A full tour of Unga

Today Kendra and I went back to Unga for a lunch we had been invited to, and to catch up with some other ladies.

Our lunch was with Mama Ibram who says we never eat lunch at her house because we are always too full...which is the truth, we are always given snacks along the way (the africans are so generous!) and there isn't possibly any room left by the time we get to her house. So we made arrangements when I went by last tuesday to eat at her house today.

I was frustrated, I have to admit. But I am getting ahead of myself. Mama Ibram has got it pretty good. Her husband makes good money, so even though they live in the slum they have cable television! I don't even have cable TV! Anyhow, she sat us on her couch, turned on the tv so we could watch some indian soap operas, and disappeared for about an hour. Kendra and I kept looking at each other and laughing not sure what we should do. That and the volume was so incredibly high it was piercing the ear drums.

She came back with lunch, and for the first time ever in all the meals I have eaten in Unga I was nauseated. Ugali, not so bad, I like the stuff, but todays was different, local fish (I don't even want to describe them too you...but I will anyhow)...they are about 4 inches long, and come whole, heads and tails, and you pick it apart by yourself, but really there isn't anything left to the fish so you are eating the skin, and well for some reason, even though I survived the dagaa experience today was exceptionally hard for me to swallow (literally and figuratively!) We ate, and I nearly gagged the whole time, but it didn't really matter cause after she brought us the food she left again! I thought we were having lunch TOGETHER! She did finally return for a bit, but we were running late and had a few more people to see, so we bid our farewells and headed towards where mama Omari sells her green bananas.

I met mama Omari several months ago when Katie and I were walking. She is in the middle of the slum and she and her friends would always greet us warmly. 2 weeks ago I passed by and they stopped me, asked where Katie was, and then asked if I wanted to buy green bananas. I told them Katie was at home but surely says hello, and declined cause I don't know how to cook green bananas. They all laughed I laughed, and then said, "mama, if you teach me how to cook green bananas I will come back and buy them!" That really got them going, so we made plans to have a cooking lesson last thursday.

Well, you know all about last week, and obviously because I was in court the cooking lesson did not happen, I couldn't even get there to tell them I wasn't coming, because I can't go where she is without someone. It is too dangerous for me to go alone.

So today I finally made it by to say hi to Mama Omari. I begged for forgiveness, and yes, retold the story again for the millionth time about court, the accident, the police etc and she said she forgave me and still wanted to give me a lesson. I told her I was game but needed to find someone to come with me, got her phone number and told her to would let her know when I could come. She seemed pleased.

We headed on our way, and picked up a few kiddos as well. I saw a woman selling some traditional bites so bought the bites for the kiddos when Mama Omari's friend came running up to us telling us Mama Omari needed to talk to us. We went back, and found out we have friends everywhere in Unga now. Two boys had just walked by and Mama Omari heard them talking about the two white girls (us) who had walked past, and their plan to mess with us and steal from us. She called us back to give us an escort. We were escorted to safer ground. I felt priviledged to know that someone would go to those lengths to protect me. I have friends in good places.

Then we stopped by Mama Diwani's place. Like I said, we had a lot of people to check in with. She too asked where we had been and wondered if I was ok. I filled her in and heard about their family and their week. I was then asked, "Pam, I talked with all of the group leaders of the HIV/AIDS group and they want to go to the next level of CHE training!" (at this point all readers rejoice, do a dance, and sing a song and celebrate!) The next step is a week long seminar where they are given the basic tools for starting a CHE program! I was floored by this, and I must say I am impressed by what God can do when I am kept out of the slum.

Pray for the leaders of the HIV/AIDS groups. Pray that they would stay focused, as they are reaching some 600 women who have HIV/AIDS who desperately need to hear the gospel and who could benefit from the physical and spiritual benefits of CHE! This is so cool. I don't know how to tell you how cool this is!

Mama Diwani also mentioned their desire to start another set of HIV/AIDS groups, one of them in the neighborhood where Mama Jackson used to live! HA! I wanted to say I told you so to satan, he kicked mama jackson out, but Jesus is still coming in!

Pray. Pray hard. The enemy is trying to keep us from spreading the gospel!