Well… today is basically the last day of school because tomorrow is a half-day. My kids had a field trip with their French teacher to an “amusement park” right up the road. I went to that for a little while with them, but then I came back to school for lunch with the high schoolers. Everyday for the past few months I’ve played basketball with the 9th grade boys. It keeps them out of trouble and I genuinely love each of them. Plus, Lino is a 9th grader so hanging out with him is always good. Evgeni is a 7th grader, but he holds his own out there. Anyways, two of the boys are always in trouble here, most of the teachers think that they are hopeless and will never change. I get along with them real well. They’re just goofy, troublemakers looking for a laugh. The ladies love them and they’re just fun. The teachers though… are gunning for these guys. So I decided, in order to keep them out of trouble and also to let them know that not everyone thinks the same of them, I ball with them. A lot of times it’s just silly games with a lot of trash-talking, but it’s a time that I’ve come to cherish. I never laugh more at school than when I’m on the court with these 7 guys. I left the field trip with my students early so that I could come back and play ball with them one more time.
I’ve been up and down about leaving lately. Today I’m down because I’m so sad to not hang out with these guys anymore. Being at an International school means that people come and go all the time. A lot of the guys won’t even be in Uganda next year. Somehow, it’s sad to me. I hope that they remember these times when someone wasn’t judgmental and just really wanted to love on them and hang out with them. I hope I was that person for them this year.
My mind is jumbled… I just took another basketball break in between writing this. Being the last day, no one did what they should have been doing, so we spent last hour, me and Lino playing basketball.
It is so insane to think that this year is over. Yeah, it’s been a loooooong year for me because teaching hasn’t been the best, but I already know that I wouldn’t trade the time I’ve spent here for anything. I’ve grown and learned so much this year, not just about the job, but about myself and the way I act in different situations. I’m going to miss being a part of Heritage International School. Notice I didn’t say I was going to miss teaching?? Well the truth is I AM going to miss teaching. Maybe not the day-to-day stuff, but making a difference in the lives of students is a huge deal. Its so strange to think about the fact that I’m a teacher.
Anyways, blah, blah, blah. I haven’t updated in a while because I’ve been unsure about too many things to write a decent update. I now know that I’m going home on June 17th and staying home for a while. Yes, I’m disappointed that I won’t be back at the school in August, but I think it’s going to be good to make some long-term decisions. I have some options when planning my return here, but I also have some options as far as life in America goes. I’m thinking about grad school or seminary a bit. We’ll see I suppose.
I do know that I’m pumped to see everyone and ready to hug my nieces.
I have about 3 weeks left here and there’s so much I want to do, but I’m overwhelmed trying to figure out how to do it all in that amount of time. So many people are leaving from the mission that it’s just going to be me and about 4 other people from WGM around after Monday. Lino is leaving on the 4th to do some work and travel around Uganda with Refuge & Hope. Luckily, he gets back about a day before I leave on the 17th. I am NOT looking forward to telling him goodbye. It’s actually a bit too sad to even write about right now. I’m going to miss that kid like crazy. He’s become like a brother to me.
Well as I’m finishing this up the crew is here to clean my classroom. After tomorrow… it’s not my classroom. Weird! I’m hoping to update again soon. Can’t wait to see you all. Much love!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Africa
Africa by Paul Coleman Trio
I came to change you but instead you changed me
And I confess I came to frame you in a photograph
But you showed me why
And you turned this heart around
And I see your smile how it can be
So much brighter than me
And your silent eyes they scream
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Africa
Africa
We smiled at you from behind the glass
And without reserve and whiter than snow
You smiled back at us
And you showed me who
And you turned this mind around
And I see your hands reach out to God
So much higher than ours
And your silent eyes they scream
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Africa
//Afrika mimi naku penda//
I came to change you but instead you changed me
And I confess I came to frame you in a photograph
But you showed me why
And you turned this heart around
And I see your smile how it can be
So much brighter than me
And your silent eyes they scream
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Africa
Africa
We smiled at you from behind the glass
And without reserve and whiter than snow
You smiled back at us
And you showed me who
And you turned this mind around
And I see your hands reach out to God
So much higher than ours
And your silent eyes they scream
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Africa
//Afrika mimi naku penda//
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Kenya dig it?
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
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
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.
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