farewell

Well, this is my last official post from Africa.  I'm sure I will write much more in the days and adventures to come but it is now time to say good bye.  It still hasn't hit me at all.  Tomorrow feels like just another day of getting the kids up and ready for school but will the added detail of an airport visit.  This trip has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life.  I spent most of my days completely exhausted with kids that wouldn't behave and with volunteers that I had almost nothing in common with, not to mention constantly cleaning up little kid "soosoo" (potty on the steps), bathing from a bucket, and eating some of the strangest food I've ever had (which I've grown to enjoy).  I came here thinking that this trip would be much like the ones I've been on in the past and that I would learn things much in the same way but God definitely brought me into something that was not at all what I was expecting.  Regardless of the challenges, I am so grateful that I have had this opportunity and if I had the chance to go back and do it again, I would in a heartbeat.

Now the challenge is taking what I have learned and bringing it home.  Unlike many of the other trips I have taken in the past, I have no way of knowing what impact I am leaving behind.  I have been so exhausted that it has been difficult to see how my interactions with the people here may have affected them but in many ways I suppose that's a good thing.  Me being remembered makes no difference but if even one person saw some evidence of God through my time here then it was totally worth it.  Coming home now means taking these stories back and following God's direction as to what involvement He wants to have through me.  I have not a clue what He has planned next but I hope that I might be faithful enough to see it come to pass. 

For now, here are some highlights from each day.  See you soon everyone!

Tuesday
Ruth was informed in the morning that she would again need someone to take some children to the hospital so with Auntie Francesca and Auntie Judith gone, I was able to spend the morning taking care of baby Amy.  She is such a sweet girl.  She rarely fusses and is always quiet and content no matter how much chaos is going on around her.
 One of the things that has been a huge struggle for Ruth has been her staff members.  The seemingly spontaneous hospital visits we had been taking were a result of lack of communication from their nurse who told Ruth a day late that one of the HIV positive children had missed an appointment.  Throughout her time at Another Hope, Ruth has seen staff members swindle money, lose her belongings, and simply walk out without ever saying a word.  She puts up with so much and still has such a positive attitude.  I have no idea how she does it.

Wednesday
Wednesday was again much the same as usual.  We spent much of the morning with the little ones while they played in the sand with some beach toys we bought on our trip into Kampala.
That afternoon, we walked up to one of the main streets to look at a few different shops.  One of the things that has been a bit frustrating is that when you go anywhere to buy things, people see that your a Muzungu, assume you have money and up the price.  For example, I bought a basket for 3000 shillings (a little over a dollar) at one shop and when I went to another further down the road, I low-balled the bargaining price and she said she would sell it to me for 400 shillings.  All a part of being a white person in Africa I suppose.  Other than the slightly bad bargaining deal, it was really nice to get away for a while, see a bit more of the surroundings around Another Hope, and buy another apple pop. :)

Thursday
After our successes at the shops the day before, we headed back midday to do a bit more looking around.  I had bought some fabric the day before and found a seamstress who said she could sew it into a skirt (which I picked up this afternoon and really like : )  ).  Judith stayed behind at an internet cafe and by the time we arrived, Ruth had returned with a new volunteer named Andrea who is from Austria.
That night I had the chance to go to Ruth's home to bake a cake with a few of the older girls that live with her (I brought a box of cake mix with me and had been waiting since the first week when I bought a cake pan to use Ruth's oven to bake it).  I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to spend some time alone with some of the older girls. On the way to Ruth's home, I spoke with Bernah, a 19 year old girl supported by Another Hope who is about to start university in the fall and who Ruth said had one of the highest scores in Uganda on a standardized test she took in school.  She said one of the biggest things she needed prayers for was her tuition fees as she said they cost around 900,000 shillings per semester (about $800 per year).  If any of you would be able to pray for her fees and prayerfully consider your own involvement in her funding, it would be greatly appreciated.  It was so nice to get away for a while and spend time with these girls, especially Leticia, a girl I had grown really close with but didn't really get to see b/c she lives with Ruth.  Before I left, we all gathered together for a time of singing and prayers.  While we didn't talk much with each other, it was such a blessing to have fellowship with these girls and to talk with them about the struggle I've had in being the only Christian volunteer.

Friday
Today we again made a visit to the shops along the main road to Another Hope.  We noticed that a few of the kids were needing some clothes and new school shoes so we spent a few hours in the afternoon walking up and down through shops looking for the things we needed.  One of my favorite parts about each time you leave is that when you return, all of the kids come running up to the gate shouting your name and looking for things they can carry back to your room.
Today, however, was one of the most challenging days since I've been here.  One of the girls was disciplined by her mom (and discipline here is very different from home) and when we were trying to put the kids to bed, one of the older girls was bitten on the ear by different girl and fell screaming to the floor in pain.  There have been many trying moments since I've been and it's often hard to understand why they happened.  I think this trip has helped me see in a much clearer way that sometimes our motives and reasons for doing things aren't what are needed when we arrive at our destination.  While Ruth has said many times that it's a blessing to have volunteers here to love on the kids, she also said that one of her greatest needs is discipline for the children, which is rarely given by volunteers when they come.  I'm not the best at discipline myself so this trip has definitely stretched me in that area as well as helping me see that sometimes it's more important to provide skills and services that are needed rather than the ones that you want to give.  

Saturday
Saturday morning started off wonderfully.  After sleeping in until 8:15, I took a bucket shower and walked down to a shop to buy some diapers for Mark to use during his naps.  When I got back, I put a diaper on Mark, walked him around until he fell asleep, and laid down on the floor in my room with him on my chest.  It was such a blessing to just lay there and allow him to sleep.  As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite things in the world is when someone falls asleep in your arms and it was such a blessing to simply be there to let little Mark sleep.
The afternoon again was a bit rough.  My camera went missing and still hasn't been found and on our way to the market, the car broke down in the middle of the street.  Luckily we were able to have some men push it to a nearby mechanic and soon after, Daniel arrived with a car for Ruth drive us the rest of the way.  I then had the next few hours to sharpen up my bargaining skills going through the different shops buying souvenirs and gifts to bring home.
The biggest news, however I am saving for last...Mark took his first steps!!  I was washing clothes with Julie while Mark was standing next to me holding on to a small ledge next to the house.  Julie said that she wanted to see Mark walk so I decided to move him away from the wall to see if he would walk toward it.  I think having food in his hand kept him a bit distracted b/c after standing on his own for a bit (which he has never done before), he leaned forward a took 2 steps!  I thought it was just a far fetched dream that I would see him walk while I was here but I actually did!  Praise God!!

