Settled in Jinja

Hey Everyone,

I’m sure you’re all wondering whether we made it back from the North alive. We did  It was a fantastic experience; we were up there two and a half days and with the exception of that half day, we spent our time in the IDP camps (Internally Displaced Persons) which is where the gov’t forced the majority of the Acholi people (90%) when the LRA attacks were really in full force – somehow, they thought it’d be a good idea when in reality, they put a large number of people, with a lot of kids, in a very secluded area, surrounded by bush where the rebel army hid…yeah, you can see how I feel about it. We took lots of pictures and video, and I look forward to being able to share those with you all.

We are no safe in Jinja and it’s just as wonderful as I remember it. Kampala, to me, was like any major US city, only covered in about 3 in. of red dust – full of smog, stop and go traffic all the time, dirty, smelly, loud, and easily induced motion sickness. So, needless to say, I’m really glad to get out of the city itself. Jinja is smaller, but still a big city only spread out. We’re staying with friends who’ve made wonderful efforts at making their home our home. Already we’ve had very normal foods here – chocolate chip cookies, egg salad sandwiches, and more to come. We’re being very well taken care of, more than the last place.

We’re working on ironing out a schedule but we’ll be in a slum village 5 days a week, sometimes 6, doing “coaching” or tutoring, teaching, and pretty much whatever else we’re needed for. It’s here that I knew my talents and knowledge of English would come in handy – I will mostly be working with kids to teach them to read. I love being a part of increasing literacy where literacy is not to be found. I’m really excited to be able to really offer something here – not that I didn’t before, but I think it’s different.

The sad thing about being in Jinja is that we’re far from some amazing people we met. Our friends, Faith and Ben, have been the ones who really took care of us while we were in K’la. We’ve grown to know and love them dearly – Faith a recent college grad who’s from Kenya working at the church we were apart of while there, and Ben is getting ready to enter into Bible college to become a pastor, and what an incredible pastor he will be. So, being here makes us all a little sick for the home we found in them.

Other than that, things are going well. We met up with and spent more time with a friend from last year, Sam, have enjoyed a number of treats – ice cream – and are doing well health-wise and financially. It’s incredible how much God’s blessed the money you all have given to us. It’s like the fishes and loaves stories in the gospels…He’s really multiplying it…for real (Caitlin knew she didn’t have any more American money on her, but Kathy and I did. Then when we went to re-count the money, there was an extra $100 in Caitlin’s stuff!)

So, thank you all for being with us. We do miss you, but it doesn’t feel real that we’re almost half way through the trip. Keep praying with us and that the changes and transformations God wants done in us come to pass. We all just want to see God move in us and thru. us.

Blessings to you all.

With love,
Erin