The week before spring break ended on a good note. It was VERY hectic and busy, but my class was fabulous and things ended nicely. I’m really excited to say that things worked out very well with Kenya and traveling over break! We didn’t get to go to the Masaai Mara region, but we spent time in Nairobi and Mombasa. Between the bus rides and the train we spent a total of 50 hours traveling from here to Nairobi, then to Mombasa, then back to Nairobi, and then finally back to Kampala.
It’s about a 12-13 hour bus ride from here to Nairobi, but we took a very nice bus, so the ride wasn’t bad at all. That was the nicest part of our travel though let me tell you! The overnight train from Nairobi to Mombasa ended up taking 17 hours. Not my idea of a good time. But we got there and we were safe. In Nairobi we were able to see one of the churches that WGM has helped start there and spend some time with our regional directors. I absolutely love them and it was a blessing to see them. They were great about hosting us in their city… took us to lunch and brought us to a Sunday market. When we got to Mombasa the beach was the first stop on my list. I love the beach and I was soooo excited to see the Indian Ocean. Once we got to the guest house and dropped our things we were in the water within 5 minutes!
The ocean was warm, I mean real warm, but I learned real quick that the only way to stay cool in Mombasa is to be in the water or in a cold shower. It was SO hot there! Yes, I am aware that I live on the equator, but still… wow!
The second day in Mombasa we took a taxi to south beach and we paid to use a resort’s pool and beach access. The water was clearer than any water I’ve ever been in. It was so beautiful against the white beach. I know you’re all dying to know if I got to ride a camel and the answer is heck yes I did! It was amazing! And kinda scary… camels are huge! They were really sweet though and surprisingly gentle. It was a fabulous experience! How many people can really say that they’ve ridden a camel, on the Indian Ocean, in Kenya?? ☺ I know, I know… not many people really care, but it was super exciting for me.
Once we reached back in Nairobi we got showered and ready to go out on safari for the day. Before we went into the game park we went to a baby elephant orphanage and then a giraffe center. It was so cool! They were so cute… all of them! Even the baby rhino that rammed me was so cute! I was kissed by a giraffe and then right after I was kissed, I was head butted by it. It was a love-hate relationship, I guess.
After that we headed into Nairobi’s big game park and were promptly greeted by hundreds of zebras just hanging out, grazing, trying not to get eaten by lions. A little bit farther in and the giraffes were relaxing, wandering around, hanging out. We saw plenty of great animals and I felt like I was in the Lion King or something. ☺ The vehicle we hired was awesome! It had two huge openings to stand up and take pictures from and stuff, instead I chose to sit on the roof of the cruiser. It was a really cool experience and even though we didn’t spot any lions, it was totally worth it. I’ll put a link at the end of this post so those of you without facebook can check out some of the pictures.
After safari we went to a place for some dinner and as we were in the parking lot I spotted someone that I met when I was up in Sudan. She was on holiday as well and she happened to be traveling to Kampala on the same bus as we were, so I was excited to invite her to stay with us once she was in Kampala (she was stopping off in Jinja for a day). The world became tiny as I realized how random it was for me to run into her in a huge city like Nairobi.
When we got back to Kampala late the night before Easter we were exhausted. I basically went straight to bed. Easter was strange and I say that because it was different to be out of the western world for yet another huge holiday, but it was good. The WGM Kampala field had a big dinner and an Easter egg hunt for the MK’s. It was fun to hide the eggs… something I love doing for my cousin’s kids normally. My friend from Sudan, Amy came in from Jinja and was able to have dinner with us too. A blessed time indeed.
We spent the next day showing Amy around Kampala (k-town as I like to call it). We went to markets and shops for her to gather as much as possible before getting back up to South Sudan where things are scarce. Tuesday was relaxing and spent getting ready for our WGM Uganda field retreat out in Fort Portal which is in the west along the Congo border, in the mountains. We arrived there after a 4 hour drive Wednesday. We were greeted by cool air (we were in the mountains) and the smiling faces of everyone on the field… and then some. I was in charge of worship for the week, so right away I found my drummer, Nick and we started getting ready for that. Needless to say when you’re on retreat but in charge of something, you don’t find much time to actually retreat. Alas, it was a good time with people I don’t get to see everyday and I was thankful to catch up with my friends. The night I got home from Fort Portal I went to sleep around 9pm and didn’t get out of bed until about 9am. That’s when my retreat happened. ☺
School has started back up and I’m actually enjoying it right now. Getting back into a routine is somehow nice. I’m actually very comfortable in the classroom and I love getting to school early before anyone else is here and just get myself prepared for the day. I’m finding it easier to come up with new and exciting things for the kids to do. It’s encouraging. There are less than 6 weeks left now. I can’t believe how quickly time has gone by this year. I’m still struggling with the idea of leaving this place, but the excitement of seeing people is starting to swell up in my heart. I can’t wait to share my adventures with you all face to face.
My goal is to be back here in Uganda by August. This will only be by the grace of God as funding is always difficult, especially with the economic status of America right now. I love these kids, I love these people, and I love this country. I think when I leave I’ll be leaving part of my heart here. I was talking to a good friend last night about how I’m a bit scared to come home and he smartly pointed out that I was really scared to come here in the first place and now I wouldn’t trade this experience with anything. It’s true, I’m nervous about my return. Partly because I’ve been gone for a year and people move on, but also partly because I’ve changed a lot and I’ve moved on. Also, I’m scared to leave here because there are people here that I truly love. It’s always difficult to leave people you love.
That’s all for now. I’ve put the links to a couple of photo albums at the bottom. Check them out to see what I’ve been up to. I love you all.
Kenya:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051135&id=161500306&l=8cc1952faa
Worship night:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049402&id=161500306&l=bf9ac465b2
Sudan:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049401&id=161500306&l=b3eaade2fc
Random Ugandan pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2048572&id=161500306&l=7d3d4dfdb9
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Hard Times
I’m not gonna lie, the past week has been really, very rough on me. I’m learning a ton every single day and from each situation, but it doesn’t mean that it hurts any less. Being a teacher is not something I love, as you all know, but I’m doing my best and I love my students for the most part. I can’t believe that there are only 7 weeks of school left… it’s pretty unreal to think of how fast the time has gone by. Spring break starts on the 4th or April and it can’t come soon enough. I’m hopefully going to travel to Kenya with some very dear friends of mine. It’s sure to be an adventure! We’re wanting to go to Nairobi, to the Masai Mara region, and to Mombasa. Mombasa is on the coast and I’ve heard it absolutely beautiful. Last year in April I was on the beach in Florida and this year in April I’ll be on the beach in Kenya… good stuff! The best part about the whole trip to Mombasa is that you can ride camels on the beach! How awesome is that?! Many of you don’t know this, I’m sure, but I love camels and I think they’re so funny. Basically I’ll be fulfilling a dream by doing this. I’m really excited to see the Indian Ocean too. Only one more ocean to see after this. ☺
Anyway, I don’t really know how to explain this, but I’m learning more and more each day how difficult it is to be a parent. A child that I love dearly is struggling quite a bit right now and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. We have been like best friends for a while now, but the person is to the point where I’m not as needed any more and man that is killing. I feel like my hand are tied and I just have to sit back and watch the situation unfold before me. I can only protect them so much and the rest is up to God. It’s been so hard and heartbreaking for me. I have to feel needed and when I don’t, I feel totally useless. I guess as a youth pastor that’s something that you just have to learn. I’ve become so attached to the kid that one of the main reasons for coming back is work with them and students like them. I want so much just to love on the kids and teach them about Jesus. I guess right now I’m struggling to find a balance. I’ve got to let the kid be a kid and make their own choices, but man is that hard.
