We’re safe and sound at our new home in Jinja. Kate and Peter are great and they’re taking very good care of us. Their son, Levi, turns 1 on Wednesday and he’s indescribable adorable. So far, we’ve just been getting settled and brainstorming about how things are going to go for the next 5 weeks. I love it here. Jinja is beautiful and it’s great to be out of the big smelly city of Kampala.
Gulu was quite the experience. Things are much more peaceful than we imagined. There’s been so much progress since the current peace talks have started. (Honestly, Kampala was more dangerous than Gulu.) Only now and then would we see subtle reminders of the fact that the place has been in turmoil for over 20 years. Things like… a huge sign warning you to not touch or step on unknown objects with a picture of a land mine. Or the old, run-down railroad tracks that the war put out of business, or houses that have no doors and you can see grass growing inside. Obviously the IDP camps we visited were big reminders too. A lot of the people are starting to leave the camps now that the war looks like it might be over. (By the way, there’s a chance that a peace treaty might be signed while we’re here, which would be amazing!) But most of the people don’t have anywhere to go. Many of them left their homes many years ago and their land has now been taken by someone else. There’s talk that the land disputes that are erupting may turn into yet another war. So the camps are still populated with thousands of people crowded together in very poor conditions.
One of the most amazing moments so far on this trip occurred in one of the IDP camps. As we were walking through, closely followed by a band of about 60 enthusiastic kids, we were told that there was a sick man in one of the huts and we were asked to come in a pray for him. He was lying there in the dark, skin and bones, his belly bloated and sweating. And our translator informed us that he had heard the gospel many times and he was now ready to accept Christ. We got the honor of being the midwives, in a sense, just to be there beside him during his rebirth into the Kingdom. It was amazing. We prayed for healing as well. He and his wife have five kids.
We also got the chance to visit Lacor (pronounced La-CHO) Hospital in Gulu. There was a man there with really bad ulcers, and lying in the bed next to him was his son, dying of AIDS. They are the son and grandson on a pastor we met in an IDP camp. We prayed for them brought them gifts (as is the custom when you visit someone). I wish we could have stayed longer and just sat with them.
We visited the hut of another woman in Gulu who has AIDS. Her health isn’t too bad right now, but she is all alone. We brought her some food and basic health items. She said she gets cold at night and has no blanket. I wish we could have brought one to her. It’s amazing to me how blessed people are by a visit and a kind gesture like a handshake (which are cooler in Uganda, by the way) and a prayer in an unknown language can be such an incredible blessing to these people. They are so much more relational than we are.
One night in Gulu, and guy named David sat and talked with us. He reminded us about how relational their culture is and how that’s why what we’re doing matters so much. He said it would be easy for people like us to just send money, but what people really want and need, money can’t buy. He told us a story that he said is commonly told in Uganda about a rich man who left his village and frequently sent money whenever someone from his village was facing something difficult. Then, when his own son died, the people of his village pooled a bunch of money together and sent it to him. “Who will help me burry my son?” the man asked. The people replied. “The money will burry your son.” “Who will be here to mourn for my son?” the man asked. “The money will mourn for your son.”
I love this story because it gives me a way to answer the people who ask me, “Wouldn’t it be better to just take all that money for plane tickets and send it over to help the people?” The truth is… giving people money only goes so far. Sure, God can bless it and use it to do many wonderful things… but love is what really changes the world. And sure, you can love by giving money… but you can also avoid loving by giving money. For me and Erin and Caitlin, love compelled us to come here and meet these people face-to-face. To do anything else would be to deny our love for them.
Since the internet is slow here, I’m not sure if I’ll have time to add Sanyu Babies Home to our “ministry links” but here’s the URL: http://www.mikwano.org/sanyubabieshome/4520569480
I think that’s what it is anyway. I don’t have the time to sit here and let to load. I’m hoping that there’s pictures on the site so you can see the kids we have come to know and love. Another one of most amazing moments was when I made Frieda smile. She’s one of the babies at the home. She was new when we got there and she has been neglected and abused. She was very tiny and malnourished and she never smiled or even interacted with people at all. I came and just sat next to her on the floor every morning. Any sharp movements would cause her to recoil, so I would slowly move my hand closer to hers. I’ll never forget the first time she reached out and took my hand. I’ll never forget the first time I saw her smile. Please pray for this little one. I didn’t get to see her the last day we were there because she had to be taken to the hospital for her fever.
