Despite the “failing” economy, I am pleased to announce that things are still pretty good in the United States of America.  Notice I didn’t say America, because, as all my former geography students know, that includes two continents and technically we’re all Americans on this side of the world.

Students in our school district are having an opportunity of a lifetime getting to know some wonderful students in Uganda.  The Ugandan students play soccer, football, with a grass ball.  This was the first thing to amaze our US students.  A ball is a ball mind you, and I don’t want to get caught up in technicalities; however, that made a huge impression on our students.  They quickly went into action and gathered funds to purchase “real” soccer balls, a pump, and needles to send off to Uganda.  The Ugandan students lined up, over two hundred students, to take turns using the American footballs:  soccer balls (probably made in China!).

We worry about a lot of things here in the good old USA, but much of that has to do with the batteries running out in our wireless keyboards, or an iPod Touch not syncing just right.  We have a hard time deciding where exactly we should eat out, or what movie would be best to see.  Tough choices in an actual simple world.

A complex world includes a place where one is not sure where the next meal will come from, who is going to take care of you now both of your parents have died from the ravages of AIDS, or wondering what your school mates are doing on holiday while you stay at the school because that is your home.

Light shines forth in magnificant ways sometimes, and I saw some of that light as I watched Ugandan students speak, sing, and dance with every last ounce of pride, dignity, and honor as they shared their lives and culture in a video that was sent to our students.  I was touched like never before, and that heart warming feeling continues, and this was just from the students who had to stay at the school during holiday because they had no where else to go, but they came to us, on video, here in the USA. Thank you!

Amazingly, one of the first things our students wanted to do, after seeing their counterparts from Uganda, was figure out how to make a grass soccer ball.  A prized possession to now be had here in the Heartland of America:  The United States of America.

If you are feeling down a bit because you didn’t do so well on a test, or if the Cubs lost, or if you’re not quite sure if the paycheck is going to cover all the bills, add a dose of perspective to the mix and go out and make a grass soccer ball.  I’m serious!  Send your pictures this way so we can see and share them and don’t worry about adding a made in America tag on it:  I mean made in the USA.  Make them for our students, OUR students here, in Uganda, and everywhere in between.  That is all.

Peace!