I’ve been through a lot with a lot of people here and it’s not anything I wish I could change. I’m SO grateful for every thing that I’ve encountered since getting here and I’ve grown so much because of it. I just want each person to remember my involvement with them and remember how much I truly love them even after I’m back in the States.
Last time I updated I wrote about how difficult it is for me to think about leaving here and that is ringing ever true right now. It’s so strange to think that in 2 and a half months I won’t be here anymore and I won’t be a part of these people’s lives. Obviously my hope is to be a part of their lives whether I’m in the States or here; I just hope that remains.
It’s a bit egotistical to think that it should be difficult for people to function the same way without me here, but sometimes that’s how I think. I don’t think this because I think I can fix the world, but I’d like to think that my presence has a made some kind of an impact on someone’s life in the past 9 months (that’s how long I’ve been gone… exactly from today); an impact that they won’t soon forget.
Beyond all that, I’m still waiting to hear about being able to return next year. Waiting is the worst part let me tell you!
Um, I’ve has the opportunity to teach a few music classes in the past few weeks and I’ve absolutely loved it! I can’t believe that I didn’t continue with my music education degree. It’s definitely made me realize that I don’t dislike teaching EVERYTHING. It’s just something else to consider doing whenever my time is up here. Music has always been a passion of mine and I love watching the students begin to grasp even the basics… it’s so fun!
Prayer requests: Please, please, please pray for Lino. My heart is heavy for him right now and I can’t say much more than that, but he really needs you prayers right now. Pray for his guardians. Pray for me as I try to figure out where I fit in with his situation. Pray for Heritage International School. Pray for the youth to thirst for Jesus. Pray for a continued connection with some of the youth and that more of them would have a desire to hang out. Pray for WGM, here and in the States. Pray for my family, for my nieces, for my friends. Pray for my continued health and safety. Pray the condition of my heart.
Alright friends, midnight is approaching and I have a full day tomorrow after church. I hope you are all well and I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for your love, prayers, and support.
Anyway, I don’t really know how to explain this, but I’m learning more and more each day how difficult it is to be a parent. A child that I love dearly is struggling quite a bit right now and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. We have been like best friends for a while now, but the person is to the point where I’m not as needed any more and man that is killing. I feel like my hand are tied and I just have to sit back and watch the situation unfold before me. I can only protect them so much and the rest is up to God. It’s been so hard and heartbreaking for me. I have to feel needed and when I don’t, I feel totally useless. I guess as a youth pastor that’s something that you just have to learn. I’ve become so attached to the kid that one of the main reasons for coming back is work with them and students like them. I want so much just to love on the kids and teach them about Jesus. I guess right now I’m struggling to find a balance. I’ve got to let the kid be a kid and make their own choices, but man is that hard.
I’ve been through a lot with a lot of people here and it’s not anything I wish I could change. I’m SO grateful for every thing that I’ve encountered since getting here and I’ve grown so much because of it. I just want each person to remember my involvement with them and remember how much I truly love them even after I’m back in the States.
Last time I updated I wrote about how difficult it is for me to think about leaving here and that is ringing ever true right now. It’s so strange to think that in 2 and a half months I won’t be here anymore and I won’t be a part of these people’s lives. Obviously my hope is to be a part of their lives whether I’m in the States or here; I just hope that remains.
It’s a bit egotistical to think that it should be difficult for people to function the same way without me here, but sometimes that’s how I think. I don’t think this because I think I can fix the world, but I’d like to think that my presence has a made some kind of an impact on someone’s life in the past 9 months (that’s how long I’ve been gone… exactly from today); an impact that they won’t soon forget.
Beyond all that, I’m still waiting to hear about being able to return next year. Waiting is the worst part let me tell you!
Um, I’ve has the opportunity to teach a few music classes in the past few weeks and I’ve absolutely loved it! I can’t believe that I didn’t continue with my music education degree. It’s definitely made me realize that I don’t dislike teaching EVERYTHING. It’s just something else to consider doing whenever my time is up here. Music has always been a passion of mine and I love watching the students begin to grasp even the basics… it’s so fun!
Prayer requests: Please, please, please pray for Lino. My heart is heavy for him right now and I can’t say much more than that, but he really needs you prayers right now. Pray for his guardians. Pray for me as I try to figure out where I fit in with his situation. Pray for Heritage International School. Pray for the youth to thirst for Jesus. Pray for a continued connection with some of the youth and that more of them would have a desire to hang out. Pray for WGM, here and in the States. Pray for my family, for my nieces, for my friends. Pray for my continued health and safety. Pray the condition of my heart.
Alright friends, midnight is approaching and I have a full day tomorrow after church. I hope you are all well and I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for your love, prayers, and support.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sudan and Back
After a month and a week or two off, I’m back! There have been so many times in the past weeks that I have wanted to sit down and write out some thoughts and give you an idea of what’s been going on, but somehow time has slipped away from me. So much has happened and so many things are happening I think I have to give you the “short” version of my life. Warning: it’s not very short!
I was told on Feb 13th that I needed to go to the lawyer and get my visa legalized because I was being given the amazing opportunity to go up to Southern Sudan with my colleagues in Northern Uganda the next week. So I rushed to town, met with the lawyer, left my passport, and then rushed back to my ‘hood for a movie night at school. The next week became a blur as I began to mentally and spiritually prepare for Sudan, on top of teaching full time. The 19th of Feb was “Drug Day” at school for the high school students. I was able to get a substitute teacher for the day and I participated by doing a testimonial and then I worked with Francis (the amazing musical genius of a music teacher) to teach 5 sessions having to do with music and influences and drugs… it turned out better than I hoped. Francis did much of the facilitating of discussion, but I was very glad to put my two cents in once in a while.
Anyways, I left for the airport at 5:30am on the morning of the 20th to fly to Arua and visit with my friends in the north for a couple days before actually heading into Sudan. It was an amazingly blessed and relaxed time with Nick and the Coppedges. Arua is the last “big” town before Sudan and even they don’t have electricity most of the time. I spent Sunday with Nick helping run a soccer tournament for local and non-local Sunday school children. So many people turned out, it was very cool to experience the sense of community in the town.
Early Monday morning on Feb 22nd we headed down to the “taxi park” which consisted of a few taxis (small vans) and a Land Cruiser. We procured the Land Cruiser, waited for a while for a few more people to join us and then we headed on our way… after a push start from some of the locals. Literally the car didn’t start without being pushed. It was sure to be an adventure after a start like that. Nick and I sat nice and comfy in the front, in a space that I believe was meant for one person. Keep in mind that neither Nick nor myself are very small, so we just made ourselves comfy, somehow. Billy was in the middle with three other men, and Joanna was in the way back with Elsie Jayne in her little car seat.
We made it to the border in about two and half hours… gotta love the bumpy roads… truly they’ve become quite a comfort in a weird “this feels like home” kind of way. We had no issues, got our Sudanese visas and were back on our way in no time. After about 3 more hours in the Cruiser, we made it to Yei (yay), Sudan. The drive through the new country was completely different than being in Uganda and not just because we were back on the right side of the road (actually driving on the right feels weird now). Everything from the landscape to the color of the dirt was different. Instead of being surrounded by orange-rust colored dirt I found myself coated in gray, sandy dust, but it was beautiful. Aside from the visual, I could feel a difference physically… as in it was HOT! Wow. Yes Sudan is kind of a desert and it’s not a “dry heat that you get used to”.