Northern Lights Ministries is the one we’ll be working with for the remainder of the trip, so check out their website to see what it’s about.
Monday, July 14, 2008
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
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
finally, an update from Cate (aka Caitlin, but that's to hard for a Ugandan to say)
We’ve finally arrived in Jinja – our last and final destination before the airport at Entebbe to go back to the states. It’s hard to believe our time in Uganda is already half completed. We finished our time in Kampala with a wonderful “farewell day” – black tea in the garden with our wonderful friends, Faith and Ben, who have become such a deep heart blessing to us, and an evening out with crazy ol’ Sam whom Erin and I met last year. We went to dinner and then drove around town in the evening sharing stories and laughs. I’ve been so blessed by our time in K’la that I almost forget it’s a city, and I’m a country girl – I should hate the city, right? Well, it’s part of Uganda and just as much a home for my heart as the rest of this nation has so sweetly become.
Jinja is a quite little town in comparison to the hussle and bussle of K’la streets – no jams, less loud music, and boda boda drivers who go much slower (to my chagrin, I’d like to add J ) – for any of you who don’t know, boda bodas are little motor bikes we can hire to take us places, like a yellow cab in NYC only much smaller, and I can ride a few miles for $1. We’re out to experience Jinja all on our own today – it’s so liberating to be independent! We feel like the last organization we were with while in K’la kind of stifled our desires and dreams. Even our trip to gulu was marred with late-ness (beyond even what Africans would consider appropriate), and we constantly felt like an inconvenience…needless to say, I intend on writing a letter or phoning someone in the states who can make some changes in their program before I suggest that organization to anyone else. I think we overpaid for what begrudging service we received. But, I all fairness, their organization is going through a lot of changes and we didn’t know much about them before all this started. Rest assured, beloved family, friends, supporters, and prayer-warriors, God’s $$ is going to the right places. We are making stewardship a key goal of this trip – your help has gone to great organizations, even if cultural differences make things difficult.
Anyway, our time in Jinja has already been such a blessing! I came “home” to Kate and Peter’s to find a note Clair wrote to me while he was staying at their house in May – and what perfect timing! God is soo good to bring encouragement from a trusted source in my hardest moments! I’ve been feeling pretty low lately just because we’re half way through the trip and its beginning to feel like the Enemy hates our work here – of course, he always did, but the battle has been refreshed recently. Keep praying, family, we’re keeping our heads up and our eyes and hearts set on Christ, but we’re getting tired! God is good and He has brought us sooo far – his love is what helps us persevere! We are conquerors in him!
Something else exciting to be praying about – while Clair was here in May and June, he spent time in a village called Budumbuli working with an organization called Northern Lights Ministries, which is the same organization we’re working with right now. Kate and Peter are the leaders and founders of this ministry and while Clair was here, they discussed with him briefly about us returning to Uganda someday to help them run the ministry. As it turns out, the church which supports the ministry from the States has been saying for years that they need “another Kate and Peter”, well, maybe a “Cate and Clair” will have to do! Clair and I are seeking God’s heart on the idea, because we would much rather have His will be done rather than our own. We would appreciate any of you who will come alongside us in this plea for discernment and a deeper knowledge of God (for both Clair and I) so we can know if God’s wants us with NLM in Uganda.
Well, I’ve certainly written enough for now – one more quick story, tho…
On Sunday, we visited a church and the service was spoken mostly in the local language here – Lugandan. It’s difficult to understand even when Ugandans translate into English b/c of the heavy accent and bad sound system. So, while Kathy, Erin, and I were trying to listen and not melt from the heat, Kate leans over to us and asks if we want to go greet the Sunday School class. We decided to sneak out (as only Muzungu people can!) and went to hear the children sing songs and to introduce ourselves. I actually taught them a new song – one that I quite dear to my heart b/c my beloved 6th grade wildfire girls made it up. I taught them the song about Proverbs 3:5-6 - I think it fits my life now quite well:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your path straight.
