Well two of our boys are officially men now. Esau and Waiswa each killed their second chicken this weekend while all the other kids stood to watch. They even helped in the de-feathering and gutting (gross!) The kids thought it was funny and a few even posed with pictures of the nude, headless chicken. Then we got to enjoy delicious chicken soup on Sunday after church with a lot of friends. It was a great weekend. The kids’ English is really improving and it is so great to watch them grow. Victoria is a little sick so please be praying for her health. As for me, I am infested with ring worm. I have one on each arm lol. (It is very common here) Other than that this week has been quite the learning experience for me. I’ve been seeking God and trying to listen wholeheartedly to what He has to teach me.
Monday we went to Rays of Hope and painted classrooms. I am starting to learn a lot of the kids’ names and I received a bunch of notes from the kids in P3. I have even made a friend at the drink shop in Kabalagala. His name is Douglas. He owns a little phone repair booth outside of the store where we buy our water. I try to go by and say hi every day that we go out there.
That night Carrie and her friend Claire cooked dinner for us and our friends and Vicki, she was there because she went to the doctor that day. She definitely soaked up the attention of being alone and not having 16 other kids to share it with. It was funny to watch her react to being away from all the other kids. She was very clingy and wanted to be right in the center of everything we were doing. We had pasta and sausage. Victoria wasn’t sure about it but we all thought it was delicious (something familiar from home.)
Tuesday, Catherine, Mason, and I met Katrina in Garden City and bought supplies to bake cookies. We baked and watched a movie at Katrina and Jill’s apartment and then went to the Baby Home. We got to hold the premature babies. I held a little boy named Michael most of the time. Then I got to hold baby Adam. He only weighs 2 pounds. These babies are so tiny and precious. Around 5:30 we met up with everyone else for dinner and a movie.
Wednesday Catherine, Mason, Joel, and I went into the slums of Kabalagala to share Jesus with the people there. Much to our surprise, the first man we met was Jesus! (oh ya and a preacher, teacher, Muslim, and drunkard) He was quite the site. Joel said he sleeps in the classrooms at the school at night. He kept asking us how to become a preacher and then told us he was Jesus the Christ. Then a woman invited us to her home that she shared with another family. We talked to her for a while. The other woman had two disabled children and was having a hard time taking care of them alone so we prayed with her. Next we moved into the town to meet Obama’s brother (haha!!) He told Catherine to come with him to his house in Ugoslovia and she could call Obama free of charge. He also said they had 200 brothers and sisters and many helicopters that she could fly on without paying fuel cost! Many of the people we ran into were very drunk. I did get to talk with one woman named Jennifer. She asked a lot of questions about Jesus and after we talked for a while she gave her heart to Him. Once she was saved, she wanted to share with me the hardship she was having. Her husband recently died and she was caring for her four children alone. She invited us to her house and we prayed with her and two of her children. Then a friend entered the house and everyone surrendered their hearts to God that day. We are buying them Bible’s and are going to spend some time getting to know them and helping them begin their walk with the Lord. I am so excited for the way God is moving on the trip and that He spoke to this family.
That night we went to watch the USA world cup match. After we were robbed of our second goal by an unfair call of a referee we still won and are moving on!! Even though I don’t like soccer at home, it is so much fun to watch it here. It is a huge deal and everyone is really into it. I can’t wait to enjoy some more matches with our friends! The sad part is Ghana is the only African team left in the running and we play them Saturday night so it is either us or them moving on.
Dad I hope you had a great Father’s day. I wish I could have seen you or at least talked to you. I can’t wait to see you in July and tell you all about everything. Be safe going home. I love you. (p.s. I took a picture of the skyline so you can see the city that really is here lol)
I am going to upload pictures as soon as I can. The internet here isn’t the most reliable and all the times I have tried it hasn’t worked. I will try again soon. Please continue to pray that we will be completely seeking God and following His every command here. We are excited to see what is coming in this second month. I love all of you and hope to hear from you.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
"Do you have black people in America?"
