Construction and Migraines

I think the boys are trying to make p for the jokes last night, they’ve asked me three times this morning if I’m coming with them to build the school today. When I said I was coming they said it was a big help and their glad I’m coming and that I look like Leonardo DiCaprio. What? Anyway.. that’s what I’m doing today.

I help to level the beginnings of the foundation or a few rooms. People bring in clay and Erin and I spread it around the room and pack it down. Later I go to fetch water through the jungle. There are butterflies everywhere. It is so hot.

After lunch I take a five-minute nap and wake up with missing vision, which means a migraine is coming. I go home and take some ibuprofen and go back to the van, but it left. I don’t want it to look like I’m not a hard worker, or that I was making excuses. I love to work hard. I take a shower as my vision comes back along with my headache.

I sleep for few hours, waking up because of pain. I wonder if my malaria medication (which causes sensitivity to the sun) has caused this to happen. I dream about home and familiar food. I come out for dinner. My head feels better, my brain just feels loose.

After dinner the Kenyans, Australian (who is visiting with them), Jeff and Kelley, and I ask Nuru about her Muslim faith and then the Australian asks me about Mormon faith. It was a good conversation.

My phone is charging. It has been dead for two days. I wish home would call. I almost don’t want to write it, but I feel homesick and tired. Pessimistic about why I’m here. People at home would tell me to come back, but I don’t want to give up. I think I’ll feel better when I start teaching. I can be happy here.

We have it so comfortable at home. Everything is so comfortable and easy and clean. I ask Festus how much a child’s outfit would cost and he says not to buy any for the kids. He says other volunteers have bought them clothes and the kids keep them and save them and wear rags until the nice clothes they have saved don’t fit them anymore. “If you want to help them, give them and education, give them food.”

I think they still need clothes. Erin has a quote hanging up in her house that helps me when I’m feeling like this. It’s by Mother Theresa. “We can do no great things – Only small things with great love.”

I cannot change all of Uganda. But maybe I can be a good teacher to some kids in Ntenjeru. Maybe I can teach the neighborhood kids to play games and get along.

If I wasn’t here someone else would be. But Erin says it’s the same thing at home. I teach at home and if I didn’t someone else would. But I might bring something to these kids with my teaching that someone else might not have.

We’re going to the Islands tomorrow.