Sunday
The morning began with the weekly church services held in the tent out in front of the home and listening to the pastor give a message on the temptation of Satan and our will to reject it.  After having so many droughts between times of fellowship, it was a huge God send to be surrounded by the children and listen to his message.
That night a couple (named David and Dianna) arrived from Spain so the rest of the afternoon was spent with them as well as the children.  Having new volunteers arriving the past few days has really helped to provide me with perspective and to see how much I have really grown to love this place and these children.  One of the unfortunate parts is that, after being fully adjusted and really getting to know the kids, I am now beginning to see things that I couldn't see before but I am leaving tomorrow and there's not much I can do about it.  I really wish that there was someone who would be able to stay for a prolonged period of time (6 months-1 year) or that I might someday get the chance to come back but whatever God has planned will be and if He wants me to come back, then praise be to Him.  It's also been nice to have so many volunteers around b/c there are so many more people to play with all the kids!
Mark has also taken quite a few more steps!  I was in the boys room with Leticia changing his clothes and she stood him up saying that she wanted to see this walking business I was talking about.  So, I put my hands behind my back so he would have nothing to hold on to and he took 5 or 6 steps until he made it to my lap!  I was so excited. :)

Well, that's about all for now.  As usual it's late and I'm quite tired.  For anyone who is considering supporting Another Hope Children's Ministry, I will be writing another post when I get home to let you know how you can get involved.  For now, I ask that you pray for the funding for a perminent home and their own farm land, for better discipline for the kids, and for Ruth to find the money to pay for her wedding as well as the time to have her own career (these are all requests given to me by Ruth).  I'd also like prayers for the volunteers who will be continuing on after I leave that they may pick up where we have left off as well as that they may come to know the Lord (the latter is far more important!).  Lastly, I'd like prayers for a better, more reliable staff to work at Another Hope as Ruth has struggled for years to find people she can depend on.  Oh, and prayers for safe travels and that I make my connecting flight in Chicago. :)

Thank you again for all your support and prayers.  Your encouragement has truly been what is keeping me going.  I hope you have a blessed day and week and I will talk to you from the US. :)

love to everyone!

a counterfit Christian

I guess I have a bit on my heart that I'd like to share.  I don't really have much reason for doing so other than I know that you are all out there praying and that many of you have walked roads of faithfulness and obedience far longer than I have so maybe you can offer me a bit of your God-given wisdom. 

I don't even really know where to begin.  My whole life -- well I guess since Jesus came into my life -- I've been trying to figure out this whole faith thing.  Yes, I know that there are many of us out there who are trying to figure out what it means to follow Jesus, but even then, I've often felt like our "quests" to understand Christ are only half hearted and that, deep down, we're ok with the warm-fuzzies of Jesus but we don't really want to know the truth of what His life calls us to.

Since I've been here I've been doing a lot of reading.  Both of the books that I've read have been amazing stories of people who would willingly spill their blood for the sake of Jesus.  People who have been imprisoned, beaten, publicly humiliated, pulled from their families, and stripped of everything they own because they have decided to embrace their identity in Heaven rather than their false identity on Earth.  Compared to them, I have so much work to do.  I know we live our lives, especially our faiths, as a comparison but when I look at how I live, there is little risk involved.  Sure, I came to Africa but since I've been here, I've still been fighting the same doubts and fears:  What will she think of me if I start talking about Jesus?  Yes God, you told me to pray with that man, but that's so weird.  He'll probably just laugh or blow me off.  God, can you really protect and heal me if I choose to rely on you instead of medicine and doctors?  The thoughts I struggle with sitting on my couch in front of the TV are the same exact thoughts I struggle with in Africa.

Above all else, I fear that if I, if we, don't choose to take up our crosses and follow Christ, we'll have to spend the rest of eternity outside of His presence.  I've read so many books and heard so many stories about radical people living out their lives for Christ but I've met and talked with so few that it's hard to know what it actually looks like.  All my life I've thought that it was a simple "Yes Jesus I want you in my heart" prayer that got you into heaven but I fear that it's much much more than that.  I'm afraid that we've been roped into the Christianity-makes-your-life-easier lie and that, with little honest knowledge of the Word, we'll never get ourselves out.  I know Christians are not meant to live in fear but this is not a fear of the world, it's a fear of eternal damnation.

I know this all may seem a bit rough but it's what has been on my heart for a long long time.  I say all this knowing that I have not a clue what I'm doing in this life and knowing that I'm a sinner just like everyone else.  I don't have any answers and I would never claim to.  All I want is more of Jesus.  He's given me everything and more in this life and I can't imagine what it would be like to spend the rest of eternity without Him.

This morning I tried sharing the Gospel with Francesca and it completely failed.  I got nervous and jumbled and I the whole time I was thinking,"This girl has already told me she's an atheist.  She's probably just going to think I'm another one of those religious freaks who just wants to Jesus-ize her."  And to be quite honest, that's pretty much exactly what I was doing.  If only we lived the way we were called to live, maybe others would know it's not about going to Church and attending Bible studies but having a living, breathing relationship with Jesus Christ and the Creator of the universe who loves us with a never ending, unfailing love.  I just wish everyone knew Jesus.

Anywho...enough of my ranting.  If you have any advice to help a Jesus lover navigate through our false lies of our cultural Christianity and find a way to truly surrender it all, no matter the cost, please let me know. :)

As usual, it's a bit late so I don't have much time to type.  The internet here is extremely slow so I never have a way of knowing where I left off but hopefully I'll be close. :)  Here are a few tid bits from each day.

