Building the start of lifelong relationships!

Courtney and I started an English class for the Suubi women this past Wednesday. There were about 15 women that showed up and it was a little challenging to figure out a teaching style because they are all at different levels. Some women know how to speak English pretty well and there are a few that don’t know one word and I’m pretty sure a couple of them having learning disabilities. It’s really helpful to have Daisy there because she speaks both Acholi (Luo) and English, so she translates for the class. I’m not sure how we would teach without her because Courtney and I know maybe a few words in Acholi. I’m really praying that this class will help them out for practical life here because our hearts are to help them help themselves and knowing English will be a great tool for that purpose.
After English class and literacy class we usually visit a few of the women’s homes, which has been my favorite part so far. They are so welcoming and excited to have us in their homes. They are so hospitable and insist on giving you something as a sort of welcoming gift. We got sodas and a lot of necklaces; we were decked out by the time we went home that evening.
We spent quit a bit of time at Florence and Grace’s home. They work all day everyday on these necklaces, it’s very admirable how hard and long they work. Florence his the core definition of Suubi----HOPE!!!! She is so confident that the Lord will bring them out of poverty through the Suubi project. She is overjoyed by all it has done for her thus far and is truly hopeful of the future. We prayed with her before we left and it was so precious to hear her talking to the Lord. She overflowed in gratefulness and reverence and hope in her prayers. She is raw and beautiful and loves everybody. I have not taken a picture of her yet, but will get one up as soon as I get one.
Also, this week, Courtney and I went to Betty’s family’s little store/shack. The picture is of Betty’s family at the shack, which they call a Kiosk. We talked with them for a few hours and Jackson (Betty’s father), told us all about the Acholi tribe, how it came to be up ‘till now, it was really fascinating. Here, I was also given soda and rolex.
And perhaps the highlight of my week was meeting Diana and Rita, who own a shop on Main St. I approached them because of a man named Sam Bass who goes to my Church, Bridgeway back in Oklahoma. He was in Jinja just 3 or 4 weeks before me and led these sisters to the Lord this past January. I went to meet them and they were overjoyed. I happened to catch them right before lunch so they insisted I share their meal with them, which was amazing by the way. She has made matokay, which is warm bananas that taste like potatoes. She put onions, avocados and carrots in with the matokay and it was my favorite Ugandan meal thus far. We talked for a few hours, they are so easy to talk to and really cared about my life and they said, “make sure you go home to your Church and tell them what God has done through Sam Bass for us, we are changed people and our perspective is completely different now that we know God, we have a purpose and we love people so much better.” I was so encouraged by them and proud of my brother Sam who had followed God’s promptings, resulting in the salvation of these two women. Anyways, it’s Diana’s birthday today so I baked a dense and weird birthday cake for her and am praying that she likes it because it’s all I have. I can’t wait to hang out with them again!!!!