Rikki-Tikki-Jesse

I read Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the story of the cobra killing mongoose in 6th grade literature class. I actually saw a mongoose the last time I as at Queen Elizabeth National Park. I remember thinking to myself that I might like to have one for a pet, as snakes rate up in top 5 of things that I fear. But now I know that there is not a need. I have a cobra killing dog!

I really am not sure if I would have the guts to kill a snake. When faced with fight or flight, flight would definitely be my choice. And God knows this so he set Jesse. Jesse was first the Pierce’s dog. She was well loved by them but she did not deal with the transition well and after we were having break in problems at RMS we decided that Jesse we would try her at guard guard dog. When she came to RMS. She was skin and bones, but more than hungry she was starved for attention. When I would enter into the gate in the morning she would come streaking across the dewy grass and jump all over me. The kids probably thought I didn’t ever do laundry. Despite her often annoying tendencies, she also had as sweet and pitiful side that did me in. Especially when she would come to the window as I was working, feet on the window sill barely able to see in but when I called her name her tail became a blur and she shook all over at the prospect of getting a little love.

If you have a dog you know that they have personalities and if Jesse were to take the Myers Briggs she would for sure be off the charts extrovert. She could not stand to be at school all alone on the weekends. She kept finding ways out of the fence at RMS and into the one that surrounds our yard. So after going back and forth for a couple weeks. We finally decided to let her stay at ours on probation. Her terms being that she refrain from tearing clothes off the line and chewing on them, and to generally not drive us bonkers. She has managed to control herself minus a few moments of weakness when her hyper energy could not be released in any other way. She chewed a hole in my favorite pair of jeans and I swore I was going to beat her.

The other night I was in the kitchen and I hear Jesse and Chloe, Pat’s dog, barking. It was like one of those, “hey look at this” barks. It was dark out so I went to the door with my flash light and shined it through the screen, telling them to calm down. But there was indeed something. I thought I saw something. Then Jesse lunged, grabbing something shaking it and her head violently. I called to Heidi, We both put our flash lights on the scene and to my great disgust saw a huge snake. At this point I think it was dead but it gave us a few good jumps as Jesse continued to shake it with each of it’s post death twitches. I called for Pat and she came over. Then travis came to the fence to inquire about all the commotion (being girls, we scream about snakes... or at least I do) By this time Pat had separated Jesse from her conquest and dumped it in our trash pit. But Travis (being a guy) came anyway to take a look at the 5 foot (at least), black, disgusting creature.

Jesse had risen to hero in my mind. The jeans were forgotten! She may be pesky and needy, but the girl is a snake killer! I love you Rikky-Tikki-Jesse!

Dinner and a Movie

The rain is beating on our tin roof and even coming in the windows as yet another storm rolls over the mountains. Glad to be back from taking the neighbor kids home in the dark and mud.

Tonight Heidi and I had dinner with our friend Naume. I eat at Naumes more than any other Ugandan and I have to say I always look forward to her g-nut sauce. Tonight was no exception. Naume’s mother lives in Kampala with Naume’s dad, his other wife and several of Naume’s sibling and half-siblings. Naume was left in Bundibugyo to take care of her grandmother. Eating at Naume’s is a unique experience. Because she essentially lives alone at about age 14, we eat with a bunch the neighborhood kids. Traditionally men will eat with the guests, often in silence, while women and children wait outside and eat later. At Naume’s we crowd around the little table with the one little kerosene lamp flickering. Kids chatter or just eat really fast because they haven’t eaten all day. Naume switches back and forth from English to Labwisi and laughs often. Her friend Susan sits quietly in the corner, always smiling. It is just fun. Because it was Heidi’s goodbye meal we has a surprise. We were to going to take them back to our house to watch a movie. Oh the squeals and smiles of delight when they realized that we were going now! Yes, “now, now”.

We went to go ask their parents, and our party grew from about 5 kids to 8. But that was okay. The plan was to watch Night at the Museum, then Richard says, “What about the one with the man who has the legs of a cow.” “Narnia?” “Yes Narnia... we want to see that one.” So Heidi ran over to Pat’s to see if it was there. It was. Before we started Heidi explained that the movie came from a book that was telling a story about Jesus. “Oh!” they all reply. Couches were in position, pillows were on the floor and the kids huddled around Heidi’s little macbook. In awe of the “surround soundish” little speakers... that I have to admit are pretty amazing to even me. They were quickly drawn in by World War 2 England the planes, the trains, the music. I always wonder what it is like for them as they watch a world that is so much different from their own. They laughed at the first sight of Mr. Tumus, and the talking beavers where hilarious, though I am sure to them they looked more like the huge edible rats that run around Bundibugyo. We stopped occasionally and Heidi and I would explain what was happening and then Richard or Naume would translate for the younger kids. Ugandan’s love stories (I guess we all do) It was neat to experience this one yet again. To be struck once again by the power and majesty of the Lion. A Lion that can breath life into a statue of stone, as God does with my heart and I pray will continue to do the same with the hearts of these young ones who sat in our living room. What a great way to spend a Saturday night!