Pulling teeth... independence... and a longer stay?

Well, I am up early this morning. I have been awake since 7 (super early for Ugandans) and have failed to get back to sleep. Friday nights are also super loud in the city... so I'm thinking the Lord is preparing me to sleep well out in the village tonight! It has been very difficult for me to sleep out there and so maybe I will be completely exhausted by this evening...

This weekend with the boys out in Bombo I am going to get one-on-one time to interview them all! I am so excited. Uncle Peter is going to help me ask each of the boys two questions: 1. What are 2 things that you are really good at? and 2. What is something you have learned here at the home that you will never forget? I am really hoping to get into their hearts a little more with that second question. These videos are to send to their school sponsors. I will choose some that really stand out to me and post them on my blog at the beginning of next week (since I don't take my computer out to the Land) or I will give you all the think to the API website when I upload them there. I am really excited to get this special time with all of the boys... it will be good to get to learn a little more about them. : )  and thanks to Allen Pointer's criticism in Japan, I know to keep videos turn horizontal at all times! haha...

Well, I am becoming a little more independent here in Uganda, which is something that makes me feel so good. At first, I didn't want Abby or any of the uncles to ever leave my side.. but I can now get my own boda-boda and ride to the street program and back home all by myself! That might not seem like much to you, but I feel very independent! And I even know that the fair price would be 2,000 shillings, so when they try to barter up to  3,000 (very common to do that here) I can stand firm and let them know that I am aware that they are trying to cheat a naive mizungu and I won't give in! Makes me feel good. :)

Speaking of independence, I think Uncle David is really trying to get me to that point very quickly. He asked me to take a young boy to the dentist the other day. We took bodas there and then he left me! He said that the Java's restaurant I am familiar with was very near and I could walk there and get a boda boda or just walk the rest of the way home. MY GOODNESS! He just left me! haha.. 

So I stayed with a young man, Moses, in the dentist's office (while another patient was lying in the chair receiving treatment) and they numbed him up, then pulled out that giant tooth! Gosh. You know, I have noticed something while doing first aid at the street kids (SK) program. When Auntie Heidi( a precious new friend from England that is here for 2 years living in a boys home) and I put hydrogen peroxide on their wounds, each kid usually reacts in one of two ways. 1. they make the worst looking face in the world, bite their lip, maybe run away, and just act like it is the deepest stinging pain in the world! or 2. they act like nothing has happened. It is interesting... Heidi and I were talking about it just yesterday.. It is like they are dying for attention and overreact for the love and affection or they are so used to pain that they can just deal with it. Abby told me that once in the dentist office a boy refused the numbing shot!... To get a tooth pulled! and he did nothing during the extraction. The young boy just sat there as they cracked and yanked out his paining tooth. Can you imagine? Goodness. Anyway, my young Moses did fine. He was hurting and very nervous at first.. I told him that I had 4 teeth removed before I came to Uganda (wisdom teeth, thank you Dr. Bratton!) but he still seemed very nervous.. but he did fine.

After they pulled them they gave him 2 different types of meds he needed to take 3 times a day each. I hate it when they give the kiddos meds. I mean, I know that they need them and it is to help the boys out, but I fear they often lose the meds, the meds get stolen in the middle of the night, they boys might try to take them all at once because of their drug abuse, but the boys also don't have solid meals and clean drinking water on a regular basis. They get 3 meals a week from us on MWF and then some get a meal at certain churches on Sundays.. but that is not sufficient for being on medication.. however, I talked it over with little Moses and was actually very confident that he would try and find something to eat or drink for them and that he would take them at the right times. 

Moses understands English so well and he is my special little man that gives me little gifts and lots of love. I have now collected 3 small beaded bracelets from him that are hanging on my bag and wallet. He understands English more than most of the boys and wants to learn more and more. He is always reading signs to me and different papers that he finds around the slum. He has a special place in my heart, and I continue to pray that if it is the Lord's will, Moses may be able to take the trip out to Bombo with us some weekend and have a forever home! He has told David that he has a home, but they practice witchcraft and it makes him very dizzy and uncomfortable. So, he admits that he could go home and get off of the streets, but it is so bad that he just doesn't want to go home.


So anyway, if you will join me in praying for Moses that would be wonderful. The Lord has really put him on my heart. 


And just for a quick update, the young 14 year old boy, Kato, that I spent time with in the hospital, is doing so well! Every time I see him he gives me a hug and has a huge smile on his face! He has also been dressed so "smart", as they say here. He's been wearing nice clean jeans, a button-down shirt, and nice tennis shoes as well! (all donated by the woman who helped me arrange food for him in the hospital, Rose) It is great to see how much better he is feeling and I love having that connection with him now! I will try and get a picture soon for you!


Well, I have one more thing I would appreciate you joining me in prayer about. As most of you know, I resigned my teaching position at Dardanelle last November or so, which means I do not have a job or any demands for returning home. Except, one of my most dear friends in the world, Elizabeth Smith, will be getting married September 15th .. and I do NOT want to miss that wedding that she and I have prayed for together for so long. What a wonderful couple for the Lord they will be! SOOOO, my return flight as of now is 1 month away, August 1st. At this point in time, it is difficult for me to think of investing in these lives for only 1 month more and then leaving them! The Lord has blessed me with an incredible team to work with and has given me the gifts that fit perfectly at the moment. (organization and tedious administrative work that Abby hates, but is a necessity to keeping API afloat)...I enjoy being used by the Lord here in Kampala.

So, with that being said, I am praying about extending my stay for an additional month. I do not want to do it if there is something else the Lord desires for me, so I am asking that you join me in prayer. I love the team, and David and Abby say they would be thrilled to have me stay, but I just want to make sure it is what the Lord wants and not just an "emotional high" decision. It wouldn't require much of me to stay. Just have to pay for rent for an additional month and then food and personal hygiene products for another 5 weeks. So honestly.. it would be pretty easy-cheesy. I feel so used by God here in Uganda and it is so fulfilling to be where I feel I can be used...Not that I wasn't being used in the classroom, but I just really feel comfortable working with the aunties and uncles here and with the street boys.       I fit.     So we will see.. it was funny, I was talking with Uncle Abdul yesterday as we were walking with Moses after the SK program.. he looked at little Moses, who wanted to escort me to my restaurant, and said, "Moses... we need to pray that if God wants Auntie Lauren to stay, that He will show her that He does. That she can stay with us for a long time and help us for a long time. And if she's going to stay, that people from her home will sponsor her so she can! Will you be my partner and pray with me that she can stay and will have sponsors?" haha.. Moses said, "Yes! I will pray! In the morning when I wake up, at night when I go to bed! I pray she can stay for 1 year!"


