Giving

Yesterday we went to a small village called Massessi (I'm not sure if that's how you spell it). We handed out shoes to the children in the village and then fed them beans and some chipatti (a greasy tortilla like food). It was an amazing experience, 95% of these children didn't own shoes and it was like Christmas for them yesterday. They were so excited, but they got a little out of hand because the nearby villages got word of the giveaway and came to get what we were handing out. So there was some minor chaos but I know they were blessed by what God was providing for them. Even thought surrounding villages came, we were able to feed all the children, God is well practiced at multiplying food, I praise Him for that! The one picture with white people surrounded by African children is of us volunteers and the children of the village of Massessi. The other picture is of Mama Santa and me. That was at a literacy class for the Acholi women, I go so I can try to learn their language and hang out with them. We start teaching the Suubi women English on Thursday, hopefully it will go over well and they will be able to learn from us even though we don't speak their language.
I've also been hanging out with Betty (the woman who helps do laundry) and her baby KimBD, and Daniel who all live behind us. They are so much fun, they love to socialize and love to be around people. Betty laughs all the time and thinks I'm way too skinny so she's trying to fatten me up before I go back home (even though she is skinny herself). Daniel likes music a lot, last night the 3 of us listened to the songs on my computer and talked for a few hours. I love learning all I can from and about the Ugandan people. This country is beautiful as are the ones who dwell within it!

New Culture

Well, I'm in love with the beautiful people here. Everyone here is so welcoming and grateful for things. I'm getting to know Betty, a woman who lives with us so she can clean and get paid for it. She feels so fortunate to be able to live with the volunteers, she has a son named KimB.D. they call him that because she thought he was a girl and named him Kim and tagged on B then D for Davey. Betty fled the LRA to seek work in Jinja and has been through so much heartache, lonliness and pain with childbirth. However, she is eternally and always vocally thankful to God for Dave and Morgan and for the job she has cleaning. She feel so fortunate and that God has rescued her. Her story is amazing and is truly humbling, there is so much to be thankful for in America it's ridiculous.
I met the women of Suubi the other day and they were so delightful. When I came with Renee & courtney (the other volunteers) they cheered, hugged and kissed me! I was so welcome by them. We were all crammed in a cement room (about 75 of us) and each woman had several necklaces around with them to show us. They were overjoyed when we told them we were organizing an English class for them. I cannot wait to know them better, I'm already in love with them all.
I've also been to an orphanage called Amani a couple of times and I've fallen in love with a boy named Jeremiah. He is 5 years old and looks like he's 18 months because he is growing slowly. He cannot walk, he has some troubles with his feet. But I cannot tell you how dear his spirit is. When I hold him, he smiles at me and stares forever. He is easily entertained and for his circumstances is a very happy child, I want to call him baby because he looks like one, but I suppose he's a child. There are so many precious children there that I pray will find good homes.
The only hard thing thus far is that I ache for Randy and family, it's hard knowing I will be away from them for so long.
Thank the Lord I have been protected from sickness so far. I'm enjoying the country so much, it fits me. I'm never cold here, which is a blessing in and of itself:)

Arrival

Oh well the Lord definitely wanted to strip me of everything here in Africa. After a canceled flight, lost luggage and miscomunication with the driver, thus driving with an unknown, I finally arrived in Jinja! God did give me someone at each airport to interact with and bring a bit of comfort which was such a huge help. I've now realized that I hate travelig alone (i guess i may have known it already but it's definite now). I just need companionship and the familiarity of someone I know.It's funny because I was so on the verge of tears my entire trip and then when we started the drive to Jinja everything was lifted off of me. It was like, who cares that I don't have my luggage, I haven't slept in two days, and my driver could be a killer? I'm in Africa to do what my heart has always dreamed and it's just as I imagined it! It's everything you see in pictures and more. My driver turned out to be fantastic, really kind, he bought me water and a cooked banana for free. He pulled over on the side of the road and got out of the car and ran, I thought he was abandoning me on the side of the road in the middle of a town I had never seen before. It turned out he was getting me a hot banana to let me taste some culture. He also was a bit of a tour guide, telling me all about the aspects of Uganda and pointing out neat thing we passed e.g. the Nile. It was definitely humbling. Anyways, I've been hanging out with the cutest children ever at an orphanage here in Jinja and plan to hit the sack a little early (or really really late for me). Hopefully I'll be able to upload pictures in a few days because I took some sweet ones today! I definitely miss home already but am prepared to work through it. Oh and I'm sunburned for the lack of sunblock that was in my luggage (boo hoo).

Why I'm going

Well, I'm going because the Lord put this passion in me for Africa about 14 years ago and I've been waiting for the "go" from Him. I got the "go" this year and everything else just fell into place as the Lord so often does for us!
I'm going with Light Gives Heat which is an amazing ministry based out of Montrose, Colorado (hopefully my future hometown). They teach farmers to farm organically and they also minister to and help a group of about 65 women who have fled from the violence of Northern Uganda to seek refuge in SE Uganda in a place called Jinja. They make beads by rolling up strips of recycled paper and then making necklaces out of those beads. Light Gives Heat buys the jewelry at triple profit and markets the jewelry through the web and to the U.S. All the proceeds go directly back to the Jinja community. This has changed these people's lives. They are now fed daily, the get education and their basic needs are being met.
I'm going to help wherever is needed in the Suubi project and will get to know these women the best I can during the 3 months.
I'm excited to pray over them, learn from them, minister to them, and help their business in whatever way possible.
You can buy the jewelry they make at suubiafrica.org and they also have t-shirts you can buy. Their main website it lightgivesheat.org. They have several videos on the website if you'd like to see the people and see more of the ministry!