So I have not updated this thing in FOREVER!...I know. I have been thinking the past couple of days about what I could write about and I still have nothing, but don't fret I am going to write anyways. Life has been kind of slow here with not much exciting happening. But this weekend I am traveling to Rwanda with a good friend of mine, Abbey. He has family there and has not seen them for some time and I need to escape Uganda in order to be able to stay. So we are a perfect traveling pair. We will be staying with his family and friends and living the local life. I am excited about this.
I have been sick a lot recently. Two days of some stomach virus/food illness followed by a week of a bad cold with some other things mixed in there. I still have a small throat tickle cough, but it is so much better than it was and I can actually get some sleep at nights.
Life at home is good. Everyone is always busy and nobody is ever really around except to sleep. The past couple weeks some of them have been taking a day to hang out with me which has been nice. I love these guys so much, though they make me mad at times. But, hey! that's what brothers do. Last week Ronnie's younger brother came to stay for the week while he was on holiday. He's like 12 years old, great kid. We enjoyed hanging out, watching movies, cooking for each other, eating hamburgers and chips. I loved when I left for some time and came back and he came out of the house with a big smile to greet me and welcome me home. I now have internet on my phone thanks to him (that means fb too!!)  and some more movies downloaded onto ronnie's laptop that I can take to my room and watch. What a genius!!
Bula I guess is good. I sent them an sms today saying that I was coming and they responded that today was not a good day. WEIRD!! But that gave me some time to catch up on some other things. I will head over there some evening this week They have been struggling to collect enough money to feed the children which makes me worry since all of the children will soon be on holiday. Please pray that funds do come through for them. However last week when I was over someone had donated meat...i mean MEAT. There was meat of all kinds being prepared all day and everyone wanted me to try theirs. It was good, but that was enough meat for me for some time.
This past week I have had some good times and great conversations with the children in the community where I stay. I love that they all come running every time that they see me come and go and that they enjoy coming into the compound and playing with me.
I have not spent much time in Kisenyi recently. I hope to be able to get back there this week. The friends that do the children's program on Saturdays has been struggling to raise the funds to pay of the debt to the playground where they have their weekly meetings.
In other news, the mouse that has been tormenting me in my room for the past week is longer there as of this afternoon!! This stupid (very) little guy was good at hiding. I mean my bedroom has a bed and my three suitcases. Not a lot of places to hide. But he managed. Last night was it for me. I got so tired of the guys saying 'tomorrow, tomorrow'. So I had Ben come back to my room with me and try to murder the thing before bed...with no luck. We even carried suitcases outside and emptied them (this was around midnight). Nothing!! Until I lay down and then he scurries all around and up the headboard. So today I was getting lunch out of the food suitcase when guess who popped his head out. I shut it quick and yelled for Collins, a friend of the guys who was over at the time, and he admitted that he was scared of mice himself. haha! I closed that suitcase and took it outside and poked around until that booger finally POPPED out. I screamed, Collins laughed and what a glorious celebration it was.

Mama, do you love me?

Hmmm. What to say? Days here have become life. Never anything new and exciting, just the day to day business of life. Last week I spent the day on the set of a music video (I'll have to let you know if I made the final cut). I had a day of great conversations with some young adult guys in Kisenyi. It started by them asking if I wanted to smoke some ganja or cigarettes with them. To which I always respond, "I value my life and breathing too much." Some of them became curious if I really believed that smoking ganja would kill them. I responded, "slowly , but surely." One became very concerned saying that he looks after several young children and does not want to kill himself. We had a great chat about the reason that he smokes is because of the troubles that he went through as a child. When he's idle he has vivid images flashing through his mind of the trauma that he has been through and smoking helps him forget for the time being. Another man, Papa, interrupted, he's madly in love with me...love at first sight WHITE for him. He tells me that he smokes 45 joints a day and the only way that he would stop is if I promised him my love. REAL love. Sex and kissing. "Mama, I love you" over and over. Poor papa. All that I could do (and everyone else present) was laugh hysterically, but he was serious and getting quite upset. Mzungus have such an easy life. I have never had difficulties in life. I must be rich if I could afford a plane ticket to Uganda.
Some people here don't want to hear it. I am not saying by any means that his life is easy. But maybe if he wasn't sitting around idle with the guys all day every day smoking ganja, he could make something of it. He told me he started smoking because of hunger pains at around the age of 12. As a street child, no one ever offered him food. He said he wanted to know how he could quit. I suggested cutting back to 35 joints a day and using the money saved to buy a hot meal for a street child every day. So that he could help someone out of the cycle as he helps himself. To which he responded that I don't live a hard life. everything that I ever had was handed to me. "Mama, do you love me?" Ummm...No!

