Lord of Chaos

"Dad, I think we're stepping into chaos."  Jesse said this to me our first morning in Kabale as we stepped out or door.  The day before we had made the 8 hour drive from Kampala to Kabale.  Don't let the photo fool you; while the drive is beautiful (especially once you get into the district of Kabale), this is about the only nicely paved portion we experienced it.  The rest of it is pitted with potholes of remarkable size, plus countless numbers of bumps, ridges, stretches of red dirt, and no Mickey D's for easy bathroom stops and snacks.  The kids, as has become usual, did great!  Chatting, playing DS, listening to me tell stories, looking out the window, snoozing in laps -- until midnight!

One highlight was the stop at the equator.  It was hot, dusty, and fascinating! For 10k Ugandan Shillings (about 5 bucks), a Ugandan fellow will talk to you about the equator, and then take you to three basins: one south of the equator, one north of the equator, and one right on the equator.

Our long standing question about water swirling in the toilet was at last answered: the water does rotate in opposite directions! Even within a few feet of the equator! And most surprising and fun, right on the equator it goes straight down.  No rotation at all!

Back to the chaos.  Jesse was referring to something we learned at MTI called the Transition Bridge.  We begin on land at "settled," begin crossing the bridge through "unsettled," and right smack dab in the middle is "chaos."  Confusion, weariness, lack of order, extreme difference, emotional turbulence.... 

Chaos.  And that has definitely been a part of our experience these first few days in Kabale.  What stories do we tell?  Georgia falling out of a tree from about 10 feet (she's okay and recovered)?  Living in our transitional home (ours isn't ready yet) with dirty floors, no hot water, occasional electricity, little to no food for cooking?  The challenge of strange accents, miscommunications, temper explosions (mine), flowing tears (Leslie), yelling and biting (Julia)? The reality of being content with accomplishing only one thing per day, if that? Things already going wrong with our "new" van? Driving on the opposite side of the road amidst a swarm of bicycles and boda-bodas (motorcycles)? Hearing the local mosque blaring out misguided prayers all day on the last day of Ramadan?

Or do I tell the tales of the tender receptions?  The principal and deputy principal of BBUC who sat by Leslie's side at our welcome dinner while she cried?  The stories we heard of how hard they tried to be ready for us, but were thwarted by various circumstances?  Of bananas and peanuts waiting for us?  Of hot water being brought to our door each morning and evening? Of the young German missionary couple dropping by with homemade muffins?  Of being called to worship on Sunday morning by African drums and voices singing unique Ugandan harmonies? The Ugandans who are the family of Ugandan friends we met one week before our departure in Dallas checking up on us? Dinner with a friend in the cool evening in the Kabale hills at an inn with acres of space for the kids to run and play? Of the home that (God willing) we will be able to move into this week?  Of the surprising fun of living together in a small space?  Of our kids being able to run down paths and steps through a gate to our teammates home for play time and movies?

Chaos. Even as Jesse spoke these words, I thought of how our God is Lord over chaos, how he even creates order and beauty out of chaos. And then I turned, closed the door, looked up, and this is what I saw:

"The Lord is in control."  I needed that reminder. Day by day reminders have come that the Lords is in control of this crazy life we've chosen, or that he has chosen for us.  It's the way of the cross, true -- suffering, many kinds of death, sacrifice, radical release -- but that way also leads to life.  And all along the way walks One who has walked this path before.  Reflecting on that has put a new spin for me on the overly quoted verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  What we're realizing here is, in fact, that we can do nothing unless it is through Christ who strengthens us.  Without the one in whom all things hold together (Col. 1), our lives dis-integrate into chaos.

Leslie's dad commended to us 2 Corinthians 6.3-13.  We've read it with new appreciation.  Read it -- and pray it -- with us.

Some extra photos for fun:

Kids in Kampala "Hotel"

The Equator ROCKS!!

Georgia on BBUC Campus

After Sunday BBUC Chapel Service

Cutie Patootie in Kabale