Well the first day of school was today! I had 22 smiling faces staring at me all day long and I am EXHAUSTED...I forgot for a moment what it was like to be standing all day long in heels and to have to re-teach what it means to raise your hand and make a good line as if they have never been in school before. I am happy to know that I have just as much love for these children as ever and was able to be with them in the moment, praising God for them and their precious-ness, and not just wondering why all of them are white lol! (or Chinese for that matter)Afterschool I went and got some of my pictures from Uganda printed ~ SO EXCITED. While I have completely settled back in to life at home and may not think of Uganda every minute, it still hits me quite often...usually quite suddenly too. It could be a comment from someone or something that sets off a flash of memory or a picture that can immediately bring me right back to sitting on that smelly cement with children in my lap and hanging on my back and dirty little hands in my hair. And then it just...hurts. It can be like a wave crashing over me, like an intense longing, a homesick feeling that immediately bring tears and causes me to put the pictures away for the moment. But in a way, I'm thankful for these moments...because it means I won't forget. It means that the children are still real and still so close to my heart and it reminds me to pray for them everyday. I praise the Lord in His faithfulness for not letting me forget, an answer to prayers really. Please continue to pray for them, as they're brought to your minds as well. They need your prayers; I know firsthand that they make a difference! A difficult moment came for me this past Sunday while sitting in orientation for Sunday School teachers. We were talking about what it means to be a mandated reporter as a teacher and how we are required by law to report if we have any reasonable cause to suspect abuse...which includes physical, sexual, neglect (such as malnourishment). Our children's pastor commented that she wanted to draw special attention to the words reasonable cause, which were in bold. Something just clicked in me right then and to be honest I don't think I heard much of the rest of that part of training. All I could hear echoing in my mind was "reasonable cause....reasonable cause". Yes! I have reasonable cause to think that these children have been neglected! They are malnourished! And its like my heart broke all over again thinking about how here it is my job to look out for my kids, to advocate for them. I am required by law to help them if I can, report, if I have any reasonable cause to suspect they are not being taken care of or abused. To think of how much I love these children in Tororo, do have "reasonable cause" to suspect, and yet cannot do anything about it is truly heartbreaking. I hope that we never take for granted some of the systems that we have set up here in the States, however imperfect they may be, that are created to protect our children. And I pray that we would all do our parts...whatever we can, even just through prayer (which is the best way!) to advocate for those children not being advocated for.

Babies at Smile

Peter and America

One of the things I loved at Smile was seeing how older brothers and sisters looked out for younger ones. Its amazing how kids will step up and look out for one another. At the same time, this could also be very hard to see, especially when it involved the little little ones. One thing that I don't know I ever got used to seeing.....naked children running around - yes...children pooping and peeing everywhere - yes...this-no........was seeing babies hanging out on the cement at the center of the compound. We're talking babies who can't even walk yet, maybe not even crawl, just chillin on the cement all day long. I mean, really???? Luckily I think probably mostly all of them had an older sister that would check in every once in awhile, if not sit and hold the baby for most of the day, make sure it got food at breakfast and lunch (which again, was porridge out of a cup for breakfast and rice off a plate for lunch, not exactly baby friendly)), and yes...I even witnessed a couple times an older sibling obtain a small roll of toilet paper from a teacher and attempt to clean up a mess their younger sibling had made on the cement. And by the way, when I say "older" sibling.....I could be talking about a child of 6 or 7 years old, maybe younger. This was one of those things that never quite became "normal" for me. This is why Evie's vision is so important. Evie is the almost 70 year old missionary who has been living in Tororo for 8 years (gotta love it!) She has a passion and a vision to see a baby room added on to Smile. I can attest for how important this really is for these babies to have a room separated from the rest of the kids to be cared for. It would also help the organization and setup of Smile in general and in turn benefit the older kids as well to not have all of these tiny ones all over the place. As we were there at Smile each day there were men working on the baby room but I know these things can be very slow coming so we are praying for that baby room to get finished!