When we got to the taxi park in Yei, we were met by Jennie, the girl that I would be staying with for the week. Nick and the Coppedges were heading to a guesthouse and I was heading with Jennie, a girl I didn’t know, on a boda, out into the bush to stay at an orphanage. Now you’re thinking, “stop being so dramatic, you didn’t go that far out of town…” well as a matter of fact I did. The farther we went the more I kept thinking that I wasn’t going to see Billy, Jo, and Nick again. The place really was way out in the bush. No electricity, fine I can handle that. No running water, no problem I’ve done it before. No toilets, only pit latrines (a hole in the ground), once again no problem, I can handle that too. The thing that struck me was that I was out in the bush, by myself, not knowing how to get back to town if I needed to, for 4 days. I felt totally isolated… for a minute until all of the amazing children greeted me with song and followed me to my hut. They were some of the most precious kids I had ever seen. Looking into their eyes really was like looking into a window of their souls. They were exuding pure joy, the joy that only Jesus gives.
I got to my hut and put my stuff down. I was introduced to numerous people and given a tour of the compound. There are pictures on facebook; I encourage you to check them out. I’ll try to get a link up soon for those of you behind the times without facebook! The compound was very impressive. Turns out that Jennie went to Indiana Wesleyan and was roommates with my friend’s sister, so we had some fun with that connection.
Over the next few days I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with some of the children, hold cute babies, get to know some of the older girls, chat with some of the older boys, and watch some great pick-up football (soccer) games out on the football pitch (which is a semi-cleared piece of field). I heard some stories, saw some pain, but beyond that saw the joy of the Lord and the gratefulness of the children for just being loved. I walked (jogged) with some of the older youth to school one morning at their request. They wanted me to see their school and meet the other kids. So this “short” walk/jog went on for about 30 minutes through the bush, sometimes the shrubbery was so high I couldn’t see beyond it. When we arrived at school they showed me around and I met the headmaster and signed the guestbook. I departed from the school with no clue on how to get back. We went through so many tiny villages and the paths twisted and turned in every direction on the way there. Of course I got lost and ended up in a crop field. Since my Arabic skills are non-existent I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but luckily there was a little boy called Taban (means sleepy in Arabic) who spoke a bit of English and was able to lead me to the right path and then direct me back. Quite an adventure!
I got to experience a bush fire as the field right outside the compound was burning on the last night I was there. It’s desert, it’s dry, and it keeps burning because there’s nothing to stop it. The compound wasn’t threatened that night like it had been a few weeks before my arrival. The rain came late into the night and the fire ceased.
I left Thursday morning with a bit of a sad heart. In going to Sudan I wanted to see what ministry opportunities there were, but even more than that I wanted to get a better understanding of the Sudanese people. One of my favorite people ever, Lino, is Sudanese and I really felt like being in Sudan would somehow bring me closer to my little buddy. I could see Lino is some of those children. I’m praising God that Lino is where he is today. The second day I was there, I went into town with one of the other x-pats. We went to the market. As we were finishing up some shopping we were invited by some shop owners to sit and share lunch with them. They bought us Cokes and we sat with them. A couple of the guys were from Khartoum, a couple from Darfur, and a couple were from Rumbeck, which is where Lino is from. Of course, these were Muslim men and they wanted to keep the conversation on where we were from and such, not religion, but just hearing some of their stories and life experiences was awesome.
Anyways, I met up with Nick and Coppedges Thursday morning and we left. With just a few issues along the way home, like being hit by another vehicle, we made it safely back to Arua. I flew back to Kampala on a 12-passenger “jet” the next morning and was back at school by Friday afternoon.
As I was coming back towards home I began to think of how fortunate I am in Kampala. Getting back to Kampala was like going back to America. There is everything here… running water, electricity (most of the time), and flushing toilets! Coming back to the city was very much culture shock for me. I realized that I had just had my first “real” African experience, or at least what I thought my whole experience here would be like. Am I disappointed that I don’t experience those things everyday? No… I really do enjoy showering, but I also realized that I could live and survive and thrive that way too. It’s somehow beautiful.
I came back to the craziness of the city and a weekend full of rehearsing because Sunday, March 1 was worship night and I was somehow supposed to be involved. Francis has a studio called Studio-10. Its purpose is to raise “generational worshippers.” So it is a bunch of young, very talented musicians who just want to worship the living God in spirit and in truth. Back in December they had an entire worship night including singing and dancing. I asked Francis a while ago to do one more before I leave here, so he decided to turn it into a local worship night at the school. Studio-10 members came and sang as a choir. I was very privileged to sing with them. We sang and worshipped for two hours straight with only a few scriptures that I chose to read in between. It was a very powerful evening and I think we’re going to do even one more again… before I leave.
“Before I leave” has become a common phrase out of my mouth. I leave in exactly three months from tonight and I’m having a hard time processing that. There are so many things I want to do “before I leave” and I feel like I don’t have the time to get them all done. Time is slipping away from me and it does not feel like I’ve been here for 8 months. Guys, my heart is here. Yes there are days when I miss the States like crazy, how I could I not? It’s my home; it’s where I grew up. BUT I’m drawn here. I feel a connection with Africa, with Uganda. I am SO sad to think about leaving here. I don’t feel like my time here is finished, but I’m waiting on the Lord and trusting that He’ll let me know what’s next. There are so many options regarding my future and I’m indecisive, so I’m hoping the Lord will like flash a neon sign over one of the options or something. I’m leaning towards one in my heart and head, but we’ll see what God wants.
Last week was the end of 3rd quarter at school and it meant serious work and no sleep. Report cards were due and I had parent-teacher conferences on this past Friday. I had a few unhappy parents, which in turn made me feel completely inadequate as a teacher, oh wait; I’m not a trained teacher! Well it was still a very difficult day.
But can I just tell you some things that God has been telling me lately? See, all year I’ve struggled with inadequacy. I’ve felt like I’m not enough for this person or for that person… I’ve felt like I’m not good enough for this relationship or that that relationship… I’ve felt like I’m not enough as a teacher causing my students not to grow… I’ve thought of a million things I’d like to change about myself because I’ve thought of a million ways in which I’m not enough or good enough. A couple of weeks ago at church I heard an awesome sermon, but during the sermon I was very distracted by my own thoughts and pitying myself because I had once again found myself in a position where I wasn’t enough. No details necessary, but what you should know is that while I was allowing my thoughts to wander away from the sermon I heard God clearly say to me, “Dear Child, when will I be enough for you?”
I was floored. Not because the God of the universe chose to speak to me, but because I’ve known for a while that I need to relax and let God be in control instead of trying to work on my own all the time. This was it. God was ready for me to hear it directly from Him.
Now it’s time for an action plan. Praise God for a safe and healthy trip to and from Sudan. Praise God for Lino’s health and over two months with no seizures. Be praying with me in regards to my future. Pray for my different ministries here, including my discipleship group at KIU, the school, Lino, and others. Pray for Jesus’ joy to shine through me. Pray for affective times with my students, with my colleagues, and with my friends. Pray that the next three months are productive and that I don’t lose sight of why I’m here. Pray that the Lord begins even now, to prepare my heart for a return to the States.
Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. It’s because of God that I’m here, but ya’ll are really helpful too! ☺ Much love to you all.
