"Busquits" and Soda

Easter was good. Easter should always be good, as it’s the most important day, not only of our lives, but for all eternity. Easter is the day that Jesus took us back from the devil and set us free from sin so that we can be with him in paradise, forever. What could be better than that?

I woke up and slowly came out of the house. Children were sweeping, the chickens were squawking, and the sun was climbing. I could already feel a slight heat on my chest as I squinted into the brightness. I stand and wonder what the day will bring. I went back inside to begin preparing for the coming day, and for the trip that was to follow. I sat on my bed not knowing how to feel about going home. This always happens to me. I thought about what I wanted to keep, and what I wanted to leave. I went into my suitcase and collected everything that I was wanting to keep, and then went through that again, removing even more. I selected one pair of pants, one pair of shorts, two shirts, and a long sleeve shirt to take home. The rest I placed in a pile on my bed and started to think about who I wanted to give it to.

I sat at the table in the room and read Matthew 27 to the end, then Mark 15 to the end, then Luke 22:66 to the end, and finally John 18:28 to the end. I thought about Jesus’s last day before he received all authority from God. After watching Passion of the Christ, that is what my brain automatically went to, but the movie stops at the resurrection. What about all the moments after he raised from the dead? The story of when he was walking on the road to Emmaus with two of his disciples is probably one of my favorites [Luke 24:13]. It makes the hair on my neck stand up. 

Lemo Brian and I

I went out to the kitchen where the mums were pealing potatoes and chopping onions; getting ready for the Easter meal. There was a rooster tied up sitting near one of the stoves. I asked, “Are we going to eat that one?” they said yes. I asked, “Do you need a sharp knife?” and they said, “we need a sharp knife and the one to do the cutting.” I showed them my knife, and they told me I was the one who was going to kill it. I had to chuckle. I have never killed a chicken before, but I have killed many other things... A chicken cant be that bad. They sent a boy with me who has done it before so that I would make no mistakes. What happened is he pinned the rooster down with his feet, stepping on the feet of the chicken and its wings. He pulled the neck up, plucked the neck feathers, and then sliced the neck open with my knife. I thought, “That was easy.” I took the limp chicken and my bloody knife back to the kitchen and handed it to the Mums ...and they applauded me. I should have just taken the credit, but I had to tell them that I didn't do it.  Next time, I will be the one.

I heard a voice at my door, “Adam... Adam... Adam” It was Aceng Sharon. She asked me if I was going to church, and I responded, “Yes, I am waiting for you!”. We walked to church together and sat in the back of the church; away from the speakers. As the different pastors and artists all went up to have a word in Luo, I got back into the gospels after Jesus’s resurrection. This was a special Easter for me. It is just like the first birthday when the children all sang me happy birthday. There is something in those moments that captures your heart and makes it worth more than any gift I have ever received. Spending time with the children becomes the gift. I am blessed to have the opportunity to be here and spend time them. 

We walked back to the orphanage, and the Easter feast was ready. There was a nice selection of beef or chicken; delicious stews with potatoes and rice. It was a very nice meal. The children ate it up. I then went back into the house and resumed packing. The church had its morning service, and then there was more Easter activities from 2:00pm on. The children must have all gone back to the church, because the orphanage was empty until even after the sun set. I took the opportunity to run into town with our neighbor, Stella and go to the grocery store. I was on the hunt for cookies. I wanted to find a certain kind, but failed. Instead I purchased enough of a strawberry cookie so that each child could have 4 packs, then returned to the orphanage. 

I got a hold of Aceng Sharon and Lemo Brian, who were lingering around me and started to help them with their math. They were having trouble with their algebra, so I helped them understand it by giving them problem after problem until they started to get the pattern. By that time, some of the children were coming back from church. I went to Mum Tabitha and asked if we were going to have the sodas and “bisquits” tonight. She gave me the squint with a smile and her head half cocked to the side and said, “maybe we should do it tomorrow; it is late!” Then she quickly came upright with her eyes wide open and said, “but you are leaving tomorrow very early!” I smiled and nodded my head. We then went into my house where the sodas and cookies were stored and started to divide them house by house. My math was correct. Each child would get 4 packs each. Mum Tabitha went out onto the veranda and started shouting, “You children assemble yourselves! You get in lines of houses!” The children were giddy. Frantically they shifted and smashed themselves together in lines ordered by house. She then looked at me and said, “Okay, Mr. Adam, you can speak to the children.” I could see their faces in the darkness. They all stood looking at me. I began to speak. “How many of you know where this wall came from?” They stood motionless and thought. I asked, “Did it come from America?” They shook their heads; “no.”

