Everything Old Is New Again, Vol. 2

It’s exciting and disconcerting at the same time to start over again in a new county.  Since Uganda is adjacent to Kenya, a country we lived in for almost 12 years, there are many similarities that make living here not quite so ‘new’.

But then again, East Africa is not the same place we left 15 years ago either, the same way that the US in 1999 was not the same as when we left in 1987.

We left as a young couple and came back with three children. This time around we leave our children and grandchildren in the US and have rejoined our journey in Africa as a couple.

Innovations like cell phones and the internet are a part of the culture here now and have greatly changed how people communicate, but power failures are pretty much a daily problem. There are more hospitals and clinics available, yet children still die from malnutrition and malaria. Again, different, yet some of the same old problems. 

We have become reacquainted with the slower paced life and how long it can take to do simple tasks. We’ve had to once again get used to being stared at often in public and hearing “Mzungu!” (white person) yelled out at us by the kids as we pass by. 

We were reminded again on a recent Sunday of how things are familiar in some ways, but different in others—when a little girl dropped to her knees when we went to shake her hand during the ‘greet-each-other’ time. She did this to show her respect, but it is only girls who are taught to do this, not boys, so we have mixed feelings about how to take this practice.

                                                                                   

Wheels. Another old item that is new again is our vehicle! Yes, we are now the proud owners of an older model Toyota Land Cruiser. It belonged to a missionary team in another area of the country as a team ‘spare’ vehicle and they decided they would rather sell it.

We had it thoroughly inspected in Kampala by a mechanic who happens to come from a family of successful motorcycle racers who now owns his own mechanic shop in Kampala.

 

We are excited about what the Lord will bring out way here, whether it be new or old. We pray for God to give us new eyes and renewed faith to accomplish his will. Thank you again for praying for us and sending us to be a part of this mission. Daryl and Laurie Glimpse Into Every Day Uganda Life

Bates Prayer Corner: 1) Container. The household goods that we shipped have still not arrived, but we are told they are getting closer at least! The last report we heard is that it may arrive in Mbale by July 8th or there-abouts. Whenever it is, please pray that the customs and clearing agents will be reasonable and fair (which is not always the case). 2) Taxes. We have learned that there were recent changes in the tax laws that could possibly subject us to income tax here in Uganda (even though we don’t make or receive any income from here). We had not budgeted for this. The laws are somewhat subjective and ambiguous, and one of our church members who is     a lawyer is following up on this matter for us.  Please again pray for the authorities to be just & fair minded. Thank you to all who have already been interceding for us about this. 3) Landlord. Our landlord passed away about five weeks after we arrived.  Please pray for comfort for the Netuwa family, and that we will continue to have a good relationship with the rest of the family, as we had with Dr. Netuwa. 4) Our children. Please continue to pray for our sons Steven and Lee, as well as our daughter Lydia and her family as they go through job transitions and make decisions about the future.