So there ya have it... we shall see where the Lord leads. I know He will. He lead me DIRECTLY to David and Abby! I had no doubt I was supposed to be contributing to API this summer.. we will see what comes next.


I leave with you a picture of my precious Moses and Uncel Abdul (i think you've seen them before, but who cares!)

Sweet Moses enjoying the ice cream that we were able to
provide with the money a precious person from church
donated JUST as I was praying about our break-in!

Uncle Abdul is kind of a goober.. I'll get a
serious picture one day of all of the uncles! And yes,
he's wearing a beanie! He had a scarf and beanie on
yesterday because he was cold, no joke.

"The abject poverty juxtaposed on to our opulence."

"If I am reading well you are experiencing the intoxication of the African continent. So, much and so little. The dirt that once disgusts seeps into your pores and somehow transforms you into being a part of that soil and her people. The abject poverty juxtaposed on to our opulence. The "simpleness" of life and the complexity of living for those to whom you have been called. You will never be able to un-see what you have seen, or un-smell the smells. Forever you will feel a little 14 year old boy sleeping on your lap, his life teetering on the edge of despair as much as yours has rested in the safety and security of a place called home. If you wrestle, like I do, of whether you have ever done anything significant in your life. You pinned that one to the mat, what you are doing is not just an adventure it is changing lives...including yours. I have this notion that the Father several times in recent weeks has leaned over and winked and said...that's my girl Lauren. Thanks for the blogs and I will keep on praying."


That was written to me from a dear, dear friend who once spent many years in East Africa and dies to return each day, but the Lord has called him back to the states. And the Lord is using this man incredibly every single day! Even though that man is way too humble to admit it. Anyway, it was a beautiful way to put being in Africa and a great encouragement...


So, I don't have any big stories to share in this post... just thoughts and emotions to share. I haven't done that much, so I figured I would with this opportunity.

Okay, well, I do have one thing to tell you! Soooo there was this girl that I knew in college... she was one of those naturally beautiful girls on the outside and who also oozed of the Father's beauty from the inside... I knew her from college and working at Camp War Eagle for several summers. She was a young lady that was my age, but I felt well exceeded me in wisdom. The girl that I DIED to be friends with, but we just never really crossed paths. So I admired her from a distance. Well, not too long ago, strangely enough, I saw that she was spending time in Sudan this summer! Last Spring she became engaged to a man that is working with digging wells in Africa (i'm pretty sure this is right..) and so she has come this summer to visit him and discover what their lives will look like in Africa! I have been keeping up with their blog and she shared a post about cooking! She taught the locals how to make fried okra! And you know what I taught Abby and the ladies today? How to make fried okra! haha... Well, yesterday she posted that she will be coming to Kampala for certain reasons of her fiance's!! So I wrote her a short message and we are hoping to connect tomorrow or Friday if possible. here is her blog if you are a blog junkie or if you just want something to look at. She is absolutely incredible and an excellent read!


Soo... there are a few times where I have had different emotions lately. I'll just be raw and share about them. Sorry I'm not a big eloquent speaker with great intellectual depth... I greatly appreciate that in others.. probably because I am lacking myself. So here it goes..

On Fridays Abby and I buy jewelry from the ladies. The money they get from us purchasing their jewelry is partially cashed and taken at that moment, and partially saved. They are forced to save each week. Some women have saved up to 1 million shillings ($400) and some about 600,000 ($240) shillings total so far. Both of those amounts are absolutely incredible for women who used to service men from their homes on a daily basis, no?

Well here is my struggle... Abby has taught them for 2 years now to make good quality products. They have changed different parts of the headbands, earrings, necklaces throughout the program to make it a better product. She has stressed to them that if they don't have good products, people will stop going to their shops and stop purchasing their items. Well, before we buy what they have created each week, we inspect the jewelry. Are the headbands too tight? Are their loose strands? Do the necklaces have two strings running through them? Are they straight? Are they long enough? Etc.... well, it absolutely KILLS me to tell these women that their product isn't good.

Now last week was even more difficult because we were automatically only purchasing half of some of the women's work because they hadn't completed their homework assignment the Wednesday of that week *which is a blessing because abby used to refuse to buy ALL of their jewelry if they didn't turn in homework..* I absolutely HATE going from lady to lady and having to reject some of their jewelry because of a lack of quality, and then even cut our purchase in half because of a lack of assignments. Now, I am a just person. And I can be objective: if it isn't a good product, and I know they can do better, then I won't take it. I have that side of me. I was a teacher. I could tell my students that I expected better writing from them when I knew they were capable. And that is how it is with these women. They have been told over, and over, and over, and over what is a good product and part of it can be laziness sometimes... and so I can easily say "This is not right. It is not acceptable. We are not going to buy this from you today and sell it to women in the states." HOWEVER, can you imagine looking into their eyes of sadness and desperation? Women of 3, 4, or 5 children. Who NEED that money to buy food, clothing, pay bills, and even buy more beads to make more jewelry. Their bodies just become deflated when we reject jewelry. I know we are teaching them.. but it is so hard to do that. I do not look forward to it this next week... it is such a difficult thing for me.. especially as I become closer and closer to these women... I love them dearly, and want them to have good skills.. but I hate looking into those sad eyes of disappointment ....

Now with the boys... behavior management. Although I resigned my teaching position, it will always be a part of me, I know! And I feel it in the street program. These boys can be so rude... and they mock my "stop it". I try to be loving and yet firm.. but it is such a difficult balance. I do not have a final authority ... there is no "principal" of the slum... these boys have no authority that they feel in their lives except themselves.. and the uncles.. but I'm not an uncle. So when they are acting inappropriately, or fighting with each other... it is so hard to just let it go. These boys need overflowing buckets of grace and love. That will get to them. They have been rebuked and punished in horrible ways... but never loved. Love will speak volumes... but it is becoming more difficult for me to want to help them make better choices now that I am a bit more established at Auntie Lauren... I just pray for grace, mercy, and love. I do try to ignore the poor behavior and just not respond to them at all... but when they are sweet and kind I shower them with extra love and attention... but the teacher inside of me wants to be able to make them behave... although I can't... goodness... I just keep praying for grace and wisdom. please join me in that prayer.


