Frustrated

So, I am not writing from a different country in the midst of one of the greatest times of my life. I am writing from my bed after reading news stories, facebook posts, and other forms of social network and I am so frustrated. The shootings in Connecticut have brought out more hostility in people than the election.

Some reports have said the shooting was a conspiracy. How insensitive and disrespectful. I wish I could wrap my arms around the families and hug them tight.

Some have compared Obama to Hitler. Again, to the people who had relatives experience Hitler's rule, how insensitive! There was an ad out saying Obama cared more for his children than everyone else because his daughters have armed guards. He is the PRESIDENT of the United States. Every past president has had guards. They're called the secret service.

There have been movements to get all administrators and teachers guns. IN THE SCHOOL. This infuriates me the most. I would never want to have a gun in my classroom. I would never want my children to go to a school with guns in them.

While I understand people are passionate about their views, many disrespectful, negative and degrading comments I have seen/heard have been from my Christian friends. And I understand the responsibility of spreading truth, but at what cost? So many of my non christian friends never want anything to do with people who are Christ followers because of what they say/how they say it. This breaks my heart every time I think about it. Jesus shook things up. He preached a gospel of LOVE and GRACE. FOR EVERYONE! Not just republicans. Not just democrats. I realize writing things in a blog won't get much done, but sometimes starting "debates" via facebook are hurtful more than helpful. I don't want to get into an argument with anyone about my views or what I think should happen with these gun laws. I have my opinions, yes, but I think there are loving ways to talk about them. Sometimes I think if Christians were more concerned with living out and sharing Christ's message of love, grace, and acceptance instead of getting people to believe the same things they do politically, Christianity would not have such a bad name. Ghandi once said he liked Jesus, but not his followers.

What we do reflects on what we believe. In a world where appearances are everything, relationships go far. If you treat people like crap, but tell them about this Jesus who loves everyone and wants to have a deep relationship with him, they will think you are shooting smoke out of your you know what.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1

Countdown

I leave in 4 days. I have so many different emotions going into this “ending”. I found out some exciting things about work, which makes the return a little easier. I also love my job and can’t wait to return to loving on MORE precious kids. However, saying goodbye to the children here will be difficult. I know I am one of many aunties that come to visit and they are used to people coming in and out, but I really have learned so much and loved so much that it’s hard to imagine going back to a life where I wake up in silence and am not greeted by drooly hugs and kisses. I cannot wait to return to my family and friends and share more stories of my time here. I am going to miss the close relationships I formed here with other volunteers, but know that I will be in contact with them forever! I’m also leaving with the knowledge that I’ll be back. Although I don’t know when, exactly, I know that my heart will bring me back to this place. 

My time in Uganda has been such a learning experience in many ways I didn’t think possible. I got the opportunity to meet Kelsey Nielsen and Megan Parker who are starting Abide Family Center. They even signed a contract for their house today! I am so blown away by this ministry and am so excited to see how the Lord works through them. When people think about orphanages, especially in Africa, they automatically think the children are abandoned and have no family to go to. Or that if they are in an orphanage their parents don’t love them. Most “orphans” still have family, either a parent or extended family member, living that have the ability to take care of them. Some parents just cannot take care of their child at the moment and need someone to step in and give them aide they need. Taken from a blog done by Kelsey, “Abide Family Center will provide holistic, strengths based, social services to vulnerable families.  The center will serve as a transitional living and learning facility by providing caregivers the tools necessary to move toward independence.  Families will be referred to the center by local government officials who have determined the family's need for supportive services rather than the removal of the child from the home.  A team of social workers will work with families to create individualized care plans. Depending on a number of factors, the family will receive either out-of-home supportive services or in-home supportive services.  Some of the services provided directly by the center will include: vocational classes and apprenticeships, parenting discussion groups, money management classes, nutrition planning, and child care services.” This was such an amazing thing to learn about and it really brought some humbleness into my life. As Americans, we automatically assume we could give children in “less-developed countries” a better life because we have more materialistic things. While it is true that international adoption can be such a beautiful thing, many families here are SO vulnerable and can be taken advantage of and they are deprived of the chance to raise their children. I really recommend learning about Abide and what they are going to do. I also ask for prayers for Kelsey and Megan. They are going back to the states in August to finish school and prepare to open the doors of this ministry. 

It has been beautiful seeing every ministry work together and how they are so supportive of each other. Life seems so simple here without distractions of celebrity gossip and other things we can get caught up in in the states. That will probably be a difficult transition when I get home! It has been a great lesson in being content and remembering to rest! 

