Amani and Ekisa

I said that I was going to write on the blog every other day - and there is just so much to write about in one 24 hour period here! Today I visited Amani and Ekisa. You have heard me say alot about Amani and it feels like a second home to me now. David, the driver that our teams have gotten so close to, is pictured below.

Ekisa is a special needs orphanage and it is where Mweru lives (pictured above with Emily holding him). I have written about him many times in the past trips to Uganda because he stole a piece of my heart. He started out at Amani Baby Cottage and is so incredibly fun to be around! (and now that I think about it, MOST of the ministries that I work with had volunteers that started out at Amani). Mweru doesn't know how big he is now (almost as tall as I am now) and he still runs to jump up on me when he sees me! I guess he'll be 40 years old and still jumping up and loving on people! He lives in a world full of energy and happiness and his JOY is contagious to all around him. I walked into Ekisa as the children were going down for nap time and Emily (one of the two Emily's that run Ekisa) let me peek in Mweru's room because he wasn't asleep. As soon as he spotted me, he jumped up and ran to my arms laughing and chanting a chant that only Mweru can say! I love him. He reminds me of innocent, pure, unconditional love. After he ran around the yard, his auntee helped him back to bed for nap time. I sat and talked with the staff and looked around the room and realized how incredibly lucky these children are. They have handicapped workers that work with the children because they understand the needs. The scripture painted on the walls as you enter Ekisa is Psalm 139: 14 and is pictured above.

When I was returning to Amani, there was a really loud noise and alot of smoke at one of the factories down town. David (the Amani Driver) and Trey and I were near the factory and we saw alot of people running and then heard explosions. We turned around to leave the area because there were some people throwing large rocks into the road. We later found out that the people were rioting because the factory blew up and there were employees inside that died. I'm not sure if that is all totally the truth yet but whatever happened, we learned that when the unexpected happens in Uganda, it is best to stay low key and out of sight. Uganda is typically safe here but when the people are scared, they do crazy things!

I returned to Amani to help in the office for a bit and then stayed to play with the children. What a joyful way to end the day: laughing, playing, hugging and singing with God's children here in Uganda! They all have imaginations that are wonderful. Two little boys were tying twigs around their head imitating my headband! Some were playing with cars and trucks and riding toys. One little girl was imitating one of the auntees at Amani and telling the babies to stop crying (and the babies were not crying that she was talking to!). Then there was Godfrey and Richard. They are two babies that have become great friends but when I picked one up, the other would cry. Children are the same everywhere. They just want to be loved. And, as for me, I'll keep trying to figure out what God is calling us to do, although I have an inkling as my grandmother used to say!

I am figuring out my schedule here. I will be helping with preschool in the mornings at Amani. I am going to work with the young ladies one afternoon a week at the Pregnancy Crisis Center. I'll be helping out with the Ekisa children one afternoon a week. Tomorrow I'll be at Canaan to see what I can do there weekly and visit the Amazima Feeding program. There are alot of wonderful things going on here in Uganda and God is still opening my eyes to many more needs. I realize that we are all the same: in need of HOPE that can only truly come from above.

I wish tonight that everyone reading this could hear the African Music outside my windows. There must be a wedding or some festive event going on. I can see the lights and dancing and I can hear the people laughing and talking. I'll go to sleep tonight to the wonderful sounds of Africa.

crocs and babies!

Yesterday I visited a small Bible Study group at the Pregnancy Crisis Center. A sweet lady named Carolyn meets with the young ladies once a week and she has several groups that meet with her at different times on different days. As I listened and asked questions, I found out that one of the 18 year old girls was raised in an orphanage. She had a baby and twins and was seeking help. She was abandoned and scared for her babies because she stated that the village witch dr was chanting spells against them. As they went around the room to get prayer requests I was overwhelmed. The 14 year old girl that was pregnant wanted prayer for her delivery because she was scared. Carolyn said that she is from the poorest slum area that she has seen and that the poverty that she lives in is hard to grasp. The 14 year old girl also was thankful for the food that the girls receive once a week at the crisis center. They receive one kilo of carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, flour, oil, beans, rice and fruits. The food is just enough to last mother and child for one week. Another 17 year old girl with a baby needed prayer because she did not have a job, the father of the baby abandoned her, her mother passed away, and her dad kicked her out of his hut. This group of young ladies ranged from 14 to 19 years of age. They are hearing about Jesus and HOPE and their babies (even the unborn) are being prayed over.