Okay... so I'm off to bed hopefully. I'm already in my bed.. just going to relax and try to sleep.. after my one last trip to the restroom. I try to avoid at all costs having to get up in the middle of the night.. i hate the mosquito net... haha. tuck, untuck, retuck... ugh. no fun.

I will try to get more pictures and good stories in the next post... thought some of my audience might enjoy these thoughts though..

Love you all. Every time someone responds it encourages me more and more! Thank you for your constant prayers! Love.

Blessings and Those That Are Currently in Disguise!

Well, as I mentioned before, I have been working on a list of wonderful blessings... and then those things that must be blessing, just simply in disguise. haha. : )

First just a quick, fyi. It is Thursday, almost 12noon, and I have finished typing up some updates on our boys that live out in the homes in Bombo (the village that I visit on the weekends). Some of the responses are so funny, insightful, or just simply encouraging. I will post some of my favorites at the end of this update.. they are definitely considered blessings. I hope you enjoy them!

Yesterday was Wednesday. It was a pretty uneventful day, honestly. I woke up and headed off to the women's program. It was kind of difficult because some of the women did not complete this week's homework assignment: Who is the target audience of your business? How will you advertise for your business? And how much will it cost? Some of the women had INCREDIBLE responses! Creative and often free! However, some women did not turn in their assignment, which means they will either not be able to sell jewelry to me and Abby this Friday, or they will only receive 1/2 the wages of their jewelry. Upsetting for the ladies, but I absolutely adore and respect Abby for keeping them accountable and teaching them discipline. They are going to do so well! And I am continually growing more and more proud of them!

After the Women's Program is the Street Kids Program. As I mentioned before, last weekend our storage unit was broken into and many things stollen. I posted on Facebook how I was praying about contributing to the financial needs of restocking the storage unit with food and clothing for the boys.. and WHAT A BLESSING!! My mom told me the following Monday that someone at church had put money in the offering designated towards my trip! I decided that it was the Lord telling me to help with the resupply. When Abby told David how much I was going to contribute, he screamed for joy!!! haha... it was so encouraging! (money goes so much further here in Uganda...) I told her that I wanted it to go towards the food and clothing and then they may use the rest towards what they think would be good for the boys (special treats, medical bills, resettling expenses) And as a treat, the boys all enjoyed ice cream yesterday afternoon!! Abby took some pictures for me because I was doing medical. So fun!! They were sooooo excited when the ice cream man pulled up on his bicycle! Enjoy these pictures!

Yummy!

Having fun!

He carries a bag of cups and cones.. as well
as an ice chest with the ice cream in it all on his bike!

haha.. just a sweet picture.

 Ice Cream Time!!!!!!!

Waiting for the yumminess!

 BLESSINGS in Uganda (in no particular order)
1.  Boda Boda taxi rides! I have already posted the video on Facebook.. such a rush! and a chance to get a cool breeze as you ride!

2. The API team... I mentioned this briefly before, but I have been blessed with such an amazing team to join this summer. The men and women are incredible. It is great to be working with people my age, with my same passion and heart for serving the young children of Uganda! It is so refreshing and encouraging. And as I have stated before, I absolutely adore David and Abby. They are an incredible couple.. please see the last post for my short bragging on them! The uncles at the SK program are great. They have energy when needed, compassion, and structure as well. They sing songs, teach them lessons, love on them, mend their many wounds, and just feed them in so many ways.

Uncle Abby! Energy and Passion!
The Lord has given him a gift
and the boys respect him so much!

Uncle Eddy... quiet, supportive, stern, love.

Uncle Abby teaching a lesson
on abbreviations!

 And out at Bombo the uncles are so kind and compassionate as well. Loving hands and hearts to teach the boys the love and serve our Father. And the Aunties who are so kind to cook and clean for the boys as well. Goodness, the Lord's design of a Body of Christ here on Earth is so incredibly fulfilled in this team. What an amazing group to be working with! I am humbled and blessed!

3. Nakato and Kamara! Nakato is David's younger sister. She is 20. She lives with me here at the VH. She cooks for me, cleans my clothes, and cleans my bathroom and rooms. She is soooo precious and sweet and I absolutely adore her for everything. I hope she gets tired of me expressing my gratitude. I try to tell her every chance I get and also try to help her with some of the things around the house. Kamara (pronounced Kamala) is our body guard! He moved to the city from Bombo to live with us. He sleeps outside every evening and checks on anything we are nervous about. He also walked and brought me a huge box of bottled water and some milk just this morning. He always has a smile on his face and is just a blessing!

4. Morning Breeze! No joke, I wake up cold here. I remember times living at Camp War Eagle in the summers of college and I went to bed sweating and woke up sweating. The weather here is lovely and I actually changed into some yoga pants this morning because I was chilly. The breeze is such a blessing!

5. The beauty. I have posted pictures of how beautiful my home is, and every weekend it is a beautiful drive out to bombo! The trees, flowers, mountains! Goodness, it is lovely.

My precious Moses.

6. "Auntie Lawrence" haha!! The boys are used to Uncle Lawrence.. but have never heard the name Lauren. Soooo many of them call me Auntie Lawrence. It cracks me up. Now, there is one boy who does it on purpose.. he is just joking with me.. I ignore him until he says it correctly... we have a good time with it. :)

7. Moses... he is one of the street kids. He is precious and loving. He loves to learn academic and I love teaching him how to read little labels and things. He is absolutely precious. On Monday he gave me his craft project, a beaded bracelet. I showed him yesterday, Wednesday, that I still had it and kept it with me. He said, "on Friday, I will bring you something special!" I can't wait for that little sunshine. He is precious. Here is a picture of him with his ice cream!

8. Health... well, up until yesterday, I had felt perfectly healthy! After visiting Uruguay in High School, I had to break my addiction to Pepto! haha.. and I have heard many people get sick when they first begin eating the African food, but I have been blessed with good health. No headaches, no stomach aches (until yesterday) and I have been feeling good! Thank the Lord!