Greetings friends and family! I am sure that you have been missing me because I have been missing you! It's hard to find time to get to the internet cafe these days. Mostly cause when I am seriously bored that means the power is out which also means no internet. Anyways, life here is fantastic. Time is going soo fast. I can hardly believe that I've been here for 4 months. I have become really good at enjoying my alone time. I feel that is using the times to help me grow. I know that by being forced to travel teh city alone, eating alone, and being home alone has made me become more independent. I am really enjoying the new me.
On Saturday mornings I have been volunteering with friends of mine and their NGO Youth with a Vision (Sound like something you've heard before?!) They reach out to the street children in the slums and have recently been asked to work with the community children as well. It excites me to see their project grow. Saturdays they share the word and a meal with the boys and then they all play football. They have a new clubhouse where they are able to teach the kids craft and where they house a few boys. These boys can bring the biggest smile to my face.
This particular week the ice cream man was around and a few of the children got some ice cream. One kids fell right off his cone and he through the cone down too and jumped up and down and yelled -If only I understood Luganda- but he was MAD! Another kid came by and picked up the cone and scooped up the ice cream not physically touching the ground an enjoyed. Another boy came along bent down on all fours and licked the ice cream off of the ground turned and saw me and wiped his mouth have with his shirt and quickly got up and came over to give me the biggest hug. As he did, he whispered in my ear, "It's been so long since I have tasted ice cream." He had the biggest grin on his face!!
THis past week I was taken to the part of the slums where these street children stay. My friends escorted me after lunch. I was speechless and quite frankly uncomfortable. The boys were all sniffing as I was informed that they would be. They each have a ball of paper or a piece of a plastic bag with a smell similar to petrol. The smell itself was overwhelming, let alone the sight of 50-60 street kids high. To be honest I was ready to leave at first sight. The pain that I was feeling was so much. Everyone was running towards me "MZUNGU!!" giving me hugs, informing me that they are hungry, need a roof over their head, and wanted an education more than anything. One boy-about 10 years old- clearly hungry, came to me and offered me half of his samosa and insisted that I eat it. It didnt matter how many times I said no...I was going to have to eat it! A girl about 14 years old wanted me to take her young baby and raise it. It's not the first time that I have been asked to do this, but every time it is still just as shocking.
Did I mention that it was pouring all afternoon and I was freezing cold being in my friends room.?! The children were starting fires to keep warm as they wore rags and many of them did not have a pair of shoes to put on their feet.
God has called me to love these children. I know that they are a big part of why I am here. Please pray that I learn how I can best help these kids. If you are interested in helping in any way let me know.

The business meeting...