CHURCH :)

Going to church on Sunday was a wonderful thing; I can honestly say that I was SO excited to go back. Which in a way, surprised me...because much of what I had heard regarding what it would be like to go back to church here were warnings about feeling like we don't really know how to "worship" here or feeling like our churches are so stoic compared to Africa's. But I think maybe I was excited because I just got such a taste of what "church" really is, of what the Kingdom really looks like. While I didn't struggle too greatly with these things that I was warned about, I did find myself having a harder time than I had anticipated. Being in church here made me yearn so much for the church and people in Uganda. But praise God it drove me to PRAY for them! And isn't that much of what this is about? I really feel like one of the biggest things the Lord has given me through my experience is a greater understanding of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. The term "brothers and sisters in Christ" has always kind of held a sort of corny connotation for me. You know, very "cliche Christian". (Perhaps at least those of you that went to a Christian college know what I'm talking about?) Sure I know that technically when we accept Christ and enter His kingdom, we become brothers and sisters. But man! I don't think I really ever gave that concept much thought. Do you realize what an amazing thing this is?? I didn't fully understand what it meant to be brothers and sisters "in Christ" until I met the ones overseas. (Why did it take me going to Uganda to figure this out when we have brothers and sisters right here? Not quite sure.) And even now its very difficult for me to put into words what I'm trying to say...it was almost more of just this feeling inside of me. To see and meet and get to know these men and women and children who know the Lord, I felt that they really and truly are my brothers and sisters, way across the ocean....like just meeting long lost relatives. And thank God, He really knows what He is doing and has the perfect plan....because yes, leaving was very hard and very sad...but it gives a whole new meaning to the idea that one day, we will all be together again, worshipping the one true God. What a truly beautiful thing to look forward to. I can't wait for that day. And I'm forever grateful for getting to meet these brothers and sisters, because now I know how to pray for them, which is so important. Even though we can't all be together right now, we have a responsibility and a privilege to pray for one another and intercede for one another. Prayer works! It makes a difference. Instead of just praying for the nations, which is important, I now know the more specific needs to pray for ~ I've seen them. I know the names and the faces to pray for ~ I've met them and have loved them and played with them and talked with them. And I can hopefully relay these things to our brothers and sisters here at home.

One of my most memorable moments while in Uganda was visiting Pastor Peter's church. I think this church was probably more what one might envision when you think "African church". Although I have no idea what y'all envision (that was for you Christine) for African churches so let me explain. Pastor Peter's church is a small building...maybe more like a hut with straw and a tin roof about the size of...hmmm...my family room at home? A little smaller than a classroom? The adults sat in plastic chairs and the children all sat on mats on the floor. There was no stage. No lights. No band. No microphones. Just a drum and a shaker. And it seemed to be a very biblical, joyous, Spirit-filled church. When this congregation worshipped, they really did worship with all their hearts; their joy and gratitude shone through their shouts and smiles and clapping and dancing. It was like a great celebration! And the people were just so welcoming. And loving. They were truly JOYFUL to see us and have us. They received us as long lost relatives. We had learned during orientation that when asked to introduce ourselves at church it is important to bring greetings from our home church. Seemed to be a formality and just something to do because we knew we should....but when we did, let me tell you...these people were SO excited! They were excited to have greetings from you, my home church. Because they really understand you to be their family in Christ. They clapped and cheered for you! OH what we can learn from them! What a glorious thing to be a member of the family. So sitting Sunday morning at North River, enjoying being with the body of Christ, I reflected on what church is. Its not the building. Its not all the hoopla. Its not the programmed schedule and the events. Its the people. Its the fellowship. And its not isolated; we are the church with our family in Uganda and around the world. And we can marvel at God's creation. Just like individually He has given us unique gifts to contribute to the body, I believe each culture and each individual fellowship has unique strengths to contribute and different ways that they reflect His character. Just as we have things we could teach them and encourage them with, they have many many things to teach us. May we not forget we are one in Christ with our family in other countries and cultures, as well as right next door.