Jinja is a quite little town in comparison to the hussle and bussle of K’la streets – no jams, less loud music, and boda boda drivers who go much slower (to my chagrin, I’d like to add J ) – for any of you who don’t know, boda bodas are little motor bikes we can hire to take us places, like a yellow cab in NYC only much smaller, and I can ride a few miles for $1. We’re out to experience Jinja all on our own today – it’s so liberating to be independent! We feel like the last organization we were with while in K’la kind of stifled our desires and dreams. Even our trip to gulu was marred with late-ness (beyond even what Africans would consider appropriate), and we constantly felt like an inconvenience…needless to say, I intend on writing a letter or phoning someone in the states who can make some changes in their program before I suggest that organization to anyone else. I think we overpaid for what begrudging service we received. But, I all fairness, their organization is going through a lot of changes and we didn’t know much about them before all this started. Rest assured, beloved family, friends, supporters, and prayer-warriors, God’s $$ is going to the right places. We are making stewardship a key goal of this trip – your help has gone to great organizations, even if cultural differences make things difficult.
Anyway, our time in Jinja has already been such a blessing! I came “home” to Kate and Peter’s to find a note Clair wrote to me while he was staying at their house in May – and what perfect timing! God is soo good to bring encouragement from a trusted source in my hardest moments! I’ve been feeling pretty low lately just because we’re half way through the trip and its beginning to feel like the Enemy hates our work here – of course, he always did, but the battle has been refreshed recently. Keep praying, family, we’re keeping our heads up and our eyes and hearts set on Christ, but we’re getting tired! God is good and He has brought us sooo far – his love is what helps us persevere! We are conquerors in him!
Something else exciting to be praying about – while Clair was here in May and June, he spent time in a village called Budumbuli working with an organization called Northern Lights Ministries, which is the same organization we’re working with right now. Kate and Peter are the leaders and founders of this ministry and while Clair was here, they discussed with him briefly about us returning to Uganda someday to help them run the ministry. As it turns out, the church which supports the ministry from the States has been saying for years that they need “another Kate and Peter”, well, maybe a “Cate and Clair” will have to do! Clair and I are seeking God’s heart on the idea, because we would much rather have His will be done rather than our own. We would appreciate any of you who will come alongside us in this plea for discernment and a deeper knowledge of God (for both Clair and I) so we can know if God’s wants us with NLM in Uganda.
Well, I’ve certainly written enough for now – one more quick story, tho…
On Sunday, we visited a church and the service was spoken mostly in the local language here – Lugandan. It’s difficult to understand even when Ugandans translate into English b/c of the heavy accent and bad sound system. So, while Kathy, Erin, and I were trying to listen and not melt from the heat, Kate leans over to us and asks if we want to go greet the Sunday School class. We decided to sneak out (as only Muzungu people can!) and went to hear the children sing songs and to introduce ourselves. I actually taught them a new song – one that I quite dear to my heart b/c my beloved 6th grade wildfire girls made it up. I taught them the song about Proverbs 3:5-6 - I think it fits my life now quite well:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your path straight.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Crazy Week
The internet is really slow in this café and I feel like I have so many stories to tell. Where in the world do I start?
This past week was our busiest so far. We spent every morning at Sanyu Babies Home. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday we spent the afternoon teaching kids basic computer at the orphanage. On Wednesday afternoon, we were in charge of about 55 kids for an hour. We told them the story of Abraham and Isaac, played games, and taught them songs. It’s been a lot of fun, but we’ve also had some tough challenges.
Friday was our last day with the babies. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I spent most of my time with one group of about 14 babies (the ones who can sit up on their own but can’t walk yet). I could name them all for you. I got to know their personalities and I could identify their cries. I miss them already. And I feel like we’ve been through a lot with the staff there. While working at the home, we lost one baby to meningitis. I don’t think I could put into words how hard it was to see his tiny casket. He was only 4 months old. The three of us had a good cry that night. Especially Erin . Death hits her so hard. It makes sense though since she has such a mother’s heart. Who knows the value of life better than a mother?