So many things to share and yet I'd have to write a novel to share it all. I had an entire entry written up last week to share here, but so much has happened since then. So just to catch everyone up on my life here (those of you not on facebook...that's you Willow Valley folks!!) Julia had to fly home last Tuesday morning for surgery. She has been having horrible cramps/pains and finally got the diagnosis that she had to have her gall bladder removed. So now it's just me. I am sure that there are going to be moments when it takes all that I have not to go to the internet cafe to look up plane tickets to come home, but for now I am fine.
So tuesday through Fridaay I lived the village life with my friend James. His aunt died from cancer (please pray for the 2 young children that she left behind.) and James' sister and her husband traveled to the burial. So James and I stayed at their place to care for their children. It was a great few days and it definitely kept me busy. One day while 2 of the kids were at school James and I watched Crash followed by Drop Dead Gorgeous. His choices. Could the day have gotten any better?!
On Saturday morning I ran around Ntinda town in the pouring down rain trying to find an atm that would spit some money out at me. Good times... That afternoon I had thoughts about what am I really doing here. Sometimes I feel like I am just here living my life, hanging out. That was not MY plan. That morning I was supposed to go tot the slums of Kisenyi and do a children's program, but it was canceled due to the rain. It seems that everything I get excited about with kids something happens that I can't go. Anyways, James asked me if I wanted to go to a business meeting with him that evening. Originally when he asked I left it up in the air if I was going. But when the time came to go the power at home was out and I would have been home alone. (nothing like going to bed at 7 when it gets dark!). So I opted to go the business meeting. It started out as a typical evening (for Uganda) waiting an hour for the business man to arrive (we were an hour late ourselves). James' uncle introduced James to this business guy. The business man's wife stays in Kabale, where James' family stays.  Then he wasn't satisfied with the place we chose so we boarded a taxi and went 5 minutes down the street (apparently the 'rich' here can't walk!) We went to some nice hotel, ordered dinner, but then the man got pissed cause the prices in the menu changed (typical in Uganda) and they did not have fish and chips on the menu. they were both sold ala carte but of course he wanted on one plate and he should not have to pay for two ala carte things cause the price includes 2 plates to clean, more service, etc. Hilarious!! So we left there too. We found some random young adult guy on the road just chatting with his friends and the business guy asked him where a place to eat was. This young man showed us the way and then was invited to join us. So we all began chatting. The business man shared that he pays many kids school fees and offered this young guy the opportunity to go back and finish school.  The business man paid and then told us that we were all going back to his house. When we arrived we all sat in the living room watching music videos on tv (i wish you could all experience this...Uganda music videos). The man called James out to another room leaving me and the young adult guy in the room. The business man was apparently making beds cause we were all now spending the night. I thought this was weird, but I am in Uganda. Well James came out with a look on his face of fear and told me to pretend I was on the phone and to tell the business man that I had to go that a friend had an emergency. The tone in his voice was one of those where you don't ask questions and just obey. Thoughts were running through my mind...what happened back there?! I assumed this guy wanted to sleep with me and offered James money to do so. I was freaked out!! So both the guys escorted James and I out. It took a long time to get bodas and probably felt longer cause I had no idea what was going on. When we got on the boda james was talking to the driver. He was getting all emotional. I had no idea what he was saying. Finally he told me. The 'business' man was gay. He apparently was trying to get all over James and kissed him.
James was so upset, obviously. He couldn't stop thanking me for coming along and saving him. I have not stopped praying for the young man. I wonder if the business man pays school fees in exchange for sex. James has been talking to everyone to find a way to stop this guy. Please pray that we are able to stop him in a manner that is safe for us and everyone involved. Once again, not MY program and not a normal story. But it happened here in Uganda.

Greetings from Uganda!!! Just wanted to say hello to everyone since it's been some time. Our internet stick is no longer working and so we are back to internet cafes. I have nothing prepared to write here today and only a short time left so this will be nothing special. Things have been going really well here. We've been super busy this week. Last weekend we were at FDLM in Jinja. (Have I told you lately how awesome those kids are!!) Every minute there was amazing and I was not ready to leave. We traveled home on Monday and spent the evening at home relaxing. On Tuesday I spent the day in Kisenyi with friends and all the cute kids. Of course I got some of the world's best orange juice and the best matoke, rice and gnut sauce in town. Delicious! Yesterday I spent the day at Bula.. The primary kids were able to go to school yesterday (1.5 weeks late-they are able to begin school without paying their fees). The secondary kids are still waiting for their school fees. Pray that the school fees will come in soon. They have been really down and out and can not wait to get back to school. I will definitely miss them when they are gone. There were a lot of good, deep chats yesterday as it was just them and I at the home for most of the afternoon. When the primary kids got home from school we began making chapati and rolex for dinner. This process took till about 11:30pm. It was a late dinner and an even later boda ride home. 

