A Glimpse Into My Day...

Tyler had "bulk" grocery shopping to do today. We feed about 18 people at every meal. More at lunch with staff, less if someone is here or there or anywhere. Anyway, it's a lot of food requiring bulk shopping. The market people are glad to see us coming! We went as a family through the bustling marketplace today. We were greeted with the shouts of people all around. "Muzungu, (white person) are those all your children?! You give me one!" We smile and keep walking. Most people are very kind, and just want to greet us... and pet Lilah's curly white hair.

So here's the great picture that had me in culture shock all day:

It was 95 degrees out. I am 7 months pregnant with Elisabeth strapped to my back, holding Lilah's hand as we venture through the dusty, uneven terrain packed with people, constantly checking on the other 3 to make sure we don't lose a child. Tyler has a 50 kg (110 pounds) bag of rice on his shoulder, hardly able to breathe... making our way to the car parked down the ally and around the corner.

Once we get to the car, this man came to me and said, "Madam, what are you thinking? You should be ashamed! You are having your man carry that load for you!" He was dead serious. I looked at him in shock and said, "I am carrying a baby on the back and a baby in the front!" Tyler said, "She is carrying my sixth child. You leave her alone. She has carried enough for me."

I came home in shock that women are expected to bear such a heavy burden from the culture. I spoke to my Acholi friend Catherine about this. She said, "Oh... 50 kilos... women will walk 3 miles with 50 kilos on their heads and a baby on the back." Truly, there is no way I could even lift the thing let alone put it on my head! I asked her what the men do. She said, "They drink their alcohol, play cards, and loiter around all day. They get hotel rooms and eat pork while their children starve. Even men who love Jesus do not help their wives. They will be mocked for doing a woman's work." She is not a man-hater. Neither am I. This is truly how the family roles are portrayed.

I can't tell you how blessed I am to see our neighbor Julius playing soccer (futbol) with his little boy, or carrying around his sweet baby so his wife can have a break. I'm blessed to have a husband who is willing to work hard all day and refuse to hire people (for pennies!) in order to be a Biblical example of what a man should be for his wife and family.

I keep wondering why God sent us here.. waiting for something BIG to happen. I think I've been waiting for that for years! I bet Corrie TenBoom or George Mueller never thought they were doing anything BIG for God. They were just living in obedience to Christ day by day.

TODAY is the day we serve the Lord and carry out His will for our lives. TODAY is the day we shine the light of Christ to a dark and dying world. TODAY is the day we choose to be mocked for going against the grain. TODAY could be the last.