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It’s simple. If the birth of a new human being is a miracle, and a midwife oversees the birth, then midwives should not merely be called “midwives,” but rather “Miracle Overseers.” Considering the diligent and self-sacrificial care of Brenda Musubika, ROWAN’s newest midwife, even this enhanced title of “Miracle Overseer” may not do justice!

Brenda, who is now 25-years old, graduated with her certificate in “Miracle Overseeing” (a.k.a. Midwifery) from the International Institute of Health Sciences in 2017.  After graduating, she worked at the New Hope Hospital in Iganga, Uganda for a year before moving to the Joy Medical Center in Kampala, Uganda, where she served for the past two years before joining ROWAN.

Now, Brenda has come to Mawanga, alongside her husband and little girl, to look after all the new and expecting mothers in our community. This is no small task. Last year alone, over 100 babies were born under the Hope Clinic’s care! Central to her role, Brenda visits women at their homes to ensure that they can supply their babies with adequate breastmilk. When new mothers struggle to produce milk or cannot do so at all, ROWAN provides formula to prevent malnourishment. 

Today, formula is a pressing need in the ROWAN community. In fact, it was just last summer that the ROWAN staff discovered Bruno, an emaciated 9-month old boy, who was living with his uncle and grandparents after his mother suddenly passed away. The family had no means of supplying breastmilk and they could not afford the price of formula. ROWAN tried to intervene in Bruno’s sickness, but the provision of formula came too late. Bruno died 2 months later as a result of the irreversible damage caused by his malnourishment …  

We lost a child whose inmost being was created by God – whom God knit together in his mother’s womb. We lost a person that was fearfully and wonderfully made.

Malnourishment should no longer be the cause of this.

Will you help us make that possible?

As Brenda outreaches to the community, you can help us enable her with formula, which is rich in the irreplaceable nutrients needed by the newest members of our ROWAN family. If $50/month is all it takes to supply a newborn with formula, Bruno would have grown into a strong and healthy little boy with $600 in care for his first 12 months.

Our vision is to see that the joy of bringing a new child into the world outweighs its dangers and the sorrows of its loss. With Brenda joining our team, we are hopeful for a future in which the promises of the Lord may be realized time and time again: 

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” -Psalm 127: 3

“He gives to the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!” -Psalm 113:9

As ROWAN is in Uganda, we have begun to share more about the country with our readers. This is an amazingly diverse land with a huge variety of animal & plant life to learn about. But today we will be talking about something a little different, a favored snack food during the rainy season, nsenene.

Fried nsenene, a favorite Ugandan snack food (Image courtesy of Erinamukuta).

A Rainy Day Snack

Nsenene is the Luganda name for bush cricket or katydid (often incorrectly called grasshoppers), the name refers to both the insect & the crispy treat. Usually only available for several months a year when they come out during the rainy season (May & November).

A Fair Trade

At the start of the wet season, nsenene hunters set up traps made for their tiny prey. At the end of the day, hunters sell their captured katydids to street vendors & hawkers. During this time of the year, vendors will set up along the roadside daily to sell their harvest. 

Katydid, field cricket or nsenene.

Make Your Own

If you want to try this treat for yourself, the process is incredibly easy: 1. Collect or purchase your field crickets/ katydids. 2. Clean your nsenene first by rinsing them under cold water & pat dry with a paper towel. Then pluck off wings & legs. 3. Fry them with onion, chili, garlic or other spices to taste. The nsenene secrete oil from their abdomen, making them an affordable snack as they don’t require additional fat for cooking. 4. Pat dry with a paper towel & enjoy some traditional Ugandan street food!

Come Try it in Uganda

Why not come try this snack on the streets of Uganda? To learn more about tourism to the country visit Ugandan Tourism Board.

This week, on February 21, it is INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY. This day was approved by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) General Conference and has been celebrated GLOBALLY since 2000, for twenty

“Understanding why and how languages differ tells about the range of what is human,” said Dan Jurafsky, the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor in Humanities and chair of the Department of Linguistics in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford. “Discovering what’s universal about languages can help us understand the core of our humanity.”

What is the language of Uganda?

Luganda, a Bantu language, is the common national language of Uganda. Wikipedia tells us it is spoken by more than eight million Baganda and other people principally in central Uganda, including the capital Kampala.

From Volunteertherealuganda.com: “Luganda is one of the main languages spoken in Uganda. It is the language of the Baganda tribe. While there are over 50 languages in Uganda, Luganda is by far the most widely spoken in the south central region.  The Kingdom of Buganda stretches from Lyantonde in the west to the River Nile in the east.  Luganda is a musical language that is spoken rather slowly. It’s not at all like English.”

In the areas that ROWAN serves, Lusoga is the regional language.

