It's a quiet Sunday night here in Mpigi.  I've been a bit under the weather for a few days.  Sorry if I seem a bit delinquent with the email updates – I find that when I really get into the guitar building, I lose track of time. I am so glad to be able to do something I love so much. Being able to share that passion with these guys is truly a unique experience.

Funny story. Or not so funny depending on who you are.  Last week Isaac was taking out the trash and pulled something out and brought it to me. He said, 'I think you might need this' (through David who interprets for us).  It was a small packet of solution for treating your mosquito net. Apparently I had just ripped open the package and didn't read the directions – which may explain why so many mosquito's consider me fair game. What is NOT funny, is that even after I treated the net, following the instructions, the little guys STILL want to hang out with me. Seriously, at least five of them lived the whole night inside my net and drove me nearly crazy. Someday I hope I get the chance to ask God about mosquito's – you know, did He create them or are they something He created good that was twisted when Eve bit into that apple. Or peach. Whatever. Anyways – I'm hoping this little cold I have isn't Malaria. I'll let you know. If you don't hear from me - assume the worst.

On a brighter note, the guitars are coming right along. The guys are doing well, though the power has been a BIG challenge this past week. Some major rainfall at night knocked out power for a day and a half.  The same thing happened last week, but for 2.5 days, so I am going to look into buying a used diesel generator this week.  (Good news, for $600 we can get a used Honda generator that will meet our current needs).

The frames, necks, headstocks and fingerboards for the guitars are all put together and we are finally starting work on the tops and backs.  On Friday, we took delivery of a work table that allows us to use flexible fiberglass sticks called 'go-bars' to apply clamping pressure to the bracing for the tops and backs of the guitars.  They are also used to glue the top and back to the frame of the guitar. A pretty exciting day for us – or at least for me!

My hope this week was to get the tops and backs all braced up and attached to the frames. We almost did it – the tops and backs are all done and sanded up, and three out of seven bodies are all glued together. Next step will be to bind the guitars, (binding is the decorative bit around the corners on the outside of the body).

The land deal and NGO status are still under way. There is something really, really frustrating about the way things work here.  Sometimes I think its just myself who doesn't know 'the way things work' here, but very often I get the sense that nobody knows how things work here.  Everyone has a different opinion on what form needs to be filled out, or how this or that law is to be interpreted – it's enough to drive you crazy!!

On Monday, Michael Masembe and I are meeting in Kampala to move forward on both the NGO application and land deal.  Its just a matter of time now, not a matter of 'if'. 

I think one of the hardest things to come to grips with here, is the corruption.  I learned last week that the local politician who wanted so badly to start a committee to help us, and who claims to be a pastor, has a nasty habit of asking for bribes.  And thus my eyes are being opened to some of the realities of life in a developing country.  Needless to say, he won't be sitting on any committee for DAS.

This week had three highlights for me.

Maybe some good home cooking will help replace the 20 lbs I've dropped since my arrival here??  ;) 

 

Secondly we have started to use the first 15 minutes of everyday to teach Isaac a bit of literacy. He has a great attitude towards learning, but communication for him is an extra challenge because he is not even literate in his own language, Lugandan. So David is spending time with him, starting with the basics. It is amazing to think that through this one trip, we will have given him both the skills to build these guitars, AND the gift of literacy!  His life will never be the same, and his future will be so much brighter now.

Thirdly, I had a chance to have dinner with David, and to get to know him better. It was good as we got a chance to talk about the things of life on a deeper level than usual. I subjected him to my 'cooking', and we talked about everything from Ugandan history, Joseph Kony and justice vs. peace, to the expectations Africans have of foreigners and the complicated social structure of the extended family here. Its hard to fathom, but a son in law is not allowed to talk to his mother in law, or even to be around her – if he sees her walking on the street, its proper for one of them to cross the street so they don't have to 'meet'.

It's weird out here folks. Prayer is good. Keep it coming.

 

Much Love from Jay