It’s so good to be here with these girls. They’re the best friends in the world and I can’t imagine being here with anyone else.
I got into a boda accident! Ok, not really. Actually, I was on the back of a boda and we were going down the hill to the pastor’s house and the boda just kind of tipped over. I was riding side-saddle (with a skirt on) so it was easy to just hop off before the boda hit the ground. It wasn’t really a big deal at all. I didn’t even get any Africa dirt on my skirt, but my boda driver was really, really embarrassed in front of the other drivers. Poor guy.
Keep praying for our health. Particularly our bowels. :o) Not to get too specific. I’ve been getting dehydrated very easily, which is easy to fix but it’s still annoying because that also makes me get motion sickness easily. I’m ok…. But I could be better.
The biggest reason I wanted to post today is that we’ll be needing prayer coverage. We set out for Gulu tomorrow morning! We all have a feeling that our trip to Gulu is one of the biggest reasons we’re here. We’ll mostly be ministering to people in the IDP camps where 90% of the population of Northern Uganda have been forced by the government to go and live in really bad conditions. We should be safe. The peace talks have been going well so far. There haven’t been any LRA attacks in a long time, so we’re not worried about anything like that. But it’ll be a long journey (6 hours on really bad roads) and it will be emotionally hard, I’m sure. We travel on Monday, then we’ll be there Tuesday and Wednesday, then we travel back to Kampala on Thursday. We have Friday to rest, then we head to Jinja on Saturday.
Thanks for your prayers.
This past week was our busiest so far. We spent every morning at Sanyu Babies Home. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday we spent the afternoon teaching kids basic computer at the orphanage. On Wednesday afternoon, we were in charge of about 55 kids for an hour. We told them the story of Abraham and Isaac, played games, and taught them songs. It’s been a lot of fun, but we’ve also had some tough challenges.
Friday was our last day with the babies. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. I spent most of my time with one group of about 14 babies (the ones who can sit up on their own but can’t walk yet). I could name them all for you. I got to know their personalities and I could identify their cries. I miss them already. And I feel like we’ve been through a lot with the staff there. While working at the home, we lost one baby to meningitis. I don’t think I could put into words how hard it was to see his tiny casket. He was only 4 months old. The three of us had a good cry that night. Especially Erin . Death hits her so hard. It makes sense though since she has such a mother’s heart. Who knows the value of life better than a mother?
It’s so good to be here with these girls. They’re the best friends in the world and I can’t imagine being here with anyone else.
I got into a boda accident! Ok, not really. Actually, I was on the back of a boda and we were going down the hill to the pastor’s house and the boda just kind of tipped over. I was riding side-saddle (with a skirt on) so it was easy to just hop off before the boda hit the ground. It wasn’t really a big deal at all. I didn’t even get any Africa dirt on my skirt, but my boda driver was really, really embarrassed in front of the other drivers. Poor guy.
Keep praying for our health. Particularly our bowels. :o) Not to get too specific. I’ve been getting dehydrated very easily, which is easy to fix but it’s still annoying because that also makes me get motion sickness easily. I’m ok…. But I could be better.
The biggest reason I wanted to post today is that we’ll be needing prayer coverage. We set out for Gulu tomorrow morning! We all have a feeling that our trip to Gulu is one of the biggest reasons we’re here. We’ll mostly be ministering to people in the IDP camps where 90% of the population of Northern Uganda have been forced by the government to go and live in really bad conditions. We should be safe. The peace talks have been going well so far. There haven’t been any LRA attacks in a long time, so we’re not worried about anything like that. But it’ll be a long journey (6 hours on really bad roads) and it will be emotionally hard, I’m sure. We travel on Monday, then we’ll be there Tuesday and Wednesday, then we travel back to Kampala on Thursday. We have Friday to rest, then we head to Jinja on Saturday.
