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!