i'm here...a few random notes.

after a long flight, and only a few major butt cramps, I landed on the other side of the world. uganda is absolutely beautiful, breathtakingly green, with a constant symphony of birds and creatures. met my family yesterday and had my first class today--still settling into the swing of things, might take awhile. love my family and the casual, joyful atmosphere. i was initiated into the family, given a name and everything...I just can't remember it at present. my mama is great, talked with her for hours about culture, and had my first lesson in luganda! my mama said she has 19 children, but pretty sure that that includes in-laws and nephews, my brother william is at home for a few more weeks, then it will just be me and my mama and my sixteen year old sister eva, and a few nephews too of course. another usp student will be staying with me, but she has been sick (since before we landed :(. it was difficult to understand my professor today (girls, more difficult than dr. lin). so.. politics is going to be challenging to say the least, with lots of papers to write (and i'm more than a bit rusty). excited about learning though! i haven't met many ugandan students yet since i spent most of yesterday with my family, and most of my classes are with the other exchange students, hoping to make some relationships. erin, note to self, it is only the first real day. classes started here a week ago, so not so sure about what my old testament class is going to be like (since it is the only one has really started). have somewhat of a cold right now. lots of sniffling. bum. tried the traditional dish, matooke, mashed platains, my mama calls it food, so that for dinner we had lots to eat, but no food, probably have food tonight. love tea time. sweetened black tea is delicious. oh, and last night there was a terrific thunderstorm, more powerful than i've ever heard, and it isn't even rainy season yet.

Please pray:
for relationships with my family and ugandan students.
for open ears that understand (even with accents), to really hear what ugandans have to say.
for health, to kick this cold in the hinny.
for my usp sister, that she gets back on her feet again.
for my classes, that i'll learn how to do school, with papers and lots of reading, and getting work done before my walk home at six.