I was told on Feb 13th that I needed to go to the lawyer and get my visa legalized because I was being given the amazing opportunity to go up to Southern Sudan with my colleagues in Northern Uganda the next week. So I rushed to town, met with the lawyer, left my passport, and then rushed back to my ‘hood for a movie night at school. The next week became a blur as I began to mentally and spiritually prepare for Sudan, on top of teaching full time. The 19th of Feb was “Drug Day” at school for the high school students. I was able to get a substitute teacher for the day and I participated by doing a testimonial and then I worked with Francis (the amazing musical genius of a music teacher) to teach 5 sessions having to do with music and influences and drugs… it turned out better than I hoped. Francis did much of the facilitating of discussion, but I was very glad to put my two cents in once in a while.
Anyways, I left for the airport at 5:30am on the morning of the 20th to fly to Arua and visit with my friends in the north for a couple days before actually heading into Sudan. It was an amazingly blessed and relaxed time with Nick and the Coppedges. Arua is the last “big” town before Sudan and even they don’t have electricity most of the time. I spent Sunday with Nick helping run a soccer tournament for local and non-local Sunday school children. So many people turned out, it was very cool to experience the sense of community in the town.
Early Monday morning on Feb 22nd we headed down to the “taxi park” which consisted of a few taxis (small vans) and a Land Cruiser. We procured the Land Cruiser, waited for a while for a few more people to join us and then we headed on our way… after a push start from some of the locals. Literally the car didn’t start without being pushed. It was sure to be an adventure after a start like that. Nick and I sat nice and comfy in the front, in a space that I believe was meant for one person. Keep in mind that neither Nick nor myself are very small, so we just made ourselves comfy, somehow. Billy was in the middle with three other men, and Joanna was in the way back with Elsie Jayne in her little car seat.
We made it to the border in about two and half hours… gotta love the bumpy roads… truly they’ve become quite a comfort in a weird “this feels like home” kind of way. We had no issues, got our Sudanese visas and were back on our way in no time. After about 3 more hours in the Cruiser, we made it to Yei (yay), Sudan. The drive through the new country was completely different than being in Uganda and not just because we were back on the right side of the road (actually driving on the right feels weird now). Everything from the landscape to the color of the dirt was different. Instead of being surrounded by orange-rust colored dirt I found myself coated in gray, sandy dust, but it was beautiful. Aside from the visual, I could feel a difference physically… as in it was HOT! Wow. Yes Sudan is kind of a desert and it’s not a “dry heat that you get used to”.
When we got to the taxi park in Yei, we were met by Jennie, the girl that I would be staying with for the week. Nick and the Coppedges were heading to a guesthouse and I was heading with Jennie, a girl I didn’t know, on a boda, out into the bush to stay at an orphanage. Now you’re thinking, “stop being so dramatic, you didn’t go that far out of town…” well as a matter of fact I did. The farther we went the more I kept thinking that I wasn’t going to see Billy, Jo, and Nick again. The place really was way out in the bush. No electricity, fine I can handle that. No running water, no problem I’ve done it before. No toilets, only pit latrines (a hole in the ground), once again no problem, I can handle that too. The thing that struck me was that I was out in the bush, by myself, not knowing how to get back to town if I needed to, for 4 days. I felt totally isolated… for a minute until all of the amazing children greeted me with song and followed me to my hut. They were some of the most precious kids I had ever seen. Looking into their eyes really was like looking into a window of their souls. They were exuding pure joy, the joy that only Jesus gives.
I got to my hut and put my stuff down. I was introduced to numerous people and given a tour of the compound. There are pictures on facebook; I encourage you to check them out. I’ll try to get a link up soon for those of you behind the times without facebook! The compound was very impressive. Turns out that Jennie went to Indiana Wesleyan and was roommates with my friend’s sister, so we had some fun with that connection.
Over the next few days I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with some of the children, hold cute babies, get to know some of the older girls, chat with some of the older boys, and watch some great pick-up football (soccer) games out on the football pitch (which is a semi-cleared piece of field). I heard some stories, saw some pain, but beyond that saw the joy of the Lord and the gratefulness of the children for just being loved. I walked (jogged) with some of the older youth to school one morning at their request. They wanted me to see their school and meet the other kids. So this “short” walk/jog went on for about 30 minutes through the bush, sometimes the shrubbery was so high I couldn’t see beyond it. When we arrived at school they showed me around and I met the headmaster and signed the guestbook. I departed from the school with no clue on how to get back. We went through so many tiny villages and the paths twisted and turned in every direction on the way there. Of course I got lost and ended up in a crop field. Since my Arabic skills are non-existent I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but luckily there was a little boy called Taban (means sleepy in Arabic) who spoke a bit of English and was able to lead me to the right path and then direct me back. Quite an adventure!
I got to experience a bush fire as the field right outside the compound was burning on the last night I was there. It’s desert, it’s dry, and it keeps burning because there’s nothing to stop it. The compound wasn’t threatened that night like it had been a few weeks before my arrival. The rain came late into the night and the fire ceased.
I left Thursday morning with a bit of a sad heart. In going to Sudan I wanted to see what ministry opportunities there were, but even more than that I wanted to get a better understanding of the Sudanese people. One of my favorite people ever, Lino, is Sudanese and I really felt like being in Sudan would somehow bring me closer to my little buddy. I could see Lino is some of those children. I’m praising God that Lino is where he is today. The second day I was there, I went into town with one of the other x-pats. We went to the market. As we were finishing up some shopping we were invited by some shop owners to sit and share lunch with them. They bought us Cokes and we sat with them. A couple of the guys were from Khartoum, a couple from Darfur, and a couple were from Rumbeck, which is where Lino is from. Of course, these were Muslim men and they wanted to keep the conversation on where we were from and such, not religion, but just hearing some of their stories and life experiences was awesome.
Anyways, I met up with Nick and Coppedges Thursday morning and we left. With just a few issues along the way home, like being hit by another vehicle, we made it safely back to Arua. I flew back to Kampala on a 12-passenger “jet” the next morning and was back at school by Friday afternoon.
As I was coming back towards home I began to think of how fortunate I am in Kampala. Getting back to Kampala was like going back to America. There is everything here… running water, electricity (most of the time), and flushing toilets! Coming back to the city was very much culture shock for me. I realized that I had just had my first “real” African experience, or at least what I thought my whole experience here would be like. Am I disappointed that I don’t experience those things everyday? No… I really do enjoy showering, but I also realized that I could live and survive and thrive that way too. It’s somehow beautiful.
I came back to the craziness of the city and a weekend full of rehearsing because Sunday, March 1 was worship night and I was somehow supposed to be involved. Francis has a studio called Studio-10. Its purpose is to raise “generational worshippers.” So it is a bunch of young, very talented musicians who just want to worship the living God in spirit and in truth. Back in December they had an entire worship night including singing and dancing. I asked Francis a while ago to do one more before I leave here, so he decided to turn it into a local worship night at the school. Studio-10 members came and sang as a choir. I was very privileged to sing with them. We sang and worshipped for two hours straight with only a few scriptures that I chose to read in between. It was a very powerful evening and I think we’re going to do even one more again… before I leave.