Isaiah 40:3-5, a few verses that have stuck with me since first arriving in Tororo:

A voice of one calling:

"In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James 5:16

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring...With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thessalonians 1: 3-4, 11-12

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others...Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

Romans 12: 4-5, 10-12

A few of the girls on the way to church one day: B, Kelly, Christine, and me

Allowing a few of the teachers to enter into our Dutch Blitz craze :)

The whole gang! 7 teachers, 1 Pastor Ruth, 1 chubby cheeked baby Hope, and 6 mzungus :)

Meet Elir.

Words cannot express how much I love and miss this little 7 year old

Meet Cyrus: Elir's older brother who he looks up to so much ~ an incredibly sweet 12 year old who has had to grow up pretty fast

Cyrus and Elir would walk partway home with us everyday into town; they walked a very far ways each day to get to and from Smile. They live with their mother; their father is no longer in the picture...Cyrus has memories of him beating their mother as well as him and his brother. I'm so thankful for him looking out for Elir and will continue praying for them each day.

It feels a little odd blogging after the experience is over but I suppose if anyone out there is still reading, its still important to me to try to convey the Lord's work I have seen, there and in me. I have also decided this is probably the only place that I could go on a month long missions trip to where the children have nothing but a rag on their back and can't afford to go to school (which is about $25 every 3 months) to going to a jewelry party the same week I get home where nothing is less than $40! What do you do with that, really. It really just shows the contrast of the cultures and how much we take for granted. I mean, one of those bracelets could send Juma to school for a year! And yet at the same time I found myself being tempted by how "beautiful" that jewelry was and actually getting caught in the relativity of it all....still knowing and loving Juma the whole time. A lot to think about right there. A few verses I had written down in my journal, about halfway through my trip:

"Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits....You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence." James 1:9-11; 5:5

We are the rich men, my friends.

A word about the children ~ Smile was started originally for the street children..the children Pastor Ruth had seen on the streets, who God broke her heart for; He took her obedience to His small promptings and turned it into something wonderful. There are many children at Smile who are double orphans..without a mother or father. Some of these children live with a grandmother or an aunt (its amazing how these African people work and are so hands on....some raising up to 10 children usually not all their own) and some live with the 2 cooks that are in charge of making all that food! One cook has about 40 children living with her and another has about 20 children living with her; Smile rents a small home for them. Some of the children have a mother, father, or both that are loving parents but that just can't provide for them. But the ones that really get me the most is the huge lump of children that do have a mother, father, or both but who are still neglected, whose parents don't care about them or take care of them. Maria and Abucha are two of those children. Joyce, the head teacher, was telling me about the different kinds of children at Smile and their families. I asked about Maria and Abucha because they had become two of my favorites. I was surprised to hear that they do still live with both parents...except their parents leave very early in the morning and don't come home until late at night...and by that time they are probably already drunk. This just tears my heart up. Here are 2 of the most precious little children, only 3 years old and 5 years old...created by God in His image, loving, joyful, terribly unique children...and they are left alone most of their days. Again, all I can see is God's faithfulness and love to them and I am just driven to praise Him in thanksgiving. Perhaps somewhat selfishly, I am thankful to God for giving me the absolute blessing of getting to know Maria and Abucha....knowing them, loving them, holding them, playing with them, the blessing was mine...a blessing I just don't understand how their parents could give up.

On the last day, I was devastated to realize that Abucha, in his 3 year old-ness, hadn't realized this was the last chance to say goodbye and had jetted out of Smile the minute they rung that bell at 4:00. I had a moment of panic, frantically searching through all of the faces, not willing to succumb to the idea that I wouldn't get to say goodbye to him. It was pretty much one of the worst feelings ever. I never did find him before having to leave that day. However, looking back on it, I realized that my Father was looking out for me; He really had given me a beautiful last moment with Abucha. Sometime within the last hour of the afternoon at Smile that day, Abucha had somehow found me as he always had a way of doing. I picked him up and was just holding him...and he started softly singing to me in Swahili. It was such a beautifully quiet and loving moment, the tears stared to roll down my cheeks...and in response he didn't stop singing, he continued while gently wiping my tears away. This 3 year old! I told him "me panda wewe" (I love you in Swahili) and he sweetly said it back to me. And that was it. I know now that moment was nothing but a gift. Reading back through my journal, I found an entry written 4 days before we were to leave Smile that ended with a prayer that the Lord would bless those last days with great love and memories that blow us away and that I would be able to savor each moment.. because I had come to love that place and people and to think of leaving just hurt. All the glory to Him for answered prayers :)