The Lord has also been working in my heart for another thing, which I mentioned in a previous post. My desire is to not get caught up in an emotional state since I’m here and pray when I return home. However, I’ve never felt so at peace about a desire that is so crazy to some outsiders! I’ve been encouraged by others here and it's overwhelming, which makes me so excited to go home to continue this process of praying and listening to His calling.

Ekisa has been such a blessing and wonderful experience. I’m so thankful for this ministry and what it is teaching people in Jinja and other places in Uganda about people with disabilities. I’m also thankful for what they have taught to incoming teams who have never interacted with children with disabilities. I’m also so thankful my passion has return. Towards the end of the school year I was so swamped in paperwork and getting things done, I forgot why I was with my students. Seeing the small gains these children have made in my short time here has reminded me I’m exactly where I need to be. God has humbled me so much and taught me so many things. 

The song "Break Every Chain" has been playing in my mind---chains have been broken here in so many ways. Chains of pain and heartache have broken and there is love surrounding these people. All in the precious name of Jesus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6ncg2pLYks

Time of my life

I’ve been here for 2 weeks and I leave in 2 weeks. It’s so crazy to think about. Part of me feels like I’ve been here for years and could live here years more. There are some other things working in my heart right now that are so crazy and confusing and I would love some prayers for clarity, even if you don’t know the situation! J

Our days are filled with so many different things. From feeding kids in the morning to taking them around town, each moment spend with them is so wonderful! I never imagined I would fall in love with so many precious children in such a short time! I’m really thankful that I got the opportunity to come here—I’ve found my passion for children with disabilities again. This is why I got into the profession I’m in and I sort of lost sight of that this past year. Despite all of the health problems some of these children have and the things they’ve been through, Ekisa has brought them back to being happy and gives them a safe place to stay.

Earlier this week, we were able to take some kids swimming and watched bungee jumping and ate dinner with them away from the house. These particular boys were just so much fun and loved hanging out away from the craziness of Ekisa. It was nice for us too—I even got to skype my mom and she could see some of the boys J

Friday we went on a boat ride on the Nile River and then went to the source of the Nile. It was really beautiful. That’s one thing that I love about Uganda, the land is so beautiful. There are some parts that are obviously full of poverty and small shacks for houses, but driving around is wonderful…especially in the mornings!

Saturday we went bungee jumping over the Nile. It was one of the craziest and most amazing things I’ve ever done! I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of free falling! Plus, I had a beautiful view in the background. Lots of other tourists were there, so it was fun talking to them about what they’ve been doing here. I probably would have never done something like that in the states, so I’m really happy I sucked it up and went. Especially since we’re not going on a safari now, but I’ll be back J

The church I’ve been going to did VBS on Saturday afternoon and we were able to take some of the Ekisa kids. There was one moment that really made me tear up seeing our kids with disabilities interact with “normal” kids—we were playing duck, duck, goose and some of the kids didn’t really understand the concept to run after the person to try and chase them. One of our girls, Rachel, is unable to walk but oh, can she crawl! One of the young guys who was facilitating the game chose a different child to get up and chase him but didn’t understand. Rachel just started crawling really fast after him and tagged him. It was so beautiful to me, because even in the states people have a negative stigma about people with disabilities and don’t want them included. And here, in Uganda where there is little understanding behind disabilities, these kids were playing together with everyone. So wonderful.

There are so many things that are difficult to put into words--pictures just say it better! These aren't even half of the pictures I've taken but once I get home I promise I'll post more! They're also in a weird order...but you get the idea! Miss and love you all so much, even though I'm having the time of my life! :)

sweet jo jo!

monkeys!

before bungee jumping!

paul and jamile

princess debra!

bats in the daytime...no thanks!

boat ride to the source of the nile

source of the nile

no ties...just relax. haha

traditional african dancing

pool day with these fun guys!

 

So in love!

So, I wanted to try and post every Friday, but tomorrow the girls and I are going to Kampala to the market and we have a few other things planned this weekend, so I'm posting tonight! :)

Things seem to happen so quickly here! Sunday I went to church the first time and it was beautiful. It was made up of missionaries and Ugandans. I’m looking forward to going the next weeks as well. That evening we made fajitas and got to sit and talk with the Emily’s and Erika. I just love being in such a tight knit community—although Whitney and Morgan haven’t been here the past two days—it makes this crazy journey so much easier! 

