Adventures in Zoology

A few months ago my parents got a birdfeeder for the backyard. Of course this wasn't the labrador puppy I have tentatively named Moses but birds aren't loud and I've only ever been bitten by our neighbors cockatoo so I figured it was safe. Birds we got, sure, but we also got squirrels and lots of 'em. Apparently our backyard is training ground for the squirrel Olympics because all the ones we have are lightning fast and climbing superstars. But there was one squirrel who really became the star of the show- Niedermeyer.

We know him, we loathe him, our dog recognizes his name. Niedermeyer is of course named after one Douglas C. Niedermeyer, the "sneaky little bad word here" from the classic movie Animal House. Seeing as its my mom's favorite movie of all time, his name made perfect sense and he has lived up to it. While Niedermeyer is head squirrel in charge, there's also second banana Greg Marmalard, the one with a wonky tail. Go watch the movie and this will all make sense (and we can offically be friends). Niedermeyer is the ringleader of the whole operation demonstrating amazing feats of agility and risk all in the name of some bird seed. Naturally we fought this battle against our squirrel nemisis with a supersoaker. It worked just about as well as you would think.

Beginning to show his skills

Serious agility

Niedermeyer was undetered and becoming bolder than ever so we swung into action just like the Delta Tau Chi's to rain on Niedermeyer's parade. Apparently there is a rather lucrative business in making squirrel-proof birdfeeders that shut the feeder if there's too much weight, closing the buffet for squirrels (and obese birds). As I type Niedermeyer is staring at this new feeder, no doubt contemplating how he can outsmart us- he's a determined one that one. And while he appears to be slightly depressed I think we all know that were we to be truly rid of Niedermeyer we'd miss our sneaky little guy. So until our friend figures out how to get into this feeder do yourself a favor and make sure you watch this.

We're waiting...

525,600 minutes

...since I was on Ugandan soil. Or there about since I have no idea how to work out the time difference. Can it really have been a year already? The memories are still so fresh and vivid that it seems impossible to have been that long ago. The other week I had the opportunity to speak to my parents' small group about the trip and about the overall mission of PMI (www.palmettomedical.org). Having the chance to talk to anyone about the trip brings back a flood of memories and looking through the pictures and journal entries were a bittersweet journey. I felt overwhelmed with sadness seeing little Davis who is now looking down on us from heaven. Or the pictures of mothers whose desperation for their family seeps from their very being. Its the looks on the faces of children who didnt know to smile for a picture and sat hungrily on the sides of streets. It was the hundreds of sick people we saw, many suffering from diseases that could easily be treated or cured. But for every sad memory there were happy ones. I was reminded of the sweetness of our translator Isaac who laughed at the blatant difference of our skin tones. Or the kindness and indescirable friendships of Mr. Jimmy, Joel and Fred. Its the sweet faces of Danny and Precious at the orphange and the opportunity to simply shower them with love for a few hours. Its darling little Ivan and getting to "treat" him for 2 hours. It was seeing a lady walk upright after having a stroke or the joy of giving a woman the shoes off my feet.

In rememering that journey a year ago, I am reminded of a saying from the blog of the mother of one of the little girls I had the blessing to meet in Masindi. She calls her blog Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet and it is that saying that I think is sometimes the best way to describe the trip. Even in the bitterest moments, the sickness that just seems so unfair, the swollen, hungry bellies of children on the street, I am reminded still of the sweet memories I had there and the way that they still impact me even today. I am more aware even now how God uses these bitter moments to show us His sweet plan for our lives and how He is orchestrating it all for His glory. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet some of the people of Uganda who forever changed my life and my perspective on everything. Still my heart aches to be back, to ride in a 12 passenger van on dirt roads to different villages, to shower orphans with love and hugs, to give medical care to those desperately in need. And though I know it isnt right now, I can't wait until my feet touch Ugandan soil once again.