We’ve been here about a month now and time is flying. I’m halfway through and still there is so much that God has ahead. This weekend we spent our time at Sozo catching some of the World Cup here and there. On Sunday we went to Watoto Church again. The message was about God’s unconditional and unwavering love for us…how God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary. In the Bible God used some of the most unlikely people to do His work to bring Him glory. Pastor Eddie talked about how we don’t need to try to be perfect for God to use us. He can use us as we are right now as long as we completely surrender our hearts. I really enjoyed it.
On Monday we went back to Rays of Hope. I taught and had a wonderful time with the kids. They asked me some pretty crazy questions today (see the title) lol It is such a joy to spend time with these kids. They are so excited to learn and take absolutely nothing for granted. I appreciate all that God is teaching me through them.
Something God has taught me about this week is Romans 8:28 “We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” I have heard this verse so often in the tough times when things seem like they can never be good. People are always comforting with this verse and talking about how God will turn bad situations into good ones for those who love Him, but He brought it into a different light for me. I have been caught up in seeing the affects of what we are doing here. I want to tell people about Christ and see them come to know Him on the spot, but God said to me “This is for My glory not for your reward.” It struck me kind of hard because I didn’t realized that in my mind I had been stealing the Glory from God. I wanted it to be about me and my reaction to someone’s salvation, but God revealed to me that I may never see the results of the work He has for me to do and I should be overjoyed in just knowing that I am walking in the Spirit and following His commands. My actions may not receive direct rewards but I know that God will work all these things for the good of His glory because I am doing what I have been called to do according to His purpose for my day. Maybe I will just show the love of Christ to someone and we may not actually talk about it, but that person could go on a search of their own and find that love and share it with another. This is God using us as a vessel to bring people to Him according to His purpose alone. I must decrease so that He may increase.
Yesterday I held a four day old baby. Her mother died during childbirth so the Watoto baby’s home took her in. We were spending time with Jill and Katrina at their apartment and Annie, another lady that works at the baby’s home, brought home baby Grace. She was so tiny and precious. There are so many babies in need here. It is really sad. A lot of the babies are premature and malnourished so they don’t survive. Annie said Grace’s mom died from bleeding too much and when the doctors realized it they got scared and didn’t do anything. They didn’t even give her a death certificate because they didn’t want to deal with doing the work. How sad is that It breaks my heart.
Annie also has a little girl that lives with her named Michelle. She told me that Michelle and her twin sisters came from a very bad orphanage. Annie’s parents adopted her twin sisters. Annie got Michelle when she was 4 years old and she told me that she had a lot of emotional damage. Michelle was molested at the orphanage by the man who ran and still runs the orphanage! It made me sick to my stomach and it made me cry. She was only a baby. I can’t even begin to imagine the terrible things the kids here have experienced. We have it so good. Michelle’s story is just one of too many here. That is something that happens quite often.
Yesterday during our devotion we talked about how God has blessed the nation of America. We have so much. There are very few people whose basic needs are not met compared to the rest of the world. We have been blessed not for our own sake, but to bless those in need. God gave us the capacity to give from what He has given to us. It is exciting to know that God has entrusted us to bless His people. How does the God of the Universe trust me with anything? It is a concept that I have yet to grasp.
Today we are going back to Rays of Hope to do some painting and share in a devotion time with them. It should be a great time!
On Monday we went back to Rays of Hope. I taught and had a wonderful time with the kids. They asked me some pretty crazy questions today (see the title) lol It is such a joy to spend time with these kids. They are so excited to learn and take absolutely nothing for granted. I appreciate all that God is teaching me through them.
Something God has taught me about this week is Romans 8:28 “We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” I have heard this verse so often in the tough times when things seem like they can never be good. People are always comforting with this verse and talking about how God will turn bad situations into good ones for those who love Him, but He brought it into a different light for me. I have been caught up in seeing the affects of what we are doing here. I want to tell people about Christ and see them come to know Him on the spot, but God said to me “This is for My glory not for your reward.” It struck me kind of hard because I didn’t realized that in my mind I had been stealing the Glory from God. I wanted it to be about me and my reaction to someone’s salvation, but God revealed to me that I may never see the results of the work He has for me to do and I should be overjoyed in just knowing that I am walking in the Spirit and following His commands. My actions may not receive direct rewards but I know that God will work all these things for the good of His glory because I am doing what I have been called to do according to His purpose for my day. Maybe I will just show the love of Christ to someone and we may not actually talk about it, but that person could go on a search of their own and find that love and share it with another. This is God using us as a vessel to bring people to Him according to His purpose alone. I must decrease so that He may increase.