9. Birds that I heard in the morning and sound just like monkeys! Cracks me up. I just imagine they are monkeys anyway and it is fun. Nakato laughs at me for it. :)

10. Natural sunlight. Because electricity is so sketchy, we have windows everywhere! I love the natural sunlight each day.

11. No mosquitoes! I live in the city.. there are some mosquitoes, but the bites are few! So good.

12. Chacos. Those of you that have them, know what I mean. I can't imagine wearing anything else. They are sturdy and wonderful for all the walking I have to do here!

13. Cafe Javas. A restaurant close to the VH that serves American food, for a good price, with A/C, and WONDERFUL customer service! I have had two col, chicken salad sandwiches from them with french fries and an incredibly large brownie ice cream sundae! It is great.

14. Slow Pace... everything here is slow-paced, which actually is great sometimes. Walking up the huge hills isn't so bad with the slow pace! and not having to be anywhere until 10am is awesome too!

Okay... Now here are the things that will be blessings someday I am sure.. but for now, not so much!

1.Laundry. I love that Nakato does it for me, but it still comes back to me smelling like dried sweat. :/ I have used lots of my febreeze spray... but still, it is gross.

2. Heat... even though the mornings are lovely, it is still very hot outside when walking around. And the Ugandan food is almost always hot and warm. So heavy too. Not my favorite. that is why I enjoy my trips to Java's for cold food!

3. Cold showers... yup... always... freezing cold... and coming from a spout that I splash all over. eeck.

4. Simply being dirty all the time. Walking around and sweating all day when I am out is just horrible.

5. Ants in the kitchen. I will never get used to these GIANT ants that are in our kitchen all the time... or found crawling on the bread when you are pulling it out of the bag... but we just whack them off and continue on..

6. Filthy Squatty Potties out in public. Nasty... disgusting... and horrible. Thankful to keep my wet wipes in my purse with me AT ALL TIMES. And simply try not to drink so much when planning on going out. (however, Java's has a beautifully nice restroom!)

7. Slow service everywhere... except Java's... but a slow pace, means slow service.. buying minutes for the phone, exchanging money, at the grocery store.. everything is slow... drives me crazy sometimes.

Okay... I will post the boys' responses tomorrow maybe because this, once again, has turned into such a long post... I hope you are looking forward to it! The boys out in Bombo homes are growing so much and it is just wonderful to read their testimonies!


Love to you all. Again, if you have read all the way, I thank you! Your comments on Facebook are always so very encouraging to me!

Blessings, Boys, and Baptisms!

Well, it is just before 8 am Tuesday morning and no one is up and moving here at the VH (Volunteer House). Nakato and Kamala are both still sleeping soundly, and I'm not quite ready to be out and about, so I figured this would be a great time for me to open the curtains and write an update. Imagine me in my room, under the misquito net, sitting on my bed with horrible hair and a slight sunburn. : / But also add to that the wonderful noises of crazy birds coming through the windows. Birds that even sound like monkeys sometimes, no joke! The cars have yet to start honking and it is quite peaceful... Haha... Life is good. And today will be good.

Today is David and Abby's day off.... I hope all of you know who I am speaking of when I say "David and Abby". If not, here is a link to their blog. They are the founders of A Perfect Injustice and are incredible! I have absolutely adored both of them. David is such a caring soul. He loves music and joking around. He gets along great with the boys and is an incredible leader to everyone. Oh, and he grew up here in Uganda. His precious wife, Abby, is who came from Phoenix when she was 19 and was convinced the Lord wanted her to live here. She is a strong, confident woman who accomplishes so much for the Kingdom each day. The Lord places incredible dreams on her heart, she commits to being a woman of prayer, and then she does everything in her power to fulfill them for the sake of the women and young boys she is serving. They are an INCREDIBLE couple that I love to work with. Here is the link to the organization's blog.

I don't have too many events and things to update you on, so I am going to give you a rundown of what's been going on and then give you my list of things that are blessings here in Uganda and things that are surely blessings in disguise. :)

So, last weekend got off to a rough start. Saturday morning we found out that the storage unit for our Street Boys Program was broken into. I asked uncle Lawrence (he does all of the cooking for us and has such an incredible servants heart!) and he said it was some older boys from the streets that probably did it. For those of you that are wondering, YES, it had a large padlock and is always locked when our uncles aren't around. But if they desire it strongly enough, the older boys are able to get in. They stole all of the food that we use to serve our boys (a generous serving of rice, beans, and fruit for about 30 boys), they stole all of the clothes that the team last week bought (we give to new boys who desperately need them, or boys that are about to be resettled with their family so they can look nice). However, they did not take our medical supplies or crafts items. The food and clothing was most valuable and that is what was taken. I had been praying about helping to replenish the supply of food. Uncle Lawrence seemed so disheartened yesterday at the program. He gave me the traditional Ugandan response of "I'm fine" when I asked how he was, but I just sensed that his heart was saddened. I asked him how much the food was worth, thinking maybe I could help out, and he said that the supply he had bought that morning to restock was about 300,000 shillings. This is about $120. WELL, I called my mom yesterday evening and she said someone from church designated some offering to my trip. The amount more than covers restocking some food!!!!! The Lord answered my prayers! I'm going sometime today to the ATM and will withdraw the money and give it to David & Abby or Uncle Lawrence. I'd love to give it to Uncle Lawrence myself and share with him the story of the Lord's faithfulness in the timing of the offering, but we will see.

Okay, next thing to share! One of the main goals of our Street Programme with the boys in the slum is to resettle them with their parents. We try so hard to get them to go home. There are many reasons why they run away or end up on the streets: want a life of "freedom", are told it will be better in Kampala where they can get a job, their parents beat them, their parents kick them out, etc. and some simply get lost while in town and cannot reconnect with their parents (this surprised me the most) Well, our thoughts here at API are that the children need to be off their streets where they are beaten and abused, and they need to be back home with their parents. So we try to resettle. However, some boys are rejected when we take them home. Their parents will scream and yell and tell us to take them away. There is nobody at home that loves them. This was the case for 2 of our boys in the program, Reagen and Solomon. Well PRAISE THE LORD!!! We were able to take these boys out to our Forever Home in Bombo last weekend! David & Abby had been praying about it and felt the Lord's peace. So last week we took them with us out to the village and they are now living in a home with an Uncle who loves and cares for them and Momma Joyce (David's mother) who loves and cares for them. They will have clean clothes, food, medical treatment, and schooling! They will also be taught self-discipline, respect, responsibility, and be given counseling when needed. I am absolutely thrilled! Here is a picture of Solomon just minutes after being at his new home!

