It has been just over a month since I have moved to Uganda. The days feel long, but they seem to just be flying by. If you asked me what I did 2 days back, I would most likely have to sit and think about it first. Everyday is different – I am definitely still trying to find my own groove. I know it will come with time.
Things have been going really well, so far. I apologize for not updating you all.
I have been getting a lot of questions about what I have been up to lately, and what a typical day looks like. Three words come to mind: adjusting, moving, and learning.
Adjusting: The Ugandan culture is obviously different than the culture I grew up in, in Michigan. Both cultures have their ups and downs. I’m learning to adjust as well as I can. Being an “outsider”, even in my home, brings it’s challenges. It also brings teaching opportunities – for myself and others. I am trying to ask as many questions as I can, so I can fully understand how/why things are being done. I am also working on learning Luganda. I take lessons with a local man x2 a week. I have learned a few things over my visits here, but I have a long ways to go. I’m not sure I’ll be able to speak it fluently, but my goal is to at least be able to understand when it’s being spoken. Thankfully, hand motions are universal! I have been getting by A LOT with reading people’s body language and hand motions.
Moving: The Street Child Project has been blessed with the ability to build our own home! We are officially rent free, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. The house project started back in July 2019, and has been moving on ever since. The house was supposed to be finished in October, but here we are in March and we still are working to finish. Thankfully, we have finally shifted all of our things to the new house. It’s been a lot of work, but I’ve loved it all. The boys have been getting a kick out of watching me shovel bricks into wheel barrels, mop the floor, and scrub the walls. I have been living out of bins since I have been here, and it looks like I might be doing that for a little while longer. We still need to finish our wardrobes and some shelving in the house. We have no dining table, and we’re moping non-stop due to our compound being a muddy mess. It’s home though, and I’m grateful for it! We continue to unpack and make things “ours”.
Learning: As mentioned above, I’ve been adjusting to a new culture. Yes, I’ve spent quite a bit of time here in the past, but now that I’m living with all Ugandans – it has reached a different level than before. There are unspoken expectations in the home that I’ve never realized before when I was living alone (i.e. house is cleaned first thing in the morning, or you are lazy). Also, living with more than one other person has proven to be a learning experience as well. Not only am I living with 12-15 other people, I’m expected to be the “leader” of the house.
Besides learning to live amongst a group of people, I’ve also been learning a new job. Thankfully, being familiar with The Street Child Project, I had an idea of what my job would include. I’ve stood by and watched the late Uncle Eric do this job for years. Now that I’m here, without him, I’m realizing all that he actually had on his plate. It’s been a learning experience for sure. We have so many children that we are responsible for, but not everyone is receiving the same kind of help. The boys looked up to Uncle Eric, and now I’m here.
I have taught middle school boys (and girls) for a few years now. Teenage years scared me for the longest time. All throughout college I wanted to stay as far away from middle/high school as I could. Fast forward to 2020 and here I am living in a house full of young men! The Lord sure has a good sense of humor – He puts you into situations you once told yourself you would NEVER do!
In the house, I sometimes feel like an older sister, other times I feel like a mom. All my mothers out there reading this, pat yourself on the back because y’all deserve it! I hear my name called at least 30,000,000 times a day. I repeat myself at least 600 times a day. I am constantly reminding them to go to brush their teeth, to go and bathe, to go to sleep, to do their homework. As much as it may drive me nuts in the moment, I love it. The conversations, the jokes, the “I love you”’s make it worth it. It’s a challenge, but I’m learning.
I have had a lot of questions about what my “typical day” looks like. I’ll be honest, it NEVER looks the same but I’ll do my best to summarize:
5:45am – wake up, unlock doors, start making tea and bring out breakfast supplies – typically followed with a walk through the house to straighten up
6:30 – make sure younger boys are up and getting ready for school and mopping the floors
7:30 – see younger boys off to school, make sure the older ones are up and getting ready, then get myself ready for the day
8:00 – sit down and have my breakfast, which is VERY Ugandan – a hot cup of tea with two pieces of plain white bread (sometimes with g-nut paste a.k.a. peanut butter)
8:30 – sweep and mop my bedroom/bathroom
9:00-1:00 – varies depending on the day **see below**
1:00 – lunch which is typically beans or greens with posho – maize flour made into a loaf
2:00-5:00 varies depending on the day **see below**
5:00 – 6:00 – welcome boys home from school and make sure they start washing their uniforms
6:00-7:00 – Dinner (typically rice and beans/meat)
7:00-8:00 – clean up the house and make sure boys are doing dishes
8:00-10:00 – homework time (dance parties included throughout)
10:00 – see younger boys to bed
11:00 – see older boys to bed
11:30-12 – walk through house and lock up doors, then go to bed
**These time frames change daily. It can look anything like sitting around the compound chatting with the older boys & our cook, to running around town and visiting schools. No day is the same. There are often things that come up unexpectedly, like unannounced visitors or doctor visits. Also, due to the recent move, I have been organizing like a crazy woman!
Some days feel slower than others. Something that has proven to be challenging, is that nothing gets done quickly. There is a massive shortage for jobs here in Uganda. Due to the shortage, many Ugandan’s end up working for themselves, owning their own businesses. This means they can open their shops whenever they feel like it, and even close for days on end if they desire. This proves to be difficult sometimes when we depend on certain shops to purchase our items for the house (i.e. food, cleaning supplies, house supplies, etc.). It is something my “American brain” has trouble processing, especially when I want to get things checked off of my to-do list.
It’s all a learning process. It’s all part of the adjustment process. Maybe I’ll be adjusting for my entire time here, and that’s ok. It is still very clear to me that the Lord brought me here for a reason. I am still trying to figure out exactly why…and maybe I’ll never know exactly. What I do know for sure is that I am going to do my best each and every day to be the best that I can be. To do my job to the best of my ability. I feel His presence each and every day. As Ugandan’s like to say “I’m learning slowly by slowly.”
grace + peace,
Kendall Rose
If you have any questions for me, or would like to learn more about something specific, let me know! Leave a comment or send me a private message. I’d love to be able to use this space to share as much as possible!
Also, please be sure to check out the updated Prayer Request page 🙂
A Red Dirt Wanderer 
Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are doing great. Your busy days don’t allow for much sleep. Make sure you also take care if yourself. Love you!
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Thank you, Ginny! Don’t worry, I go to be early if I’m tired or even lay for a afternoon nap if needed. Love ya, too!
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