Maruck, Juma, Blessing, and Allan

Teacher Joyce on the way home one day, carrying Hope

Some of the other teachers ~ Stella, Steven, and Willy

Boys being silly and making me laugh :)

Dance Partyyyy ~ a little of the joy I've been speaking of!

Class for the younger kids ~ Abucha is the one with the pink flower behind his ear facing the wrong way lol

~ aftermath ~

Sometimes its hard to believe that I'm home and that I actually did spend 1 month in Tororo, Uganda. Sometimes it almost feels like it was a dream...I hope that I never get into the groove of the busyness here and forget the wonderful experience the Lord in His grace allowed me to have. As I sit and think how is it possible to get down in writing all that it entailed and meant to me, I keep coming back to one thing...the Lord's faithfulness. He was faithful to call me there, with 5 wonderful girls, to get me there, to work in me and through me there...He is more than worthy of our trust and obedience! He is faithful to His people, here in the States and just as much overseas. He's faithful to His children in Tororo, and I can find comfort in His faithfulness to the children that I love so dearly and miss so excruciatingly sometimes. Jesus loves the little children...all the children of the world...that song makes me smile now because I know that its true. I know that the Lord is the same God here and there and He loves those children the same that He loves our children here. I see it in the provision He gives them. I see it in the hopes and dreams that He gives them. I see it in the joy He gives them....joy that can ONLY come from Him. Because of His love and mercy and grace. If you could see these children's lives...how they hunger for love and attention....and their happiness, how they can still laugh and play and love each other. That is a true gift from the Lord and it truly goes to show that without a doubt true joy and happiness do NOT come from money, material things, even security in worldly aspects. They can't ~ there's no way. Reflecting on the Lord's love for His children, I know that this is where He would dwell, where He DOES dwell...among the orphaned, among the poor. And I am humbled that He allowed me to spend the time that I did with them. There is much we can learn from them. I know that the love I received from them and the love I was able to give to them comes from our Father in Heaven, for He is love. (1 John 4: 7-21) And yet I think that part of His provision for them is in our obedience...we need to be obedient and do our part as part of His plan to provide for them. May we live lives characterized by faith, love, and obedience.

And in light of that, allow me to introduce you to a few of the best little children I know, who have stolen a piece of my heart:

Eli....love that little smile!!

Juma, 12 years old, wants to be a pastor ~ praise God!! It was a privilege to get to see the Lord working in his heart

Peter, our in house drummer :) And by drum I mean empty water jug and a stick....He would start playing and would instantly have a group of joyful little dancers around him!

Hungry for the Word!! Reading with Allan and Juma ~ the one on my lap is Christine...she is probably about 2 or 3 but looks about 1 year old. She is so very skinny and can't walk though she should be able to. Continue to pray for her health and well being! Her smile is simply precious ~

Lunchtime! :)

Abucha, mentioned earlier...man I miss him with everything in me!! Quite the little character

Being goofy ~ the creativity of these kids is incredible!

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." ~ James 1:16-17 ~

More thoughts soon to come ~ Blessings!

So its our last night here in Uganda. Which is just crazy ~ our time went by so fast. I am sad to be leaving and I wish I had more time, but I am excited to share stories and pictures with you all when I get home! :) Its hard to not be able to write for awhile....where would I even start?? We debriefed with Karen here at the Matoke Inn and it was great to be able to sit and reflect on all that God has done in the past 4 weeks. I am truly grateful that He had called each of us on this team here, for His work when we could see it and even when it was behind the scenes...for His faithfulness and love. My plan is to sit down and write a bit more about our time there especially over the past couple weeks and hopefully get a few pictures up when I get home. Goodbyes went well but were very difficult. I still can't really look through my pictures yet! I miss them so much. Again, thank you so much for your prayers...even with a bit of a rough spot the last couple days, they were truly answered and felt and we are very grateful. Tomorrow will be spent traveling...we'll be getting up in about 5 hours to head off to the airport at Entebbe. We're praying for a smooth flight and no delays or anything because we have less than 2 hours to catch the next one in London! If all goes well, we should land in New York about 8:30 tomorrow night. Annnd Monday I get to see Holly and Rachel when they pick me up! Very excited :) In the meantime, a couple pictures courtesy of B and Kelly's blogs:

