Tuesday, December 3, 2013

walk with me

A long time ago, after we first moved here, I wrote a picture blog where I imagined that you had come over to visit us in our little flat.  It was very fun and therapeutic for me, since I was REALLY wishing for some friends and family to come over.  I am again in the mood to pretend.  But this time, we should go for a walk together... because it has been a perfect Suubi evening.  I may chatter too much for too long, and I may stop to take too many pictures.  But, hopefully you won't mind indulging me.  It is holiday time, and I need to feel like we're "caught up."  At least... as much as possible across an ocean.

I first must comment on the weather, and how, even though this is our 3rd Christmas in Uganda, I still can't get used to putting up a Christmas tree when it is 80 degrees outside.  However, on an evening like this, when it is a divine 70 and there is a fresh breeze - I can't bring myself to complain or wish for a "wintry mix" forecast.  

It is just us and Reynah going on this stroll.  She is packing her tinkerbell purse with the very necessary items - rocks, lip gloss, and a toy car.  She asks me for some money as well, but I say no.  T is at the basketball court and the boys are heaven knows where, doing boy-stuff with their friends.  They always come home filthy at dusk when they are ready to eat.  So, this means our walk is dictated by Reynah's whimsy.  The first thing she wants to do today is pick flowers. 


Meanwhile, I will gush to you about how much I enjoyed getting to talk with about 30 teenage girls today - about sex, boys, body image, and purity.  I always feel incredibly honored to lead discussions on these so-important topics. 

Then, I will start to fill you in on some on of the "happenings" of our little home.  Two weeks ago, we had a baby monkey delivered to our doorstep.  He had been caught by some of the Watoto boys.  His leg was injured, and I wasn't too happy with how they were treating him, so we decided to keep him for a few days.  I must say - ever since we moved to Suubi - I've wished to "babysit" a baby monkey, just for a little while.  He stayed on our veranda for a bit over a week and was SO entertaining!  We called him Timo.  He would fall asleep if we started "grooming" him, would squeal and basically pitch a fit if he saw us eating any kind of fruit, would make the cutest chattering noises when he was happy, and would use our head and shoulders as a launching pad to get to whatever higher destination he wanted to reach.  I did get tired of cleaning his poop off our veranda though, and we let him go rejoin his monkey friends one day when the troop of them came around our flat.


Now, we've reached to top of the hill, the highest point of Suubi's 200 acres.  Reynah loves the little "fish pond" here, and, as you can see, it is a favorite hang-out place for many.


I now get to hold her flowers as she picks grass to "feed the fishies." 

The view is spectacular from here, and this is where our new worship building is almost complete.  It is set to open in Jan. of next year.  So far, our Sunday services have always been held in a school hall that can only comfortably seat 300.  Suubi is a village of about 1,500 residents now, so you can see why this new worship center is needed.


Not to mention... have you noticed the glass walls?  I do question the practicality of glass walls, but, my goodness! What a stirring place to meet and pray and sing - a glass sanctuary on the side of a mountain!  In fact, if I weren't already married, I think I would start planning my wedding to be here.


Here now, I catch a glimpse of one of my boys as he zooms past.  Josiah is having a blast!

There are very few bikes on this village; my kids don't own a bike.  Josiah tells me that this one belongs to one of his friends who got it because he was the "best boy" on his Watoto Choir tour.  If you are one of the privileged children who get a bike, you are expected to share it with everyone else.  And I do mean EVERYONE ELSE.  I will never cease to be amazed at how much better Ugandans are at sharing than we Westerners are.

Other news that you may find interesting (or repulsive) is that November is grasshopper season here.  While we get excited about roasted turkey back home, Ugandans get excited about eating fried grasshoppers.   I have read accounts by other North Americans that suggest Ugandans are so poor they resort to eating these insects because there is simply nothing else to eat.  That's really not true.  They eat them because they genuinely like them, and these grasshoppers are considered quite the seasonal delicacy.  This past Saturday, Josiah, Judah, and their buddies literally spent all morning in the grass field collecting the critters.  Our friend, Mama Andrew, came over to cook them for the boys.


I just found it so humorous to see my pot of veggie soup and her skillet of bugs side by side.


 (Btw, that is lemon grass in my pot... not worms!  -in case your imagination is getting the best of you at this point.)  I do wish I had a pic of the boys eating their treat, but the power went out as we sat down.  So, it was fried grasshoppers and carrot-ginger soup by candlelight.  Ha!

We've now reached the soccer field where preparation is fully underway for graduation ceremonies tomorrow.  The school year is different here, so December marks the end of an academic year, graduations, and the beginning of the longest school holiday.  Here are Maurice and Carlos setting up the climbing rope exhibition for tomorrow.
Maurice and his wife, Jean, are teachers here at Suubi.  They are from the UK and are the only other long-term volunteers with Watoto at this point.  Carlos is a short-term volunteer from Brazil.  We do enjoy making friends with the many international volunteers that come through. 

And here are some of my teachers friends who are also helping to set up ... as they are "setting their hair" to look their best tomorrow.


I hope you're not too tired yet.  We really only have one more stop to see T and the guys at the b-ball court. 

As we walk there, I have to make sure I get in the most excited bit of news that we are looking forward to.  On Jan.2, we leave to go spend 2 weeks in South Africa!  Just our family.  Just for fun!  God blessed us so much - we were able to get all our tickets for free with our airline miles!  Being able to plan this trip has been SUCH an encouragement at times, especially since we knew we weren't going to be able to make a visit home this year.  We will get some refreshing family time away on some pretty beaches.  I'm sure I will post more pictures on here than you would ever care to see.

