100 and counting (continued)

by Bucky Rogers

Founder and Executive Director of Benjamin House Ministries

---

51. Taco does NOT mean taco. (So don’t say taco…trust me on this one)
52. Cheddar cheese does not exist, so when you find out that it does exist at one store, and there’s one brand and one package of that brand, you may or may not be justified in running to grab said package even if it means you might have knocked a little girl over. (theoretically speaking, of course)
53. You literally have no idea what is really going on in people’s lives.  The smiles on their faces hide a lifetime of pain.
54. We are anxiously awaiting full funding so we can build permanent housing so that we don’ t have to have 14 of us into 6 rental bedrooms.
55. There’s not much better than ending every night with a family devotion being led by Ugandans, just sayin.
56. Roosters are gifts.  This particular gift lasted about 24 hours on our property before we had him for dinner because he woke me up at 4am.
57. Ugandans sing…loud…always.
58. Our new home just might be the most beautiful nation in the world.
59. When you use one boda boda(motorcycle taxi) driver too often, he becomes the envy of the neighborhood, and all the rest of the boda drivers give you mean looks when you drive by.
60. When there’s a man selling popcorn on your street, you stop and buy popcorn from him even if you have popcorn at home.  He’s working.  And that may be the only thing he sells that day.
61. Internet costs more than a car.  literally.  I could probably hire a Ugandan to swim the Atlantic to deliver a message to someone in the states for cheaper than I pay for a month of internet.
62. Death is a part of daily life.  One of Xan’s friends lost his mom this week.  The standard of living is such that when Ugandans give testimony, the first thing they generally say is that they thank God for keeping them alive.
63. I just thought I was cheap before.  Now I save every pickle jar, spaghetti jar, margarine tub…everything.
64. I always felt relatively proud of how I smelled in the states because of my limited sweat glands.  I now stink 24/7…I can even smell myself.
65. I should never be surprised when God moves and works and prepares the way.  I should be used to it by now.
66. An apartment size stove/oven doesn’t work well to try to feed 12-20 people every meal.
67. Turkeys poop.  a lot.
68. Mike, our night guard, knows a little bit about everything.  And can fix anything.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.
69.  Deliver the water tank to the house as soon as possible this morning actually means deliver the water tank to the house sometime between this morning and next week.
70. Ugandans know how to worship…we have a lot to learn.
71.  I can’t dance.  I’m pretty sure I knew that before, but now I have a daily reminder.
72. People are hungry to be loved, valued, just talked to.
73. Luganda(the heart language of most Ugandans) is hard to learn….dang it.
74. Some of the most skilled craftsmen in the world live here, and they make their craft with almost no real tools.
75. I hate corruption.
76. It’s very difficult to understand a Ugandan on the phone when you can’t see their lips.
77. When its very difficult to understand an Ugandan on the phone, you might accidently order 100 packs of something you need instead of one.
78. On a rainy day, the porch becomes a slip-n-slide.
79. Grass becomes non-existent when the neighborhood plays soccer in your yard every day.
80. An ounce of hope can literally change a life.
81. If your signature isn’t 100% identical to the signature card you signed at the bank, they make you sign a piece of paper 128 times until you sign one that is identical…. not joking.
82. Legos on the floor in the middle of the night hurt just as bad in Uganda as they did in South Carolina.
83. It is in fact COLD here in the early mornings during rainy season.  for realz.
84. I wish I knew someone who owned a container, and a ship.
85. There’s not much better in all the world than hearing your children worship in the middle of the day, alone in their room.
86. There is no 86, I’m just throwing this in here to see if anyone is still reading.
87. Never underestimate the value of clean water.
88. There are literally thousands of people giving to make this ministry happen.  Without them we’d be sunk.  And every time I see that report I tear up because I know there are people who are sacrificing greatly to give what they give.
89. Food coloring here is made with salt…which makes for a very interesting birthday cake if you don’t realize that before you color the cake and the frosting.
90. On any given road there are at least 20 merchants selling the exact same inventory of items.
91. It’s pretty important to remember whether you’re using a 110v appliance or a 220v appliance…or else you lose your eyebrows.
92. It’s pretty important to remember that oil is very hot when you’re cooking with it and do whatever it takes to not have it pour on your face and neck or else you end up with gnarly scars that hurt for days.
93. Nightly devotions always end best when a Ugandan prays to close. #Ugandansknowhowtopray
94. During rainy season, drive slowly as you pass people walking on the road, or you cover them in mud from head to toe (not that I would know from experience…)
95. Neighbors are the best.
96. Neighbors with cows that produce milk are even better.
97. The USD to UGX exchange rate is simply ridiculous.  When you buy an egg for 200 shillings it’s just confusing.
98. Boda boda(motorcycle taxi) drivers really really really like to drive Mzungus(whiteys).
99. I love my new home country and its people.  More than I could have imagined.
100. Prayer and fasting works.  Please keep praying for us!

---

---

see more stories