“Did it come from me?” 

“No.”

Ogwang Kenneth and the boys with their "Bisquits"

“Where did it come from?” They almost all pointed to the sky and screamed, “From God!” I smiled and said, “Thats right! It came from God. Do you know that each one of you belongs to him? Did you know that the bible says that he is the defender of the fatherless? It says that he is strong, and will take up your case against the evil one!” I told them about Nehemiah, when the wall was dedicated, people were brought together in Jerusalem to celebrate with singing and rejoicing for what God had allowed them to accomplish. Mum Tabitha then got them started in a few songs of praise and we all sang, clapped, and danced for the wall. I then prayed over them and for the wall, that God would continue to be in this place, and that he would use this wall to protect the children. I know that is why he brought me here, and I know that protecting them is what he wants to do. I told them, “whenever you look at this wall, I want you to remember that God provided this wall for you. It came from nowhere else but him. He is your defender, and he will protect you, why? ...because he loves you.” I also told them that this was my last night, and tomorrow I leave very early in the morning, so this was also my goodbye. I said, “Tomorrow when you look for me, you will not find me.” I told them that there were times here when I was frustrated, but assured them that I loved them; so much. We then had the children come into the storehouse home by home to receive the treats that had been prepared for them. I had many children come up to me and plead with me to not go, but to stay for another month. After the treats had been distributed, it was time for dinner. I went back over to Mum Lydia’s house and sat at their table to a nice dinner and conversation with Lydia, and Mum Kevin. Children sat with me and took bites of their cookies while I ate.

I went back into my house to find a few of the children waiting for me there. They had letters for people back home, and for me. I kept going back and forth from my room to the main room, packing and entertaining. After the last child had left, I closed the door, turned out the lights, got into my bed and set my alarm for 5:40am. 

When morning came, it was still dark, and so quiet. I quickly prepared my things, made the final changes to the room, and snuck out the front door, locking it behind me. I moved to the front gate, quietly opened it and went out; also closing that door behind me. There I sat looking at the wall that I had been told by God to come and build. I decided that this was the perfect time to pray for this wall. I stood there and prayed for the children and the wall until headlights peeked at me from a distance down the road. I had in my hand, a picture that Henry gave me, and an Avocado from Brian. Urs and Ursula from “God Helps Uganda”, the orphanage across the wetlands, picked me up and gave me a ride to Kampala as they were already going in that direction. I left the orphanage in silence. I hope that they slept long and hard. 

We made good time into Kampala. I was dropped off at Christian Life Church. I wrote a little note for Pastor Jackson to say goodbye and had someone run it up to his office; I know he is a busy man. Mum Betty was going to the orphanage to take care of some business, and wanted to give me a ride. Just before we left, the man I handed the note to came down and told me that Jackson wanted me to come up to his office. I went up to his office and was met by a few of the pastors from the church. He gave me a big hug and wanted to thank me for the hard work that I did. I told him, “I would love to take credit. Many people back home would too, but I must give thanks to God for this. I was more than happy to do it, and you are blessed.” Jackson smiled in agreement, and said, “He is so good.”

We arrived at the orphanage, I saw so many smiles through the window. Now that I am used to Lira, the amount of children in Seta is overwhelming. I hear all the little voices saying, “Adam! Adam!” I have a different name here; “Sentam”. That means, “Big Saucepan.” I forgot about it...  I saw the swings which Susan Gosvener told me about, and looked for the key to open the container to find tools. We lost the special wrench for the swings a long time ago, but I was able to wrench off the bolts with a pair of channel lock pliers, and a crescent wrench. I was only able to do one, however. The other swings proved to be too difficult. The bolts just kept stripping out on me. Not wanting to spend all my time doing that, I went and ate some beans and posho, then spent time with my daughter, Kibone Florence. I went to her house, and asked to see her things. She brought out all of her possessions and set them in front of me in a ragged suitcase. I started probing, taking a list for things that I could buy for her at the store tomorrow. Very soon after this, I was called by Mum Betty. It was time to leave. I had them drop me at the store and purchased some things. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, a bar of chocolate, and a juice box for dinner... :) I have spent the evening in solitude nibbling my chocolate, sipping my juice, and listening to worship music.