Yesterday I held a four day old baby. Her mother died during childbirth so the Watoto baby’s home took her in. We were spending time with Jill and Katrina at their apartment and Annie, another lady that works at the baby’s home, brought home baby Grace. She was so tiny and precious. There are so many babies in need here. It is really sad. A lot of the babies are premature and malnourished so they don’t survive. Annie said Grace’s mom died from bleeding too much and when the doctors realized it they got scared and didn’t do anything. They didn’t even give her a death certificate because they didn’t want to deal with doing the work. How sad is that It breaks my heart.
Annie also has a little girl that lives with her named Michelle. She told me that Michelle and her twin sisters came from a very bad orphanage. Annie’s parents adopted her twin sisters. Annie got Michelle when she was 4 years old and she told me that she had a lot of emotional damage. Michelle was molested at the orphanage by the man who ran and still runs the orphanage! It made me sick to my stomach and it made me cry. She was only a baby. I can’t even begin to imagine the terrible things the kids here have experienced. We have it so good. Michelle’s story is just one of too many here. That is something that happens quite often.
Yesterday during our devotion we talked about how God has blessed the nation of America. We have so much. There are very few people whose basic needs are not met compared to the rest of the world. We have been blessed not for our own sake, but to bless those in need. God gave us the capacity to give from what He has given to us. It is exciting to know that God has entrusted us to bless His people. How does the God of the Universe trust me with anything? It is a concept that I have yet to grasp.
Today we are going back to Rays of Hope to do some painting and share in a devotion time with them. It should be a great time!
Friday, June 11, 2010
06/09
I am in awe of God and the wonderful ways He has been working here in Uganda. With complete faith in Him everything has just been falling into place. To completely love and trust in Him with no questions or concerns about myself has been a refreshing and wonderful change that I should have made a long time ago. Those of you who know me well know I am a stressball and I have a tendency to worry about things that really just don’t matter or that I should be giving up to God. Since I have been here He has taught me how selfish that is and how it shows my lack of trust and faith in Him. Wow that was a smack in the face for me. I wasn’t trusting God…the one unfailing, most trustworthy, stable presence in my life. That seems strange to me. So I began to wonder why it was so hard for me to let go of these things and live in peace. Then I realized it is because I like to be in control. I like to know what is going on down to the last minute detail that most people don’t even realize is there, but God has shown me that when I let go and let Him take the lead amazing things will happen.
Lately we have been hanging out with the kids, going to Rays of Hope, and enjoying each other and Africa. It has been so much fun. Sunday was Carrie and Vivian’s birthday so on Saturday we went to the botanical gardens with the kids. It was like a mini jungle. We went to feed monkeys but they were hiding so instead we played and danced by the shore of Lake Victoria. It was hilarious to see all the kids dancing to the music from Kenneth’s van. I think I laughed more that day than I have the entire trip. Victoria was a sight! Catherine and I could not stop laughing at her and our laughter was her encouragement so she continued to dance the day away.
I have loved the opportunity to teach and Joel’s school. He has given me charts to make for the walls and books to write lesson plans and I am loving every second of it. The kids are so attentive and eager to learn. Here an education is something treasured and so it makes my job all the more fun!
