Eat, Pray, Love: January 2011

Monday, January 24, 2011

Uganda: Sometimes People Start the Adventure

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/additional.html

I hadn't thought about going to Uganda on this adventure of mine, but sometimes things happen that change your mind or take you in directions you hadn't planned on going....

EAT:

I was at work last night when this beautiful couple came in. They were very gentle and soft-spoken, a little timid and unsure of the menu, very curious about the different foods on the menu and when they spoke and I knew they were not from Texas. We started a conversation and I learned they are living in Ft. Worth, but came from Uganda.

We chatted throughout their meal and at one point I said something about adding barberry to my gumbo and that I had brought it home from Ethiopia. So, we talked a little about that and my time there. I was at the counter when they left.

They stopped at the counter and told me, that on behalf of all the Africans they wanted to thank me for my time there. I was astounded and so very honored. It was the first time since I left, that someone from Africa had taken time to do that!

I explained that to me it wasn't work I did there. I told them that sometimes people say "Oh, you gave up so much to go", but I don't feel like I gave up anything. The blessings I received in being there far out way any hardships. I still feel like it was such an honor that the people of Ethiopia allowed me to be a part of their lives.

The man, and I am very sorry I didn't get their names, but perhaps I wasn't supposed to, said both of them had lost their parents during the reign of Idi Amin. He then went on to tell the story of his being imprisoned for four months. He was imprisoned for standing up for his faith!

He was taken from his home, thrust into a tiny dungeon cell where he was left for four days without food. He talked about being alone with only rats and lice crawling on him. His eyes welled up with tears and they took their leave.

Some days, I feel like my faith is very big, and days like this, I see how tiny it really is. I wonder, could I endure the hardships of prison for my faith?

It is very easy for me, sitting here safely in my comfortable home in America to say "yes, I would". I deeply looked at that possibility as part of my discernment process for going to Sudan because I know that could be a very real possibility. Reality is, that sometimes relief workers are kidnapped and imprisoned in Sudan. After much prayer and thought I came to the conclusion that I could. But now, after seeing the pain in their eyes, I wonder if I would have the strength to endure. Only God knows.

Now, on to a happier note...eating! I wanted to try some of their traditional food and here's what I found....

You can't learn about a county's food without learning a little of their history and culture.

Uganda is a small country located in the heart of Africa. It is bordered by Sudan on the north, Kenya on the east, Tanzania on the south and Rwanda and the Congo on the west.

Food in Daily Life. Most people, except a few who live in urban centers, produce their own food. Most people eat two meals a day: lunch and supper. Breakfast is often a cup of tea or porridge. Meals are prepared by women and girls; men and boys age twelve and above do not sit in the kitchen, which is separate from the main house. Cooking usually is done on an open wood fire. Popular dishes include matoke (a staple made from bananas), millet bread, cassava (tapioca or manioc), sweet potatoes, chicken and beef stews, and freshwater fish. Other foods include white potatoes, yams, corn, cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes, millet, peas, sorghum, beans, groundnuts (peanuts), goat meat, and milk. Oranges, papayas, lemons, and pineapples also are grown and consumed. The national drink is waragi , a banana gin. Restaurants in large population centers, such as Kampala (the capital), serve local foods.
http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Uganda.html#ixzz1Bm8pp400

So, with that list of foods, I was on my way...well, WE were on our way. I had a text message from Julie (granddaughter #1) saying "Grandma, can we hang out today?" At 13, she doesn't usually have time for me so I dropped everything and headed to Ft. Worth to spend the day with her. We made the rounds of the stores searching for ingredients and headed back to her house to cook dinner.

There we were met by brother Alex who watched for a while and said "Grandma, are you making weird food again?" For weird food it must have been good, he went for seconds along with everyone else.

We had a very tasty dinner of plantains, chickennat, cabbage and ugali. All the recipies can be found on the Recipe Page plus a few we didn't get to try.

Pray...

Photo: One of many overcrowded camps for displaced people in Northern Uganda.

http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol19no4/194uganda.html

After hearing of the hardships of my visitors at the counter, I realized their stories are like many throughout the world. I sometimes forget how blessed we are here in the US. I forget the stories of hungry children clamoring for food or living in refugee camps.