From Wikipedai:
“Lusoga (Soga) is a tonal Bantu language.  It is the native language of people who are indigenous/originally from the Busoga region. In terms of the number of speakers, is one of the major languages spoken in Uganda, after English, Swahili, and Luganda. However, it is mainly spoken in the Busoga region of southern Uganda by + 3 million people (2007 census).  It is tonal in the sense that a given word can change its meaning depending on its tone, i.e. some words are differentiated by pitch. Words that are spelled the same may carry different meanings according to their pitch. Lusoga is rich in metaphors, proverbs and folktales.”

Language and communication are foundational and fascinating for understanding one another.  God chose to create a multitude of diverse people and languages. When entering another’s language, it helps us to slow down and listen to one another. We stumble along together, until we are hearing each other. Learning from each other brings us together. 

“He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14

If you find yourself in Uganda visiting ROWAN, here are some of the common phrases you will definitely hear:

Jambo!                              Hello
Welaba!                            Goodbye 
Mukama Yebizibwe      Praise the Lord
Yesu                                  Jesus
Catonda                           God

When we say rolex, most of the world thinks of an expensive timepiece. In Uganda, however, it makes people’s mouth water & has absolutely nothing to do with time (unless, of course you have to wait for them to cook). In Uganda a rolex is a savory snack which consists of an omelette with onion & veggies rolled in a chapati, yum! Today we will teach you how to make your very own rolex.

Humble Beginnings

This tasty snack comes from the Busoga region where a creative chapati maker began selling the portable, affordable meal fairly high in nutrition. It soon spread to Wandegeya where Makerere University students quickly fueled further growth, enjoying them at all times of the day. Since then it has become a common food country wide & today there is even a festival celebrating them (last year it was in August).

Variations

With any popular food, variations always arise & the rolex is no exception. The name rolex comes from the rolling of the omelet & chapati, but here are a few variations you may want to try as well. Titanic A traditional rolex with two or more chapatis. Kikomando In this version the chapati is sliced & combined with beans. This name comes from commando soldiers who had to eat quickly in the field.

Rolex Ingredients

This is for one rolex roll. The amounts are not exact & we’ve added several different veggie options. As there are so many possible variations, make your omelet to taste. 1 Chapati (cooked) 2 Eggs Tomatoes Onions Cilantro Green cabbage (sliced thin) Carrot (cut into thin strips) Spring onions (diced) Green chillies (diced) Pinch of salt 2 tablespoon vegetable oil

Rolex Instructions

Combine & whisk eggs, veggies & salt until well mixed. Pour vegetable oil onto a heated non-stick pan, then add egg mixture. Let cook until underside is golden brown, then flip & cook the other side. Lay chapati on a plate & add the cooked omelet on top, then roll & serve!

More Recipes

Be sure to check out our recipes for matooke, nsenene & millet bread, plus stay tuned as we will be sharing more Ugandan recipes!

As ROWAN is in Uganda, we thought it would be fun for our readers if we shared more about the country. This is an amazingly diverse country with a huge variety of animal & plant life worth learning about.

Uganda’s national animal.

The National Kob

As the national animal of Uganda, the kob appears on their coat of arms, along with the crowned crane.

Uniquely Routine

Kobs eat short grass, which forces them to rely on larger grazers cropping the land first to create their ideal grazing conditions. In part because of this behavior, they develop attachments to specific locations & following grazing/ watering patterns every season.

Kob Facts

The kob social structure is formed of small herds that come together with larger groups (sometimes in the 1000’s) from time to time. Over an average lifespan of 20 years, kobs return every season to the same breeding grounds (called leks). Some of the leks have been in use for over 50 years. Unfortunately Uganda kob grazing lands are also favorable for farming & like much Ugandan wildlife, kobs find themselves in competition with people & agriculture.

Learn More

To learn more about this lovely animal, get involved to help them or plan a trip to Uganda visit the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.

“I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it.” – The Pointer Sisters (2008)

Fewer lyrics could better describe Ivan Kirunze, ROWAN’s faithful literacy teacher, and his radiant bride on their Big Day. In Ugandan culture, men do not typically smile during their weddings, but clearly, nothing could wipe the smile from this man’s face!

Despite their culturally-rebellious grins, the couple followed the extravagant pre-wedding tradition known as “Introductions.” At this ceremony, hundreds from the community gather to witness the man arrive at the woman’s home and formally ask for the parent’s blessing. In seeking their favor, he will bring a generous dowry of goats, cows, and/or fresh produce. But he can only ask for her hand if he can find her …

Amidst the humming fervor of the crowd, the man and the emcee of the event desperately search for the woman as one might search for the cartoon in Where’s Waldo? Upon her discovery and the family’s acceptance of the proposal, the rest of the night is filled with jubilee.

Isn’t it a beautiful thing to see a groom with unabashed love for his bride? Isn’t it incredible that Christ loves us, the Church, with the same passion? The Word of God tells us that …

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy … and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless … For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:25-32

Congratulations to the newlyweds! May God bless you with ever-deepening joy for each other and for Him!

His friends and family call him Wafu and he just turned 50 years old (young)!

David Wafula has been with ROWAN since the beginning. He is a full-time staff member and board member.  Here are his thoughts on turning 50:

“I can’t believe I am making 50 years of age… my evening is approaching. Making 50 years in Uganda [while] healthy, happy, and impacting others is a huge blessing.”

