Oliotia ba sebo (how are you people?)!gendy (fine) or belunge (a more formal fine) or so so (not so good but I keep on living)It has not been too long since you last heard from me but a lot has happened here in Uganda. First of all I wanted to let everyone know that today is our first official day of work! We get to help complete a project in Tanzania until next Monday when we go to Rwanda to do our specific project. The power likes to go out a lot here; it normally is not for the whole day but typically it can last 12 hours. It makes getting work done hard but I am able to navigate well because I always keep my headlamp with me. Saturday I attended my first Ugandan concert. Ugandans call a concert any performance. This one was at the church I will be attending, Amazing Grace Assembly. The church has no glass windows or a solid door. It is rectangular hut that can comfortably house about 20 people; however, Ugandans like to pack people in so on Saturday there were about 50 plus adults and children. The children sit against the wall and the adults sit in the plastic chairs. This concert was said to start at 2pm but Ugandans are not time conscious so the actual concert started at close to 3pm. Here we got to experience cultural dances and songs. The Ugandans do not have much sound equipment - all they have is a keyboard and some speakers so they like to play the different beats that come with the keyboard even if they do not quite fit the song. Ugandans are all about rhythm so they like beats and drums. During traditional dances they have two drums that resemble a jimba (however you spell it) and beat on that thing harder and faster than you would think human hands can take. While the drums cause the fast beat the men dance all over the stage in aggressive motions resembling masculinity while the women put on these waist bands that have got hair on them and shake their hips. It is very impressive and very emotional. The Ugandans who perform really get into it. This concert lasted longer than we could so we left after four hours. No telling when it stopped.Church was kind of the same story. Church lasted over 2 hours which consisted of worship songs in Lugandan and Swahili and English as well as a Lugandan message that is translated into English. After the service (which was very solid Biblically) everyone comes to greet you. The church is small and in the middle of nowhere but a good deal of the members are very Biblically grounded.We went to the mall in town Sunday evening to look for ear plugs. The walls here are very thin and you can hear everything that goes on at night. Sometimes it is unsettling because you will here people crying or dogs fighting but most of the time I do not sleep sound because I have a roommate who can blow the roof off with snoring (it is by far the loudest I have ever heard).Anyway, we got lost last night on our way back because it was very dark and we met a young man around my age who walked an hour out of the way to show us the right direction. We talked about American culture, God, and education. It was a huge joy to meet thing young man and I am thankful for him. If you have made it this far thank you because next are some prayer requests that I would love to have you apart of:- pray that we would continue to be initiating in conversation despite tremendous culture shock- a good nights rest so I can get up early and have quiet time with God- people here who are hurting economically, physically, and emotionally because their government only cares about money for themselves (it will make you more thankful for our government I guarantee)- wisdom in doing my assigned tasks and problems and designsThat is all for now. Thank you for reading.

Much love,

John