“Before I leave” has become a common phrase out of my mouth. I leave in exactly three months from tonight and I’m having a hard time processing that. There are so many things I want to do “before I leave” and I feel like I don’t have the time to get them all done. Time is slipping away from me and it does not feel like I’ve been here for 8 months. Guys, my heart is here. Yes there are days when I miss the States like crazy, how I could I not? It’s my home; it’s where I grew up. BUT I’m drawn here. I feel a connection with Africa, with Uganda. I am SO sad to think about leaving here. I don’t feel like my time here is finished, but I’m waiting on the Lord and trusting that He’ll let me know what’s next. There are so many options regarding my future and I’m indecisive, so I’m hoping the Lord will like flash a neon sign over one of the options or something. I’m leaning towards one in my heart and head, but we’ll see what God wants.
Last week was the end of 3rd quarter at school and it meant serious work and no sleep. Report cards were due and I had parent-teacher conferences on this past Friday. I had a few unhappy parents, which in turn made me feel completely inadequate as a teacher, oh wait; I’m not a trained teacher! Well it was still a very difficult day.
But can I just tell you some things that God has been telling me lately? See, all year I’ve struggled with inadequacy. I’ve felt like I’m not enough for this person or for that person… I’ve felt like I’m not good enough for this relationship or that that relationship… I’ve felt like I’m not enough as a teacher causing my students not to grow… I’ve thought of a million things I’d like to change about myself because I’ve thought of a million ways in which I’m not enough or good enough. A couple of weeks ago at church I heard an awesome sermon, but during the sermon I was very distracted by my own thoughts and pitying myself because I had once again found myself in a position where I wasn’t enough. No details necessary, but what you should know is that while I was allowing my thoughts to wander away from the sermon I heard God clearly say to me, “Dear Child, when will I be enough for you?”
I was floored. Not because the God of the universe chose to speak to me, but because I’ve known for a while that I need to relax and let God be in control instead of trying to work on my own all the time. This was it. God was ready for me to hear it directly from Him.
Now it’s time for an action plan. Praise God for a safe and healthy trip to and from Sudan. Praise God for Lino’s health and over two months with no seizures. Be praying with me in regards to my future. Pray for my different ministries here, including my discipleship group at KIU, the school, Lino, and others. Pray for Jesus’ joy to shine through me. Pray for affective times with my students, with my colleagues, and with my friends. Pray that the next three months are productive and that I don’t lose sight of why I’m here. Pray that the Lord begins even now, to prepare my heart for a return to the States.
Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. It’s because of God that I’m here, but ya’ll are really helpful too! ☺ Much love to you all.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Some more stuff I love
I love the night sky here. Even in the big city of Kampala the stars are brighter here than anywhere else I’ve ever seen them. If you thought the stars were big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. It’s like being at a planetarium every night. Even the moon shines like the sun and lights the way on the roads at night. I’ve seen Venus more in the past few months than I have in my entire life. It’s really cool to be able to see some of the stars that are only seen in the Southern Hemisphere too… I’m such a short distance from the Equator I get to see both the Northern and Southern hemisphere’s constellations.
I love the laughter of the children. Over half of the population in Uganda is under the age of 18, so you can imagine how many children I see every day. Their laughter is contagious. One of the Ugandan first graders down at the school is called Miriam... when she laughs everyone else just has to laugh with her.
I love seeing all of the babies. It seems like every other woman I see has a baby strapped on her back. Whether the mother is working or just walking that baby sleeps or simply sits patiently strapped to the mother’s back by some cloth.
I love the children’s enthusiasm when they see me. Even though I’m in an area where there are plenty of white people, some of the children still find it necessary to yell out and greet me. They wave as though they’ve never seen someone with my skin color. (I’m really dark these days, so I don’t even look like much of a whitey anymore.)
I love all of the different birds and the crazy sounds that they make. There is a bird here that I call the monkey bird. When it cackles it sounds just like a monkey calling. There are also these birds that just laugh… all the time. It makes me chuckle often, especially if I’m in a serious meeting or something.
I love loving on people who need to be loved. I love giving as much of me away as I can. I love the response of those that I get to love. I really love to feel needed, so when I don’t I tend to get downhearted. I just want to invest all that I can into some of the lives of these people and I pray for continued opportunities to do so.
I love exploring this land and seeing things I’ve never seen before. God’s creation is so vast and I want to see as much of it as I can. I love the wonder that the creation brings. It’s thought provoking and challenging. It’s brilliant and way beyond my imagination.
I’ve struggled lately to see the beauty… mostly because the school consumes my life. But this weekend I took the time to go off by myself, to take my bible and drink in all of creation that I could in an afternoon. The sun darkened my skin and lightened my hair yet another shade. I sat and saw majestic birds floating through the sky, boats slowly making their way across Lake Victoria, a cool breeze making the fields of green wave at me from their position below. It was truly overload for the senses. It was a gentle reminder of why my heart will ache for this place when I’m gone.
Once again, will you pray for me as I’m here. Pray for my heart. Pray for my ministries. Pray for my friends and family back home. Pray that the lives I come in contact with everyday will somehow be affected by the love of Christ that I try to show. Pray for Sudan and it’s people. Pray for peace. Pray for Northern Uganda and the lost children and lost lives there. Simply pray.
I love the laughter of the children. Over half of the population in Uganda is under the age of 18, so you can imagine how many children I see every day. Their laughter is contagious. One of the Ugandan first graders down at the school is called Miriam... when she laughs everyone else just has to laugh with her.
I love seeing all of the babies. It seems like every other woman I see has a baby strapped on her back. Whether the mother is working or just walking that baby sleeps or simply sits patiently strapped to the mother’s back by some cloth.
I love the children’s enthusiasm when they see me. Even though I’m in an area where there are plenty of white people, some of the children still find it necessary to yell out and greet me. They wave as though they’ve never seen someone with my skin color. (I’m really dark these days, so I don’t even look like much of a whitey anymore.)
I love all of the different birds and the crazy sounds that they make. There is a bird here that I call the monkey bird. When it cackles it sounds just like a monkey calling. There are also these birds that just laugh… all the time. It makes me chuckle often, especially if I’m in a serious meeting or something.
I love loving on people who need to be loved. I love giving as much of me away as I can. I love the response of those that I get to love. I really love to feel needed, so when I don’t I tend to get downhearted. I just want to invest all that I can into some of the lives of these people and I pray for continued opportunities to do so.
I love exploring this land and seeing things I’ve never seen before. God’s creation is so vast and I want to see as much of it as I can. I love the wonder that the creation brings. It’s thought provoking and challenging. It’s brilliant and way beyond my imagination.
I’ve struggled lately to see the beauty… mostly because the school consumes my life. But this weekend I took the time to go off by myself, to take my bible and drink in all of creation that I could in an afternoon. The sun darkened my skin and lightened my hair yet another shade. I sat and saw majestic birds floating through the sky, boats slowly making their way across Lake Victoria, a cool breeze making the fields of green wave at me from their position below. It was truly overload for the senses. It was a gentle reminder of why my heart will ache for this place when I’m gone.
Once again, will you pray for me as I’m here. Pray for my heart. Pray for my ministries. Pray for my friends and family back home. Pray that the lives I come in contact with everyday will somehow be affected by the love of Christ that I try to show. Pray for Sudan and it’s people. Pray for peace. Pray for Northern Uganda and the lost children and lost lives there. Simply pray.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What I love
I’m not sure even where to begin this time around. First, I’ve just finished my prayer letter and it’s being sent out by Friday. We have a team here from Circleville, Ohio right now and I’m going to send the letters home with them so that it’s a bit cheaper to mail to you all. I’m looking forward to getting some feedback from you guys on how it turned out. I really enjoyed piecing it all together… with the help of a veteran missionary.