Wednesday
One of my favorite things to do since I've been here is bathe the kids.  The five little ones are all too young to take baths on their own so we fill up a bin with water and each volunteer bathes the kids they're responsible for looking after.  I think part of why I love bathing them so much is b/c it makes me feel like I'm actually their mom.  We bath them, dry them, and get them dressed usually about three times a day b/c of the dirt and dust and I always look forward to it.  Plus they're so stinkin cute when they're smiling and splashing in the water. :)

For Bible Study that night I decided I'd try teaching them Trading My Sorrows and to my surprise when I started singing, they already knew the song but with an African twist.  After singing the chorus, they just sang "na na na" with a melody and danced and jumped around in the joy of the Lord.  It was really cool. :)

Thursday
Today we (the volunteers) decided we would take a taxi ride into Kampala and spent the afternoon walking through the markets.  The city itself is not what I was expecting at all.  The streets wove all around with no rhyme or reason and they were all packed with people shouting and cars honking and employees and shop owners walking too and from carrying massive boxes on their heads or rearranging things in their shops.  The pollution was so thick that I could hardly breath through my nose when I got back.  It was an interesting experience that showed me two things: 1) I really have a heart for the countryside and for nature.  Being in the city was far too crowded and way too chaotic and my heart always feels at home in the quiet of nature.  2)  I have really fallen in love with these kids.  While the day was fun and it was nice to get away, by then end of the day I was really sad and almost started crying while I was sitting outside one of the shops b/c I wanted to get back to the kids.

Friday
Today was a very difficult experience.  From July to September each year, Ruth goes on dozens of home visits to see the families of children who are receiving some form of assistance from Another Hope.  Today we went to visit the families of two children who are living at Another Hope and two children who had been transitioned back to living with their families.  The two most eye opening were the visits to Kakande and Sandra's families who lived in the far west side of Uganda in the most remote district in the country.  I think what made it so difficult for me was that along the way, Ruth kept pointing out schools and homes, telling me I would come back and teach here or live there so as we were driving past homes and visiting with these families, I tried to imagine what it would be like to live like them.  My life would most likely consist of a one room mud home with no running water or electricity, traveling to fetch my water, planting and harvesting my own food that would be cooked on a wood fire, and making $50 a month in a school I would have to walk for who knows how long to reach.  I can't even imagine.  The people we met were so genuine and full of so much joy even though they had literally nothing.  The whole experience really challenged what I'm willing to risk to help even one other person and allowing myself to see that any risk is worth it.

Saturday
Saturday was quite different from the day before as we were able to spend the day in Jinja, on the far east side of the country, at the source of the Nile River and a the falls that were a bit further down the river (unfortunately I can't remember their name).  It was so wonderful to spend the day with the volunteers as well as Ruth, Daniel, and their driver, Jude and to do something that was just fun.  We were able to take a boat ride to the source of the Nile as well as a boat ride to some of the larger falls at our second stop.  The whole day was an a once in a lifetime opportunity filled with laughter, smiles, and wonderful food and I really really enjoyed it.


Sunday
The three of us volunteers had been talking for a few days about a way to do something fun for the kids and after a bit of discussion Sunday morning, we decided to go to the supermarket to buy some some simple food to make for the kids as a treat.  After a bit of an adventure navigating our multiple taxi stops, we were able to buy our supplies and come back and make our treats of popcorn with butter (which is apparently a uniquely American thing to do) and yogurt fruit salad.  I also bought some supplies to make smores (which are going to be really interesting) but the power went out so we ran out of light.  We also celebrated Hajara's birthday as we were unable to do so on our school visits the week before which was really fun.

Monday
Today was supposed to be a normal day after so many days of travel but with an unexpected change in plans, I accompanied Judith to the hospital to help baby Amy get immunizations and bring Sandra in for a check up b/c she had a high fever.  The hospital was a bit crazy with tons of people going every which way and no real rhyme or reason for taking people in and sending people out but fortunately there is a doctor at the hospital who is partnered with Another Hope who was able to help us and speed up the process.  Baby Amy was fine but Sandra ended up having 3+ Malaria which is quite severe.  The doctor told us she needed to be admitted to pediatrics and she is still there now so please, please, please keep her in your prayers.

I also wanted to mention that I awoke this morning to a cockroach crawling through my hair that then scurried up the inside of my mosquito net and stayed there until we chased it out of our room.  Needless to say we bug sprayed the poop out of our room.

Well that about does it.  It's nearly 11 which is faaaar to late to be up (I think Africa's turning me into an old lady :) ).  I wanted to give a special thanks to Caitlin Closs, Emily Montgomery, and Jonathan Morley for your wonderful letters that I received today.  They brought me so much joy and encouragement and it was really good to hear from you all.

Exactly one week from this very hour I will be leaving Another Hope for the airport.  It's crazy to think about and I'm totally not ready for it yet.  Again, thank you for your prayers and for taking the time to ready my ridiculously long posts.  I love you all and I hope that you might find some way to surrender to Christ this week.

God bless!

sights and sounds of Uganda

Hello everyone!  Sorry for the long gap between updates!  We had the internet late last week but the connection was slow and while I was writing we lost power and the laptop died here we are. :)  I have quite a lot to catch up on and not a whole lot of time so I'll try to leave you with the highlights from each day. 

Much of Tuesday and Wednesday was quite the same as our usual days.  Both days I had the chance to walk the kids to and from school on my own which was a welcomed opportunity to take in my surroundings and in a small way, feel like a part of the community.  

Tuesday afternoon was spent playing "school" with Sandra who pretended to be our teacher and "beat us" if we were doing something bad (part of the unfortunate reality of the school systems here).  After we had played with the kids, Francesca and I went on a walk through the opposite side of the village from where we walk the children which was really beautiful.  It's so much more mountainous here than I was expecting so it was such a blessing to see a bit more of where we live.  We ended up getting lost but managed to find our way back on a completely different road than the one on which our journey began.  That night we also had the chance to spend some time with the older children which was also a huge blessing.  Because of their responsibilities here as well as their long 1-2 hour walks to school, we rarely get to see them let alone spend quality time with them and it was so much fun sitting in the dark laughing and helping with homework.

