Today the students at school voted on the Christian Character Award. The outcome leaned heavily on the quiet and well behaved students. Now, these students are a God-send to a teacher and great kids, but to think that our young adults perception of a Christian is someone who is quiet and well behaved seems like the complete opposite standard set by our Christian forefathers. Paul? A persecutor turned messenger from God? His letters are a string of disses and call-outs. The guy wouldn't be allowed in ninety percent of Christian churches today! ("But Kris, I thought this blog was for you to list the activities you are involved in mixed with the occasional picture with an orphan", you can skip to end of the blog for that my friend).
I am at risk now of doing something I despise which is to berate endlessly in some guilt ridden message that offers little value other than just venting. What I am trying to get to is a realization that has been stirring in me for the last couple months. For all the work I have done here and all the apparent missional work I latched on to my Christina belt, I have not done anything radical. The radical tells his students about his faith. Have I made my students laugh and challenged them academically? Sure. Have I told them I am in love with Jesus and he is the reason behind my every breath? Well... not in those words, but I've sung at chapel a bunch of times! Yeh... Mind-blowingly radical stuff there Kris... But I am praying. Man, am I PRAYING to be radical! My excuse in college was "I am in Abilene, Texas. How radical can I get?" But guess what? Being in Uganda has changed the scenery and maybe the amount of orphans I hold in pictures, but does that change the man? By the grace of God I pray a change is coming. Not only in my heart and actions, but those of my brothers and sisters.
Now on to the activities! I was blessed to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with some of the missionary families working with WGM (World Gospel Missions). Great food and great company. Four of my students are MK kids from these families and they are some of my favorite students. Ohh wait, I'm supposed to say all of my students are my favorites....
This last weekend was our big Christmas production. Leading up to Friday I was very stressed. Our Thursday dress rehearsal was mediocre at best and that was the only full run through we had before the show. It really set me off that we could not fit in at least one more rehearsal before the presentation. But the gamble paid off and the three presentation went extremely well. I was blown away by how much these kids handled the pressure. Now I have a better idea of how my directors felt before and after the presentation. There is this sense that these kids are not going to be able to pull it off, but then they take it in to a gear you haven't seen before. I don't have pictures yet of the performance, but as soon as I do I will post them.
Tonight I ate supper with some of the night guards here at school. It was delicious and only a buck! Even better, I got to talk and laugh with some amazing men. Great food and company? I think I have a new dinner routine.
I have been working out in my head a post about the cultural observations I have made since arriving here, but this post is already pushing the average attention span. I know cultural observations sounds about as interesting as... well, cultural observations, but it should give you a sense of what I am being integrated in to.
In two weeks I get to see my family and I can't hardly wait! Thank you for reading. Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless you friends. Love, Kris.
