Sorry for the delay of update. There are two reasons for this: 1) things have been real busy around here as I wrap up the sponsorship information 2) (but it’s mostly because) I know that if I update then I will have to write about leaving here, which I have just tried avoiding even thinking about. But departing this place is inevitable and impossible to push back via “not thinking about it.” So, as I lay in my bed at 4:30am, I have finally mustered the motivation to write. But where to begin?!
I’ll begin by answering “why are you awake at 4:30am?!” The answer lies in one of the most exciting things that has happened since I’ve been here – there’s a little baby here! Favor arrived here at GSF about a week and a half ago. She’s about 8 weeks old and is absolutely precious! She is actually the younger sister of one of the older boys who has already been living here at GSF. It’s so fun to have her here! We take turns staying with her at night here at the baby house, and tonight was my night to stay with her. Whenever she wakes up during the night I can’t help but think of my sisters Carly, Kelly, and Katelyn who do this EVERY night!
I got to see Al Kimball and Joel McCall last week! They were in Uganda on a missions trip, so we met up at a restaurant in town. It was so neat to see some familiar American faces! We had a great time catching up over lunch. I brought two of the teen girls from GSF which was fun. It was neat to have my Pennsylvania and Uganda worlds collide for a bit.
After eating lunch with Al Kimbal and Joel, I went with many of the GSF teens to the agriculture show in Jinja. I really had no idea what to expect. It was a week-long annual show where people from all over Uganda come to run it. It ended up being like a big fair/carnival or something. The place was just flooded with people. But the people there were different; they were a bit more rough than the usual Jinja crowd, just as you would find at an American carnival. There were some rides, many things you could buy, food, games, and promotions put on by different companies who were trying to sell things. They also had some animal exhibits, one being a snake area. The GSF teens dared me to ask to hold one of the snakes, and were a bit surprised when I accepted the challenge rather eagerly! So, I got to hold this huge, huge heavy python – it was so cool! I also got to hold another kind called a Puff Otter or something like that? Besides the snakes being heavy and stinky, it was cool to hold a snake so big; I had never held one so big before!
While I’m talking about highlights, I should also mention that I got to go on a boat ride on the Nile last week! There was a team staying here from Greensboro, NC, and they were taking a boat to see the source of the Nile. So, I tagged along with them. It was a great time. Besides seeing the source of the Nile, we also got to see so many neat birds and wildlife the live on the Nile. There were some pretty beautiful birds!!
Mark has been doing great in school. Well, I guess I’m using the word “great” a bit loosely… but, relatively speaking, he has been doing very well. I feel like it’s such an answer to prayer! He’s had a couple mishaps, including running to go find some food in the middle of class (I couldn’t find him for what seemed like forever! Turned out he was at a nearby hut where the woman was cooking) and peeing in the middle of the grass in front of all of the other K3 kids. But, overall he really is improving. I’ve always considered half of the battle of getting him into the class to be getting the teachers of the class to believe that he should be in class. Well, the other day I had to leave part way through the school day (which I’ve had to do several times), and so I told the teachers “Ok I have to go but I’m going to leave Mark here. If he’s bad, just send him home” and the main teacher said, “Oh he will be ok. You know, Mark is starting to learn how to behave well in the classroom, and I think he will be fine while you are away.” I was so excited!! When I used to leave they would try to get me to take Mark with me, but this time the teacher had some confidence in Mark! I’m really praying that they keep Mark in class after I leave. The kids are about to go on their holiday, which is a month (I think) of break from school. I’m a bit nervous to know if he relapses after the holiday, but I’m going to give his house mom some things to work on during that break time. So hopefully he’ll remember how to behave well even when he comes back!
The teen girls made a big dinner the other night for fun. It's incredibly how they all know how to cook so well! It was also a blast being all together. They made an enormous amount of food, but in true Ugandan style, they were able to polish off almost all of it. I was asking them all, "how in the world do you eat SO much food??" and they said "there's no reason to keep extra! Maybe this is our last meal to eat - we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow! We just eat every meal like it's our last."
Today was my last Sunday here. The Sunday worship services are always one of my favorite times of the week, so I was sad to think that it would be my last. They brought me and Lianna up to the front to sing us a song and pray for us as we journey back to America. It was a sweet and special time.
Prayer requests:
- Please pray for me as I have to say goodbye to all of the kids here at GSF. I am really dreading saying goodbye to them all, so I would greatly appreciate your prayers! Please also pray for my transition back into America. I know I have a lot to look forward to at home, but it’s going to be very hard for me at the same time!
- Please pray for packing and safe travels back to America!
- Praise God that Philip, the boy that I previously asked prayer for, is doing better! He still isn’t fully recovered, but he looks so much happier and maybe like he is even gaining some weight.
- Praise God that He’s kept me healthy and feeling well throughout this entire trip!! But please continue to pray for His protection!
