Farewell Sweet Africa...I hope to come again SOON!

    Friday was a very simple day. Josephine and I went to the market to buy beads to bring back to America. These women sit for hours and hours hand making these beads...they cut strips of magazines and roll them into magnificent beads. They are beautiful necklaces and you can purchase them from Sweet Sleep when I get home :) The profit goes straight to the children's beds, nets, and Bibles! (I know the pic is blurry...my camera has not really recovered from the fall and the "fixing" that Frank at the "camera shop" did...) but the beads and necklaces are gorgeous! So feel free to email if you like the looks...many of the necklaces we bought this time were from widows that help care for children at the orphanage. The bead making is what funds their salaries :)

Look what I found on Friday night!! My very first one the whooooole trip!!

    Saturday, Josephine wanted to take me to their "Disney World". I was very interested to see this amusement park so tonight we went...It is owned truly by Disney but is called Wonder World. They have a few water slides, the octopus, a kiddie roller coaster, pirate ship, and a few more rides. It looks similar to our state fairs but smaller still.The first thing we did was to visit the arcade and Josephine drover her very first "car". It was hilarious...she bumped into quite a few things...haha...She said she needs more practice before she tries to drive for real.

      The second thing she wanted to conquer was The Pirate Ship. She had ridden this once before and was T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D. Here is a picture of us as we got on the ride...

Ohhhh how I wish I could post videos of this because I did video Josephine during the ride. She was yelling out, closing her eyes, and calling on Jesus. She was hilarious...I am so glad I could be a part of this today.Today was Sunday, and Josephine came to pick me up for another lovely service at her church. After, we went to Ggaba Beach and had a nice lunch out by Lake Victoria. She wanted me to try their "fish and chips" before I left....now their fish is a little bit different than I'm used to...but I braved it and ate. Here is a photo to help you imagine...

And a photo of us post-lunch...I survived...

    Well enough of my fun days, I do have some stuff that I feel God has laid on my heart as my last weekend in Africa. I have learned so much from the people here and the people from other countries I've met. Since the beginning of the time with Blessed Hope, I have wanted to keep the experience alive when I return to the States. I don't want to take for granted what the children have taught me...their true, emotional worship. They seek God, call on Him, and truly trust Him for each and every need. Do I live like that? Do I trust God for what I need or for the future...or do I try to take care of things on my own? I know the answer I'd like to have but don't really...I had hoped this trip would slow me down and truly open my eyes.
   I have been reading the book "The Shack" (yes I am behind on up-to-date books), but I truly think it could not have come at a more opportune time. I won't ruin the book if you haven't read it...but it just sheds such a different light on the way I view God. It is hard for me to treat Him as a tangible "papa" as the character of the book calls Him. In one part of the book, the character is talking to God about his family when he realizes ohhh you already know all this God...God quickly informs him that when He is listening to our prayers He does not think about what He is Almighty knows but just truly listens...much like when you speak with a child you bring yourself to a child's level. God truly wants us to talk to Him daily about anything and everything.
    Their was a large group that stayed at the Adonai house last night, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to their worship and share time. One of the men shared about how as the team got ready to leave...most people want to pray "Please Lord don't let me forget this trip and all that I have learned and how my heart has been changed..." when really, we should not treat this as a beginning and end of a trip but rather just part of our journey. We pray that our heart should be ready for these trips...but just the same we should pray for our hearts as we return. He shared about the parable of the sower: the first seed was eaten by the birds, the second seed was planted on rocky soil and had no roots, the fourth seed was on good soil and grew, but the third seed was most like our hearts now...a seed that was sewn among weeds and thorns. The weeds and thorns are compared later in the parable to the worries of this life and deceitfulness of wealth. I hope to take this lesson to heart as I prepare to return home.
   I know that I will never forget the new friends I made on my Sweet Sleep team or the opportunities I was given in Kampala. I know the sweet joyful faces of the children will not leave my memory anytime soon...but I hope that I am constantly reminded of the true worship that I found here. I hope to start my weeks and days with looking for opportunities in Nashville to serve Jesus and not go back to may ways of selfishness which I know will be far too easy for me. Anytime you remember...pray for Africa and Uganda, that the people will continue to see God's presence and build hope in their lives. Pray for the children at these sweet orphanages as they learn great things...and specifically for after their school years when life becomes even harder for many as they are faced with where to go and what to do.

Matthew 12:34b "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." My question to myself is, "What am I filling my heart with daily?" I know from heart flows my words and comes my actions, and I hope that they will become pleasing to God.