Wednesday, as mentioned earlier, I had the chance to walk the kids to school on my own as Francesca was at the farm.  When she returned, we spent most of the afternoon shucking corn and playing with the kids.  Just before dinner we made our daily run to Little Eden to buy water and Fanta and came back for Bible study, dinner, and washing up the kids.

Thursday I got up bright and early to head to the other farm owned by Another Hope.  This land was absolutely beautiful.  We were up overlooking long rolling hills of palm trees and tall grass.  The landscape is incredible.  Ruth showed me where they kept the chickens that lay eggs for Another Hope as well as the cows that provide the milk for baby Amy.  She also explained that this land was where they hoped to build their purmanent home for the children as they one they are using right now is only a rental.  We spent the morning harvesting ground nuts, which resemble peanuts on the outside but contain purple nuts that taste nothing like them.  I have truly loved my visits to the farm.  There is so much pride and joy in being able to say that you had a hand in preparing the food that you are eating and I think that if I was ever to become a farmer, I would probably cry with joy every time I went to the produce section of a grocery store.  On the way back, we stopped at Ruth's home and it was wonderful to be able to see how she lives as well.

When we returned, we spent the morning removing the ground nuts from the plants we had harvested and eating banana muffins that Ruth had baked the night before.  I was also able to have my first legitimate shower since I've been here which was amazing!  It's funny how simple things like flushing toilets and cold showers have made me so excited.  Then it was off to pick up the Little Stars and back for our usual afternoons of playing with the kids and helping them get ready for bed.

Friday was also another day of being in our normal routine.  Got up, brought the kids to school, stopped at a shop to buy some water, napped, picked the kids up, did some wash, and had an amazing lunch of sweet potatoes, beans, and rice.  The afternoon was much the same as well but with each day being more and more adjusted, the kids become sweeter and sweeter.  I had the chance to talk with Latisha, one of the older girls, which was a real treat b/c she's rarely around.  I really admire all of the women here.  The girls grow up at such a young age and, for having so much work and such strenuous schedules, they're always joyful and looking for ways to help you.  the rest of the afternoon was spent playing the drums with Mark, sitting on the swing with Susan and Mercy, talking with Ruth, and watching the girls pretend to model and take pictures with my camera.  T

That night the pastor came in for an unexpected visit and lead Bible study.  He spoke about the importance of sharing the Gospel and encouraged the children to speak into the lives of others no matter where they go. 
Then we had the amazing dinner of peas, chapati (so good!), and pineapple before washing the kids up, ironing my clothes, and going to bed.

Saturday was a really special day.  About midday, Ruth arrived after spending the morning at the farm and soon after, another volunteer, a German woman named Judith, arrived.  After talking with Judith and eating jack fruit, the we all piled into a van and headed out to visit two children living at boarding schools.  The first was a boy named Allan.  Allan's mother was severely abusive and because of the abuse he received to his head, he suffered from brain damage and now attends a school for handicapped children.  It broke my heart to see him.  He was such a sweet kid who, Ruth said, was so surprised and happy to see us he couldn't even speak.  I can't even imagine what life would be like to not only be rejected by your family but also suffer from a disability and have no means of supporting yourself.  He is such a sweet kid and I can't imagine anyone turning him away.

After visiting and sharing a meal with Allan, we made the long drive through the Ugandan countryside to visit Kathrine, a deaf child who was living at a boarding school for deaf children.  The school was so peaceful.  It was up on a hilltop far removed from the chaos of Kampala and filled with sounds of birds and children laughing (there is something so special about hearing deaf children squealing with joy :)  ).  Because Ruth so seldom gets the chance to visit these children, we celebrated Kathrine's birthday a few weeks early and were able to watch the kids signing happy birthday and sharing the small cake we had brought with us.  The kids were so sweet and kept tugging on our arms to take pictures of them so they could see them on the display.  On the way home, Hajara, who had gone with us b/c it was her birthday that day, fell alseep on my lap.  There is something special about having children fall asleep in your arms.  She slept all the way back on our close to two hour drive back to Another Hope where we ate our spaghetti dinner under the light of the moon and went to bed.

Sunday was also a really special day.  After we the church service finished, Judith, Francesca, and I got into the car and rode with Ruth to arguably the nicest resort in Kampala that sat on Lake Victoria.  It was a weird feeling being in such a high end, developed place knowing the poverty that lay just on the other side of the street.  Over our meal of cooked talapia (head and all) and chips, Ruth expressed more about the political situation in Uganda as well as her personal and financial struggles.  She really is an inspiration to me.  She has devoted every aspect of her life to these children, managing two farms, a shop, all her staff, the volunteers, the home itself, and as we learned today, plans to construct a boarding school for the children.  She said part of her reason for moving into her own home was because she started suffering from stress issues and needed to have her own place to get away (however she still allows 3 of the oldest girls to live with her).  She also talked to us about how the corruption of the government has made it almost impossible for them to continue providing food, let alone save the $10,000 they need to buy their farmland, $50,000 they need to construct their own home for the children, $2,000 they need to renovate the schools they've purchased, and $25,000 they need to construct dorms for the children to live in at the school.  Despite all the obstacles, she still says constantly that it is God who has been and will continue to provide for her and the children and she knows that it will all happen in His time.

When we got back, all the kids came running up to the van to see us shouting "Auntie Auntie!" and we spent the rest of the night playing and laughing with them.  Praise God for finally feeling adjusted!

Monday was back to the same routine.  I've been feeling a bit under the weather so I spent most of the morning resting and took a portion of the afternoon to take a nap.  That night, I was able to sit with the older kids in the cooking area and help them make chapati.  Mostly, I sat and rolled the balls of dough while the kids sang worship songs and talked with each other about their joys in Christ and how they thankful they were for all they had.  I really admire these children. They are all grown up far beyond their years and have so much joy and life despite where they've come from.  They are truly thankful for all they have and they have a deep rooted faith in God that pushes me to be stronger in  my walk.  