From Boring to Exciting

Yesterday started out as any other boring Saturday does.  At breakfast Julia was asking if I would go to Game (a walmart-ish store) with her as she has never been and wanted out of the house. I told her that I wanted to clean the room and get packed for Jinja first and then we would see what time it was. (Breakfast here is typically at 11-noon).  I went back to the room and started packing some clothes. I realized that there must have been more dirty clothes than I realized. So I grabbed a few dirty shirts and washed them in the bathroom. Since I was in the groove I washed some more and then some more. I took them outside to hang up on the line and after putting a few shirts up I realized it was breezier than I thought. So I called to Julia to pass me the clothespins that I had brought. (I had yet to use these so I was VERY excited about this). Now the wash lines are over the compost pile and there is high weeds all around. So it took me some time to maneuver around. Well about halfway through I felt something under me give way and before I knew it my feet were wet and then my calves.  I didn’t even think about what I had just fallen into- all that I knew is my flip flop was coming off and I wanted it and my legs to come out of the hole. Upon climbing out I immediately smelt the odor- sewer!! I began walking towards the house wondering how I was going to get by the two girls who were visiting and back to the bedroom to wash off and give Julia a good laugh. Then I realized that my right arm was kind of numb and I did not like bending it. I looked at my elbow and it looked different. I called out to Julia and then the pain started.  I quickly got into the tub and she splashed me with bottled water to get the nastiness off of me and then she helped me change my pants.  We called Ronnie to come with the car and within minutes we were off to the hospital.

                Every bump I felt this pain that was almost unbearable. Along the way Julia reaffirmed me that she had brought food  cause she didn’t know how long we would be at the hospital. I asked what she had and she states, “Swedish fish and biscuits (cookies)”. LOL! Upon arrival to the hospital Julia helped me fill out some basic paperwork and then I was taken to a bed where I was given “painkillers”. They had no water so good thing Julia had some in her bag. Julia was all concerned that I needed to eat something so that the painkiller on an empty stomach would not make me sick. I reassured her that I was still full from breakfast.

                Within minutes I was sent to get xrays. I waited for little time when my doctor came and gave me some paperwork and the bill and said I had to go pay for the xrays before I had them done.  We explained to the men at the desk that I had insurance and they said I had to pay in cash and then my insurance company would reimburse me. Good thing I went to the back just a day or two before! I got the xrays and then back to my bed with the results I was sent. The nurse came and rubbed bengay on my arm and put me in a splint (think guaze). I was informed that it was a sprain and to keep something cold on it to reduce the swelling –(This is Uganda-I don ‘t think ice packs exist!) I have to return Tuesday morning to see a specialist. We were handed the bill and sent to the pharmacy to pick up some meds. Upon reading the bill it was determined that the “painkillers” given to me upon arrival was ibuprofen. LOL!

                We left jumped on some bodas and were off to a really good Ethiopian restaurant that we found a month before (Thanks Melissa for the suggestion). We had goat and then we ordered a cheap garden salad ($1.25) just cause I have had a salad craving since I got to this country. It was huge and amazing!! It had rained during our meal and so we waited to get some bodas home. We fought for a fair price, but never got it. Good thing- cause it started raining again. We stood around and then went into a cheap supermarket to look for a cheap plastic bag to put the xrays in so they would not get wet. Inside we found so many deals. Pasta cheaper than we get at our local supermarket, alfredo sauce (about to expire) cheap, peanut butter and then we found the dvds and there was LOST!! We purchased season 1 for a mere $1.50 and if it works well. Season 6 and Part 1 and 2 of the final season are awaiting my return.