When asked about his goals, he said, “I have two words that keep sounding in my mind: STABILITY and PERFECTION. This year I have to stabilize and perfect most of the things that I put my hands on. Ministry-wise and family. This year, I want to inspire many and disciple many in the ministry of ROWAN. At 50, you can be trusted but also entrusted.”

“This year is a year of looking back and making evaluations. During this process, I am sure I will [recall] areas I have done well but also improve those areas I have not done well.”

ROWAN is so blessed by Wafu’s wisdom, perseverance, and his wonderful laugh. Join us in wishing him a very happy 50th birthday!

If you’ve met Wafu, please comment with any stories or memories you have with him!

As ROWAN is in Uganda, we thought it would be fun to share more about the country with our readers. This is a beautiful country with diverse animal & plant life, plus many other mysteries to unravel.

A Crown of Gold

This magnificent, showy bird is the Crowned Crane (or Balearica regulorum gibbericeps). It is the national bird of Uganda, appearing on their flag & coat of arms. 

Crowned Facts

Unfortunately the crowned crane is listed as endangered, as their habitat is slowly being depleted for crop land. They are interesting, however as they are monogamous & appear to mate for life (up to 22 years). They also both participate in nest building & incubating the eggs. Like humans (& bears) they are omnivores that eat both meats & plants. These birds are worth keeping around.

Learn More

To learn more about this lovely animal, get involved to help them or plan a trip to Uganda visit the Uganda Wildlife Authority or the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.

Home from school for the holiday recess, our children convene at the Hall of Hope for the Holiday Program, where they build community across all class years. Older students, such as Jonathan Wagaba, a current medical student, and Ronald Dyole, an aspiring teacher, take the opportunity to mentor secondary school students on career choices. They encourage their younger peers to contemplate their school experiences and pursue vocations that align with their interests and individual giftings. The Holiday Program provides an incredible opportunity for older students to serve as leaders in the community while younger students gain insights and inspiration from their older mentors.  

Beyond the opportunity for sharing and learning, the Holiday Program, which runs 5 days a week, entertains students with a range of activities. Students receive health check-ups, eat nutritious meals, and play games for hours on end. Favorite sports include soccer, jump rope, and netball, a thrilling combo of basketball and volleyball. 

Soon, new posts will be rolling your way, written by a name that you may not recognize. That’s me! Chanel Varney – and I’d love to give a proper introduction to you, my cherished ROWAN friends. 

I originally hail from Southern California, but for the past three and a half years, I’ve been in Cambridge, Massachusetts studying biology at Harvard. Studying here has been a tremendous blessing, straight from the hand of God. One of the greatest joys of my experience has been my Christian community. Harvard College Faith & Action is a multi-denominational Christian club on campus, started by the Christian Union. With this group, God has brought me closer and closer to His heart, and without this group, I would’ve never known about ROWAN.

After returning from a mission trip to South Africa in December 2018, I knew that God was compelling me to seek out another opportunity to go abroad and meet more of my family in Him. I recall looking at dozens of missions opportunities online, but when I saw the ROWAN trip (posted on the Christian Union website), I immediately felt that I would be going. 

In May 2019, I went from not being able to point Uganda out on a map, to personally cherishing a Ugandan community that maps hardly know: the rural, grassy Mawanga. Before my trip, I knew what ROWAN stood for – “Rural Orphans and Widows AIDS Network” – but afterward, I fully grasped who ROWAN stands for.

ROWAN serves a community that loves the same God and that is loved by the same God as me. A community that rejoiced to see me, lavishing me in embraces and enthusiastic welcome. They welcomed me into their homes with more hospitality than I ever found in my own heart. They blessed me with generous gifts, earned by incredibly hard labor because they wanted to communicate their love for me: a stranger, I felt, but to them, a true sister. 

Have you ever been humbled by another’s generosity? Perhaps Jesus’s? … whose unmerited kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). If so, then you will know how I felt during my trip. I was given WAY more than I could ever return – I’m not talking materially, but about something much more precious and everlasting: Jesus’s love. I will graduate with a degree from one of the most prestigious and challenging universities in the world, but something much more applaudable and difficult to accomplish is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). The people of ROWAN do this inexplicably well, and through these people, God reminds me that greatness in this kingdom – becoming educated, rich, powerful – has no value in His Kingdom. Instead … 

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

“Whoever wants to be first must take the last place and be the servant of everyone else” (Mark 9:35).

I need to be reminded of these truths weekly. Daily. Hourly. Many of us do. I feel blessed that God works through this community to be that reminder in my life. I’m excited and honored to write stories about ROWAN so that others may be equally as blessed. 

As someone who loves to write, I often journal, and on occasion, the Holy Spirit will write through me. If you’d like to read what He revealed to me as I reflected on my trip to Mawanga, here’s the link.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are blessed by the stories to come! 

Sincerely,

Chanel Varney