One other quick note about Monday.  When we walked the children to school in the morning, we noticed that traffic was much lighter than usual and Ruth explained that the taxi drivers were striking, as they have been for a few months now, to protest the rising fuel prices.  Half way through the morning, some of the older girls who usually don't come back until after dark, arrived at Another Hope, stating that their schools were also striking and that the children were all sent home.  It's so interesting to see first hand how the political and economic situations affect the people here, even down to the children, and how things are so different from home.

This morning I wasn't feeling the greatest when I woke up so I ended up staying in bed and sleeping while Auntie Judith and Auntie Francesca brought the kids to school.  Francesca was sweet enough to bring in my chapati so I could eat it in my bed and after eating, I took a shower, played with the kids, and walked back to pick the kids up from school.  After lunch, the three of us boarded the van with Ruth and drove out to the land and buildings she has purchased to create a boarding school for the children of Another Hope as well as the surrounding community.  We then drove back to the kids shouting our names as well pulled through the gate and played with them before eating dinner and helping them get ready for bed.

God has really been showing me a lot these past few days and He has been reminding me of His love that is worth risking everything for.  God has given me life far greater than any this world could ever offer and it is the least I can do to give Him mine in return.  These children are incredible and it is all as a result of His love which has been poured through one faithful, determined woman who has chosen to surrender her life and give it completely to the Lord.  On our way back from Lake Victoria, we stopped at Ruth's childhood home and church to visit with her mom and brother.  When talking to her brother, he mentioned to us that there are over 2.5 million orphaned children and that even this estimate is probably some 1-2 million away from reality.  To think that so many children are going without food, water, shelter, and love is devastating and after seeing the possibilities of what can happen when someone chooses to make a difference, it is hard not to want to do something more.  Earlier I mentioned that there are both great possibilities as well as great burdens that lay before Ruth and Another Hope as she tries to expand the ministry and better meet the needs of the children.  If you would like to support her and the children financially, you can visit the website (I can't think of the exact link but if you google Another Hope Children's Ministry it's the first website that pops up) or send a letter to my address:  6788 Snow Ave, Alto MI 49302.  If you've also ever considered child sponsorship, there are many children here who are in need of sponsors as well as children in many other organizations (such as World Vision or Compassion) that are also looking for sponsors.  Individually, I'd really like to at least raise the $2,000 to renovate the school buildings that Ruth has purchased.  She said that, God willing, it's her goal to have the money collected before the end of the year but because things have been so tight, most of her current funds are going towards food and school fees.  There is also a great need for children's clothes (age 2 and below).  We spend most of the morning with the younger kids and they're constantly being changed and, for many of them, wearing clothes that are far to big and falling off b/c there just isn't enough clothing that fits.

So as far as prayers go, I'd really like you to pray for Another Hope.  The work that is being done here is amazing it it's far more important for your prayers and support to got to them than to me.  Also, I'd really like prayers for an overall awakening and burden in the hearts of Christians around the world to support their brothers and sisters in need.  We are called to help those in need, wherever they are, and even the simplest act of love will make a lasting impact.  

Thanks everyone!  I have so much on my hear that I wish I could share and I hope that in some way I was able to paint a picture of all that's been happening here.  I've been a bit sick with a cold the last few days so it's hard to get my thoughts to come together.  Again, if you can find it in your hearts to help in any way, I know that I personally would be hugely grateful and I can only imagine how thankful Ruth and the kids would be.  As always, I love you all and I hope beyond anything else that God has been working in your life and helping you grown into a greater understanding of Him (because that's what this is all about anyway :)  ).  Good night from Uganda!

a little bit of exploration

Well I have now officially reached the three weeks left mark.  It's crazy to think that three weeks from tomorrow I will be returning home (it actually feels like quite a long time) but I'm sure that I'll look back and be dumbfounded at how quickly everything went by.  

This was the first official weekend that I was able to spend at Another Hope and it was quite nice to have a change of pace.  Saturday we awoke to all the Little Stars running around (after being able to sleep in until 7 -- woo!) as they didn't have school.  The older children had gone to visit with another volunteer who was only in the city for a few hours and had the opportunity to go horse back riding at Lake Victoria.  For the rest of us, the day began as it has since we've been here -- playing with the kids and eating breakfast -- then I did my first load of African laundry in a water basin with a bar of Dove body wash and the help of 7 year old Linda.  The water instantly turned brown as I was washing my clothes from farming the day before and took quite a while to wash as we first had to pull out all the thistles and then compete with the mud that infiltrated every part of my jacket, capris, tee shirt, and socks.  When we finished, I was looking around trying to figure out where all the kids had gone and I found them at the back of the fence watching and mooing at cows that were grazing on the other size.  These cows were so cool!  They had gigantic horns and looked animals you would see at the zoo.  Some of the kids who were a bit bored with the cows entertained themselves by harrassing a chicken that came onto the property, chasing it down a drainage tube (ok, so I was the one who did that) and throwing on the ground.

Then it was bean beating time.  We gathered all the dried beans that we had harvested the day before into a pile in the front part of the property and all the kids as well as a few of the staff members picked up the sticks and began beating the beans to make them fall out of their dried shells onto the ground -- and of course I had to join in. :)  We spent most of the morning going back and forth between beating beans and playing with the kids who were waiting on the porch.  After that it was time for a nap, our usual lunch of bananas and beans, and reading outside our room as we waited for Ruth to arrive with the older children.

Then off to the market!  Ok, so really we went to an African grocery store but it was a nice and also strange change of pace.  The grocery store was located in a shopping center in an upper class part of Kampala.  It was attached to a hotel that overlooked a beautiful golf course (Trevor -- that detail was for you :) ) and there were all different kinds of amazing birds that were sitting all over the greens.  When we went into the shopping center, there were Muzungus everywhere (which is how you know it was in a nice part of town) as well as American restaurants like Pizza Hut.  For some reason, going to the grocery store has become one of my favorite things to do when I'm in a new place and this was no exception.  It was fun to help Ruth and Brenna find the ingredients they needed for banana muffins as well as to have a slight reminder of home.  Francesca and I bought ice cream for the four of us which we shared on the way home and we were also able to find Mexican apple pop! (Apparently it's not just in Mexico :)  ).  It was strange to ring up our items at the checkout to see totals that were over 50,000 shillings (which is about $20) as we as to have the clerk give us free cookies as we left as a complimentary gift for shopping at their grocery store.