Solomon!

Later that evening we had a big party at the younger boys' home, where they will be staying, and it was a blast! Abby brought one of her famous multi-colored cakes. I have now seen I believe 4 of these in the last week. Bright pink cake with bright blue frosting! Haha.. and sodas all around! It was a blast. PLEASE PRAY for these boys... many times they may get upset about chores and responsibilities, or simply not be able to handle being in the home for one reason or another and they choose to run away. Please pray that the boys fall in love with their new family and settle well. I am excited to go back and see how they are doing at the end of this week!

We had a party celebrating the new boys at our home! We celebrated with cake and sodas!

At church Sunday morning several of our boys were baptized! It was incredible! Here are some pictures and a video of one of the women so you can get a feel for it!...If you want to see more pictures of things.. here is a link to my facebook photo album...The two pastors you see baptizing the children are from Texas. They come visit this village church often and bring teams. Their team actually built this baptistry that we are using here!

Ibra getting ready to go in!

Wonderful Paul accepted Christ this day and then was baptized!

After being baptized, they stand over in an area praying and giving praise. There are three of our boys..

A view from the side...

Two of our boys waiting to be baptized!

Umar feeling so happy to be baptized!

Our new Reagen after coming out of the water!

 

So... then we went home, ate, played LOTS of futbol of course, and then it was time to head back to the city. The next day (yesterday) we continue with our women in the Ladies program, which I can now travel to by myself! and a good time with our boys at the street program.

I was given the opportunity to go with Uncle Abdul (Abby, we call him) to take 5 boys to the slum's health clinic. These five boys showed up in our program after being missing for a while. You won't believe what I am about to tell you! They were at a place, pardon me for not remembering the name, that is referred to as a "rehabilitation center" for youths. However, I came to find out it is more like a prison for the youth. If boys are found on the streets by the police, they can often be rounded up, arrested, and taken to this horrible place. They are beaten, abused, and often locked up. As punishment they have to bury people that have died or been killed by the police force...and sometimes, they people aren't even completely dead, they are still barely alive! But the boys have to dig these massive graves where they find previously buried bodies to bury the new bodies on top of. Is this not insane? And then they have rotting flesh under their fingernails, blood and who knows what else all over their hands, and are forced to eat (never given silverware here) without washing. And one last thing, can you believe that there are some parents that CHOOSE to send their kids there as "rehabilitation" aka punishment, if they misbehave at home? It is just insane. Anywway, we had five boys escape from that horrid place and show up back at our street programs yesterday. We took them to the clinic to receive a medical checkup and they each left with first aid care and some medicine. I pray that they find food to take that medicine with and decently clean water. 

OKAY, so that is an update of things that have been going on. I was going to post some Blessings and Blessings in Disguise, but I think I will wait until another time. Maybe tomorrow or the day after. It will give me time to think of some more. I will begin recording them down and remembering them!

Since today is the day off for David and Abby, I am going to be relaxing at home, but also doing some of the administrative work Abby gave me. I have taped hundreds of receipts into some books, scanned all 96 pages into the computer, and now I am working through each individual receipt and recording the date, business, purpose, and amount of each purchase. This must be done and sent to a bookkeeper in the states so we can get more funding! Abby HATES this kind of work so it is a huge blessing to her that I enjoy doing it!

Love to you all. Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and encouragement on facebook. I have really felt the Lord's peace while I am here. I have only had one night of a homesickness (when I was out in the village for the first time and unfamiliar with everything), but the Lord has blessed with an incredible team of like-minded and same-aged friends to work with! They are all great!

off to work! LOVE.

Resettling Ashilaf and a Chicken Gift!!

Well, it is 11:20pm, which means I am usually in bed, but I just HAD to go ahead and post again tonight! Uncle Eddy and I had a great experience today with resettling Ashilaf, the boy we took with us on Tuesday, but were unable to resettle and had to bring back to the streets for two nights.

First, I need to preface a little bit. Resettling a child with their actually family is a top priority at API. The children should be at home with their families, not sleeping on the streets and being abused from all angles (other boys, police, older men). Sometimes when boys have been taken home, the parents have completely rejected them and asked that API not bring them back home every again. With that being said....

I was worried about taking Ashilaf home. He said he ran away because his father was beating him, but wanted to return for school. I wasn't sure if he would be welcomed, but I was convinced that the Lord had a wonderful plan for him today since we were unable to take him this past Tuesday. Here's how it went..

7:12ish am  Uncle Eddy picks me up from the Volunteer House (VH) where I stay, and we grab a boda-boda to the slums. And in my opinion, a boda boda is the best way to start a day in Uganda!

7:20ish Arrive to a boy dressed in a new shirt and trousers from the recent visiting group and we begin walking

7:50ish  Arrive at the bus parking lot [click here for picture] looking for a bus that will take us to Mbale. We find a bus, but Eddy says it still lacks about 20 people to be full and the bus will not leave until full. He is unable to find another going in the same direction, so we board thinking that we may sit there for an hour or so.

8:30    Bus LEAVES!! I have no idea how it makes it out of that crammed parking lot, but I should stop being surprised by the impressive driving of the Ugandan people... they are talented!

So, off we go to Mbale! Crammed full into the seats of this large coach bus. It was cracking me up on our bus ride that there was a guy that rode the entire way and for the first hour brought out all of these crazy gizmo creams, throat drops, lotions, etc. that were suppose to be so wonderful and great. You could buy them for "great deals" off of him from right there on the bus! "If you have  headache, rub it on your head! If you have a backache, rub it on your back! Relieves pain fast! Normally you pay 5,000 shillings, but today, you can have it for only 2,000!" oh goodness! Good entertainment.

9:10 Stop for a potty break a.k.a everyone who needs to go, enjoy squatting off the side of the road in the bushes to relieve yourself.

10:30ish Pull to the side of the road for a market where people RUSH to the car holding up baskets of their food for you to buy through the window! Check it out!