Smile Africa :) Children that are each named and loved by the Lord

Eli, mentioned in a previous blog

A quick update that might actually be my last before leaving Tororo :( I feel like within the past 2 weeks I have really come to love this place and these people. We have had a week of great blessing with the children and others that we have gotten to know here. Some highlights:
- church at Pastor Peter's church in a small village with about 20-30 people...some of the most joyful people I've seen...as well as the 6 of us getting up and singing a song for them. good times
- having all of the teachers at Smile and Pastor Ruth over for a good old spaghetti dinner last night ~ good times had by all, including teaching a couple of them how to play our favorite pastime here Dutch Blitz
- going to see the ministry last week for the widows and all of the bags, skirts, and beads that they do there
- reading my Bible with Allan, one of the greatest kids at Smile, 13 years old
- a night or two of playing dutch blitz by flashlight because the power was completely out for hours
- climbing Tororo Rock this morning...it was like nothing I've done before and definately a challenge...I felt like it was more like rock climbing then hiking a few times...annnd we managed to avoid the poisonous snakes, and unfortunately, the monkeys :) The view at the top was ah-mazing! So glad we took the time to do it!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers; we were just talking last night about how we truly feel covered in prayer, even in specific situations. For the most part, we have all remained healthy...3 of the girls had gotten sick but only for a day or 2 and beyond that just colds...go figure! Tomorrow we will be travelling to a nearby village to see the ministry of a pastor here at one of the churches. Prayers for our last 2 days at Smile would be wonderful...just that Wed and Thurs would be full of love and good memories and opportunities to speak of Jesus still... strength to say goodbye.
Friday morning we leave on the post-bus once again back to Kampala and then to find our way by taxi somehow to Matoke Inn...always guaranteed to be an adventure! We will spend the day in Kampala Saturday debriefing and perhaps hitting up a market :) Then we fly out Sunday morning! I can't believe the time has passed so quickly...I wish I could stay longer. By staying for 4 weeks you really get to know the people and the town more. Sorry I was not able to update more! Hopefully within the next week I can put up some pictures :)