On the way home, we made a stop along one of the side streets to buy some fruit from a man in one of the slums.  When Brenna handed him the money, he promptly replied with a "God bless you" and instantly my heart was overwhelmed.  God used him as a reminder to me, in a strange way, of the need that is everywhere in the world.  In him, I saw the homeless men of the streets of Grand Rapids who have also tried in times past to sell me what little belongings they had and it was instantly a reminder to me that all love is important, no matter where you are.

When we got back we played with the kids, had dinner (which was spaghetti -- a real treat!), and put the kids to bed.  After dinner, I had been holding Mark and brought him inside to put him to sleep.  When I set him down, he instantly started crying and a few minutes later one of the older boys looked at me and said "I don't know what happened.  He moved his bed."  Having no clue what he meant, I turned around to find that Mark (a kid who is less than 2 years old) had slid down his sheets onto the floor and had crawled out into the hallway following me.  After putting him back to bed, it was time for me to put myself to bed and go to sleep!

The next morning began with my bucket shower and then attending a church service that was held in the tent they have set up in the front of the property.  As is usual in Uganda, the service was to start at 9 but the pastor was tired, overslept, and we therefore started at 10 am instead. :)  It was so good to be at church with all the kids!  The pastor spoke on the importance of God's word and how we must keep it in our hearts each day by putting what God says into practice.  We're often told in church that God's word should be more important than anything else we have in our lives but hearing that same message spoken to orphaned children who literally have nothing took on an entirely new meaning.  To think that they, in their obedience, would be willing to give up what little they own while I often debate whether to put $5 or $10 into the offering plate really hit me.

After church the children changed into their play clothes and I spent time with them looking at my Bible and letting them write in my journal as they had come up onto the porch next to me during my devotions.  Then we had lunch (bananas again) and I wasn't feeling well so I took a nap. When I got up, one of the older girls asked me to help her cook something that sounded like it was called "sandwich" but was a mixture of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beef flavoring, and garlic powder that was cooked in a metal bowl over a fire in their cooking area. 

After cooking and drinking tea, Francesca and I went for a walk in the surrounding area.  We explored one of the busier streets and walked up a more secluded hill behind Another Hope.  Life here is so different.  Walking around makes you feel like you are in a jungle with birds flying every where and streams and greenery covering everything.  It's really beautiful.  When we came back, one of the older girls was having a wound in her calf cleaned with salt while all the younger kids were watching and listening to her cry in pain (needless to say I couldn't watch).  Instead I went to the back and watched little Enoch play with a fish he had caught in a nearby stream and watched Cato chase the children around with a chicken.  Then it was dinner and off to bed.

Today was back to the same routine.  Francesca and I got up at 6 to walk to the Little Stars to school and on the way back we stopped at a convenience mart we found on our walk from the day before to buy some drinking water.  When we returned, I washed what clothing was still dirty with Whitney's help.  Then we played with the kids before leaving to pick up the children from school and stop at a convenience mart to buy some airtime for the Ugandan cell phone Ruth graciously let me borrow.  When we returned, I was not feeling well at all so I slept until I was woken by the call for our lunch of corn starch and more "sandwich" like we had cooked yesterday.  

Everyday after the kids have lunch, they all lay on mats on the porch to take a nap so I used that time to iron the clothes I had washed that morning (there are flies that can lay eggs in your wet clothes that hatch when they make contact with your warm skin and ironing kills whatever eggs may have been laid).  During my ironing time, Francesca and I had some time to talk which was a nice break.  Then we headed out back where we were roped into dancing with the kids which was so much fun!  One of the staff members played a drum and shouted out different commands for us to do while we were dancing.  People who had been passing by would stop at the fence to watch the Muzungus try to dance like Ugandans -- it was quite a scene!  

After dancing I had the amazing opportunity to talk to my Dad and to Trevor!  It was so good to hear from home and to have the reassurance that, even though adjusting has been tough, I always have family to rely on. It's amazing how much being here has shown me about home and there are so many things that I never realized I took for granted.  It was truly a God sent blessing to talk to them and lifted my spirits more than words can express.  God definitely had planned those conversations b/c right after I hung up the phone, Moses came to me and said that they were waiting for me to start Bible study and I hadn't prepared anything!  Thankfully God had spoken to me through scripture a few days before and, with the encouragement of talking to my Dad and Trevor, it went off without a hitch. :) 

The combination of talking to family and teaching Bible study really turned my day around and after we were done, we had dinner and Francesca and I were able to spend time with the older kids inside the children's home.

It has been so amazing how much I have learned since being here.  Adjusting has been slow but it has taught me so much about so many different things.  I do, however, have some prayer requests:  the first is again for my health.  The malaria pills have really been kicking my butt, making me dizzy and weak and giving me chest pains and aches in my legs and it's been really taking a toll on my spirits.  I know that God is our ultimate source of healing and that this is only Satan's way of bringing me down so I know that through prayer everything will work out.  Also, I'd love prayers for Francesca.  She is a wonderful girl but she has expressed to me that she does not believe in God and that she's in a point in her life where she is trying to make a decision about whether or not she thinks He exists.  While these kids may not have a lot, they do have Christ which makes them so so so rich and it is for this reason that it breaks my heart to see Francesca struggling and to know what her life could look like if it was devoted to God.

Thank you so much again for all of your prayers and love!  God deeply reminded me how loved I am and used the love that all of you have shown me throughout my life to break the lies that Satan was trying to send my way.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and know that I love you and am thinking of you.   Oh and happy 4th of July :) .

Love you! 

the day to day life in Africa

Hello everyone!  So much has happened in the past few days and as much as I want to fill you in on every little detail, it is quite late and my thoughts are already of sleep (ok so it's only 9:30 but after getting up at 4:30 and needing to be up at 6, it feels like 2 am!).  Instead, I'll walk through a basic day at Another Hope and highlight the big events from each day.

