Preschool and thankfulness

The first week of preschool is already fun and successful and I am thankful for that in just the first two days. The most rewarding thing to see and hear is the sweet prayer that comes out of the children. The first challenge will be separating the children by skill level. Right now we have them separated by age - 3's, 4's and 5's - however, some 3's are ready to move up or down, etc. The children love learning. We have written a curriculum titled "God's Creation" and basing it on the 7 days of creation. The children will learn shapes, numbers and colors as well as the Bible Stories of each day.

They are quick learners! Today the older children remembered the answers to many of the questions I asked about Genesis 1: 1-5. They also love playtime outside and it is almost as fun to watch the mamas and auntees play as it is to watch the children. We played duck, duck, goose and talked about circles and running around the circle and one of the little boy's tagged his mama. She got up and ran around laughing and yelling "circle, circle, circle" just like the children were doing and then tagged another auntee!

One of the crafts that the children did was cutting up yellow pieces of paper and then glue them into a circle to create the sun. Some looked like circles, some looked like mosaic abstract art but all of the little artists knew the difference between the darkness and the light, between black and yellow and even that the light represents God. My little students are Ugandan genuses, but I am probably biased! A simple star sticker each day encourages them to be obedient and we are treating the 3 kids each week with the most stars to a ride into town on a boda boda to get ice cream.

During lunch I visited with Mama Cook and helped her sort rice (or pretended to help - I really am so slow at it compared to her) but it gives me the opportunity to talk about our beliefs. She is a converted Muslim and says that she knows Jesus is her Lord and Savior. She made African Tea today for me and it is the best in Uganda! She loves making it for all the HEAL teams. She is a special lady and I'm thrilled we will be laughing and cooking in Heaven together!

After lunch and naptime, we surprised the children with all the dress up clothes. Outside playtime has never been more colorful and fun to watch! There were firemen, princesses, spiderman, cowboys, Yoda, spacemen and many more little colorful imaginative creatures running around having a fun time. Watching the children play made me aware of all that I am thankful for. The children are so happy and loved and I am thankful.

I am thankful that there are places that allow children to be adopted. I am also thankful for places that allow children to stay in their own country to grow up and make a difference. I am thankful for places here that help families stay together. God is showing me that all these situations are right and perfect. He decides the plan for all of us. And I am thankful that I do not have to figure it out.

I am so thankful tonight that there are places here working with 14 year old girls having babies. Babies having babies and nowhere to turn.......this continues to bother me. I am thankful that I am able to help the girls at Canaan learn about purity and that it is perfectly okay to have a menstrual cycle and deliver something so easy to get as kotex pads. I am thankful that my eyes are opened here every single day. I am thankful for everything that has happened in my life to get me to this point - good and bad. I am thankful that God has taught me how to live through trials and that my weaknesses are okay because He makes me stronger. I feel closest to God here because I know that I am in His plan and I feel lifted up because of everyone's prayers.

“Unless a life is lived for others, it is not worthwhile”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta “We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.” – Corrie Ten Boom "Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart" – Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

Splashing the Saturday away!

oday is very hot in Jinja. Many locals are very frustrated with the power situation. It seems that the power is on for 12 or so hours and then off for 12 or more hours. There are rumors that it will be moving to some days having 24 hours on and 24 hours off. Businesses (especially supermarkets and restaurants) will be most effected by this. I don't really understand the reason but praying that this will be resolved soon! I ate something that did not agree with me today........probably due to food sitting for so long and probably due to my puny immune system getting adjusted to Uganda!

After visiting the Canaan Children's Home again today, I left forgetting that I even felt bad and was glad that I went. The children were so excited and the teenagers are very excited about starting a Bible Study each week. All of the kids had just finished lunch and were cleaning the dishes and drying out corn to mash and make pocio. The Canaan Children's Home and the Canaan School both have a fresh coat of paint and looks very nice!

I talked with one young man that we have built a relationship with the last couple of years named John. He is 18 years old and attends a boarding school now. He no longer resides at Canaan but came out to visit with me today. His story of education desires and wanting to be a doctor encouraged me. He is very bright and has a strong passion for the Lord. I asked him if he needed anything at school and he said he needed a pillow. Most 18 year old boys would ask for many things but probably not a pillow. John has polio and never uses it as an excuse. He is a determined young man that has a positive story of how a Ugandan orphanage served him well.

I was glancing at Robert washing dishes after his meal and just watched him and another little boy for a few minutes. I thought about how responsible they are at such a young age and how content they were in their situation. Then, just as I was thinking that, Robert started splashing the water up and then on his friend! I guess that ole saying "boys will be boys" is true everywhere! No matter where children are on this earth, they are all the same. They love to play and they all need Jesus! Robert splashed away for several minutes on a hot Saturday afternoon until his Auntee caught him and then he went back to being a responsible little boy washing dishes.

I learn alot from the children at Canaan. They teach me more than I feel like I ever teach them. They are determined; they love to learn; they are responsible; they love to play; they help each other out and they love hearing about the many stories in the Bible. Their passion for life is one that will stay with me all of my days.