2:00 ish We finally arrive at Mbale. We get off and speak to some bodaboda drivers who say it will take about an hour down a rough road to get to Ashilaf's home in the village. So, Ashilaf and I climb aboard one boda boda, and Uncle Eddy on another. Riding down the road through the more remote areas was so funny... people would be in a conversation, see me, a mzungu, and just stare at me ride by. The children would stare or shout "mzungu! mzungu!" haha.. great fun

The beautiful view from the boda boda ride...

2:45 ish Arrive at Ashilaf's home. Now we were led down a dirt pathway past several mud homes with thatched roofs and finally arrived where Ashilaf's mother was. The most incredible thing was that they welcomed him with open arms! the mother said she had been crying every day for the past 4 weeks since he's been missing and she was so thankful for our street program and that we brought him home!

Come to find out... When Ashilaf was convinced to run away by his older brother, he took a boda boda 45 minutes into town, somehow a taxi bus to Jinja (3 hours away) and then walked from Jinja to Kampala (2-2.5 drive on bus).

Uncle Eddy and I with our chicken!

To show their appreciation, the tribe sent Uncle Eddy and I off with a gift! a chicken!! haha...





Then we took our 45 minute boda boda ride back into the city, enjoyed some dinner, then left about 6:30 to come back to Kampala. We arrived at the VH about 10:30 and now it is time for me to get to sleep!

The view of the city of Mbale from our upstairs restaurant... Wish you could see the mountains better! So beautiful!

What a blessing for Ashilaf's family to welcome him and be so grateful. This is the first time anyone has received a tangible gift from a resettling! haha... and someone please let Don Loudon and Uncle David know that I gave Ashilaf a Gideon Bible to keep at home.

From wiping my face clean after today..Well worth it!

what an awesome story, no? !!! Going to bed completely exhausted, but thrilled for Ashilaf to be home this evening and not on the streets of Kampala.

Eating Grasshoppers, Crossing the Nile, and Looooooong Bus Rides!

 Well I thought it was about time for me to update again.. It is just so crazy busy. It is currently almost 10pm my time and I would love to sleep... but I would love for you to know what is going on too! **WARNING: THIS MAY BE LOOOOONG

***You are welcome to skip through and just look at pictures if you'd like... : )  I do not blame you.

Let's see... I left off after my weekend out in the village.

MONDAY: There is currently a team here that is comprised of men and women from all over the U.S. A man from Arizona, Pastor Dwight (whose family has adopted numerous children from numerous countries including Uganda, China, and Korea), puts together teams from all over to come and serve short-term trips here. The women of the current group met Abby and I at the Women's Program Monday morning. They bought LOADS of jewelry, shared testimonies, and one lady even taught the women a new type of jewelry they could make and she planned to leave the necessary tools with the women as a donation to start them off! It was a blessing for our Ladies! Did I just say that? "OUR" ladies? Yes, they are my ladies already! I am so proud of them.

Abby and I were invited to lunch with that group at the American restaurant Java's. Yum! Quesadillas and chips (fries) as well as sodas and mochas! And VERY clean toilets that included and actual commode, toilet paper, and sinks with soap to wash your hands. Those details are so fancy to me now...  On the way over I met a girl who is currently serving for a 2 year period. She knows the Russellville area, and went through Beautiful Feet Bootcamp (I considered this..) after going through the Perspectives course I just took! Very cool sharing with her. She is teaching.

Here are some pictures of me eating cooked grasshoppers we picked up for Dwight's Team!

yummy!! Cooked grashoppers!

Uncle Alex who was in town. He lives at Bombo with the boys out in the village.

yea!

Here I go!

After the yummy lunch we headed to the Street Boys Program where Pastor Dwight's team took charge. I actually had nothing to do but sit and love on boys. It was kind of strange. There was a nurse to take care of medical, Dwight taught the lesson, the team did the games, everything was taken care of. MANY pairs of jeans and t-shirts were brought and each boy received 2 new items each! So wonderful!

Boys playing a game at the futbol field. Notice the Muslim temple in the background..

Boys with new shirts and jeans at the Street Boys Program.

Boys enjoying music and dancing before the devoational.

Next we headed to one of the boys homes. It is funded by Dwight's Church and is located inside the city. About 45 boys live in the home and each of them received a brand new LLBean backpack, 2 pairs of jeans, and many little snacks and candies. They were pumped!

Nile River

TUESDAY: Yesterday was NOT the day I expected at all. I was going with Uncle Eddy (whom you will see in pictures below) to resettle two of the street boys with their families. It is best for them to live with families that take care of them instead of living on the streets, so one of our main goals is to do this. Eddy came and picked me up at the house about 8:30 and I was planning on returning for lunch. BOY was I wrong! We took a boda-boda to pick up the two boys from the slum. Faizo [FY-zoh] and Ashilaf [ASH-ee-lauff] met us outside the area we have the program. We walked about 20 minutes to the bus area where bus taxis are crowded in like sardines! We took a 2.5 hour drive east of Kampala (we crossed the Nile River!!) to a town called Jinja, where we would hope to resettle Faizo.


Once we arrived, Faizo said there was a place where he left his clothes with someone before he came to Kampala and he wanted to get them before he went home. So we ended up at a Child's Restoration Organization where he had no clothing, but the social worker told us he had run away from home 3 years ago, they have tried to resettle him with his very old grandmother several times (because both parents are not longer living and he has no siblings) but he has always run away from his home. They told us it would be another 2 hour drive maybe to where his village was.

We decided to get the boys a nice meal before we left the city so we stopped and ate. At this time I interviewed the boys about why they left home (abuse or wanting to get to the city) and why they wanted to go back home (to go to school) and how they felt (happy to be going back to school). 

Sooooo... we finished eating, used the restroom (hahahaha!!!! hole in the ground with no toilet paper) walked through the market area where many men recognized Faizo and one gave him some free sugar (he had mentioned he wanted to buy sugar and bread to take home to his grandmother). We loaded another bus, and was ready for the road again!

Ashilaf, Uncle Eddy, and Faizo

Now, there is something you must know about these rides. They are on HORRIBLE roads... with potholes everywhere! and the driver is determined not to hit a single pothole! That means driving on the left side of the road... the right side... the dirt side of the road...completely off of the road... or straddling the broken pavement and dirt sidewalk. Whatever it takes! haha. So we went another 1.5 to 2 hours and hopped off. A boda boda driver knew Faizo and took us straight to his home.