Wednesday was our first day of walking the preschool children to their school, Little Stars.  Each morning, we wake at 6 am to get ready and help the children eat and get dressed before leaving around 7 o'clock.  The first day we were lead by one of the older children through the meandering clay paths to one of the main roads.  Everything in Uganda is so lush and green!  There are avocados, mango, and bananas growing everywhere and wherever you look, you cannot help but see a sea of green rolling hills with tall palm trees, corn, and flowers.  After we crossed the street (which was quite a feat! haha that rhymed :) ) we lead the children on the short remainder of the walk and prepared for home.  As we were about to head back down the main path, the older girl who was with us said "ok, you know the way now, I am going to school" and left us to walk back.  With only a slight wrong turn, we were able to make it back and without the children at our sides, the shouts of Mzungu were everywhere!

When we got back, all of the children had gone except for the youngest 5: two twin girls, a younger boy (unfortunately I can't remember the names of these three) and Whitney (3) and Mark (a year and three months) who are the two children I am responsible for taking care of.  Whitney has a big bubbly personality and Mark, who was brought here on Saturday after his imprisoned mother said she didn't want him, already follows me around and whenever I walk into a room, he starts crying until I pick him up (and cries whenever I put him down).  At noon, we went back to pick the kids up and then had a few hours of play time before our typical lunch of smushed bananas (which are nothing like bananas at home) and beans.  The food here takes a bit of getting used to but I am much more adjusted to it now than I was when I first got here.  In the afternoon, we had our volunteer orientation where we established what I will be responsible for while I'm here:  taking care of Mark and Whitney, walking the Little Stars to and from school, teaching evening Bible studies, and tutoring three of the older girls in math and English at night when they return from school.  It's been a bit difficult to jump in and start doing things because, unlike our lives in the US, there is little structure and no one will ask or expect you to do anything you don't seem comfortable doing so I haven't done a lot yet but things are much more natural now than they were in the beginning so I'm sure things will pick up soon.  Then we has a few hours of play time before evening prayer/ Bible study, dinner, and going to bed.

Thursday began much in the same way.  We took the Little Stars to and from school, helped the little ones, had some lunch, and then at around 3 in the afternoon, we drove back to Entebbe airport to pick up my bag.  It was so great to be able to drive through the city during the day.  There are shops and markets everywhere and there are always people walking about.  We were also able to drive past lake Victoria which wraps around Entebbe airport and is incredibly beautiful!  After picking up my bag, Francesca, Ruth, her fiance Daniel, and I were able to have some really great conversation.  We talked a lot about the political situation in Uganda, commenting on the increased police presence due to the recent elections and protests, and about the struggles that Ruth has faced in beginning and sustaining her ministry to the Children.  One of the main things we talked about was how difficult Ruth finds it to gain support b/c, when she travels to the US and other similar places, she shows pictures of the children's improvements rather than their poverty which in her words "isn't what the white people want to see."  She said that many other similar organizations will go out and take pictures of street children rather than show the children who are actually under their care b/c it is easier for them to raise support when the children look dirty and downtrodden.  It has been such a blessing to talk to and learn from her as she has already put so much of my life into perspective.

When we arrived, it was after 8 pm and quite dark.  As soon as I walked up, Mark started crying and followed me accross the porch with tears streaming down his face as I put my suitcase in my room.  As soon as I picked him up, he stopped crying and Ruth said, "see, you can't leave Uganda.  You have to tell your parents' you can't leave because he thinks you're his mom!"  All the power was off so we ate our beans and rice by torch light (flashlight) in our room as the kids all leaned their heads in through our door step and laughed and giggled at everything we did.

There was one other special thing about yesterday:  it marked the three month birthday of baby Emmy.  Ruth said that when they found her, she was one day old and had been placed in a bush by her mom, still covered in blood from childbirth.  Now, after being in the care of Ruth and all the other Aunties and Uncles, she is strong, healthy, and even laughs and smiles.  

This morning was quite an adventure.  The day began at 4:30 with me getting up, getting ready, and sitting on the porch reading a book while I waited for Ruth to arrive quite a while after my assigned time of 5 o'clock (b/c as she says, you know you are a Mzungu when you keep time).  When she arrived, I boarded the front seat of a pickup truck with her and the driver while the rest of those who were traveling with us climbed into the bed.  It was still pitch black outside (as it was only 5:30 in the morning) and Ruth talked me through the daily life of a child in Uganda.  She said that growing up, she would get up at 3 am to walk to the well to fetch water, prepare the plantains for the younger children who remained at home, and then begin the 2 hour walk to school so that she could arrive before the start time of 6:30 am.  Any children who were late, previously absent, or had bad grades would beaten on their legs and Ruth said she would often wet herself before she was beaten b/c she was so afraid.  There were many children along the sides of the road as we were driving who, like the children at Another Hope, would wake up long before sunrise to make a 1-2 (and some times even 3) hour walk to school.

About an hour and a half later we arrived at the farm and I had no idea what I was about to get myself into.  For the next 2 hours, Moses and I carried huge banana tree stalks into the field to be placed into holes that had been dug by the other children who came with us.  I was completely covered from head to toe in mud but fortunately didn't get a single mosquito bite!  After that we harvested corn and then drove to another field to harvest beans.  By the end of the morning I was covered in mud and sweat and all of my clothes were dotted with long black thistles that had been picked up from unwanted weeds.  It was an incredibly rewarding experience to work alongside the children and to see how they live on a day to day basis.  I take for granted so many things at home and food is definitely one of them.  One the way back, we stopped for African pancakes, which were small deep fried disks of sweet bananas, and fresh bottled water, which was one of the best tasting things I've had since I've been here!  Then after one police check, I quickly fell asleep until we arrived at Another Hope.