I forget that medical care is not always available 24 hours a day and on almost every corner...

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=2860&cat=field-news

.And that education is a privilege, not a right in most parts of the world...

http://www.centerforwomeninleadership.org/global-education-/study-abroad/places-go/uganda-summer-practicum

So this week I am praying for these issues. Won't you join me?

Love...

I did find beautiful countryside in Uganda. And some day I would love to visit...

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mount_Khadam,_Uganda.JPG

PCUSA Missionaries serving in Uganda

We don't have any PCUSA missionaries serving Uganda right now, but we have plenty throughout Africa,

check out the following link and pray for them and the work they are doing...

Presbyterians at Work Around the World-Africa http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/global/africa/

Or pray for the organizations in the pictures above

Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership ...Educating Tomorrow's Global Leaders

Doctor's Without Borders...

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Sudan: Part 2 - Eating and Loving it

Yesterday I skipped the eating and love part of this blog and went straight to the pray part. That was the most important in this time of uncertainty for the country.

Today I am off on a new adventure in eating...

I found a great website...Menus and Recipes from The Sudan. It has a whole list of customs, how dinner is served and recipes. Come along as I experience a traditional meal...

I tried the

Mahshee (Stuffed Tomato with Chopped Beef)
SHORBET ADAS (Lentil Soup)

SALATA MA JIBNA (Salad with Oriental Cheese)

and the Kisra - the traditonal flatbread made by mixing wheat flour, baking powder and water to a thin pancake like batter and cooking over a hot pan just like pancakes.

One of the few traditional deserts I could find was for Creme Caramela. I found this recipe on cdkitchen. com, but it very much like flan to me, so I just picked up some flan to go with my meal. That is way too much work for one person to eat!

I had to make a few substitutions - when it's about 18 miles round trip to the grocery store, you tend to do that. I used sausage in place of the ground beef and coscous in place of the rice, but it was still very good eating.

Pray

I received this message from Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission for PCUSA...

I hope you will join all of us in prayer for the people of Sudan...

Join in a Season of Prayer with the people of Sudan

On January 9 the people of Southern Sudan will vote on a referendum to determine whether their region will become an independent nation or stay united with the northern part of the country.

For more than 100 years the PC(USA) has been in partnership with Sudanese Presbyterians and in this crucial hour these brothers and sisters in Christ have asked us to stand by them in prayer against the possibility of renewed violence.

In accordance with the mandate of the 219th General Assembly, we are calling upon all Presbyterians to pray for a peaceful and just referendum process. Pray for our partners and our mission co-workers assigned to Sudan: the Rev. Debbie Blane, the Rev. Jacob and Aliamma George, Ms. Nancy McGaughey and Dr. Ingrid Reneau.


The Rev. Hunter Farrell Director, Presbyterian World Mission		The Rev. Debbie Braaksma Africa Area Coordinator, World Mission		The Rev. Mark Koenig Director, United Nations Ministry

Love

The side benefit of eating my way around the world is I am not eating at drive thru's so much and I am heating a whole lot healthier for a lot less money since almost everything is made from scratch using a lot of fresh vegetables and very little meat. I am loving that!

Pray

for all the missionaries serving in Sudan, including our PCUSA Missionaries...

Debbie Blane

Nile Theological College

Khartoum North

Post Office Box 632

Sudan

Email: Debbie Blane

Visit Debbie’s blog

Donate →

Debbie is a lecturer in theology at Nile Theological College (NTC) in Khartoum, Sudan. She teaches a wide range of programs to prepare pastors to serve in Presbyterian churches.

Since Sudan gained independence in 1956, civil war has gripped the nation. Nevertheless, many people in Sudan have struggled courageously to create paths to a common peace. NTC was founded in 1991 by two Presbyterian churches, the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which has its roots in Egypt, and the Presbyterian Church of the Sudan. Together they provide a Christian witness of hope to this deeply troubled nation. NTC provides training and education in English and Arabic for the churches of Sudan, principally in the northern region of Sudan.