So in true African style, we were supposed to have a modem for internet about a week ago and are STILL waiting...so thanks for bearing with me as we still don't have internet and can only make it to the internet cafe every once in awhile! Things are great here in Tororo...we have all adapted well and we can't believe we only have 2 weeks left here! I already am dreading having to say goodbye to these kids :( UGH!
We have been able over the past week to do some Bible lessons with the kids...our wonderful skits have kept them entertained with stories like Jonah and the whale, Noah's ark, and just recently Daniel and the lions den. Songs and bible verses have accompanied them and I've really enjoyed going into the classes the day after our skit to review the story and verse as well as do a craft in smaller groups (and by smaller groups I mean groups ranging from 15 to 50.) Classroom management can be a challenge with the younger kids as they are just SO hungry for any paper or "colors", as they call our pencils and crayons, and they don't quite know othe meaning of wait your turn. It can definately get overwhelming but the look of pride on their faces when holding up something they actually cut and colored themselves makes it more than worth it. I have even seen a child in P3 the other day who I'm quite sure has never held a pair of scissors. I also got to step in and actually "teach" P3 the other day because the teacher didn't show up. P3 is the highest class offered at Smile but most of the kids in there are about first or second grade level ...and are about 10-13 years old. I really do love being in the classroom...I think if I had more confidence in their classroom I could see myself getting the hang of it! We got to do a math game and build on their previous science lesson on plants. Those children are just so precious!
I also just love being with the younger kids. There is one boy who I have particularly grown to love so much ...a little 3 year old named Abucha. He has just stolen my heart! He has quite the little personality (and I think now has come to think I am his own personal mzungu...oops.) and he just loves to talk to me in Swahili like I actually understand what he is saying! Although sidenote, I AM learning more of the language each day :) One day last week I entered through the gate of Smile and immediately noticed Abucha and that he was sick. My heart just broke seeing him so sick. All I wanted to do was hold him. His temperature shot up from normal to over 102 in just half an hour and his little chest sounded just terrible. I held him for most of the morning...I just couldn't pull myself away. He was terribly sick for most of the day and then almost out of nowhere he seemed to get better by the end of the day almost miraculously! Even the nurses with us said how could he get better so quick because he was really sick. I really and truly think it was all of the prayers! He is good as new now :)
Saturday night Pastor Ruth invited us over to dinner. I think it was quite possibly the best meal we've had since we've been here! Pastor Ruth is the woman who started Smile and the women's program. She is not usually actually at the program as she is a very busy woman! We were just SO blessed to get to spend the evening with her and hear the entire story of how Smile came to be. She is an amazing example of a woman of great faith and obedience and her story is one of God's faithfulness and provision. I think I may save the story for a day (hopefully soon) when I am not writing on a keyboard that you have to practically chisel the keys for them to work!
Sunday was a very "African" day I think.....meaning a 4 hour church service, going out to eat which took another 3 hours (nothing here is quick.), an hour to attempt to wash some laundry in cold somewhat dirty water by hand, and finally a movie with the girls. Its amazing what a blurry movie from a projector and a smushed York peppermint patty can do for you after a long day! We definately enjoy the small reminders of home here :) Yesterday was the first day that I missed home...and I don't think I was alone, we may have had a conversation or two about things we miss about home....real chocolate chip cookies and a washer and dryer being at the top of the list :) but God is so faithful and good and I'm so glad to be here. He brought me many great blessings through the children today. I'm hoping to post a couple pictures if we are ever able to get internet through the girls laptops at home! Until next time, love in Christ
~ ~ Janelle ~ ~

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in Him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth!"
1 John 3:16-18

