get your he-goat on...shake that booty.

You know you have spent quality time in Africa when:
*You understand the importance of sweeping the dirt
*(You always know about three people who have malaria at any given time
*You answer yes by raising your eyebrows, or you resort to "eh" (when before it was only a mockery of the Canadian accent)
*You are somehow embarrassed when visiting speaker Rick Warren mentions some cheesy analogy about using a knife and a fork...for you realize that such is completely cultural...most people here use their hands
*Your skin matches that of a wee little African newborn

Okay....cutting to the chance...I figure this is the easiest way to announce it to the general public. Two days ago I was proposed to. Offered twelve cows, and TWENTY GOATS!!! And get this, I accepted. Amina!!! Oh this lad's name is Gilbert (always wanted my Gilbert Blithe)...a handsome one....I'm staying here!!!!!!! I'm going to be a muganda girl for real! Wicked sweet.

On Monday I danced the traditional Kiganda dance for our community our fellowship (all the USP students led the service)...it was smashing...we wore goat hides on our rears and wiggled our hips to a song all about thanking yesu...the audience was in an uproar...one lady even came up on stage and put a coin in each of our hands...funny enough, the room with our clothes was locked when we finished...so we went to the dining hall all done up still (yes, the goats came with us)....we danced for the kitchen staff after they finished serving....dancing really warms people up, they appreciate it so very much! I was grateful to be able to show my love for Uganda (particularly the Baganda) by shaking my rump.

Spent yesterday with the UCU nursing students as they did clinical rounds...spent the day with three beautiful ladies who had had complications after birth...the day was so refreshing, nursing students are just lovely, and it was nice to be in and with the patients. I visited the health center in town the day before and found it difficult to really "be" with patients as I had imagined...it must be odd to be in the hospital and have a white stranger approach you. I was also able to go into the nursery where the premature babies are cared for...all bundled up in their incubators. One baby died while I was there, and God, the mother had just arrived. Pray for this woman...I know she is faceless to you...but pray for the nameless, faceless African woman who lost her small son. I am learning much about prayer. I visited the health center wanting to offer prayer as a ministry...but I realized that such a mission was somehow foolish...for to go and pray is good...but it shouldn't be contained to a set time and place...praying for those who are sick...inside and outside the walls of the clinic should be constant...and I don't know...I think it can be silent....but I think we should be in fervent practice of praying for those too weak to pray for themselves. I often fail and don't know how...may we be sincere in discipleship and learn to pray.

For those who have stuck with me through my ramblings so far....bless you....and for those who maybe believed that I was engaged...:D April fools! Happy April everyone! May the beauty of spring kiss you softly on the cheek this day!