So week four of school is almost over already. Monday was Liberation Day, which basically just celebrates the president, Musevni coming into power. We didn’t have school, which was awesome, so I went geocaching with some friends! Yeah, geocaching in Africa! How sweet is that?? It was so fun. A day away from school, and a day of fun. We drove all the way down to Entebbe to find a cache, but it was not there (well if it was there, it was 12 miles into Lake Victoria according to my gps). So we found a nice relaxing spot by the lake to hang out for a while. After geocaching, Francis and I played volleyball with Lino and the rest of his family for a few hours. It was an awesome way to spend the day.
Speaking of Lino. It has now been 20 days since he has had a seizure. It seems as though the medicine is under control and he is adjusted. Now, he did just go to the doctor yesterday and they took him off one of the meds, but not the seizure one, so please be praying that he remains in good health as his body adjusts to being without this other medicine. Pray for his guardians, Jade and Shelah, and pray for me as I continue my ministry with them. I just love the whole family!
So it’s hard to believe that I’ve been here for 6 months already, but it’s true! I just have 5 more months here and based on how quickly the first 6 went, I’m thinking I’ll be home before I even know it. Once again, it’s weird to think how fast this has all gone. Time is getting away from me. I have so much to do here still… maybe that just means I’ll be coming back sooner than I think, right? Who knows.
I’m really having a great time in the culture here. I’ve learned so many things, it’s going to be fun to tell you all about it when I’m back in the States. I seriously can’t explain some things very well, but it’ll be easier when I can see you. Somehow when I’m here, I’m at peace. I’m comfortable. I don’t feel like an outsider anymore. East Africa feels like home to me. It’s a wonderful thing, really. This might not be easy for some of you to understand or even want to know about. This is not a slam on America because I really do miss you all so much some days it hurts, but I’m really glad this feels like home. It just amazes me how quickly one can adapt to a completely foreign culture. There are definitely things that I don’t like and that I don’t agree with, but you live and learn I guess. When you’re away from everything and everyone that you’ve ever known it is easy to cling to those things and people. It’s easy to not allow yourself to be a part of the world you’re now in. Thanks to technology I can call home whenever I want to (for a price). I can see pictures and even video chat online so I can see you guys in real time. Is that what makes this bearable though? Maybe, but I hope not. I like to think that it’s the ways I’ve adapted to this new culture that make it bearable. If you become a part of the culture, you make it your own. If you love it and appreciate it, it’s yours. If you don’t love it, if you stay stuck in a Western culture, you’ll never, ever love where you’re at. These are just some things that I’ve been thinking about lately. I think I’ve felt guilty for loving this place so much and so it’s got me thinking about how I could love somewhere so far from home, so different in every way… so much.
Kooky.
Moving on. My baby brother just turned 23 on Tuesday. Man! How is that even possible?? When did we get old? I still can’t even believe that Alexandria Marie will be two in just a few months. I’ve been gone for about a quarter of her life. Weird. I miss my nieces terribly. I can’t believe how much they’ve grown, learned, and changed in such a short time. I’m surrounded by beautiful African babies… and sometimes when I look into their eyes all I can see are Kayla and Alex. I want them to someday see the things that I’m seeing and experience the things that I’m experiencing.
So, I thought I’d tell you some things that I love about Africa. It seems like over the past 6 months I’ve talked a lot about the things that are hard to adjust to and the things that bother me, but let me tell you the things I’m in love with. Every morning on my walk to school, I’m surrounded by some of the brightest colors I’ve ever seen. There are beautiful flowers all over the place. Most are just “weeds” I think, but it’s like being in botanical gardens all the time. Some of them have fragrances that can be smelled from 10 feet away. You just breathe in the sweetness as you walk down the orange, rusty colored dirt roads. Everything is so green and lush. Even in the dry season the plants flourish and bloom. I love that there are almost always babies animals running around. Baby chicks, goats, funny African duckies, baby cows, and puppies are seen almost daily. There’s no Spring, so there’s no waiting for the babies. They’re around all year.
I love that the women can carry so much on their heads. African women are absolutely incredible. My “slippery Caucasian hair” as it’s often called is not conducive to carrying stuff on my head, but I wish I could! The women here are so strong, yet they are so elegant and beautiful. I love that people are such hard workers here. Life is dependent on work. No work, no life. I love that children are always outside and almost always laughing. They find joy in the tiniest things... things like an empty water bottle to kick down the street. They climb trees and play games. They are so young, yet they are aged beyond their years because there is such a strong work ethic engrained in them from birth.
I love that people are resourceful, using anything and everything around them to complete their tasks. I love that people are so genuinely friendly here. If you stop say hi to someone, it’s not just saying hi. You are expected to have a full conversation, to ask about the family, to take the time to really hear how that person is doing. You don’t just say, “hey, how’s it goin?” and keep walking, ignoring the answer given. People invest in one another. Family is the most important thing.
In the villages people work from dawn until dusk to survive. Their lives revolve around the sun, around God’s creation. Here in the city it is easier to get what you want and need. There is so much available at your fingertips, but still not many people have the money.
I love the smiles I see every single day. If nothing else the smiles keep me going when I’m down. It’s hard to miss the smile of an African with skin so smooth and dark, and teeth so bright. I love how easy it seems for Africans to smile. They smile at me in passing; they smile at each other. The smiles are so brilliant and illuminating.
There is so much more to this magnificent continent and it’s many cultures and tribes and I really hope to experience as many as I can in my lifetime.
It really does take prayers and support from people like you to make all of these wonderful things so true to me. Without you, I wouldn’t be here today and I’m really grateful for the ways that you support me. There are days when lifting my hands to the Lord seems impossible, when my heart and mind are separated and my thoughts wander to another place and time. There are days when God seems so far away, but trust me when I say that your prayers and love are felt here and that I need you daily. Pray for health, pray for safety, pray for my ministries (new ministries, old ones, and ones that I don’t even know about yet). Pray for my heart. Pray for my family and friends. Pray for this land. Pray for East Africa. Pray for Uganda. Pray for Kampala. Pray for Heritage International School, for the students and staff. Pray for healing. Pray for more and more of Jesus to be shown daily around the world. I love you all. Be blessed today.
So week four of school is almost over already. Monday was Liberation Day, which basically just celebrates the president, Musevni coming into power. We didn’t have school, which was awesome, so I went geocaching with some friends! Yeah, geocaching in Africa! How sweet is that?? It was so fun. A day away from school, and a day of fun. We drove all the way down to Entebbe to find a cache, but it was not there (well if it was there, it was 12 miles into Lake Victoria according to my gps). So we found a nice relaxing spot by the lake to hang out for a while. After geocaching, Francis and I played volleyball with Lino and the rest of his family for a few hours. It was an awesome way to spend the day.
Speaking of Lino. It has now been 20 days since he has had a seizure. It seems as though the medicine is under control and he is adjusted. Now, he did just go to the doctor yesterday and they took him off one of the meds, but not the seizure one, so please be praying that he remains in good health as his body adjusts to being without this other medicine. Pray for his guardians, Jade and Shelah, and pray for me as I continue my ministry with them. I just love the whole family!
So it’s hard to believe that I’ve been here for 6 months already, but it’s true! I just have 5 more months here and based on how quickly the first 6 went, I’m thinking I’ll be home before I even know it. Once again, it’s weird to think how fast this has all gone. Time is getting away from me. I have so much to do here still… maybe that just means I’ll be coming back sooner than I think, right? Who knows.