One of other things I take for granted at home: running water.  When I got back I quickly filled a bucket and went to the volunteers bathroom where I spashed water on myself as best as I could to get the mud off my body and dunked my head into the bucket in an attempt to wash my hair. The rest of the day carried on like usual with lunch, afternoon naps and tea, play time, evening prayer, and dinner, and tonight for dinner, I was able help capacho (I think that's what it's called) which is like a tortilla with onion and salt

Being here has been such a growing experience.  I've really enjoyed having Francesca here to talk to as she provides me with a perspective similar to the US while still helping me see things that are unique to how I grew up.  I guess that's what most of this has been for me, putting things into perspective.  The first few days, I was adjusting to the difference in hygiene standards, with children going the bathroom on the front porch and children sitting on the ground with no pants or underwear, as well as to the difference in food (which is still a bit of an adjustment) but it has helped me to see so many positive things about both here and home that I have never seen before.  For probably the first time in my life, after doing tons of travel and being away from home for months at a time, I am actually a bit homesick (which is a weird feeling) and I am beginning to see that home isn't so bad.  I've also learned so much about my own misconceptions of need.  The people here, while the may not have a lot, are such strong, intelligent, and happy people.  They are grateful for everything they have and they're not looking for handouts or to be "Westernized."  They truly value their education and all of the people they have in their lives.  I am slowly adjusting to being here and quickly falling in love with kids (especially Mark) and with more than 3 weeks still before me, I know that I still have a lot of learning and growing to do.

A few quick prayer requests:  I have already been doing much better but the general adjustment process has been a bit tougher than I had expected.  Please pray for continued protection of my health as one of the biggest things holding me back from being more affectionate with the kids has been my worry that I might get sick (which as never been a barrier for me before).  Also for good relations with my room mate, Francesca, and for God to give me a positive attitude, a heart of love, and to teach me so so so much.  I want to learn as much as I can, both about the people here and myself, and I want to be 100% open to whatever God has for me.

Thank you so much for reading!  Know that I am thinking of you all and love you with all my heart.  Tomorrow we head to the market, Sunday is church, and Monday is back to the wonderful daily grind. :)  It is such a blessing to be here and I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity.

More to come soon!  God bless!

kids, kids, and more kids

Greetings from Uganda!  After 22 hours of travel, being side roomed going through security in Chicago, almost missing my flight in Turkey and losing my bag in Uganda, I am finally here!  Being here is like a breath of fresh air.  Everything is so simple, the people are so genuine and friendly, and the kids are beyond amazing.  Last night (or I should say earlier this morning) I was picked up by Ruth and her fiance Daniel at the airport.  I can not tell you what a relief it was to see "Jenny, USA" on the sign they were holding for me!  From there we made the hour and a half drive around the outskirts of Kampala and Lake Victoria and strangely enough spent the whole car ride listening to Rihanna and Christina Agulara.  It was difficult to gain an understanding of my surroundings through the dark but I loved simply looking at the homes we were passing on either side and seeing the twinkle of street lights and homes through the rolling hills that surrounded us.

This morning I awoke just before noon as the first group of children began coming back from their preschool, Little Stars.  This children here are so wonderful.  Each of them have such big personalities and love to be held and cuddled.  I spent most of the day playing with the kids and getting to know some of the staff as tomorrow is our first "official" day of volunteering.  Around 3 o'clock we experienced a thunderstorm like nothing I have ever seen!  The rain came flooding down from the sky and sounded more like stones on the tin roof of the volunteer dorms and children's home.  Everything was completely flooded and then, within an hour, the sun was out, the heat was back, and all that was wet was made dry again.  Soon after, another volunteer named Francesca arrived after her flight from the UK.  She is a really sweet girl and it is very reassuring to have someone else around who is just as unsure and new to this as I am.  The rest of the evening was spent playing with the kids and doing Bible study which I will most likely begin teaching tomorrow night.

Being here has truly been wonderful.  It has only been a day but I have already learned so much in the few short conversations I have had with the director, Ruth, and other staff members and I know that God still has so much to teach me.  Thank you again for all of your prayers.  My flights here went off without a hitch and I actually kind of enjoyed them (crazy huh :) ).  My internet access will be much more frequent than I thought so I should be able to write 2 or 3 times a week.  For now, know that I am safe and already feel so comfortable here.  The people are loving and hospitable and truly want to take care of us -- even though we came all this way to take care of them.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer and that God is pouring out His endless blessings into your life.  Love to you all!

up, up, and away

Well, this is it.  Less than three hours from now I will be departing from the GR airport and will be one step closer to landing in Uganda.  It still hasn’t fully hit me that I am actually leaving but I am so glad that God has calmed my nerves and filled me with joy and excitement.  For me, the hardest part is going to be these next 24 hours of travel.  As many of you know, I am not the biggest fan of flying so the 11 hour flight from Chicago to Istanbul, Turkey is going to be a true adventure but I am praying that God grants me with a mind of peace and a wonderful night of restful sleep, as I know that only He can give.  He has done so much to calm my nerves already as we were able to speak with Ruth (the director of Another Hope) on the phone this morning!  It was so great to hear her voice and to know that I will soon be meeting her at the airport in Kampala.  It all still seems so far away but I know that reality will set in soon enough. 

Thank you to everyone who has been lifting me up in prayer.  I can definitely feel your prayers with me and I know I will be needing them these next few hours and throughout the duration of my stay.  It is such a comfort to know that there are so many who have been praying and to know that each step of my journey has already been planned by God.  I don’t know how I could be going forward without the comfort of having Him with me which makes me even more excited to spread His love to those who do not know him.

Here again is my mailing address and the caution that mail is slightly unpredictable so I suggest sending things asap. :) 

Mailing address:

Nombowa Ruth Bulyaba
Executive Director
Attn: Jenny Campfield
Another Hope Children's Ministry
P.O. Box 28407
Kampala, Uganda, East Africa

Well, this is it.  My stomach is in knots and I can not wait to be on the ground permanently -- or at least for the next month. :) I would love your prayers as I fly, for safe travels through the airports, and for a safe arrival in Kampala.  I wish I had some words of wisdom to leave you with but I'm slightly nervous. :) 

Next post to come from Uganda!  Have a wonderful evening everyone!  

God bless!