Thanks for your prayers.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
We Belong to a Family of 28 Million
I wish we had the chance to update more often. So much has happened in the past week. (It feels like so much longer than a week.) But we're staying at a pastor's house who lived outside the city, so it's a pretty involved treck to get to an internet cafe. We're learning how to get around though, which is so fun! Sometimes we have to cram-a-lam into a taxi with about 17 other passangers. Sometimes we hop onto that back of a boda boda. I love riding the bodas because i feel like i'm going to die. :o) I love adventure. On my very first ride, i was riding a boda behind Caitlin, and our friend Faith... and all of a sudden, my boda driver turned around and went the other way down the busy street. For a second, i thought "Oh my gosh! I'm being stolen!" But God gave me a peace. It was a peace that said "I'm the daughter of a King. Anyone who messes with me messes with Him." In the end, it turned out that my boda driver was the only one who knew were he was going.
Working at the baby home is both hard and good. There's one baby in paticular that i've been drawn to. Her name is Sharon and she's very smart. If you call her name, she'll crawl to you from accross the room. The other day she was a little sick and fell asleep on my lap. I was sad that she was sick, but at the same time it was such a blessing just to hold her.
At the orphanage/primary school, we've been teaching basic computer. It turns out that this is very, very needed. The school was just blessed with a few computers and no one there knows how to use them. I'm hoping that we'll get the chance to teach some of the teachers more so that they can tach more kids when we leave. It amazes me how eager these kids are to learn! They are so attentive and they remember everything you say.
This morning, we taught Sunday school. The pastor's daughter, Reba, is in our class. At first we were a little intimidated by that, but it turned out to be a big blessing. She's a sweetheart.
Living in the pastor's house is a blessing too. Despite some inconvenience, i really love that it's outside the city because it give us a place to breathe and relax. We eat real Ugandan food every day and we can go for walks as children run out to the street and chant "bye mazungu!"
So basically, we're being blessed all over the place. We did go though some sickness, but we're past it now and feeling great.
One minute left! Keep us in your prayers!
Working at the baby home is both hard and good. There's one baby in paticular that i've been drawn to. Her name is Sharon and she's very smart. If you call her name, she'll crawl to you from accross the room. The other day she was a little sick and fell asleep on my lap. I was sad that she was sick, but at the same time it was such a blessing just to hold her.
At the orphanage/primary school, we've been teaching basic computer. It turns out that this is very, very needed. The school was just blessed with a few computers and no one there knows how to use them. I'm hoping that we'll get the chance to teach some of the teachers more so that they can tach more kids when we leave. It amazes me how eager these kids are to learn! They are so attentive and they remember everything you say.
This morning, we taught Sunday school. The pastor's daughter, Reba, is in our class. At first we were a little intimidated by that, but it turned out to be a big blessing. She's a sweetheart.
Living in the pastor's house is a blessing too. Despite some inconvenience, i really love that it's outside the city because it give us a place to breathe and relax. We eat real Ugandan food every day and we can go for walks as children run out to the street and chant "bye mazungu!"
So basically, we're being blessed all over the place. We did go though some sickness, but we're past it now and feeling great.
One minute left! Keep us in your prayers!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
At Home in Africa
Everything here is different. The smells, the sounds, the flavors are all different. The way people to relate to one another is one of the biggest differences. The people here are so warm and polite in such a a genuine way. Caitlin, Erin, and i were sitting in an office waiting for someone and, as many people passed through, we noticed that the only person not to greet us was a white guy. People here know how to welcome one another and how to celebrate one another. I keep praying that this spirit will sink into my heart. I want to be more African when i come home to America. Someone told us today that we look African because of how we are dressed. I think that was one of the biggest compliments someone could pay us here.
For all those who are curious, yes, we did arrive safely and all of our luggage arrived safely. We are well and we are being taken care of well. We are currently sitting in a small, cozy restaurant with wireless and a wonderful Kenyan couple we just met today, chatting about everything from religion, politics, and history to what snow it like and how African weddings are different from American weddings. We're staying in a guest house called Adonai House until tomorrow when we may be moving in with a Ugandan pastor and his family. That will be both challenging and amazing.
