public, you know how most days you will wait to poop until you get home?
Not on the World Race… If you know you will be going to town, you wait till you get there to use a western toilet.
Also, you know how you would never poop when you are a guest at someone’s house that you just met?
Again… not on the World Race. When you have access to a nice western, you find no shame in pooping in someone’s restroom on the first time to their house.
On with more stories…
Sanctifying Sodas:
We were going door to door for evangelism one day. We came to a house where the Mama decided to serve us some bottles of soda. Before taking the soda, Pastor had us stand up so he could pray… We stood and held hands as he specifically prayed to “sanctify the sodas.”
My Soul Mate in Kenya:
I have received multiple emails from a man in Kenya who thinks we should get married…
"Kayla, that great if ur going fine ,are u planing to come back after the trip coz ihave adream that we should make this ralationship in another level as itold u am seaching for asoul mate and thank mighty that ifould you, ur out going ,kind and know mighty lord."
Worship:
During worship in a Kenyan church, one of the girls on the team was hit in the head with a plastic chair.
The Bishop had gotten a little excited during worship… Picked up his chair above his head and started dancing around with it until he hit Rachel in the head and another Bishop made him put it down.
Ugandan Funeral:
In Uganda, the guest house we were staying at was hosting a funeral. They asked us to not have any guests over and to keep quiet. Of course we agreed… It’s a funeral and we know how funerals are.
As night came, lots of people were still there, and being really loud outside. It was an all night party of alcohol, loud worship, and preaching (I know… strange combination of activities) at 2:30 AM. I guess I didn’t really know how funerals are in Uganda.
Cattle on the Beach:
We are finishing up our last few days in Tanzania. The squad is meeting up on a beach outside of Dar es Salaam. It is absolutely gorgeous! Sometimes you forget you are in Africa… until you see the herd of cattle being walked down the beach every afternoon. Yep… Still in Africa.
