Oh typhoid...

This week has been interesting. I dont know what other word to use to describe it. So we had four people in the house get malaria and when Becca came back having both malaria and typhoid we decided it would be a good idea for everyone in the house to get tested. It turns out that about 12 people in the house have typhoid! I'm one of those lucky ones! But it seems really weird to me because the only sickness I have felt since I have been here is a couple nights and days of stomach pains. Other than that I have felt fine. The only other thing that could possibly be a result of typhoid is that my body is tired most of the time. Anyways, I'm taking pills for it and it will be gone in no time. The doctor said its just from the food that we buy in the markets or on the streets or possibly the water that we wash in. Either or, it's nothing to worry about.
So other than a houseful of typhoid and malaria patients, life has been good. Projects are still going and new ones are being made each week. We were able to celebrate a Ugandan Christain holiday on Wednesday. It was Martyrs day. What they people do is walk long distances to a meeting point and have a day full of celbrations, speeches, and music. To join in with the culture, some of us decided to pioneer with them. We were told it would be a 45 minute walk from Mukono to the meeting destination. So we took a taxi from Lugazi to Mukono and starting walking.... and walking.... and walking. The place never came! So we started asking people how much further it was and they said that it was going to be another two hour walk. Haha. Some people at that point took bodas (personal taxis) to the place, but a few of us stuck out the walk. We ended up walking about ten miles to this place and to top it all off, the last part of the walk it started pouring rain and we got soaked from head to toe! It was quite the experience. I'm glad I finished the walk even though my poor feet got a little thrashed from it. My feet are going to be in poor shape after this summer is over!
I consider our cook, Mary, as my African mother. She is the sweetest lady you will ever meet! I have grown to love her so much and I wish I could take her and her family home with me. She is such an amazing woman. She is from Sudan and her husband is still up there fighting in the war. She and her two daughters are staying here in Lugazi while the chaos is going on up in Sudan. I have got to know her more through helping her cook when I can and she just amazes me every time I talk with her. I love coming home to her welcoming smile and laugh. That sounds cheesy, but its true! But she received bad news on Friday that the woman who raised her died that morning. Mary lost both her parents when she was young. I have never seen her cry before, and it broke my heart to see her in pain. She is taking a bus up to Sudan for the funeral. I pray that she is safe and ask that your prayers be with her as well. The world needs more people like Mary.
I can't believe how each week flys by here. We already have our first wave people heading home next week and new people are coming this week. Looking back, the month of May seems a blur. It reminds me that I need to take advantage of all the oportunities that I am given here. This is such a small part of my life, but one that I am going to remember the rest of my life.