I left yesterday feeling very overwhelmed with the needs of these beautiful young girls. It really encouraged me to begin a Bibly Study with the girls at Canaan Childrens Home that I have grown to love. I'll be seeing them on Saturday and cannot wait!

I spent the day at Amani again today and it was so fun to watch the children at amani race outside after snack to get their shoes on. Many of them have crocs (some our teams sent) and the boys LOVE the camo crocs! I am hoping that many of you reading this will be encouraged to help us in our "Crocs and Children's Vitamins" campaign. The children that I'll be visiting at Canaan Saturday and at the Canaan School need shoes frequently. Many schools do not let them attend if they do not have shoes. To find out more about the Crocs and Vitamins Campaign go to www.heal-ministries.org or email me at Tina@heal-ministries.org

There are many miracles here. The 2-1/2 year old boy at Amani that has been with them only 3 or so months with aids. He was in the office today sitting on Helen's desk just smiling and teasing her. He is pictured here lying in his bed with the blue and white striped shirt and looking up at me with those huge brown eyes. The 4 month old new baby boy named Fred that just arrived today is a miracle because he is alive and being loved and taken care of now. He was abandoned in a house and I do not know the full story yet but there are 4 siblings somewhere. As you pray tonight for the hurting children in the world, remember to lift up a prayer for Fred's siblings. Fred is pictured above with the nurse at Amani.

Today I helped at nap time and the children were holding their beanie babies that the July HEAL Ministries team gave them. The team painted their rooms and beds and then gave every toddler a beanie baby. Even today, they still sleep with their beanie babies and they know which one belongs to them! Sometimes the small things are HUGE things to a child! A smile, a prayer, shoes to wear and a beanie baby to cuddle with really do sometimes make a BIG difference! I'm thankful that God is reminding me daily here to enjoy the small things that make a child smile and to see the miracles He is creating daily here!

"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see."
C. S. Lewis

Red Clay like Dirt Days in Uganda

Today was the first day to get my feet dirty as they say...........and literally dirty here. I love the red clay like dirt! The red dirt road where I am living leads me straight to the Amani Baby Cottage. I started the day out by visiting Amani Baby Cottage and observing several things. There was a dad that is in a sponsorship program and he was visiting Amani to seek out advice and funds on some poor choices that he made. I was impressed with the calmness and confidence that the Amani staff handled the situation but more than that it reminded me of the vast needs here. There are so many hurting people and so many people that just do not know how to make ends meet. They do not have the tools needed to get out of their situation. When I see the reality of this it makes me realize the importance of places like Amani and many others that are giving second chances for life to babies that would otherwise have a very sad and possibly terminal fate.

I am working with the director and supervisor at Amani to assists in setting up a curriculum and structured schedule for the preschool and toddlers. They really don't "need" me but I'm so happy to be a part of this. I'll be developing the schedule and curriculum (along with the Amani staff) that we hope to implement in the next few days.

While at Amani, I was able to to see the baby that arrived with HIV a few months ago. I remember when I first saw the pictures of baby Joram he looked so tiny and sick and was near death. Today he is still small, but his ribs are not showing anymore and he is eating and growing. For him to be able to hold his own cup (that is almost as big as he is) is such an accomplishment and testament to the good care given at Amani. I also am struggling with the needs of the children that are not adopted before aging out such as a five year old little girl that is at Amani. God is working in my heart about this very matter. There was another need brought to my attention today that I'll be researching and requesting much prayer: There is a HUGE need to assists teenage girls here that are having babies. There are girls as young as 14 years of age having babies. Babies having babies with no place to go. Many times they are raped and many times are abandoned by family. Sometimes these young girls do not have anyone that will help them. They need hope and a promise of a future.