Little Mahad :)

   Today I got the pleasure of meeting Mahad. He is a little boy from African Greater Life Orphanage and Academy. A friend of Jen's helps to sponsor his needs. He is only 3 years old...doesn't speak any English but is precious! Josephine and I escorted him to the doctor today to get him a check up! I purchased him a Fanta and a cake...I don't think he gets these treats very often. It was precious to see how eager he was to eat and drink! Here are a few pics! This is a widow from the orphanage that cares for Mahad. He even helped carry the purse when we left the doctor..how precious!

Please pray for my last few days, that God will lead me in anything He has left for me. I know I am going to miss this place terribly when I come home. I want to make as much of a difference as I can. Please pray for the children of the schools, for the teachers and mothers who give their time to help raise them, for Josephine and her wonderful family (she has made all of the difference in Sweet Sleep and with me), and finally for me as I prepare to leave. :) Thank you all!!

Only 4 Days Left....

   Yesterday was my last day at Blessed Hope. I started my morning off with the baby class. They are just so adorable and are filled with joy. I hope to never forget their bright smiles and sweet nature. After lunch, I taught math to the P4 class (4th grade). We worked on word problems :) It was so fun! I hope I didn't confuse them too much. As I looked around that day, I just prayed that God will allow me to keep the memories of them close to my heart and that I will not just think about them, but also allow them to change my life. I have so much at home that I take for granted...I hope to come back from Africa with a new out look on the opportunities and possessions I'm allowed to have in this world. I took some photos today of the children and their activities. I hope you enjoy.

I think the picture above and below are great images for Sweet Sleep. :)

Some more photos of the kids below working in class when I was teaching word problems in math...

The last thing I wanted to share about Blessed Hope is just a little bit more about the children there and their daily lives. I really hope to never take for granted all the choices I get every day and opportunities I am given. In the morning, students started with a little posho that is watered down kind of like porridge (around 10 am) and then lunch is served at 1 pm. They will also eat posho with beans for lunch.

For dinner, they have the same and on Sundays they are able to eat meat.  The children help fetch water about a half mile away for each meal and then for washing/bathing at the end of the day. These are some of the photos I took of them on the last day. Some of my sweet older boys turn to get the water!

They are also very creative in their free time. They create wonderful toys such as the soccer ball below (out of plastic bags and rubber bands) and the doll (made out of banana leaves).

They are such sweet children, and I hope they will be in your prayers as well. :) Farewell Blessed Hope...I do hope I have the opportunity to come back and visit next year!

   Today, we visited the two orphanages that Sweet Sleep gave beds to last year. It was interesting to see the differences in the various orphanages and where they are located. I took a truly death defying boda boda ride to one of the orphanages today...apparently he thinks mzungus should be able to hang on and ride like true Ugandans. I survived thankfully...but not without some praying during the trip....especially when I noticed one of his handles break mid-ride(I thought it was the brake...turned out it was the clutch...but still...kind of freaked me out). Only 4 more days of boda bodas, great scenery, and precious children!

A Weekend in Africa

    Saturday was a super fun day! I went to Adrift and picked up our white water rafting video and picture CD...here's a few awesome photos to look at! We white water rafted the Nile River Saturday the 19th. 8 of the team members went along:
Boat Order: In the boat on the left side front to back: Stuart, me, Rachel, Peggy
In boat on the right side front to back: Gary, Abigail, Darlene and Audra
What a great experience...gorgeous landscape, fun rapids and even some monkeys!

Just a few of the very fun photos!! On Saturday, Josephine wanted me to have some fun so we went to the Uganda museum first. It was interesting to get to see some of the history of Uganda. Next, we rode a taxi to Entebee and went to the zoo. I was able to pet a rhinoceros haha...I was interested to see their zoo since I feel like so many animals wander the streets...monkeys, goats..you know! Haha...Here is a picture of Josephine and me at the zoo!

Here is also my promised picture of me on a boda boda....I LOVE them!

They are so easy to zip in and out of traffic in...I love it! (maybe slightly dangerous...haha)
After the zoo, Jospehine took me to the beach since my family was in Destin and I missed out. The "beach' is the coast line of Lake Victoria...it has sand and waves...so it works :) Here are some pics!

We had a wonderful Saturday...but an even better Sunday! Josephine invited me to attend church with her and then eat lunch with her family! Worship in Uganda is very different. The people are just so passionate...there is a lot of singing, dancing, and more...most of the singing was in Luganda..but they do sing one song I know..."Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah...Praise ye the Lord!" The whole congregation actually divides into men and women and sit and stand! I participated!! As far as the sermon, they had two preachers...one speaking Luganda and one English...I couldn't understand either..they might as well have been speaking both in a foreign language, but it was still lovely!