Yesterday we took two rounds of kids from Sozo to the doctor…5 kids each time. Carrie and Catherine and Mato took the first round of Merci, Victoria, Weisua, Ivaan, and Vanitia while I stayed back and colored with the rest of the kids. When they returned Uncle Julius (Mato) and I took Fatumah (3), Ronald (7), Sharon (7), Deborah (8), and Esau (11). We jumped in a taxi and off we went. All of the kids were so nervous that no one said a word while we were there. When the Doctor was checking their heartbeats she said the Fatumah was so scared that here heart was beating out of control…poor thing. They definitely did not get the privilege of going to the doctor a whole lot before. We were then sent upstairs for the drawing of blood for HIV, malaria, and typhoid testing :/ They went oldest to youngest which was a mistake because everyone was fine except Fatumah who watched in terror as the doctor took everyone’s blood and pricked everyone’s finger. I had my Bible with me so I gave it to her to read and hopefully distract her. She held it to her chest and started whispering. Julius told me she was asking God for strength! How precious!! When her time finally came I felt like a mother. I sat down with her and she slowly began to cry. Quickly her quite tears turned into wailing and kicking when she saw the needle that was about to prick her. Julius had to hold her legs and I had to hold her upper body while the doctor held her arm straight. My heart ached for her and I just wanted to hold her and tell her it was ok but I knew this was necessary for her health so I just sat back and tried to offer useless comfort. Finally the torture was over….or so we thought. The doctor pulled out the finger prick. This resulted in even louder screams as poor Fatuma’s relaxation turned into shear panic. I thought the first time was hard but this time she knew what she was up against which meant a tougher battle for us. We finally got through it and went downstairs to await the results. I got the kids some juice and we sat patiently for almost an hour. The kids were so well behaved. I am grateful to say that all 10 of the kids checked yesterday are healthy, HIV, typhoid, and malaria free. Praise GOD!!! Today we are taking the remaining 7 so please continue to pray for negative test results.
Also, many of you have asked about sponsorships. We are setting up sponsorships for these babies so if you are interested please let me know. You can visit sozochildren.org and see their profiles. They need all the help that is available!
The world cup starts on Friday so since we are in Africa we are going to have some soccer spirit! So whoever is watching we will be watching with you from Uganda!
I love and miss you guys. Thanks again for the continued support and prayers. God is moving in mighty ways!
6/10
Today Catherine, Mato and I took the remaining kids to the doctor. Our first group was Merci (she had to go again because she was throwing up at school today), Vanita (to get another shot for her tonsillitis), Julius, Fredah, and Kirabo. Everyone did great accept Kirabo. The entire time we were in the lab she was screaming “I’m dying”. Mato could not stop laughing. It was quite a sight to see. We sat in the waiting room with sodas for the kids and waited for the results. Another round of wonderful news! Julius has a small bacterial infection, but other than that we have 5 more healthy kids.
Our last group was Michael, Dennis, Vivian, and Jalia. Everyone cried but Michael who was all smiles the whole way. He is going to be our little doctor. He wanted to watch everyone and eagerly awaited his turn to get his blood taken. When he finally sat down in the chair he was giggling and gladly held his arm out for the doctor. He intently watched and then when that was done he held his finger out for the finger prick with another huge smile on his face. Watching him brought me peace. Poor Dennis, on the other hand had a difficult time. The doctor couldn’t find his vein so he went for his hand. After digging around in there for a while he moved to the other arm. He searched for about 10 min and finally got a little blood. I felt so bad watching Dennis and knowing there was nothing I could do to help ease his pain. The all toughed it out though and we were overjoyed with the final four negative test results!!
What a miracle it is to have 17 African Orphans with no HIV, malaria, or typhoid!! One of the main reasons that there are orphans in Africa in because so many parents die of AIDS so for 17 orphans not to have HIV is a HIUGE blessing!! God really has his hand on Sozo and as long as we continue to seek Him more good things are to come.
I am in awe of God and the wonderful ways He has been working here in Uganda. With complete faith in Him everything has just been falling into place. To completely love and trust in Him with no questions or concerns about myself has been a refreshing and wonderful change that I should have made a long time ago. Those of you who know me well know I am a stressball and I have a tendency to worry about things that really just don’t matter or that I should be giving up to God. Since I have been here He has taught me how selfish that is and how it shows my lack of trust and faith in Him. Wow that was a smack in the face for me. I wasn’t trusting God…the one unfailing, most trustworthy, stable presence in my life. That seems strange to me. So I began to wonder why it was so hard for me to let go of these things and live in peace. Then I realized it is because I like to be in control. I like to know what is going on down to the last minute detail that most people don’t even realize is there, but God has shown me that when I let go and let Him take the lead amazing things will happen.
