Follower of Christ

Staying the same is not an option. When we learn something, when our eyes are opened to a new aspect of life, of the world around us, it is impossible to go back to the way things were. Even if nothing changes as far as our actions, or lifestyle, 'knowing' does not allow for sameness. Yes, my experiences have given me a new outlook on poverty, social work, family, and education even. The list is probably quite extensive, actually. However, something that maybe I really didn't understand before coming here, is the fact that in following Christ, we are supposed to be following Christ. We sing in songs, and say that His life is our example, but if I'm honest, I probably don't actually live like it most of the time. Most of the time, I'm more consumed with my own life than with others. I care more about myself than I do about the people sitting right next to me. It's difficult being a college student also, this is a time when we have to take time to study, go to class, work, and shift focus from everything around us to our classes and to graduation, that light at the end of the tunnel. My dilemma is that God called us to be servants, submissive, loving, giving, sacrificial...all the time, not just after graduation or after we get that good-paying job or after our savings accounts are padded. Am I using the resources God has provided now? And if Christ wanted us to follow in his footsteps literally, are we justified in reading the Gospels about His life and going to church, then immediately go home to our comfy couches (which I miss very much) and turning on the TV while people in our towns struggle to make ends meet, are victims of domestic violence, dealing with addictions. Are we loving our enemies, the guy who cut us off on the parkway, the lady who didn't hold open the door, the murderer, the terrorist. For me, anyways, these are difficult things to think about because they mean self-examination. If I am found to be failing in these areas, a change must be made. If my heart is convicted and I don't make changes, am I really a follower of Christ? I know that this is basically a shorter version of the last post, but it's been eating away at my mind. It's easy to talk about these things here. But when I come home and faced with the reality of taking action, will I?
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." Rom 12:2a. Do I conform to the "American" way, the judgmental, individualistic, self-serving way? Or has Christ transformed my life in an evident way?

Transformation?

Before the mental spewing all over this blog, here are some updates (you can decide whether or not to stop reading after this…  or now if you really want): I was finally able to do some work with the farm today at CHAIN. Uncle Fortunate (yep J) showed my friend and I the fields where they plant different crops to sustain the children that live there. We weeded some areas, and got to see their future plans for expansion. Guava is also in season, so we picked and ate fresh guava while walking to the different areas.

The rainy season has begun and so has the season of white ants. We woke up one morning earlier this week to thousands of these flying ants that are about 1.5-2” in length, including wings. They were everywhere there was light during the night, so in the bathrooms and common room. All over the floor were ant-less wings and dead and live ants. It was super gross, BUT they eat them, just like the grasshoppers, so I’ll let you know how they are when I try them. This morning there was another, lesser, plague of ants, but it’s still pretty gross.

One of my friends here was able to get the first three episodes of the current season of Walking Dead (the ones that started in Jan.). Last night, we were able to have a zombie night, which was so nice… yeah it sounds weird, zombies are my comfort, deal. We should be getting the next three episodes for next week. I’m really excited to be able to keep up with Rick and his crew while in Uganda!!

Now for some unrelated pictures!

Some material that I'm having made into dresses. 

How to do laundry in Uganda.

My roommate, Nendel, and I before her performance.

Now for spilling my brain onto paper, or monitor, or whatever...

I think this may have been said before, I've definitely stressed it to certain individuals, but my Spiritual Disciplines class has been by far the most rewarding (just as Community Art has been the most enjoyable). One of the benefits of the course is that through practicing spiritual disciplines transformation really does happen. It must be done out of a sincere desire though, allowing for failures (because they will happen), because practicing these disciplines without allowing room for grace will only result in bitterness and instead of drawing closer to God, we will push Him away. Anyways… there might be a point in this somewhere… I recently decided that for my own mental and spiritual health, it would be best to take time off of facebook, texting, personal emails and blogging throughout the week for the next 3 weeks. Honestly (because we like honesty, right?), I hadn’t been doing so hot emotionally. The pull of home, the countdown, had become overwhelming and instead of the connection to my family and friends being a help, it became more of a hindrance. Staying up late to Skype, constantly checking my emails to see who wrote, and getting frustrated every time the internet didn’t load as fast as I wanted it to (or at all) became the anchor I clung to as it dragged me down. Giving these things up has been freeing, and (luckily) I get to count it as a discipline (hooray!!!)