We will be working at Sanyu Babies Home almost every morning and at St. Mary Kevin Primary School and Orphanage a few afternoons each week while we're in Kampala. We have visited both places to arrange times for us to volunteer and we can't wait to get started. Mama Rosemary works at St. Mary Kevin. I think she's one of my favorite Ugandans so far.
Today we went to church. It was a lot of fun to worship with Africans. I want to learn their music! When the kids were dismissed, we went with them and sat in on a Sunday school class. We will be teaching this class next Sunday. When they first asked us to teach Sunday school, we were pretty intimidated, but now that we've met the kids, we're excited about it. There were about 10 kids around the age of 6th grade. I think they might know more about the Bible than we do.
I love African children! They flock to us because we're white. They call us "muzungu" and can't wait to be close to us. They're so eager to be loved, which makes us a perfect match because we are just as eager to love them. Yesterday, we got to walk through a village with a bunch of kids and they tried to teach us Luganda. We picked up a few words. Fortunately, we video taped most of it so we can go back and review.
Continue praying for us. Our hearts are crying out to be able to do something that really makes and impact. Pray for us to not be discouraged when our limited, human vision keeps us from seeing how we're advancing the Kingdom of God. Mother Teresa said, "You can do no great things, only small things with great love." We believe that great love can make a small thing great. Scripture tells us that love can cover a multitude of sins. It's powerful. Scripture also tells us that perfect love casts out fear. And that's a big deal here in Uganda. The enemy has been working hard for a long time to instill a spirit of fear in the people, especially the children. Pray for us to not forget that simply loving can work wonders. Pray for us to not allow our own expectations to get in the way.
I'm going to get back to the conversation now. We're all cracking up now about being able to fart in the presence of your significant other. This woman is hilarious.
We love you all and we'll hopefully have the opportunity to share more stories soon.
For all those who are curious, yes, we did arrive safely and all of our luggage arrived safely. We are well and we are being taken care of well. We are currently sitting in a small, cozy restaurant with wireless and a wonderful Kenyan couple we just met today, chatting about everything from religion, politics, and history to what snow it like and how African weddings are different from American weddings. We're staying in a guest house called Adonai House until tomorrow when we may be moving in with a Ugandan pastor and his family. That will be both challenging and amazing.
We will be working at Sanyu Babies Home almost every morning and at St. Mary Kevin Primary School and Orphanage a few afternoons each week while we're in Kampala. We have visited both places to arrange times for us to volunteer and we can't wait to get started. Mama Rosemary works at St. Mary Kevin. I think she's one of my favorite Ugandans so far.
Today we went to church. It was a lot of fun to worship with Africans. I want to learn their music! When the kids were dismissed, we went with them and sat in on a Sunday school class. We will be teaching this class next Sunday. When they first asked us to teach Sunday school, we were pretty intimidated, but now that we've met the kids, we're excited about it. There were about 10 kids around the age of 6th grade. I think they might know more about the Bible than we do.
I love African children! They flock to us because we're white. They call us "muzungu" and can't wait to be close to us. They're so eager to be loved, which makes us a perfect match because we are just as eager to love them. Yesterday, we got to walk through a village with a bunch of kids and they tried to teach us Luganda. We picked up a few words. Fortunately, we video taped most of it so we can go back and review.
Continue praying for us. Our hearts are crying out to be able to do something that really makes and impact. Pray for us to not be discouraged when our limited, human vision keeps us from seeing how we're advancing the Kingdom of God. Mother Teresa said, "You can do no great things, only small things with great love." We believe that great love can make a small thing great. Scripture tells us that love can cover a multitude of sins. It's powerful. Scripture also tells us that perfect love casts out fear. And that's a big deal here in Uganda. The enemy has been working hard for a long time to instill a spirit of fear in the people, especially the children. Pray for us to not forget that simply loving can work wonders. Pray for us to not allow our own expectations to get in the way.
I'm going to get back to the conversation now. We're all cracking up now about being able to fart in the presence of your significant other. This woman is hilarious.
We love you all and we'll hopefully have the opportunity to share more stories soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