Jacob and Aliamma George

Malakal, Sudan

Donate →

Jacob and Aliamma George know firsthand that the power of the gospel can transcend cultures.

That’s because the Georges have seen the gospel transform lives both in their native India and in Houston, Texas, where they lived as young adults. They have now heard God’s call to yet another place and culture, and they are excited about service in Sudan.

Nancy McGaughey see her photo and profile on the right...

Ingrid Reneau

Email: Ingrid Reneau

Donate →

Ingrid Reneau was appointed in July 2007 to serve as education officer in Sudan. She works in southern Sudan in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church and the Association of Christian Resource Organizations Serving Sudan. She is charged with helping to implement plans to expand the church-sponsored school system, improve its administrative capabilities, and strengthen its teaching methodologies.

Information on PCUSA missionaries is taken from the Mission Connections website. Here, you can find information on PCUSA missionaries serving throughout the world. Learn more about them, how they are serving and keep updated by reading their newsletters and blogs.

Yet, LORD my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. 2 Chronicles 6:19

Friday, January 7, 2011

Sudan: Pray, Elections Begin January 9

There isn't an "Eat" or "Love" section today. Only pray. I will add those later, but today, in this time of uncertainty for Sudan, I invite you to join me in prayer.

Many of you know that I applied for a mission position in South Sudan. It is on hold pending the outcome of the elections that will decide if Sudan will become two countries or remain one. Political tensions are very high there, obviously. There has been much danger to those from the south who fled to Khartoum and are trying to return to the south.

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to flee my home with my children to escape the ravages of a civil war, spend years - for some, their entire life - living in a refugee camp, only to have to take all my belongings and return to the south to be able to vote.

That is the simplified version of the stories of thousands fighting for space on buses, or walking to return to the homeland of their ancestors. The story is much more complicated than that. Many of us remember hearing the stories of the Lost Boys of Sudan. I imagine the pictures in reverse - going home instead of leaving. I am sure many of the dangers they faced leaving are facing those returning to this harsh land. Many of us have heard the stories of genocide in the Dafur region, we have seen the malnourished faces of those starving in Akobo, the hungriest place on earth.

Will the election end the pain and suffering of many thousands of people? Will it lead to more war and instability? As my Ethiopian friends always say, "If my God says".

I ask you to pray for Sudan, that God's will be done and for the safety of those casting votes in this time of election and for those from around the world who are serving as election moderators. Continue to pray for those who are serving in Sudan - the PCUSA missionaries - Nancy McGaughy, Debbie Blaine, Jacob and Aliamma George - the United Nations, Save the Children, SIM (Serving in Mission) and all the others.

And if you need the words to pray, try this, from the PCUSA website Swords into Plowshares

Gracious God of peace, you break the bow;you snap the spear asunder;you make wars to cease.
We pray that you will touch the hearts, the minds, and the spirits of the leaders of Sudan the peoples of Sudan international leaders and the peoples of the world.
Touch our hearts, our minds, our spirits. Remind us all of your presence and grace at all times and in all things.

Remind us that in you, all things are made new throughout the earth, in you, war is not inevitable in Sudan, in you, peace with justice is possible in Sudan.

Reminded, may the leaders of Sudan the peoples of Sudan international leaders and the peoples of the world act with compassion, pursue that peace, and establish that justice throughout Sudan.

The Rev. W. Mark Koenig, director Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations; inspired by the Rev. Petero Sabune, Africa Partnerships Office, The Episcopal Church

Some scenes from life in Southern Sudan...I haven't included the harshest of the pictures - If you want to see them, try a google image search. I warn you, they are hard to see. Be prepared to pray.

I have included links to the sites where I found these photos. I hope they don't mind me sharing them and the work they do. Take a moment to click the links and learn more about them.

http://southsudaninfo.net/2009/08/burning-question-answered-re-southern-sudan-refugee-idp/

www.farmafrica.org.uk

Water, LRA emergency response, TamburaYambio,

Credits: Bridget Burrows/CAFOD

http://www.caritas.org

Pray

for all the missionaries serving in Sudan, including our PCUSA Missionaries...