and the journey continues

Life here has been pretty exciting. There have been some intense times at the home that are very aggrevating...Did I mention VERY!?! But otherwise things are good. I am really enjoying my days at the school. The children are such a joy and what an honor to have the class stand everytime I walk in and say"good morning teacher Jolene." I love when they come up and tell me about their weekends and ask for my help with their work. The other day Julia and I were walking by the school and some of my students who are boarding kids were out in the field and they yelled "Hi Teacher". We went in for a visit. Dang! Those kids are creative. With their bodies intertwined with one another they were making planes, bikes, and so much more. I was impressed!! Well I dont have much time as the children at home should be returning and I shall be going to meet them. I just wanted to update all of you out there of what has been going on here. The internet at the home is currently not working, so my internet times are scarce.

For those of you asking for specific prayer requests...

I often ask myself why things can not just be easier all the time. Then I am reminded that life for these children that I am to be loving was never easy. Last week at school a P7 boy came into my class to ask for help with his revisions on a religion exam that he took. We got into a good conversation about the exam and had the Bible open as several members of my class gathered around to listen. He heard that I was staying at Bula Children's Home and shared with me that he stays in another local children's home. Prior to coming to that home he spent 2-3 years as a street child in the slums of Kisenyi. Kisenyi is the slums where many of my friends come from as it is where the street youth that I worked with for 3 months came from. He shared about his life on the streets and how he ended up there. Then he shared how these men from this organization found him and promised him that one thing that he wanted: Education. He began school 3 years ago in P2 and is now in the top quarter of his P7 class. Stories like this make my heart smile. He invited me to come visit his home sometime and I look forward to that day. I know there is hope for these children and it's the little things that may make the difference. I just need prayer to be reminded of these things. To not get frustrated and upset. To not get discouraged. To remember that they are children.
*Prayer for my health and safety. I have been struggling with this annoying cough since I had that cold a month ago. Then on Thursday morning I was very ill with stomach cramps.
*Prayer for each child here at the home: Kenneth, Aaron, Bob, Vincent, Apizu, Arnold, Douglas, Harriet, Juliet, Sharon, Sarah, Brenda, and Lillian. (And also the secondary students away at boarding school)
*We still struggle daily with this whole children majorly disrespecting us thing.
*Prayer for the relationship between the volunteers and the uncles and matron. That we can learn to all work together in order to have the greatest impact.
Thanks to all of you who continue to pray for the work being done here in Uganda. Together we can make a difference in the lives of these children.

Sooo...What's new and exciting here in Uganda? I don't really know what to write about. I have gotten into a routine and this is now my life.The children continue to bang on our door early in the morning for vitamins and toothpaste. They are off to school by 7:30 these days. Lately we've been only having electricity for a few hours per day. Which means early to bed!!!
In an earlier blog I wrote about a boy named Douglas. He had become violent and rude to us volunteers through the weeks (along with many other children). On monday after school he told me that he was hungry. I asked him what for. Chips (french fries) and chicken of course!! I made him a deal (being the good parent that I am) if he could respect me, and I never have to yell at him for the next 2 weeks, I would buy him chips and chicken. I didn't think he would make it through the night. Well he did and he is still going strong! Last night during dinner I even asked him to fill my water and he did it with a smile. I'll keep you updated if I get a date with Douglas. I sure hope so!
This past Tuesday we traveled to the equator. It was a fun morning.We were adventurous and took public transportation hoping that we would be dropped off at the right spot. Well we were...in the middle of nowhere!! There was literally a strip of craft shops, the photo spot, and 2 cafes with mzungus everywhere. We grabbed lunch, a veggie wrap (guac. and carrots in a chapati). Upon leaving the cafe it became evident that all other mzungus had disappeared. We finished taking pictures and then prayed that a taxi would drive by that was going to Kampala with 4 seats. We hailed a taxi driving by and the first one tried to rip us off by charging us 10,000ugx. We got them down to 8,000 which I think is still getting ripped off.