Transformation, I am finding, is daunting. There’s a lot to live up to, the standards are high, and I think the fear of not reaching those standards keeps people from trying, or allowing themselves to be transformed. It’s also easier for me to generalize this stuff instead of personally admit that I act this way, so forgive me for projecting. This semester has been opening up my eyes to a real-life radical-Christianity. Not a faith that is preached from any pulpit (or blog, sorry guys…), but that is lived out in true love for our fellow man and standing for justice across economic, cultural and societal lines. These realizations have a lot of implications. If I truly believe that Jesus called us to care for the poor in a hands-on way, to truly be a part of a family that shares everything to make sure that no one goes without, then my life must be transformed. My cushy life. I’m afraid of returning home and falling into the same pattern of life, that’s focused on myself and my things, confirming in my mind that I don’t actually believe this garbage. I’m afraid of this conviction being so strong that I am ‘forced’ to give everything I have away, including my own hopes and dreams. I think there has to be a balance. (Maybe this is eastern philosophy coming out, but I do believe balance is the key to being healthy in mind, body and soul.) The one thing that I’m convinced of, though, is the importance of true community within the body of Christ. A quote that struck me this week is, “As we consider what it means to be ‘born again,’ as the evangelical jargon goes, we must ask what it means to be born again into a family in which our brothers and sisters are starving to death…It also becomes scandalous for the church to spend money on windows and buildings when some family members don’t even have water. Welcome to the dysfunctional family of Yahweh.” – Irresistible Revolution. I personally don’t believe spending money on a church building is wrong, but don’t many of the churches that we attend spend more on the building than they do on making sure their community has meals, can pay their bills or has access to health care? I’m convicted that I live in such a way that I am completely blind to those who live in poverty near me. I give my old clothes to goodwill or the red cross. I donate money to certain organizations. I even volunteer when I can spare time, how wonderful of me (please pick on the sarcasm)… All other times, I focus on my comfort, or having shoes that match my outfit, or making sure my toenails are perfectly polished.

Another book that we’ve been reading addresses the fact that we will live according to what we believe. Actually, I’m expounding on that a little. It addresses the fact that people who claim to believe something end up falling into the routine of the “Western” lifestyle and giving up living out their faith. Not as in leaving the church, but more about amassing material wealth and removing themselves from the reality of poverty and injustice. I do think however that this is a reflection of true belief. I do think how we live reflects what we truly believe, about God, about people and about ourselves. Which is scary to me, am I really living the way I believe Christ wants me to live? And if not, do I really believe that Christ expects me to live a certain way? I know I’m being extreme, and really grace does account for our shortcomings. We will never do enough, we will never give enough, we will never love enough, we will never sacrifice enough – we are all human. But accepting our fate as imperfect and resolving to do nothing is the wrong attitude to have also. (Balance, people. OHM!)

I’m sorry this sounds all preachy-preachy, that’s not my intention. I’ve just been processing a lot of things as the semester begins to wind down, so I’m working it out for the world to see.

Well, thanks for sticking with me. Love all of you and can't wait to see many of you when I get home!!

Pictures!

Here are some photos from my home-stay in Kapchorwa and the hike up to Sipi Falls. :)

 

Pineapple Farm!

Part of one of my classes is the research and presentation of an organization or ministry with a partner. My friend Emmy and I were able to visit some pineapple (and other things) farms through the Farmers Association of Mukono. SO fascinating!!  The methods of farming they use are really neat to encourage sustainable crops as well as become economically more productive. Since pineapple plants only produce a limited number of fruits, they also plant matoke trees in between the pineapple rows once the plants have reached maturity. The trees provide potassium, which helps fertilize the pineapple and by the time the pineapple is finished producing, the matoke trees have reached their peak. They also use coffee husks as fertilizer. So many of farms grow those 3 things together, not only for the nutritional value of the plants and soil, but also because it allows the farmers to rely on more than one crop. The one organization also teaches farming techniques to the youth as well as puts them in contact with buyers to distribute. Really really neato! At the end of the tour they gave us 3 (giant) bunches of matoke, and 10-15 each of pineapples and avocados. The avocados were the biggest flippin' avocados I've ever seen. So looking forward to eating avocados the size of my face!
OH, also: I was finally informed that matoke is the same thing as plantain. I'm really excited, cause now at home I can make matoke, chapati, and g-nut sauce!