law school financial aid

As I started to panic thinking about the costs of law school, God redirected my attention to scholarship applications and grant forms. Sometimes when we panic, peace is given through showing us how we can change our circumstances.

Please pray for me as I go through this period of searching for and applying for sources of aid.

the rest of life

I will continue using this blog to keep you (whomever you are, hopefully friends & family) updated on my life.

To quote my friend Esther, I will "live my life" now!

My Ugandan Experience

was wonderful!

falling down

We have talked a lot about what it means to be with one another here. Henri Nouwen's Compassion and John V. Taylor's Primal Vision speak of solidarity and presence. What does it mean to pay attention to the people you are with? Turn off the electricity and do something with your hands. Shell peanuts, knit, play a board game by candle light.

The terrain here is quite rough. I wear sturdy shoes, but sometimes gravel and gravity win out over me. About an hour ago while walking to lunch, I rolled my ankle and fell down on a semi-well traversed path. My friend Kim (who was around when I seriously sprained my ankle-good thing she has had first aid training!) was with walking with me and asked if I was okay. My friend Arianna came to check on me as she saw me fall from a distance. I said I was okay to both and just needed to sit there for a minute. Then, an amazing thing happened. Arianna sat down with me. She said that she knows what it is like to be looked at when others are looking down to help you and how the passers-by feel guilty and interested. So Kim also sat.

My friend Joel drove by and asked if we were sunbathing. We said yes, of course. He mentioned we were sitting in mud (well, somewhat damp ground) and we acknowledged that yes, yes we were. It was beautiful. Arianna, Kim, and me sitting on the ground. We started talking about other things while I regained my dignity to get back up after falling like a toddler learning to walk.

This solidarity when I had literally fallen down is something I need more metaphorically in every facet of life. I think more sitting would help us all.

toilets

Latrines and toilets without seats are way more sanitary than seated toilets frequently are.

thoughts

I like when I don’t brush my hair. I slip on the gravel on the hills here all of the time. So does everyone else.

I walked through a shortcut to Mark and Abby’s house (the main leaders) and felt like I was in the Secret Garden-jungle style. Everyone keeps flowers on the path. It is lovely.

I’m rereading “Blue Like Jazz” and God is showing me to trust Him and love Him more through it. Thinking about the African worldview is challenging me theologically. For instance, I’m thinking more than I ever have about the choices one makes after they are dead. Can a person choose to love God and come out of hell after death? I’m also learning about collective acceptance of Jesus in this communal culture. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” reflects the communal life during Biblical times that still somewhat pervades here.

I’m currently listening to Led Zeppelin sitting outside my dorm with my close friend Kim with rice and beans in my belly. God is good.

I really like the Ugandans in Honors College, and a few Ugandans on campus. We spend the most time with HC because we live with them and take trips with them. I also (to a lesser extent :) ) like chapati. It is similar to a thick tortilla with a little different texture. And it is always fresh here, so of course it’s wonderful!

Please pray for my law school application process and that I will be able to form and grow deeper in authentic and God serving relationships here.

Love you all!

Funny things Brendah says

Our RA says awesome things
- Sometimes, 100% of the time, Ugandan men cheat (laughs)
- Me: Do you ever bow to your teachers? (Asking in reference to what we are supposed to do at our host homes---kneel!) Brendah: We're not Chinese!

I love it!