On Monday, I got to have some one-on-one time with a sweet little girl, Zuena, as we watched “The Little Mermaid”. She fell asleep halfway through but right in my arms. Please keep her in your prayers, she has a serious heart condition and they have to make some decisions about her health. She’s such a sweet, sassy little girl…I know the Lord will take care of her!  After nap time, Angelica, Bianca (a girl volunteering for the week), and I took 3 boys to play mini golf and have some soda and treats. Uganda’s interpretation of mini golf is painting cement green…but the kids had a blast! There was a statue of a gorilla and some were scared that it was an actual gorilla..haha

The place we went to was SO beautiful and had an advertisement to bungee jump over the Nile. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do it! I think we're going to look on Saturday to see how legit it is :) Bianca, who has been here for almost a year, was telling Angelica and I about a safari through the company Red Chili. We have been talking about going with 2 other girls and hearing her tell us more confirmed our desire to go! Hopefully Ekisa will let us all take a long weekend!

On Tuesday, baby Grace was finally discharged and Morgan, Whitney, Mama Nam, and Grace were all able to come home! They weren’t able to come home until later so Angelica and I decided to take two younger children, Natasha and Elijah, to the Jinja Nile Resort to sit and enjoy the beauty of this country! Although we were a little late coming back for lunch, it was just so great sitting where it was quiet. After we got back, we just hung out with the kids until Whitney and Morgan got back. 

Wednesday, a rather large team came to take most of the kids swimming. The 4 of us decided to go into town and get a few things while the kids were gone. I bought 2 elephant paintings that I was excited about…I love elephants! J Then we went to a clothes market and sorted through PILES of clothes. And, of course, I got some shoes. We also bought some stuff for our 4^th of July “cookout”. I ate a burger last night, and it did NOT sit well with me. My vegan diet really hasn’t been working here…but starting next week we’re doing a cleanse and only eating fruits and vegetables and tea. You’d think we wouldn’t be eating so unhealthy, but French fries are everywhere!

Anyway, last night we went to a bible study at Katie Davis’ house (she wrote Kisses from Katie…a beautiful book!). And it was a beautiful time of worship alongside other missionaries. We started reading in 1 Corinthians 12, which is beginning to talk about spiritual gifts and callings for our lives. I’m really excited to dive more into this text. I struggle with this idea all the time. God calls us to move outside of our comfort zone with things in our lives but it’s really difficult for me to answer to this calling. I know that I’m supposed to be where I am as far as work is concerned. But I am SO comfortable sometimes that it scares me. Coming to Uganda has opened my eyes to different opportunities. I’m not saying I’m going to drop everything and move here, even though I would LOVE that! I have just been more thoughtful about different things I would be able to do in other countries. One big thing that looms over my head is my student loans. I know God always provides, but my loans were his way of provided for me to get my education and He has provided me a job with the means to pay those back. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to find some clarity on what He intends for me to do as a result of this trip. I know following God’s call looks different for everyone, but being in this house with 6 other amazing girls is such a blessing. I’ve been able to see what God has done and how He is working in their lives and I know that God can use other people to speak to us.

There has been one thing on my heart since my 3^rd day here and I would like challenge any of my guy friends who are reading this. There have been only 3 other male volunteers at Ekisa. There is an 18 year old boy coming in August for 6 months. These beautiful children are surrounded by wonderful women all the time. But I know how some of the older boys would benefit and just LOVE being loved on by some wonderful young men! I know Africa is far and I know money is always an issue, but these beautiful babies have already done such a great work in my heart and God is doing wonderful things here. I’m being challenged and I’m growing in ways I didn’t think was possible. I hate to seem like a Bible beater or whatever, but I just would love for some guys to come and leave their mark at Ekisa! 

I love you all and miss you terribly…here are some pictures! I promise to take more! The other girls have some as well..we're going to have a picture sharing party soon! :)

Crazy Golf with these handsome boys in their "smart" clothes

Not sure about this gorilla..

2 of our balls got stuck in that yucky gator

Swinging seemed easier...

A sweet milkshake for a sweet boy!

Before our walk to the Nile! Sweet Elijah!

The Nile River...there were even some monkeys in the trees!

Right before this sweet little one peed on me..

Messy play!

I've fallen in love with this little one! Jo Jo

Janet is seriously the most beautiful baby!

Our 4th of July Cookout!

Little Josh after the pool

Didn't last long until he fell asleep :)

Zak is always talking and is always so happy!