Lately we have been hanging out with the kids, going to Rays of Hope, and enjoying each other and Africa. It has been so much fun. Sunday was Carrie and Vivian’s birthday so on Saturday we went to the botanical gardens with the kids. It was like a mini jungle. We went to feed monkeys but they were hiding so instead we played and danced by the shore of Lake Victoria. It was hilarious to see all the kids dancing to the music from Kenneth’s van. I think I laughed more that day than I have the entire trip. Victoria was a sight! Catherine and I could not stop laughing at her and our laughter was her encouragement so she continued to dance the day away.
I have loved the opportunity to teach and Joel’s school. He has given me charts to make for the walls and books to write lesson plans and I am loving every second of it. The kids are so attentive and eager to learn. Here an education is something treasured and so it makes my job all the more fun!
Yesterday we took two rounds of kids from Sozo to the doctor…5 kids each time. Carrie and Catherine and Mato took the first round of Merci, Victoria, Weisua, Ivaan, and Vanitia while I stayed back and colored with the rest of the kids. When they returned Uncle Julius (Mato) and I took Fatumah (3), Ronald (7), Sharon (7), Deborah (8), and Esau (11). We jumped in a taxi and off we went. All of the kids were so nervous that no one said a word while we were there. When the Doctor was checking their heartbeats she said the Fatumah was so scared that here heart was beating out of control…poor thing. They definitely did not get the privilege of going to the doctor a whole lot before. We were then sent upstairs for the drawing of blood for HIV, malaria, and typhoid testing :/ They went oldest to youngest which was a mistake because everyone was fine except Fatumah who watched in terror as the doctor took everyone’s blood and pricked everyone’s finger. I had my Bible with me so I gave it to her to read and hopefully distract her. She held it to her chest and started whispering. Julius told me she was asking God for strength! How precious!! When her time finally came I felt like a mother. I sat down with her and she slowly began to cry. Quickly her quite tears turned into wailing and kicking when she saw the needle that was about to prick her. Julius had to hold her legs and I had to hold her upper body while the doctor held her arm straight. My heart ached for her and I just wanted to hold her and tell her it was ok but I knew this was necessary for her health so I just sat back and tried to offer useless comfort. Finally the torture was over….or so we thought. The doctor pulled out the finger prick. This resulted in even louder screams as poor Fatuma’s relaxation turned into shear panic. I thought the first time was hard but this time she knew what she was up against which meant a tougher battle for us. We finally got through it and went downstairs to await the results. I got the kids some juice and we sat patiently for almost an hour. The kids were so well behaved. I am grateful to say that all 10 of the kids checked yesterday are healthy, HIV, typhoid, and malaria free. Praise GOD!!! Today we are taking the remaining 7 so please continue to pray for negative test results.
Also, many of you have asked about sponsorships. We are setting up sponsorships for these babies so if you are interested please let me know. You can visit sozochildren.org and see their profiles. They need all the help that is available!
The world cup starts on Friday so since we are in Africa we are going to have some soccer spirit! So whoever is watching we will be watching with you from Uganda!
I love and miss you guys. Thanks again for the continued support and prayers. God is moving in mighty ways!
6/10
Today Catherine, Mato and I took the remaining kids to the doctor. Our first group was Merci (she had to go again because she was throwing up at school today), Vanita (to get another shot for her tonsillitis), Julius, Fredah, and Kirabo. Everyone did great accept Kirabo. The entire time we were in the lab she was screaming “I’m dying”. Mato could not stop laughing. It was quite a sight to see. We sat in the waiting room with sodas for the kids and waited for the results. Another round of wonderful news! Julius has a small bacterial infection, but other than that we have 5 more healthy kids.
Our last group was Michael, Dennis, Vivian, and Jalia. Everyone cried but Michael who was all smiles the whole way. He is going to be our little doctor. He wanted to watch everyone and eagerly awaited his turn to get his blood taken. When he finally sat down in the chair he was giggling and gladly held his arm out for the doctor. He intently watched and then when that was done he held his finger out for the finger prick with another huge smile on his face. Watching him brought me peace. Poor Dennis, on the other hand had a difficult time. The doctor couldn’t find his vein so he went for his hand. After digging around in there for a while he moved to the other arm. He searched for about 10 min and finally got a little blood. I felt so bad watching Dennis and knowing there was nothing I could do to help ease his pain. The all toughed it out though and we were overjoyed with the final four negative test results!!
