Hospital in the Mountains

Greetings, I write to you from Kagando in the southwestern hills of Uganda bordering the breathtaking Rwenzori Mountains.

I have been living with a wonderful Christian family in the staff ‘compound’ just across the road from Kagando Hospital where I will be working for the next six months. Lilian and Richard, the parents, are in their mid thirties and their son Rodin is three and a half. Lilian, a nurse at the hospital, is Anglican and Richard, is Catholic like much of the staff here, is a physiotherapist. They have been with the hospital for ten years so they have been able to show me the ropes. Lilian grew up just on the other side of the hill. They speak Lukhonzo as well as English so I have been trying to learn a few new words everyday, but I am finding it difficult to differentiate the sounds.

On Friday, Lilian and I went to the market together in the next village, which proved to be a bonding experience. We took bodas there but walked back through the woods carrying the goods. Our time at the market was frustrating because some of the vendors would increase their prices since I was with Lilian, even though she has grown up here. I definitely stuck out as the only muzungu at the market and had several trailing children on the way home. I think that the behavior surprised Lilian more than myself.

On a good note I am getting used to all the shouts of ‘muzungu’ and have successfully declined several marriage proposals so far.
The nursing school here on the compounds provides many nurses in training for the hospital who are about my age. They serve as interpreters on the wards and have been very helpful in showing me the ropes and explaining different conditions etc. When I was helping in the canulation room (just with alcohol swabs and test tubes etc.) they kept insisting that I be the one to insert the canula!

Yesterday I went for a walk with an American to the top of the hill/mountain we live on and saw the most beautiful view of the valley. It was really good to talk with her about our time here and just to be able to speak at my normal pace and use slang.

Maybe it was just being on top of the mountain with the thin air, but God seemed to be speaking so clearly. While being here I have a lot of my time freed up. Some of the ‘crutches’ or distractions have been removed. Being in a completely new cultural setting has definitely shaken my reference points, but hopefully it will help me to critically evaluate my life/worldview/understanding of myself etc. Hopefully it will force me to listen for God’s voice more attentively.