My 40 Day Challenge

I have a confession.

I didn't give anything up for Lent last year. Actually, I haven't given anything up for Lent since grade school. One year, in 4th grade, I remember giving up soda and chocolate. That was a little overachieving. And I remember that I did it faithfully (pun intended). But it's been years since I've done so. And I should really consider it this time around; my diet could use some restrictions.

ANYWAYS. I'm going to be in Uganda for 40 days (conveniently the same amount of days one gives up M&Ms for Lent). And during those 40 days I want to challenge myself.

I will be challenged mentally because I will have to adapt to a new life style, group of people, schedule, language and culture. 

I will be challenged emotionally because a.) I will be homesick for all of you, margaritas and Ben & Jerry's Phish Food ice cream and b.) I will experience a lot of highs and a lot of lows. From crying tears of joy to crying tears of sadness in the matter of hours. 

I will be challenged spiritually because I will be surrounded by people strong in faith. People who sing and dance at every opportunity. Who take for granted nothing and genuinely celebrate each day.

SO, on to my challenge: I want to grow stronger physically.

The Juna Amagara guest house sits on the edge of a rolling hill in Kishanje, Uganda. 

View of the guest house from the Muzungu summit

Just down the road from where I'll be staying is the base of a giant hill the locals call Mt. Muzungu. They call it this because white people can't get up it. Ha ha ha. But they are right. In the photo you can see some mountains behind the guest house. Imagine one of those. It takes a couple of hours.

I have climbed it once. And 15 minutes into my ascent, I made a promise to myself and to all of the Ugandan people that I would never climb it again. My toes were sore, my thighs burned (from going up, and then going down) and my back was bent at an awkward angle from attempting to steady myself on the steep incline. But, I did make it to the top. And let me tell you, what was waiting for me at the top was glorious! 




1. ) There is a school. A tiny public school. And every single day toddlers and young shoeless children run up Mt. Muzungu to get to school in time. They ran right past me laughing hysterically (how coordinated of them), shouting up to the top of the mountain the whole way, "A MUZUNGU! A MUZUNGU! A MUZUNGU!" (To which the only response is: "A bacchiga! A bacchiga! A bacchiga!")

Hearing all over the mountain side that a white person was on her way up to school caused a record-breaking school attendance.






2.) Behind the school building was this view:

Pictures never do views like this justice. I'm actually disappointed you can't see the incline. Just trust me, it was steep and it was high up. This view shows you Lake Bunonyi. It was early in the morning so the land was covered it a soft blanket of fog and clouds. I was in clouds. It was amazing.

Every single morning I am in Kishanje (that's 40 mornings), I will climb Mt. Muzungu. And each day I climb, my body will grow stronger like my heart has already started. Hopefully, when I get back home I will look like the Incredible Hulk.

Because I am a true teacher at heart, I must put an educational twist on all things. I will read a story to these students every single day. That's 40 climbs. 40 books. 40 days.

You've seen this photo but it needed to reappear: 
Students from the same school stare down my magic box.
I can't wait to take this one again.

What are some of the most important books you read when you were a child? On my list so far...

1. The Giving Tree
2. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
3. Where the Wild Things Are
4. The Very Hungry Catepillar
5. A Snowy Day
6. Corduroy
7. The Rainbow Fish
8. The Little Engine That Could
9. Stellaluna
10. Polar Express
11. Love You Forever
12. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
13. Me I am!
14. On the Day You Were Born
15. Is There Really A Human Race?
16. Beatrice's Goat
17. One Hen
18. The Skin You Live In
19. Whoever You Are
20. On, the Places You'll Go!