What a miracle it is to have 17 African Orphans with no HIV, malaria, or typhoid!! One of the main reasons that there are orphans in Africa in because so many parents die of AIDS so for 17 orphans not to have HIV is a HIUGE blessing!! God really has his hand on Sozo and as long as we continue to seek Him more good things are to come.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
All I need is You
Our internet has been out so I haven’t been able to post a blog. A ton has happened since last time I updated.
Last Sunday we went to church at Gaba Community Church. The service was given in English and translated in Luganda. There were even some Luganda songs. Even though I couldn’t understand the words I was excited and praised God for His greatness. It is the coolest experience to come here and see all the differences between American and Ugandan people, culture, financial situations, etc. and yet we praise the same awesome God. To here of God in another language just makes it even more powerful. I am thousands of miles away from home in a completely different country and we are still loving on one God. It truly is a humbling experience and makes me realize just how big our God is and how small I am in comparison.
Monday was a very relaxing day. We spent most of it at the Bridge House where Allen got his hair cut and we had lunch with Patrick and some of his staff (David, Alfred, and Phiona.) Then we took bodabodas to grab a little ice cream and a soda and spent the afternoon talking.
Tuesday was a very exciting day for me. I had my first day at an African school while everyone else went to Sozo. When I arrived they showed me around the school. The grades are baby class, middle class, and top class. Top class is like kindergarten. Then they move into the primary classes that range from P1-P7 (1st-7th grade). I was with P1. Most of the time I was just observing but I was asked to teach the kids songs which was a lot of fun. At break I was served the best hot tea I have ever had and samosas. The only way I know to explain this is a small fried tortilla wrapped around vegetables. They are very good. At lunch I had a little sweet potato and rice with bean sauce and had my first jackfruit experience. Jackfruit is very difficult to explain. It is very large and has sections on the inside that you have to peel out and open to eat. It is very sappy and sweet. I loved it. The class is released at 1 but a few stay after for extended learning. I got to teach the children who stay after. We practiced reading and English. It was a lot of fun.
Around 4 we left to go downtown to meet up with some girls we met who work with watoto here. We ate at a steak house which surprisingly was very good. Then we went to see Robin Hood at the movie theatre. We had a really great time.
Wednesday, I went back to the school. This is an overview of the day. They started with Religious Education and they learned about “Things God made to give us light” (sun, moon, and stars) Then they had to say and spell each word out loud and then copy the board into their books and draw a picture of each thing. After that they sang “twinkle twinkle little star” They have no text books so they spend much longer on each thing. They did English and Literacy next where they have been learning how to talk about weather and then they had Math. There are 2 teachers and 30 students. One teacher is just the math teacher. Each student has 5 books (just notebook paper). They also take a break after every lesson which contributes to the length of time they spend on one thing. In the afternoon I was asked to teach P2 for an hour. We played a learning game, boys vs girls. The first round, I wrote words and they had to read them to me. The second was math. The third round, I wrote a word and they had to read it out loud and show me where it was located in the classroom. The last round I had them read sentences. It was a lot of fun.
That afternoon was our first day at Joel’s school, Rays of Hope, in Kabalagala. We went and helped with their afternoon devotion. Allen played guitar and Carrie and I sung and then Mason gave a message to the kids. They also did some worship with their school choir which was really neat for us to get to take part in. I also found out I would now be teaching at his school. I am so thrilled about it.
Thursday we went to the Watoto baby’s home where Jill and Katrina volunteer. They have about 36 babies there. We got to see their 3 premature babies who are tiny tiny. I have a few pictures. One looks just like Benjamin Button. Then we went and helped feed the 3-5 months and after that we spent the rest of our time with the 6-9 month babies. I made friends with a special needs boy there named Kevin who was about 6 or 7 years old. He was so sweet. The second I walked up to him he clung to me. After we left the baby home we went to Maurine’s home. Maurine is David’s girlfriend. This was one of the neatest things we have gotten to do. The atmosphere was so great. It was a traditional African home. Vincent (Maurine’s brother) showed us around the village and then we went back and ate sugar cane on the front porch while Vincent and Veronica taught my Luganda. Then we were served the best meal I have had since I’ve been here. We had potatoes and rice and stew with chicken on the bone and we even had some pumpkin. It was delicious. I really enjoyed getting to spend an evening with an African family.