After about 30 minutes of discussion with the very frail grandmother, two uncles, an auntie, Uncle Eddy, and the boda boda driver, we finally left Faizo with his family.

Now, we had found out at the Restoration Organization that the second boy, Ashilaf, was from Embale, which would be another 4-6 hour drive at this point. It was 4 in the afternoon. We had to make a choice. The options were 1. take him back but arrive home at 1am (extremely unsafe) 2. take him back and stay the night (not really an option) or 3. bring him back to the streets and try to resettle him another day (heartbreaking!) Well, we had to go with #3. So, after several hours of bus riding, we arrive back to Kampala around 7:30, gave him some money for food, told him we would take him again later this week, and then returned to the VH where I stay.

It absolutely broke my heart to promise that boy a home with a family that evening, but send him back on the streets. I hated it! But I had to keep reminding myself that maybe the Lord knew he just needed a day that wasn't on the streets, and where he could get 3 warm meals. He had love, entertainment, and food yesterday... but no home. The Lord know what is going on, but I have no idea, and it makes me sick.

Beautiful scenery we passed on the way back to Kampala.

Uncle Eddy and I will be returning to pick up Ashilaf tomorrow (Thursday) morning and take the longer journey (5-6 hours) to his home and hopefully he will have a family to sleep with tomorrow evening. Please pray for Ashilaf and his family. That the resettling will go well, as in they will take him and not reject him, which is a possibility.

WEDNESDAY: This morning I led the Women's Bible study on taking rest in the Lord by allowing our will to become his. I used common passage from Matthew 11 (come unto me, all who are weary) and also the Psalm 3:4 (delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart)... I hope it was good for atleast one of the women there.

Then I went for lunch with Abby and a LOVELY lady named Heidi who teaches over here. She is from England and is the sweetest thing. I enjoyed a chicken salad sandwich, chips (french fries), and a HUGE brownie sundae! We enjoyed this rather expensive meal at Java's... the restaurant I mentioned earlier. So yummy!

Then I finished the day at the street program, and then with Abby teaching me some admin stuff she would like me to complete.

I taught my housekeeper, Nakato, how to make a chicken salad tonight! Well, it was chicken and egg salad.... so delicious! and our bodyguard, Kamala, enjoyed it as well! They rarely eat foods that are cold, but they enjoyed it much!

Back in the city..

Just as an FYI, I updated quickly last Friday while in an Internet cafe, but I did not publish it to Facebook. So I will pick up where I left off and add a few details I didn't last week!

*I met the women on Friday! It was incredible. They are being taught all sorts of lessons, including quality of work and how to save income in order to invest in a business in the future. I am so pumped about them graduating on July 14th, my birthday! Abby is really interested in starting another program after this one completes, but is just praying about what the Lord wants. It is absolutely incredible how she is preparing them! Their faces LIT UP THE WHOLE WORLD when she told them that I had sold so much of their jewelry! They are SOOOOO thankful! Please keep buying! And we are working on some adjustments in sizes and different styles are going to be coming out soon! :) Some with pearls!

*Abby and I then headed off to the street boys program in the slum. Oh goodness the smell! We enjoyed watching about 40-50 boys play futbol, then I tended to their wounds(strong stomach there!) with Uncle Eddy, they were taught a short lesson on riddles, played some games (some I taught!), had a short Bible lesson, then we served them all lunch!

*I received a HUGE blessing on Saturday. I not only received schillings at a WONDERFUL exchange rate of 2400 instead of 2000,(because I only had 20s and not 100s) but we went to the Brussels airlines to pick up my luggage, they were closed for the national holiday/maintenance, but they retrieved my luggage for me anyway!

*Saturday for lunch (which is about 2pm each day and dinner at about 8 or 8:30) Abby and I discussed some of my roles. I will lay out the basic week for me at the end of this post so you can pray for specific events. Abby has asked me to do some administrative work that I am really excited about! Sounds weird, but the filing and organizing of information excites me, and is a HUGE blessing to her because she is drowning in it all and hates to do it. The Lord has just worked things out that way. :)

*Saturday evening David, Abby, and myself packed up and headed outside of the city to village where they have the boys' homes. They call it "The Land". There is a home for older boys, younger boys, and then a series of 1 bedroom little buildings for the staff to stay in. That is where we stayed. I have pictures on Facebook... i bathed using containers of hot and cold water, a large cup, a bar of soap, and a basin to stand in. My basin doubled as a toilet in the middle of the night. We cooked and ate dinner, then shared a devotion with the older boys Saturday night.

*Sunday we enjoyed an incredible church service out in the village with over 200 locals I bet! and then I enjoyed lunch and "futbol" with the younger boys. On our way back, David, Abby, and myself stopped and had super yummy dinner at an Indian Restaurant in the city!

Now I am back in my city home and tomorrow we start over with the women's program in the morning, street boys in the afternoon, and then some other things in the evening. It was absolutely a blast to meet the boys this weekend! I have now seen the city life in Kampala and the village life. What a difference! Both are so different and wonderful in their own ways. I look forward to both each week!

Anyway, here is a run down of my week. If you have read all the way to this point... WOW! Thanks!! Here is my schedule so you will see when certain things happen and what needs to be prayed for on each day. I am still behind on sleep for jetlag... taking some things to help me sleep, but it isn't going too well. So please pray I can get some rest.



MONDAYS: Teach Bible study and any "skills" lesson to the women in the morning. Attend and assist with Street Boys program in the afternoon. Admin. work and misc. in the evening.

TUESDAYS: (Abby and David's day off) Administrative work and any errands needing to be ran. This week I will be working with Uncle Eddy to try and resettle some street boys with their parents! Will be documenting as an administrative assistant (a HUGE blessing to Abby)


WEDNESDAYS: Attend Women's Program in the morning. Teach life/academic lesson, game, and devotional at the street boys program.

THURSDAYS: uncertain. Prep time for teaching at The Land this weekend and completing some admin. work on the computer for Abby.

FRIDAY: Purchase jewelry and help women boost savings account at the Women's program in the AM, Street Boys in the PM.  Admin. and prep time for the weekend.

SATURDAY: Head out to The Land in the village. Teach boys devotional and lesson. RELAX!