THEN, a couple of weeks after we return, my mom and dad and baby sister are coming to visit!!! I am just giddy over all this.  We've had some very dear friends come visit but this will be first time to have family.  I won't have to pretend or use pictures, but will have my family right beside me, smelling the same air, feeling the equator sunshine, and meeting our African home.  I've spent so much time daydreaming about this. 

Of course, we have lots of plans to relish the Christmas season... but, really... January can't come fast enough!


So, here is our final destination.  The basketball court is the best place to be at sunset.  It is a ritual every time we come that T has to "fly" Reynah around.


I've enjoyed your "company" so much tonight.  I only wish it wasn't such a one-sided conversation.  If you take a notion to, please dialogue back and send me an update on you and your family.  I would really love that! 


17 comments:

  1. My mom and I just took the walk with you and Reynah. We enjoyed it so much. Did you eat any of the grasshoppers? Love you my friend.

    Jessica Ridenhour

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    1. Hi Jessica! so glad you could join me :) no, i did not eat any grasshoppers! nor did Rey, though i think she should would have if i had let her. :)

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  2. Love the last photo!!!!! Great idea Mika!!!!

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    1. oh, thank you, Helen! and i take a "photo compliment" from you very serious - i would LOVE to learn to take pictures as stunning as yours!

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  3. Hi Mika !!! I know you don't know me that well. My family and I have been going to Northside for almost 2 yrs now and heard so many wonderful things about you and your family. I have truly enjoyed your visits this year and the services Thomas preached. I really Loved your blog, it was almost as if I were there with you. BEAUTIFULL !!! Thank you sooooo much for sharing your awsome adventure with us. I love seeing what God is doing in others lives and how truely wonderful it is to be totally sold out and doing nothing but Gods will. Maybe someday I will be able to come visit. May God bless you and keep you and your family <3

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    1. oh, thanks, Tara, for your very encouraging words! i wish we had been at Northside together, but it is nice to know we are still part of the same church family, right? you're very welcome to visit here! you should drop some hints to Pastor Carter that the church should bring a team. ;)

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  4. Loved the visit with you and Reynah, Mika. It was awsome. I am sooo glad your mom and dad are coming to visit you. That is awsome.Darlene Abrams

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    1. glad you joined us, Darlene! and, yes, SUCH a blessing that my mom and dad came come. dream come true, for real!!

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  5. Thank you for the walk. Now I want to come visit and if its warm all the time I might want to stay. It's suppose to be in the 70's tomorrow and in the 30's by the weekend. Keep sharing your adventures with us!! Love you guys!! God bless you!

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    1. what?! crazy TN weather! i don't miss winter time, but i do wish i could have just a few cold days for Christmas. well, maybe just chili days would be fine. :) love you!

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  6. Hi Simpson Family, Not sure if you remember us but we are the Coletti family that served at camp in September! I was looking up a Luganda translation for a project for Cora and stumbled upon your blog! We all immediately smiled! We shared your story with so many since returning to the US and pray for you all often. We just spent Thanksgiving with the Australian family that served as well in Uganda. They were in the US and we spent a week sharing our love for Africa once again!:-) Wishing your entire family a most spectacular Christmas and an even better January with family visiting! Hugs to you all! Dawn, Joe, Dominic and Cora Coletti

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    1. hi, Dawn! of course, i remember you guys! how very cool that you found our blog. i'm so happy. that is really neat that you and the Australian family could meet up for a week! i had forgotten that they were going to the US after Europe. please tell your kiddos "hello" and i hope we can keep in touch!

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  7. Mika, I tried to post last night, but I guess it didn't work. I am going to share this beautifully written blog with my Sophomores here in Alamo, TN at Crockett County High School. I am amazed at all of the images you create with words and pictures. We are going to pick your essay apart: tone, mood, imagery...and note how the pictures work with not only the imagery, but also the theme. Thank you for sharing this.

    We love and miss your precious family so much! I know your boys have grown as tall as weeds because my Samuel, Jack, and Wyatt have, as well. How I wish our group from what seems so long ago could have another play date at the playground in North Park with our babies toddling around!

    Thank you for opening our eyes to your world!
    Natasha

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    1. Natasha, I am flattered and scared. I wouldn't even know how to pick my essay apart - LOL! But I will be happy if anyone else can find enjoyment in reading it. I wish we could see you guys as well. So thankful for social media at least... I love catching pic on FB of kids growing up. :) Give love to all your family from us!

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  8. Mika, Love, love, love the blog!! Happy Holidays my dear friend!! It amazes me how much Rey has grown. The boys seem as if they have embraced the life. I am so thankful for social media and getting to keep up with the Simpsons. Did not know if you knew I got married 2 years ago, we are still growing and adjusting, sometimes growing pains others joy!! Chelsey is 15, very responsible and well mannered. Just love her spirit and her love for people and helping others. She is an inspiration to me. My husband, Darren, works nights and a lot. Please give love to your family and the 80 degree weather, it has been in the 20s here this weekend and just today 30s. I am sure you don't miss that!!! Love you all, Shea

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  9. Here I am just catching up and so glad I 'stopped by'! It is always a blessed reminder that despite all the sad stories we hear daily on the news, things can change and looking for the better in the world!
    God is good as shown by all the smiling faces!
    Thank you for sharing Friends and wishing each and everyone a Merry Christmas!
    Safe trip to SA,

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  10. God Bless!! Thanks for sharing this to us. You inspired others to follow you. Thanks!
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