Yesterday we returned to Joel’s school around 8 am and participated in the younger children’s devotion. We worshipped with them and then I told the story of Noah. After the devotion Carrie and Catherine went to paint blackboards and I was sent to P3 to teach math. I had so much fun with them. We worked on subtraction and multiplication. After break I moved to P4 to teach an English lesson on good behavior and learning to use polite words. Then I was sent back to P3 for an English lesson on positions of objects. I really really enjoy teaching here. The students are so attentive and eager to learn. Many of the children at Joel’s school are orphaned or very very poor and donations are the only thing sending them to school. Here in Africa if you can’t pay to go to school than you can’t attend. It breaks my heart that so many children here are going without an Education. Which brings me to this…
I want to spill what has been on my mind… God has really been teaching me a lot since I have been here. Especially about having childlike faith and being thankful for the very basic things that I have that I so often take for granted. At Joel’s school the children share a testimony during devotion where they share what God is doing for them and the things they are thankful for. The kids thank God for eyes to see and clothes to wear. They thank Him for school and a mouth to talk. They thank Him for safety through the night and food to eat…these little things that I so often I don’t even recognize. It is all God’s though and it is all God’s to take away in the blink of an eye so why don’t I appreciate these blessings more? Being removed from the American culture of I deserve everything and am entitled to anything I want when I want it really shook my world. I never realized how truly greedy and selfish I have been. People here literally have nothing. No education, no basic necessities and yet they have everything. They have hope and faith and courage and love…the things that truly matter. God is really making me see how blessed I really am. A lot of children here don’t even have family, the one thing that I treasure. No one has ever nurtured them or told them they are wonderful and yet through total dependency on God our Father they are strong. They are happy. God ultimately is all we really need. Everything belongs to God and without Him life would be nothing. I am so happy and blessed to have a Father and Savior who loves me deeply and intimately without limitations. He is really doing a work in my heart and I can’t wait to see the outcome.
Thank you so much for you continuous support and prayers. Without you we would be no where. Please continue to pray for our team and the children. I hope to hear from some of you soon. (pictures will be up as soon as we get this internet situation figured out)
I love you!
Tori
Last Sunday we went to church at Gaba Community Church. The service was given in English and translated in Luganda. There were even some Luganda songs. Even though I couldn’t understand the words I was excited and praised God for His greatness. It is the coolest experience to come here and see all the differences between American and Ugandan people, culture, financial situations, etc. and yet we praise the same awesome God. To here of God in another language just makes it even more powerful. I am thousands of miles away from home in a completely different country and we are still loving on one God. It truly is a humbling experience and makes me realize just how big our God is and how small I am in comparison.
Monday was a very relaxing day. We spent most of it at the Bridge House where Allen got his hair cut and we had lunch with Patrick and some of his staff (David, Alfred, and Phiona.) Then we took bodabodas to grab a little ice cream and a soda and spent the afternoon talking.
Tuesday was a very exciting day for me. I had my first day at an African school while everyone else went to Sozo. When I arrived they showed me around the school. The grades are baby class, middle class, and top class. Top class is like kindergarten. Then they move into the primary classes that range from P1-P7 (1st-7th grade). I was with P1. Most of the time I was just observing but I was asked to teach the kids songs which was a lot of fun. At break I was served the best hot tea I have ever had and samosas. The only way I know to explain this is a small fried tortilla wrapped around vegetables. They are very good. At lunch I had a little sweet potato and rice with bean sauce and had my first jackfruit experience. Jackfruit is very difficult to explain. It is very large and has sections on the inside that you have to peel out and open to eat. It is very sappy and sweet. I loved it. The class is released at 1 but a few stay after for extended learning. I got to teach the children who stay after. We practiced reading and English. It was a lot of fun.
Around 4 we left to go downtown to meet up with some girls we met who work with watoto here. We ate at a steak house which surprisingly was very good. Then we went to see Robin Hood at the movie theatre. We had a really great time.