I’m really having a great time in the culture here. I’ve learned so many things, it’s going to be fun to tell you all about it when I’m back in the States. I seriously can’t explain some things very well, but it’ll be easier when I can see you. Somehow when I’m here, I’m at peace. I’m comfortable. I don’t feel like an outsider anymore. East Africa feels like home to me. It’s a wonderful thing, really. This might not be easy for some of you to understand or even want to know about. This is not a slam on America because I really do miss you all so much some days it hurts, but I’m really glad this feels like home. It just amazes me how quickly one can adapt to a completely foreign culture. There are definitely things that I don’t like and that I don’t agree with, but you live and learn I guess. When you’re away from everything and everyone that you’ve ever known it is easy to cling to those things and people. It’s easy to not allow yourself to be a part of the world you’re now in. Thanks to technology I can call home whenever I want to (for a price). I can see pictures and even video chat online so I can see you guys in real time. Is that what makes this bearable though? Maybe, but I hope not. I like to think that it’s the ways I’ve adapted to this new culture that make it bearable. If you become a part of the culture, you make it your own. If you love it and appreciate it, it’s yours. If you don’t love it, if you stay stuck in a Western culture, you’ll never, ever love where you’re at. These are just some things that I’ve been thinking about lately. I think I’ve felt guilty for loving this place so much and so it’s got me thinking about how I could love somewhere so far from home, so different in every way… so much.
Kooky.
Moving on. My baby brother just turned 23 on Tuesday. Man! How is that even possible?? When did we get old? I still can’t even believe that Alexandria Marie will be two in just a few months. I’ve been gone for about a quarter of her life. Weird. I miss my nieces terribly. I can’t believe how much they’ve grown, learned, and changed in such a short time. I’m surrounded by beautiful African babies… and sometimes when I look into their eyes all I can see are Kayla and Alex. I want them to someday see the things that I’m seeing and experience the things that I’m experiencing.
So, I thought I’d tell you some things that I love about Africa. It seems like over the past 6 months I’ve talked a lot about the things that are hard to adjust to and the things that bother me, but let me tell you the things I’m in love with. Every morning on my walk to school, I’m surrounded by some of the brightest colors I’ve ever seen. There are beautiful flowers all over the place. Most are just “weeds” I think, but it’s like being in botanical gardens all the time. Some of them have fragrances that can be smelled from 10 feet away. You just breathe in the sweetness as you walk down the orange, rusty colored dirt roads. Everything is so green and lush. Even in the dry season the plants flourish and bloom. I love that there are almost always babies animals running around. Baby chicks, goats, funny African duckies, baby cows, and puppies are seen almost daily. There’s no Spring, so there’s no waiting for the babies. They’re around all year.
I love that the women can carry so much on their heads. African women are absolutely incredible. My “slippery Caucasian hair” as it’s often called is not conducive to carrying stuff on my head, but I wish I could! The women here are so strong, yet they are so elegant and beautiful. I love that people are such hard workers here. Life is dependent on work. No work, no life. I love that children are always outside and almost always laughing. They find joy in the tiniest things... things like an empty water bottle to kick down the street. They climb trees and play games. They are so young, yet they are aged beyond their years because there is such a strong work ethic engrained in them from birth.
I love that people are resourceful, using anything and everything around them to complete their tasks. I love that people are so genuinely friendly here. If you stop say hi to someone, it’s not just saying hi. You are expected to have a full conversation, to ask about the family, to take the time to really hear how that person is doing. You don’t just say, “hey, how’s it goin?” and keep walking, ignoring the answer given. People invest in one another. Family is the most important thing.
In the villages people work from dawn until dusk to survive. Their lives revolve around the sun, around God’s creation. Here in the city it is easier to get what you want and need. There is so much available at your fingertips, but still not many people have the money.
I love the smiles I see every single day. If nothing else the smiles keep me going when I’m down. It’s hard to miss the smile of an African with skin so smooth and dark, and teeth so bright. I love how easy it seems for Africans to smile. They smile at me in passing; they smile at each other. The smiles are so brilliant and illuminating.
There is so much more to this magnificent continent and it’s many cultures and tribes and I really hope to experience as many as I can in my lifetime.
It really does take prayers and support from people like you to make all of these wonderful things so true to me. Without you, I wouldn’t be here today and I’m really grateful for the ways that you support me. There are days when lifting my hands to the Lord seems impossible, when my heart and mind are separated and my thoughts wander to another place and time. There are days when God seems so far away, but trust me when I say that your prayers and love are felt here and that I need you daily. Pray for health, pray for safety, pray for my ministries (new ministries, old ones, and ones that I don’t even know about yet). Pray for my heart. Pray for my family and friends. Pray for this land. Pray for East Africa. Pray for Uganda. Pray for Kampala. Pray for Heritage International School, for the students and staff. Pray for healing. Pray for more and more of Jesus to be shown daily around the world. I love you all. Be blessed today.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Invisible Children
Again, I’m within a month, but I do apologize for the amount of time between each entry. I’m trusting that you all had a great Christmas and were able to celebrate with those you love. My Christmas break was VERY trying and I had to deal with a lot of very hard situations. Through all of those tough times I was blessed to spend time with some great friends and people that I love dearly. Christmas Eve I spent the night at the Hopson’s house so I could be around kids on Christmas morning. After presents were opened and I was able to Skype with friends and family, I went to lunch with our field directors who have two daughters around my age. It was great for both of us! After that I spent the rest of the day with Jade, Shelah, and Lino. We played volleyball, ate good food, and just celebrated together. I spent the night there because Shelah didn’t think I should have to sleep alone on Christmas. In the morning we got up and all went to the mall for lunch and then Lino and I stayed because we saw the Hopsons who were heading to see Madagascar 2. We watched the movie and then went home and played more volleyball. Those were the best two days of my entire break.
I was able to Skype quite a bit, which was nice. I love reconnecting with you all. I wish I had more time to do that, but alas school has begun again as of yesterday. I can’t believe that it’s the first week and I’m already booked up everyday after school with some thing or another. I have a new student and by next Monday I should have three more new students. Yesterday was an interesting start to the semester. I’m not a fan of having to re-teach my rules and that, but it must be done. I’ve started teaching an elective for the high school students. I teach it three days a week when my kids are away at one of their specials. It’s really time consuming to teach the high school class, but I think it will be good for my ministry in the long run. Since I’m teaching while my kids are gone, three of my breaks are gone each week. Heritage has a new guy who’s coming in to help teach social studies in the high school and he’s also going to teach my social studies class. It’s a huge blessing and I’m really excited for that to be taken from me.
Something exciting about the first day back at school… Lino was able to come back! I was able to spend almost everyday with him and his family over break and it’s been quite a battle because he is still having seizures and passing out. Luckily they seem to be getting his medicine under control and it’s been a few days since he’s had a seizure. Please keep praying for this special young man. It cannot be good to have as many seizures as he’s had in the past two months. Please pray that they can regulate his medicine and that he can stay at school all semester without any more problems. Pray for his self esteem because I think he’s nervous to be back at school and around so many people. He is still dealing with depression too; and he’s nervous that he’ll have a seizure in front of everyone at school. He wants to succeed and he really wants to complete school so please remember him. Please pray for his overall health and well-being. I’ve really grown to love him and his family dearly. When my time comes to head home, leaving Lino will be incredibly difficult. My main ministry has been ministering and counseling this kid for the past two months.