                As I type this my elbow feels so much better. I don’t really know what pain meds they have me on. But I can feel my fingers again and the swelling in my hand has gone down. Now the elbow feels severely black and blue and it is swollen still. But the fact that I can bend it and move it around it is progress enough.

I love my life!!

Making Memories. Lives Changed.

Here I am sitting in Uganda, Africa. I feel that I am home.  I can truly say that at this point. Sure I miss America. Mostly I miss the people involved in my life there. Sometimes (okay…quite often) I dream of one of my mom’s home cooked meals. I miss receiving a weekly paycheck so that I don’t have to feel guilty about spending money.  But what I miss most is the moments that I am missing. The memories that never were and never will be because I am not there. Such as RCM 2011, hurricanes at the beach, my best friend Madeleine growing up, game nights, family trips to the cabin, and so much more. When Ugandan  friends ask me what I am thinking about (which is all the time) it is typically this. It is how different my life would be right now if I were not here. BUT I am here. I am enjoying a world of moments that so many will never take the opportunity to make. I am making friends that I know will last a lifetime. Through God in my life I am impacting the lives of many as they impact mine.

I sit here alone in my room watching the storm outside my window listening to worship music and reflecting.  These (almost) three months have changed me. I feel like I am a stronger person. A person willing and able to stand up for what I believe is right. A person who understands more and more how much culture impacts who you are and how experiencing another can make you stop and think about what you have thought all your life is right because of what your culture tells you is right. And then when you are in another who thinks differently…are you wrong? Or are they? OR are you both wrong?

I often reflect on ‘why am I here?’ Am I really doing anything? Am I making a difference? Is this all worth my time and your money? I still have a peace that I am where God wants me to be. I don’t want to doubt him anymore. I want faith that can move the mountains. Maybe I am not here to move mountains, but overcome a lot of hills. These past few weeks there have been a lot of these ‘hills’. It’s been challenging not having that ONE organization to fit with here anymore and instead going here and there every day.

*it was a blessing to be here when my friend Ronald died. It was good to be able to be with his family on that day. It was great to have been able to see him once again this year. Sure I wish I would have taken the time out of my “busy life” to hang out with him when he called wanting to be the first friend to come visit me in Namirembe.

* Then it was clearly a God moment that I was here to pay Abbey’s medical bill. His family and friends were wailing , watching the one that they love slowly die. I mean that’s what was happening. He was sitting in a clinic, internally bleeding not wanting to “bother” me.  I am grateful that he is still around to hang out with. I know that I hold tightly onto money and it was a growing experience for me to let go.

*Then the other night when I arrived home at dark, I was locked out. Five of the kids that live in the house across the street came over and asked if they could hang out with me because they were scared. They were home alone with a teenage cousin who was abusing them and trying to scare them. W e hung out and I learned about who they were and we had some good laughs. Even after Julia arrived home I stayed out with them into their mom got home from the salon.

*Yesterday I went back to the house that I stayed in my first time to Uganda. I was able to spend some quality time with the now youth that I lived with. It was great to catch up on life with them. When we were headed to town 2 others who stay there were also going. We joined and went together. I asked them to join us for lunch. We all had chips and chicken with a Mirinda Fruity. The bill came to about $10 for the four of us. They were sooo thankful. It’s the simple things.

My prayer today is that I continue to walk where He leads me. That I will be willing to answer to His calling. I have not written this so cry out ‘why am I here?’ I LOVE it here. I am glad that I am here. I want others to be able to experience this with me. That is why many of you I always ask when are you coming. I am so glad that Julia is able to experience this with me. It’s always easier when you have a friend by your side.