SUNDAY: Sleep in! and then head to church with all of the boys! Enjoy lunch and fun times, then head back to the city to start over!

If you have continued reading to this point, I am super impressed! Thank you all. Love to you all.

Well, this is going to have to be quick because Abby and I just stopped in at an Internet cafe... only a few minutes left after checking my email.

I saw that my mom updated some people on Facebook...

I arrived just fine. But my luggage got left behind in Brussels. They said something about getting it today or tomorrow, but Abby is doubtful. haha... we will see. For now, I have two pairs of undies, 2 shirts, a pair of pants and a pair of capris (both very hot!) and 1, yes 1, sports bra. Sorry if that is TMI for some of you.. but yea. haha.

Last night we finally arrived at the Volunteer Home that I am staying at. I was directed to the shower that has hot water... The plan was to get my hair washed, but then just hurry through the rest and use baby powder.. haha. Uncertain of how my shower went. Well, the Lord gave me a "Welcome to Africa!" experience. The pressure was very little, the heat was extremely hot! But then before I even finished getting my hair initially wet, the electricity went out. So then I had no lights and extremely cold water. :) I rinsed through my hair as much as I could and then used a bunch of deodorant and baby powder. Haha... anyway, I am not upset or anything, just made me laugh. I slept well though!

Today I went and met the women of the bead program face-to-face! Such an incredible blessing! All of you who have purchased jewelry, you are part of an incredible ministry! I will tell you more later!

And then we went to the street boys program to watch soccer, play games, have a devotional, and enjoy some food.

Time is running out. Adios!

Uganda Eve

Well, tomorrow is the day I venture off to a new continent and a new [short] chapter of my life. I am writing this from what seems to be the remains of my room I grew up in. Mom and dad have helped me tremendously! move out of the small house I have rented the past year and a half, and now I am sitting in my parents' house, up in the room that carried me through my younger years until high school. It is kind of strange sitting on this bed.... so many memories are represented in this room. Memories from junior high, high school, and college. After college I moved out into the house I had been renting. This room represents my life pre-teaching. I left this room to venture into adult-land. I spent two years in "adult land" and am now back in my childhood bedroom, moving into a different direction. I have come full circle I feel.

Several people have been asking me, "So, how do you feel? What are you thinking about most?" And honestly, I have many different feelings and thoughts all of the time. It simply depends on the minute. So, I will list a few for you and call it a night....


1. Excited - simply pumped for some traveling and adventure in a new culture!
2. Inadequate - I have about 7 roles/responsibilities assigned to me thus far.. which makes me nervous. Several of them are teaching responsibilities, and honestly I feel ill-equipped. But I know where I feel inadequate, the Lord has more room to show His power and ability!
3. Hopeful - I have felt so unsettled, if you will, at my position in being a teacher. I have loved the students, but just didn't feel quite comfortable being back in Russellville again. I am hoping for the Lord to use this trip to guide me in His direction, however, I have been warned that it is very possible that this trip will NOT, in fact, answer all of my questions about the future.
4. Nervous - yes, I am simply nervous about being able to do a good job
5. Scared? - Of course I am scared. I am going to a country that gives me a curfew of sundown in order to stay safe. I will have a person outside of my home at all times watching my things. The doctor gave me two shots and there are three sets of medicine/vitamins I am now taking to keep me in good condition while there. And, as ridiculous as this sounds, I have an open wound from softball (well worth it I might add!!!) on my leg, and yes, I am a bit scared about it getting dirty and infected.



So... I promise not all posts will be this long, although some may well exceed this length.

I beg you to pray for me this summer. Daily. Hourly if you think about it! I am relying on my brothers and sisters to support me. and that is YOU! Here is a verse I have been praying for several years now, and even more so for this summer:


2 Corinthians 12:15 "I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls."




For those of you that are interested in seeing my flights take off and arrive, here is my flight itinerary...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Depart Little Rock, AR   1:13 p.m.     Flight UA5931   (1 hr. 45 min.)
Arrive Chicago, IL          2:58 p.m.

Depart Chicago, IL         5:57 p.m.     Flight UA972      ( 9 hrs. 23 min.)
Arrive Brussels, BE        9:20 a.m. 

Depart Brussels, BE        10:40 a.m.   Flight UA9966    (9 hrs. 10 min.)
Arrive Entebbe, UG        9:50 p.m.


I will arrive in Uganda at 1:50 p.m. on Thursday if you are on Arkansas time.

Support Letter

**I know some of you have already seen this, but some of you have not**

Hello dear family and friends!

    I pray this post finds you well. As most of you already know, next Wednesday I will be flying out of Little Rock and headed to Uganda, Africa for the months of June and July. I have been given the opportunity to intern with the organization A Perfect Injustice (API) whose mission is to “show and teach marginalized people the love and hope of Christ and to secure for them a life off of the street.” They partner with local churches and Christian non-profit organizations to demonstrate the love of Christ within a holistic model, which means they work to take care of the basic physical, educational, spiritual, social, and emotional needs of those people they serve.

While I am there I will serve in several different capacities. I will be leading a Bible study with the women of the Hope House which exists to transform and empower prostituted women through Bible lessons, counseling, and allowing them to create the glass-bead necklaces as income. The majority of my time will be spent with the young street boys, while leading them in devotionals, serving them in first-aid care, being the activities coordinator, and teaching small lessons in English, math, science, etc. once a week. These young boys create the paper-bead and bone jewelry I have been selling at church recently. In addition to working side-by-side with the young men and women, I will also be helping in an administrative role by organizing the child sponsorship program that API has already set in place.

I am writing this letter to ask that you partner with me in serving the boys and women this summer.  

Many of you have already been joining me in prayer, and for that I am so very thankful. I listed my ministry roles above so that you will know specifically how to pray while I am gone. Please also pray that I will be sensitive to the Lord’s guiding in what He desires me to teach. Most importantly, pray that I continue to rely on the Father for wisdom and love to share with the women and children, even though I am expecting to learn more from them than I could imagine.

Again, thank you all for your continued love and support in this new chapter of my life. Although I am uncertain of where God will lead when I return to the states at the beginning of August, I continue to pray that I am sensitive to what the Lord’s desire is for me and that I will have an obedient heart and spirit.

                        Love to you all.

“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.” 2 Corinthians 12:15