We ended up with a goat and a chicken!

I went to Mbale Monday and Tuesday which is about 2 to 2 -1/2 hours from Jinja. David drove me, Helen and Sarah (known as Mama Cook at Amani). Sarah and I have been planning this for literally about one year. She has wanted me to visit her home village and meet her mother and to see that there are needs in her home area. We left Monday afternoon and spent the night at a guest house in town. Sarah's mother is a widow and lives in a village about 30 minutes from Mbale town and we headed there Tuesday morning. I found her mom full of life and smiles and hope and her neighbors (which consists of family and friends) were helping her with her headdress to greet us as we walked up. The ladies were busy preparing a feast (and that is NOT an exaggeration) because they knew that their guests were arriving. It was so sweet to see how excited the entire family was to see Sarah and her new friends. We were seated in their precious humble home and greeted by everyone with smiles and excitement. All of the neighbor's children were peeking in the windows and the doors because a muzungu was visiting their village!





I presented them with two pineapples and in typical Ugandan style, they were the first things cut up and prepared for our table. Ugandans are very hospitable and eager to serve. We were served hot tea to drink slowly because they love to sit and talk and laugh. They served us fruit and bread and then rice, matooke (similar to plantains), beef and chicken.


Sarah showed us around her mother's compound and inside the home where she sleeps. Her mother is pictured sitting on her bed in her bedroom. Sarah's dream is to help her mother finish her house in the next two years. She needs a bed and new netting. And, yet she does not feel as though she needs anything. She has a small piece of land that contains many banana trees, avocado trees, papaya trees and matooke trees. I thought that I would go and visit her and learn the needs (and there are many all around) but I really learned more from her. Life should be simple so that the focus is correct and joy should be found in all circumstances.




After brunch with our new friends, the ladies danced and sang for us. I had so much fun watching and laughing and clapping with them. They were so cute: every lady wanted me to film them and to see their picture! They then wanted me to dance with them and we all laughed and had fun. I knew that I could not even come close to dancing the African dances but I was willing to at least try to show respect. They then surprised us all with a gift that I could not believe. Sarah's mother walked in with a goat and then the neighbor walked with a chicken! They wanted us to drive them back to Jinja but we worked it out for Sarah's son (Omar pictured with her) to drive them back the next day. Sarah decided that the goat should be fattened the next few months and then cooked for the grand opening of the new baby home for Amani Baby Cottage! We hope to start a chicken coop so that Amani can have plenty of eggs at the new home. I actually felt bad accepting a goat and a chicken from this sweet elderly widow, but I knew that it would be disrespectful not to accept them. Sarah told me she was so excited that we visited her home and I was so glad that I took the time to do this. Sarah and her mother had not seen each other since last May.




Since we were so close to Sipi Falls we visited a couple of sights there before heading back to Jinja. Uganda is full of so many beautiful natural creations. As we headed home, Sarah wanted to stop at several market sights to purchase food for Amani. She is such a dedicated and caring employee because she knew that she would save Amani money by purchasing food just past Mbale. She said that the market prices in Jinja are much higher than the remote village areas. She purchased several things including beef from a cow that had just been slaughtered!
Today, I was at Amani when the chicken and the goat arrived! All of the ladies were yelling and laughing and clapping and so excited! After the excitement, I took Alima to town. She is five years old and one of the oldest girls that will be in my preschool classes. Her Mama and Auntee cleaned her and fixed her hair. She had on a pretty pink dress and was excited that she was going to town! I asked her what she wanted to do and she said that she wanted chocolate ice cream! Trey went with us to town and Alima was all smiles! Amani Baby Cottage allows their volunteers to take a child to town between 4:00 and 6:00 pm every day so that they get the experience of outings. Our little field trip consisted of riding a boda to town, having ice cream, and shopping for a baby doll! I called Danyne to ask if it would be okay if I bought her a doll and we both agreed that it would be fine if we bought two. There is another little girl named Lydia that is also 5. They are the only two girls that are older at Amani and they are friends. Alima was just as excited to pick out a little baby doll for Lydia as she was to pick out one for herself!

We went back to Amani and Alima showed everyone her doll and was excited to find Lydia to give her the surprise. Both girls wanted to pose for pictures! They have a doll that is their very own and they can sleep with them. Both girls will probably need a place to go as they are getting too old for Amani's home. Alot of the babies at Amani are adopted: alot are reunited with their families and some need a home when leaving Amani. I am praying that Heal Ministries will partner with places like Amani Baby Cottage to be able to provide a Christian Care Center for little girls and boys just like Alima and Lydia. A place that they will learn about their own beautiful country and grow up to make a difference with joy and hope that comes from Christ. The children at Amani were full of laughter and happiness as they played with a parachute and when I think about the last few days, I think about why Heal Ministries began; to care for orphans and widows and abandoned women. God is so awesome because He has given me a target audience everywhere I go in Uganda.