Wednesday, I went back to the school. This is an overview of the day. They started with Religious Education and they learned about “Things God made to give us light” (sun, moon, and stars) Then they had to say and spell each word out loud and then copy the board into their books and draw a picture of each thing. After that they sang “twinkle twinkle little star” They have no text books so they spend much longer on each thing. They did English and Literacy next where they have been learning how to talk about weather and then they had Math. There are 2 teachers and 30 students. One teacher is just the math teacher. Each student has 5 books (just notebook paper). They also take a break after every lesson which contributes to the length of time they spend on one thing. In the afternoon I was asked to teach P2 for an hour. We played a learning game, boys vs girls. The first round, I wrote words and they had to read them to me. The second was math. The third round, I wrote a word and they had to read it out loud and show me where it was located in the classroom. The last round I had them read sentences. It was a lot of fun.
That afternoon was our first day at Joel’s school, Rays of Hope, in Kabalagala. We went and helped with their afternoon devotion. Allen played guitar and Carrie and I sung and then Mason gave a message to the kids. They also did some worship with their school choir which was really neat for us to get to take part in. I also found out I would now be teaching at his school. I am so thrilled about it.
Thursday we went to the Watoto baby’s home where Jill and Katrina volunteer. They have about 36 babies there. We got to see their 3 premature babies who are tiny tiny. I have a few pictures. One looks just like Benjamin Button. Then we went and helped feed the 3-5 months and after that we spent the rest of our time with the 6-9 month babies. I made friends with a special needs boy there named Kevin who was about 6 or 7 years old. He was so sweet. The second I walked up to him he clung to me. After we left the baby home we went to Maurine’s home. Maurine is David’s girlfriend. This was one of the neatest things we have gotten to do. The atmosphere was so great. It was a traditional African home. Vincent (Maurine’s brother) showed us around the village and then we went back and ate sugar cane on the front porch while Vincent and Veronica taught my Luganda. Then we were served the best meal I have had since I’ve been here. We had potatoes and rice and stew with chicken on the bone and we even had some pumpkin. It was delicious. I really enjoyed getting to spend an evening with an African family.
Yesterday we returned to Joel’s school around 8 am and participated in the younger children’s devotion. We worshipped with them and then I told the story of Noah. After the devotion Carrie and Catherine went to paint blackboards and I was sent to P3 to teach math. I had so much fun with them. We worked on subtraction and multiplication. After break I moved to P4 to teach an English lesson on good behavior and learning to use polite words. Then I was sent back to P3 for an English lesson on positions of objects. I really really enjoy teaching here. The students are so attentive and eager to learn. Many of the children at Joel’s school are orphaned or very very poor and donations are the only thing sending them to school. Here in Africa if you can’t pay to go to school than you can’t attend. It breaks my heart that so many children here are going without an Education. Which brings me to this…
I want to spill what has been on my mind… God has really been teaching me a lot since I have been here. Especially about having childlike faith and being thankful for the very basic things that I have that I so often take for granted. At Joel’s school the children share a testimony during devotion where they share what God is doing for them and the things they are thankful for. The kids thank God for eyes to see and clothes to wear. They thank Him for school and a mouth to talk. They thank Him for safety through the night and food to eat…these little things that I so often I don’t even recognize. It is all God’s though and it is all God’s to take away in the blink of an eye so why don’t I appreciate these blessings more? Being removed from the American culture of I deserve everything and am entitled to anything I want when I want it really shook my world. I never realized how truly greedy and selfish I have been. People here literally have nothing. No education, no basic necessities and yet they have everything. They have hope and faith and courage and love…the things that truly matter. God is really making me see how blessed I really am. A lot of children here don’t even have family, the one thing that I treasure. No one has ever nurtured them or told them they are wonderful and yet through total dependency on God our Father they are strong. They are happy. God ultimately is all we really need. Everything belongs to God and without Him life would be nothing. I am so happy and blessed to have a Father and Savior who loves me deeply and intimately without limitations. He is really doing a work in my heart and I can’t wait to see the outcome.
Thank you so much for you continuous support and prayers. Without you we would be no where. Please continue to pray for our team and the children. I hope to hear from some of you soon. (pictures will be up as soon as we get this internet situation figured out)
I love you!
Tori
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