A weekend away

Happy 4th of July!! This holiday weekend I got to spend with some extra special people in my life. It was such a blessing to be able to hang out with my friends at FDLM. FDLM is the children's home that I have visited the past 2 years. Paddy, one of the beneficiaries who is attending Uni in Kampala escorted us home. I was the lucky one to get the back seat with the tire under my feet for the 2 hour journey. Luckily when I exited the matatu I was able to feel my legs enough to walk to the home because as Paddy said, "we are going to use our Foot-subishi." It was a longer walk then I remembered, but maybe just because I was so excited. There was lots of time to talk to everyone and catch up with everyone. It was a blessing to be able to chat with Pastor David who always has some great advice and says what I need to hear. It's also great to joke around with him. And by the way David if you are reading this, last year Kelly and I had itchy thumbs at FDLM and this year I have the same thing again. I think it's you!! haha!
Otherwise I am starting to feel better. Just a scratchy throat with an annoying cough. I don't think the dust helps. And yesterday on our way home from Jinja we took a shortcut through Egypt. I really dont think there was any way that we were still in Uganda. There was lots of traffic going into Kampala so our taxi driver took us off the paved road through forests that I dont think Uganda even knows that they existed. I could not feel my butt, but I knew that I had to pee. Not a good combination. But as Paddy reminded us, "This is Uganda!" haha!! I love it!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that yes I am still alive and having a grand time. Thanks to everyone who asks. I truly feel loved when I sign on and have new messages and emails. Today I am home sick from school. I have been battling a cold here and yesterday I thought I was over the hump for sure as my sore throat and earache both disappeared. Of course when we were in town I did not look for cold medications. Last night I could not sleep. I just felt so rested and ready to go. This morning I awoke with the cold now moved into my chest. (and yes Kelly McGaw as I laid in bed awake coughing I kept trying to think of who it was who was worried about keeping people awake with their cough and finally I remembered. haha!) Nicola, one of the other volunteers here convinced me to stay home and rest and left me with every drug and vitamin known to man. It has really been great to have Nicola and Amy around to hang out with and pass thoughts and ideas off of. We were just speaking of how they only have like 2.5 weeks left here which is sooo sad.

Being white in an African country

So last Monday evening Julia, Amy, Nicola, and I headed out to the National Theater for music night. It was a great evening of seeing numerous friends of mine perform and catching up with everyone. Our schedule is so "busy" that it is hard to meet up with everyone so it was great to see lots of people at once. During the show this guy sat right behind me. Yes, we were seated in a LARGE grassy area and YES he chose to sit RIGHT behind me. After several minutes he tapped on my shoulder. (In my head I thought here we go again...) Then he nicely asked me my name, where we were staying, and what we were doing in Uganda. (I say we cause Julia was turned around listening at this point.) He asked how long I planned to be in Uganda doing this work. Then I turned around to listen to some more music. Several minutes later I got another tap on my shoulder. "Do you have any friends here in Uganda." Yes, i said. (All my friends were in hiding at this point, not yet arrived, on jamming on stage." The guy continues, "Do you need any more friends? I would like to be your friend. At this point JUlia turns around fast, no longer interested in snooping in the conversation. I stutter and then pause and then say nope I dont think that I do. Haha!!
The other day the four of us walked to the Nakulabye (spelling) market with several of the children. We wanted to buy some fruit to go along with dinner that evening. The whole way there (yes we took multiple Ugandan  'shortcuts') the kids told us that they knew how much everything could cost. But for some reason upon entering the market each and every one of them somehow forgot. They all went around asking the price of pineapples. I think the best price that we got was like 1500ugx or 2000ugx. I knew we were getting ripped off. So I said "we go!" As we left the one standholder apparently said that we should never come back and that we look like poop. (this was translated too. so it could have been some other words.) Cute!! Walking back home we found a lady who would sell them to us for 1000 ugx. We bought 3 from her and have already been back once for more. YUM!

The Children at BULA

It is time that I actually tell you about the 13 children that I have already come to love! Some visitors were here the other day so the kids sung and dance for them before they left. I almost had tears in my eyes thinking of how it would be on my last days. I have for some reason been given the words "please beat me" on my back. As many of the boys have thought it would be fun to constantly beat me. Seven year old Lillian is just too cute for words. Though it is hard to communicate with her, it's great to see that bright smile of hers. I have come to call her my mukwano (friend) and she lights up. Douglas (maybe 12ish) has stolen a piece of my heart. He loves to laugh and joke around (sound like anyone else you may know?!) Aaron sat down with me the other day and told me his story. His father passed away when he was seven and his mother left him, his twin brother and a younger sister at that time. His uncle brought him here. His twin and sister live alone in a hut somewhere near Jinja with an aunt that cares for them occasionally. Aaron wrote a paper for school about increasing milk production in Uganda and also increasing dairy intake among children. His paper is one of the select few from his school that will be sent for judging. There is also Kenneth. He is the headboy at the school and just a joy to have at the home. The past few days he was upset and then he was sick, so we hope he overcomes this soon.
We enjoy playing football after school (when the boys let us). Homework time is a time that I have come to enjoy. But it can also get very frustrating as the younger ones finish first and want to laugh and play, but the older ones still want silence and get upset.
Another challenge has been living in a non christian home. The values and morals that are taught here (or not taught) is just so upsetting. The children watch mtv, dirty music videos, and the other day they watched Zombieland.  I mean there is a 7 year old!!! Violence seems to be the ultimate problem solver here. Though it is often play...
We have been teaching the older guys how to treat a woman. One of them always tells us that we are beautiful, another made us all tea the other afternoon, and they are learning that "please" and "thank you" go a long way. I can not wait to experience the next several months with these kids! I think there are lots of good times to be had.