Hope: 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! :)