Just a man on the railroad tracks

Once again, another fun filled week!  The weeks go by so fast and it seems like we always have so much to do every day.  It is nice that work seems like fun and fun seems like, well fun.  I know, life is hard but it is even harder when you are...well you fill in the blank :).  I was able to attend my first District High Council meeting today and it brought back a lot of memories.  It was fun serving on the High Council because you grow to love the different personalities that make up the HC.  You work with a group of people that are united in a purpose.  It doesn't change no matter where in the world you live, it is the same.

The District is working to become a Stake and they have a way to go but they are working hard to get there.  They are very direct and I think people in the US would have a difficult time when they are called out in front of everyone.  They don't do it with any maliciousness, only to point out what needs to happen when it doesn't.  The Lord has said, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them (Ether 12:27)."  We too often take offense when we actually have an opportunity to see our weakness and try to do something about it.  The only purpose of repentance is to change, not someone else, but ourselves.

Last week after we finished with the hygiene lessons at the school we went out to eat with the elders.  They all like Ethiopian food called injera.  I have to admit, it wasn't bad.  In making injera, teff flour is mixed with water and allowed to ferment for several days, as with sourdough starter. As a result of this process, injera has a mildly sour taste. The injera is then ready to bake into large flat pancakes. This is done either on a specialized electric stove or, more commonly, on a clay plate (Amharic mittad, Tigrinya mogogo) placed over a fire. Unusual for a yeast or sourdough bread, the dough has sufficient liquidity to be poured onto the baking surface, rather than rolled out. In terms of shape, injera compares to the French crêpe and the Indian dosa as a flatbread cooked in a circle and used as a base for other foods. The taste and texture, however, are unique and unlike the crêpe and dosa, and more similar to the South Indian appam. The bottom surface of the injera, which touches the heating surface, will have a relatively smooth texture, while the top will become porous. This porous structure allows the injera to be a good bread to scoop up sauces and dishes. Thanks internet for all the wonderful explanation of this spongy food you use to pick up different dishes with your hand.

Here is a sample of the different plates.  We got the mixed plate so we could try different types of sauce with the injera.  The Elder in the middle ordered chips and then poured his sauce over that along with the injera.  The Elder on the left found something he liked and then you pour it out and get to work.

Sister Squire can't wait to get started.

And we are off to the races. Our injera happens to be out of rice flour.

Here is a good view of the spongy material you use to grab the meat and other sauces.

Starting to get full...most of the different mixes were pretty decent.

This week we had the opportunity to help as we kick off training for a large humanitarin project of cutting jiggers off of people feet.  The effort will involve five weeks of 100 patients each week. There will be more about this in future posts so I will just share some of the photos from our first visit. You will remember we did a project soon after we first arrived in Africa.  This effort will be much larger.

When you are the biggest kid on the block, you take the toy and play with it. The wheels are made from plastic lids for jars or drinks.  Clever!

Peak a boo, I see you

Some of the gang looking to see what the new guys want

This little boy was cute as a bug.  They don't put clothes on them until they are potty trained

I love a country where even the little ones get to play with machetes

The kids take care of each other and look at the big eyes in back.  I did find out that girls are the same throughout the world.  A mouse was walking along the brick wall in back and the chickens started to chase it.  It ran towards the back of the house and two little girls were there and started to scream.  Loved it.

This little girl was hauling bamboo somewhere

The rooster, king of the hill

This picture was interesting to me because they are growing at least 6 different crops.  Banana, squash, sugar cane, casaba, beans, and maize.

The gathering place where Sister Squire was able to teach about jiggers (the picture is actual size I believe).

Elder and Sister Hannan giving some closing remarks.  They are over humanitarian works.

A picture of the crowd

This little girl must have been told it was bath day.  She had the basin with water and had her bath while life goes on around her.

After the jiggers training we went to a Branch activity in Walukabe.  Lots of fun and games and they had over 140 people attend.  Cute kids

Love this picture

Crazy hair day?

At dinner in the evening we saw this gecko in the light.  We thought it must be baked but later on it had moved on. Just getting warm.

At church in Lugazi, Snow White showed up.

Last week I posted this video to Facebook to gauge if I have put these kids several years ahead with my totally cool moves or, some few would argue, perhaps they will never be able to dance again (without some type of therapy intervention).  The consensus was to keep on dancing.

You can see the results of my teaching.  I think I have inspired a new generation of dancers.  It is kind of long so you can only watch enough to see the impact of my "skills."  This is a traditional African dance.

Fist bumping is now International.

Finally, just a man, in dress shorts, dress socks and casual shoes, walking down the rail tracks along the Nile.  Just a man...