Moving on… my friend, Francis is an amazing musician (also the music teacher at Heritage). He is the leader of a worship band/group called Studio 10. They had their first worship night a few weeks ago and it was awesome! I made and ran a power point for the evening, and even with that task which can really be a distraction, I was able to draw nearer to the Lord. Francis has been a really good friend lately and I’m lucky to know him. He’s one of those people that can pick up any instrument and play it well in a few weeks time. He’s a songwriter and he has an amazing voice too. It’s super intimidating to be around someone like that because it’s so easy to feel inferior, but I think I like the challenge.
So anyways I just found out that my return to the States will be on June 17th. I’m having some mixed feelings about coming back already simply because of the great friendships and relationships I’m building here. Please know that I really am missing you all terribly in spite of that. ☺ It’s weird to think that June 17th is in just 5 months.
I’m excited that my discipleship group with the ladies from KIU will be starting back up again soon. They’ll all be back from their break at home in Kenya. What else? I’m looking forward to traveling up north to Arua soon. Nick is ministering up there now, so it’ll be cool to see the dynamics there. He’s got some really cool opportunities opening up for him right now and I can’t wait to see where they go. Nick gets to go home to the States this weekend to see his sister who is having a baby. I’m going to try to give him some stuff to bring home and mail for me, which will be nice. He’ll fly into Chicago and then also be in the Marion/Indianapolis and Atlanta area until the end of the month.
Another rainy season is supposedly beginning soon. The weather is still really hot, but I like the days when it rains because it cools down a little in the afternoon time and the classroom isn’t nearly as hot.
Other things about life here…
Well the justice system isn’t always very just. It is actually easier and better to bribe a cop than to go to the station. Now, if you’ve actually done something to warrant going to the police station, plan on being there for hours and hours at a time. And you won’t just have to go once to fill out a report, no, you’ll have to go multiple times.
What else? Oh, sometimes people walk in front of moving vehicles just to make some money. BUT because of the very likely possibility of mob justice you should NEVER stop when you’re in an accident… especially a single girl, alone, in the dark. So hit and runs are fairly frequent here, probably a daily occurrence actually. It’s quite sad really.
Oh! I just recently watched the documentary Invisible Children. Please, please, please take the time to find this and rent it. I’m sure it can be found at places like Blockbuster. It was made by three young guys just looking for a story to tell. They wanted to go into Southern Sudan and film all of the stuff happening there, but on their way there they found something just as dismal as the situation in Sudan. In Northern Uganda in the Kitgum area there are thousands and thousands of refugees, mainly children who have escaped from the LRA. These are some of the kids that I deal with daily. Lino escaped from the LRA. Please watch this documentary. I really think it will help you see and understand why I am so passionate about being here and working with these youth.
As far as my prayer letter going out by the first of January, yeah that didn’t happen. BUT I’m working on it and getting the input of others. It should be going out soon. I really think of you all often and miss you much. Your prayers and support are still felt and necessary. Be well friends!
I was able to Skype quite a bit, which was nice. I love reconnecting with you all. I wish I had more time to do that, but alas school has begun again as of yesterday. I can’t believe that it’s the first week and I’m already booked up everyday after school with some thing or another. I have a new student and by next Monday I should have three more new students. Yesterday was an interesting start to the semester. I’m not a fan of having to re-teach my rules and that, but it must be done. I’ve started teaching an elective for the high school students. I teach it three days a week when my kids are away at one of their specials. It’s really time consuming to teach the high school class, but I think it will be good for my ministry in the long run. Since I’m teaching while my kids are gone, three of my breaks are gone each week. Heritage has a new guy who’s coming in to help teach social studies in the high school and he’s also going to teach my social studies class. It’s a huge blessing and I’m really excited for that to be taken from me.
Something exciting about the first day back at school… Lino was able to come back! I was able to spend almost everyday with him and his family over break and it’s been quite a battle because he is still having seizures and passing out. Luckily they seem to be getting his medicine under control and it’s been a few days since he’s had a seizure. Please keep praying for this special young man. It cannot be good to have as many seizures as he’s had in the past two months. Please pray that they can regulate his medicine and that he can stay at school all semester without any more problems. Pray for his self esteem because I think he’s nervous to be back at school and around so many people. He is still dealing with depression too; and he’s nervous that he’ll have a seizure in front of everyone at school. He wants to succeed and he really wants to complete school so please remember him. Please pray for his overall health and well-being. I’ve really grown to love him and his family dearly. When my time comes to head home, leaving Lino will be incredibly difficult. My main ministry has been ministering and counseling this kid for the past two months.
Moving on… my friend, Francis is an amazing musician (also the music teacher at Heritage). He is the leader of a worship band/group called Studio 10. They had their first worship night a few weeks ago and it was awesome! I made and ran a power point for the evening, and even with that task which can really be a distraction, I was able to draw nearer to the Lord. Francis has been a really good friend lately and I’m lucky to know him. He’s one of those people that can pick up any instrument and play it well in a few weeks time. He’s a songwriter and he has an amazing voice too. It’s super intimidating to be around someone like that because it’s so easy to feel inferior, but I think I like the challenge.
So anyways I just found out that my return to the States will be on June 17th. I’m having some mixed feelings about coming back already simply because of the great friendships and relationships I’m building here. Please know that I really am missing you all terribly in spite of that. ☺ It’s weird to think that June 17th is in just 5 months.
I’m excited that my discipleship group with the ladies from KIU will be starting back up again soon. They’ll all be back from their break at home in Kenya. What else? I’m looking forward to traveling up north to Arua soon. Nick is ministering up there now, so it’ll be cool to see the dynamics there. He’s got some really cool opportunities opening up for him right now and I can’t wait to see where they go. Nick gets to go home to the States this weekend to see his sister who is having a baby. I’m going to try to give him some stuff to bring home and mail for me, which will be nice. He’ll fly into Chicago and then also be in the Marion/Indianapolis and Atlanta area until the end of the month.
Another rainy season is supposedly beginning soon. The weather is still really hot, but I like the days when it rains because it cools down a little in the afternoon time and the classroom isn’t nearly as hot.
Other things about life here…
Well the justice system isn’t always very just. It is actually easier and better to bribe a cop than to go to the station. Now, if you’ve actually done something to warrant going to the police station, plan on being there for hours and hours at a time. And you won’t just have to go once to fill out a report, no, you’ll have to go multiple times.
What else? Oh, sometimes people walk in front of moving vehicles just to make some money. BUT because of the very likely possibility of mob justice you should NEVER stop when you’re in an accident… especially a single girl, alone, in the dark. So hit and runs are fairly frequent here, probably a daily occurrence actually. It’s quite sad really.
Oh! I just recently watched the documentary Invisible Children. Please, please, please take the time to find this and rent it. I’m sure it can be found at places like Blockbuster. It was made by three young guys just looking for a story to tell. They wanted to go into Southern Sudan and film all of the stuff happening there, but on their way there they found something just as dismal as the situation in Sudan. In Northern Uganda in the Kitgum area there are thousands and thousands of refugees, mainly children who have escaped from the LRA. These are some of the kids that I deal with daily. Lino escaped from the LRA. Please watch this documentary. I really think it will help you see and understand why I am so passionate about being here and working with these youth.
As far as my prayer letter going out by the first of January, yeah that didn’t happen. BUT I’m working on it and getting the input of others. It should be going out soon. I really think of you all often and miss you much. Your prayers and support are still felt and necessary. Be well friends!
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