I know that I can't solve all problems while here and I know that I am a small tool in the workshop that God is using, but I also know that I am a chosen servant that has been called to look after those orphans and widows and abandoned women in distress and my God is bigger than any crisis in Uganda. Until I figure out exactly what Heal Ministries will be focusing on here, I'll work, research, pray and rely on the One that sent me and to love on those living in the red clay dirt.

Back in Uganda!

I am finally here. I have been talking about it for months and months and now that it is here it doesn't seem that I ever left. Reuniting with friends has been so sweet in just 3 short days. I flew here with Trey, my 24 year old son. I'll be working for Heal Ministries and Trey will be working here in Jinja with friends and volunteering at orphanages.

Uganda is a very special place in my heart. The people are, of course, what makes it so special. I find people so very special everywhere I go. I left alot of very special people in the states: friends, family and the Heal Ministries board. They gave us a send off and prayer and we left so encouraged and lifted up!

We flew in Thursday night, Jan 12th, after a long layover in London. We arrived in Entebbe around 11:00 pm. Our driver picked us up Friday morning in Entebbe after spending the night near the airport. The drive to Jinja is normally between 2 and 4 hours (i know if you have never driven it, you are asking why a 2 hour span!). When we made it to our apartment, we were greeted by the family that we are renting from. We have grown to be friends with them. Danyne runs one of the orphanages that I'll be working with, Amani Baby Cottage. She is married to Surj, the owner of the Guesthouse (Surjios Guesthouse) where our teams stay while here in Jinja. Danyne and Surj have 4 children. I'll be working with their niece Helen at Amani. After work, I get to sit on my balcony that overlooks the beautiful Lake Victoria.

The last 3 days I have been setting up the apartment and resting. We visited the Amani Baby Cottage and will be visiting and volunteering in several other orphanages such as the Canaan Children's Home and Ekisa. I was so surprised when I saw how much the babies had changed in just six months! One of my many favorite sites as I drive up to Amani (besides the obvious - the babies and the mommas) is always the clotheslines with 100's of clothes and diapers! I'll be working with the preschoolers (and helping with the laundry and the cooking hopefully) and cannot wait to get started!

Church Service this morning was a sweet reminder of God's forgiveness and I left remembering that I am loved, I am forgiven and I am in His care. Friends from home are trying to adopt a baby here that I was fortunate enough to see at church. What a great provision by God to see how well taken care of this child is while the parents are in the horrible waiting stages.

The Amani Baby Cottage is having to relocate and I hope to be of assistance in the move, setting up and transition. We visited the site today as the workers were laying the concrete so that the second floor could begin. I was amazed as I watched the workers. Some were as young as 12 years old. They were working so hard and were chanting as they ran with the wheel barrows. I was actually amazed at how joyfully they worked and then found out that if they finish in a certain amount of time, they will receive a bonus.

We ate at the new Skewers Restaurant where Trey will be working tonight and the food was so delicious! After we finished eating, there was a teenager that wanted our left over bread and as Trey handed it to him, I watched how thankful he was to receive it. I hope that I'll always be in tune to when God is tugging at my heart to listen to His people in need. There are alot of needs in Uganda. As I visit the different villages and areas, I'll be praying that God will continue to direct me and guide me in His plan. And I'll continue to pray that I'll be able to look at Uganda through the eyes of Jesus. Looking through His eyes is Love and I love Uganda! I have quoted Saint Augustine before and I place it here as a reminder to me of what Love looks like as I work in Uganda over the next several months.

blessings from Uganda,

Tina

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."
Saint Augustine

Headed to Uganda

It is with great excitement that I can announce that I will be headed to Uganda in Africa in January. The HEAL Ministries board has commissioned me to Uganda from January 10th to August 2nd to research and assess the needs that we feel God is leading us toward.

Please come along the journey with us through this blog. And if you feel led to actually visit, we'd love to have you! Visit our website for mission trip opportunities in 2012 at www.heal-ministries.org.

These pictures give you a glimpse into our hearts.

blessings!

Tina Weir

Director of Missions