I’ll begin by answering “why are you awake at 4:30am?!” The answer lies in one of the most exciting things that has happened since I’ve been here – there’s a little baby here! Favor arrived here at GSF about a week and a half ago. She’s about 8 weeks old and is absolutely precious! She is actually the younger sister of one of the older boys who has already been living here at GSF. It’s so fun to have her here! We take turns staying with her at night here at the baby house, and tonight was my night to stay with her. Whenever she wakes up during the night I can’t help but think of my sisters Carly, Kelly, and Katelyn who do this EVERY night!
I got to see Al Kimball and Joel McCall last week! They were in Uganda on a missions trip, so we met up at a restaurant in town. It was so neat to see some familiar American faces! We had a great time catching up over lunch. I brought two of the teen girls from GSF which was fun. It was neat to have my Pennsylvania and Uganda worlds collide for a bit.
After eating lunch with Al Kimbal and Joel, I went with many of the GSF teens to the agriculture show in Jinja. I really had no idea what to expect. It was a week-long annual show where people from all over Uganda come to run it. It ended up being like a big fair/carnival or something. The place was just flooded with people. But the people there were different; they were a bit more rough than the usual Jinja crowd, just as you would find at an American carnival. There were some rides, many things you could buy, food, games, and promotions put on by different companies who were trying to sell things. They also had some animal exhibits, one being a snake area. The GSF teens dared me to ask to hold one of the snakes, and were a bit surprised when I accepted the challenge rather eagerly! So, I got to hold this huge, huge heavy python – it was so cool! I also got to hold another kind called a Puff Otter or something like that? Besides the snakes being heavy and stinky, it was cool to hold a snake so big; I had never held one so big before!
While I’m talking about highlights, I should also mention that I got to go on a boat ride on the Nile last week! There was a team staying here from Greensboro, NC, and they were taking a boat to see the source of the Nile. So, I tagged along with them. It was a great time. Besides seeing the source of the Nile, we also got to see so many neat birds and wildlife the live on the Nile. There were some pretty beautiful birds!!
Mark has been doing great in school. Well, I guess I’m using the word “great” a bit loosely… but, relatively speaking, he has been doing very well. I feel like it’s such an answer to prayer! He’s had a couple mishaps, including running to go find some food in the middle of class (I couldn’t find him for what seemed like forever! Turned out he was at a nearby hut where the woman was cooking) and peeing in the middle of the grass in front of all of the other K3 kids. But, overall he really is improving. I’ve always considered half of the battle of getting him into the class to be getting the teachers of the class to believe that he should be in class. Well, the other day I had to leave part way through the school day (which I’ve had to do several times), and so I told the teachers “Ok I have to go but I’m going to leave Mark here. If he’s bad, just send him home” and the main teacher said, “Oh he will be ok. You know, Mark is starting to learn how to behave well in the classroom, and I think he will be fine while you are away.” I was so excited!! When I used to leave they would try to get me to take Mark with me, but this time the teacher had some confidence in Mark! I’m really praying that they keep Mark in class after I leave. The kids are about to go on their holiday, which is a month (I think) of break from school. I’m a bit nervous to know if he relapses after the holiday, but I’m going to give his house mom some things to work on during that break time. So hopefully he’ll remember how to behave well even when he comes back!
The teen girls made a big dinner the other night for fun. It's incredibly how they all know how to cook so well! It was also a blast being all together. They made an enormous amount of food, but in true Ugandan style, they were able to polish off almost all of it. I was asking them all, "how in the world do you eat SO much food??" and they said "there's no reason to keep extra! Maybe this is our last meal to eat - we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow! We just eat every meal like it's our last."
Today was my last Sunday here. The Sunday worship services are always one of my favorite times of the week, so I was sad to think that it would be my last. They brought me and Lianna up to the front to sing us a song and pray for us as we journey back to America. It was a sweet and special time.
Prayer requests:
- Please pray for me as I have to say goodbye to all of the kids here at GSF. I am really dreading saying goodbye to them all, so I would greatly appreciate your prayers! Please also pray for my transition back into America. I know I have a lot to look forward to at home, but it’s going to be very hard for me at the same time!
- Please pray for packing and safe travels back to America!
- Praise God that Philip, the boy that I previously asked prayer for, is doing better! He still isn’t fully recovered, but he looks so much happier and maybe like he is even gaining some weight.
- Praise God that He’s kept me healthy and feeling well throughout this entire trip!! But please continue to pray for His protection!
Boat ride on the Nile!
Potty time at the baby house!
Lunch with Joel, Al, Jenny, and Esther!
Kids sitting in K3 class
This is the kids' version of playing "dollies" - they tie the babies to their backs just like the mamas do out in the village! So cute.
Reading time with some of the boys. They LOVE reading books!
Big snake
Some of the Agriculture Show crew. The four with the matching shirts had just gotten back from bungee jumping....!
My sweet Mark and Nicolas
Baby Favor
Dinner with the teens
Some of the teen girls - Joy, Rebecca, and Esther