Our Sunday meal was also wonderful. Here are some pictures of her lovely family and me :)

What a wonderful family and new friends :) They were such gracious hosts! And lunch was yummy too!!

Today was Monday, and we headed back out to Blessed Hope. Remember the taxis I talked about? Legally are supposed to hold 14...at one point on the way we had 26 people in it...yes you heard me right...26. 21 adults and 5 children...if I could've taken a discrete photo I would have but it just wasn't a possibility...needless to say I was very squished. I taught Grade 5 math this morning. We working on finding the area of rectangles and triangles. This afternoon I was working on grammar with Grade 7. I got to teach them something they didn't know today! Analogies! It was so fun...they really enjoyed it :) I am so thankful to have had those children in my life...they have forever changed my outlook on life and I hope to go home with just a little bit of their joy and love. Here's some action shots of today's lessons.

We had a good time...after class today, I got to see a very hilarious site. I was informed by Josephine that sometimes they cannot afford to have moving trucks to move people. They actually use boda bodas...I could not help to take a picture of this and laugh hysterically. Can you imagine the talent this takes?

Thanks to everyone for reading and all the prayers so far! I can't believe I leave here one week from today. Time has flown for sure. Tomorrow I return for my last day at Blessed Hope. I know my heart is going to break leaving those sweet faces behind!

Blessed Hope = Love of my Life

    First, I'll start with an update on Ivan. If you didn't get a chance to read that part of an earlier blog. He was a little 6 year old boy that Jen, Gary, Josephine, and I happened upon when we arrived in the subcounty of Gulu. He had epilepsy and had fallen into the boiling water and fire the day before. The mother who spoke no English had no money or means of transportation. The boy had received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on over half of his small little body. I am so thankful that we arrived when we did. Jen and Gary quickly said they would pay for anything he needed and sent him in a vehicle to the hospital. As for the update...he is now doing much better. He is able to use his arm and has been able to open his eye that was so badly burned! Thank you for all your prayers!
    Today, I went back to Blessed Hope. I can't remember if I shared this or not..but the children don't say "Ms. Amanda"; they always call women Auntie Amanda and they call men Uncle 'insert name'. It was so wonderful getting to see all their smiling faces and here "Good morning Auntie Amanda" They just get so excited :)
    Flexibility is a key word here in Africa. Instead of teaching math, I worked with the baby class today teaching about animals. I was helping them draw the various animals and talk about the sounds and names...apparently I am an artist over here in Africa. The teacher asked if she could keep my drawings and laminate them for the baby class to use over the next couple of years. For a good laugh...here are the drawings...

    Are those not the most hilarious things you've ever seen? I guess I will be leaving behind some artistic drawings...haha. Here is a photo of the baby class in action...

     Our team was able to take digital photos of all of the children and get them printed at a shop here in Kampala. The children really don't get a chance to see themselves very often and I had the great joy of passing out the photos to the baby class. They could not stop giggling...

    I have enjoyed every moment of my time there, and I can't wait to get back on Monday. I want to get an opportunity to spend more time getting to know some of these children's stories. Today, I was able to really talk to a boy named Ben. He is from Northern Uganda. This is the area that was struck so harshly by the LRA during the warfare. Ben shared with me that he was in fact victim of the warfare. At the age of 5 his home was raided during the night and his father was shot. His mother was killed shortly after that. Ben was living as an orphan at a church at the age of 10 when Pastor Joel (the founder of Blessed Hope) brought him to the school He has lived there ever since. He does have two brothers that still live with his grandmother in Northern Uganda and gets to see them on some holidays. Ben is a wonderful boy and so deeply in love with God. Please pray that overtime Ben will be healed like only God can heal. I will be returning on Monday to the orphanage to help with math and hopefully learn more about the children there.
    Tomorrow is Saturday, and Josephine and I will be going to the zoo and the Uganda museum. Since I have seen so many animals on the side of the road, I am very interested to see this zoo! I am getting the opportunity to attend church on Sunday with Josephine and eat lunch with her family!
     To end the blog, I'll show you what the inside of a taxi looks like on my way to the orphanage and on the way home (aka around 2 hours worth...)

Buuuuut tonight I got to end my day with a little taste of home (Josephine is amazing and took me here for dinner so I could "not feel homesick!" she said....she rocks!!) PIZZA!