Abari!
Greetings from Tororo! :) :) Hanna and I ventured out today and found an Internet cafe so I am finally able to write! Hmmm where to begin??? We arrived safely in Tororo last Monday from the post-bus...it took about 6 1/2 hours with LOTS of stops along the way...but we were able to meet some Ugandans AND we got to see a whole bunch of baboons in the road in one town!
Tororo is much different from Kampala...it is a smaller town with the center of town being a rotary with a couple shops and things along the road as well as the market (think Duxbury...? lol) It is still busy here with cars, taxis, bodas, bicycles, and people all sharing the road but not nearly as congested as Kampala...its funny because they drive on the "left side of the road"...which basically means wherever you can drive to avoid everyone and everything else, including potholes. We have become quite accustomed to getting around on bodas...the very first ride was terrifying and exciting at the same time but we're getting the hang of it! Bodas are like mopeds and there's guys all over the place to have you hop on the back and drive you around (don't think about it too hard mom) We have found a couple reliable boda guys who drive us to and from Smile everyday.
The first couple days here were a little rough as the house we are staying in was not quite ready for us and we were a little more on our own than expected. But we are really getting to find our way around grocery shopping at the market and the supermarkets (which are really like small convenience stores that sometimes have things and sometimes don't), riding bodas, and doing our own laundry....as well as making friends with the geckos and other little critters that live with us :)
Oh boy WHAT can I say about Smile and all of those beautiful little children who I already love so much! As expected, it was a little overwhelming at first because there are just SO many children all over! I was afraid I would never learn any of their names. The minute we stepped inside the gate we were greeted with a round of "Mzungu! Mzungu! How are you? How are you?" and instantly had 10 children fighting for our hands and attention. After a few days there though, I can say that I am beginning to learn many of their names and its wonderful to start seeing some of the same faces each day. The children are just so hungry for any sort of love or attention...many of the younger ones especially just long to be held and touched. They are crazy about any kind of books we can bring (oh how we wish we brought more!!) because they do not have books here...or hardly any paper...or pencils...Oftentimes are days are spent just loving on them, reading with them, playing with them, helping to serve breakfast and lunch (porridge and rice). The older ones are especially hungry for the Bible, which is amazing to see...and also quite sad as none of them actually have a Bible. We have 2 children's Bibles with us but again, I wish I had brought more! On Friday we performed a skit about Jonah and the Whale and we have taught them a few songs that they love. This week we will really start to implement some more organized and planned activities like Bible stories, games, and crafts. Prayers for the organization piece would be great because our biggest challenge right now is just how to manage 300-400 kids who are all vying for our attention!
It has also been awesome having Kelly and B here as nurses..they spend much of their time in the clinic doing their best to bandage up wounds and help with the sick children. A few of the children have had malaria. There is one boy named Eli (well, we named him Eli because no one knows his name) who is probably about 2 or 3 years old. He is so sick and very sad...we still have yet to figure out how he makes it to Smile and have had to ask one of the older boys to make sure he gets home. His little arms and legs are so thin and his belly sooo big. He had become my little shadow the other day and it was just so hard to leave him, for all of us. It just goes to show how all kids really are the same and how they all just long to be cared for and held, especially when they're sick.
The teachers at Smile are wonderful and I have enjoyed getting to know them just as much. I am completely amazed at the teaching that they do...though it is nothing compared to what our children get in the States. We have been able to sit in on class time a couple days now (its usually about an hour a day) The P1 class I sat in on had more than 50 kids crammed into a classroom half the size of mine sitting on wooden benches in rows. No paper or pens...just a chalkboard. Constance did a wonderful job teaching shapes with what she had. I was able to make Constance a number line to hang in her room and Christine made her shapes posters. The teacher were so excited!! Stella is another teacher...she is only 22 but I love her story because she says that she used to be just like these kids. Her mother died when she was 4 and her father abandoned her. She got sponsored and it changed her life...her sponsers paid for her schooling all the way up through university and now she is teaching at Smile! Her joy is contagious and I love seeing her teach because I can tell that she really loves the kids. Please pray for the teachers as Smile can be very very draining and they do not get paid well at all.
Well I guess I should wrap this up but hopefully this gives a small taste of all that I've experienced in the past week. I just know that time will fly and I'm already dreading having to say goodbye to the children in about 3 weeks. God is good and oh so faithful and none of this could we do without Him! I am also very thankful for the 5 girls that I am with and get to share these new experiences with...we have had many wonderful conversations and countless laughs!
Goodbye for now ~ hopefully we will be able to make it back here sometime soon!! Thanks for the prayers; they are truly being answered. <3

A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Isaiah 40:3-5

Teammates' pictures!

Also, some of the girls put up more pictures and may be able to more often on their laptops...here are their links:
braepeterson@blogspot.com
bellsinafrica@blogspot.com

A few more! These didnt' quite make it the last time

On our little hike earlier this afternoon...we were walking for almost 2 hours! Amazing views though....that's what most of the roads look like around here but others are wider. You better be on the lookout for cars and boda bodas cause they don't always look like they're looking out for you! lol


Walking towards the main road the first day we got here from the Inn...



Living room at Matoke Inn...you can just barely see Soleil, the most adorable baby everrr! She's so tiny! :)

Friday when we arrived Carolyn (who was recently on a team here and is now staying for 3 months to assist Karen) took us into town to get our phones and go to the bank. Then we got coffee at this place called Good African Coffee (haha) It was wicked good! And the staff was very welcoming and friendly. Our very first chance to use shillings!

And finally, the picture that was supposed to be first. (ha...told you I couldn't get the hang of all this formatting)...at the Newark airport tryign to figure out how we're going to get all that luggage across the street and on the plane! Our first team task :) I think we did pretty good...none lost!

A few pictures :)

Matoke Inn, where we've stayed in Kampala for the past few days


Virginia and I's room at Matoke Inn ~ first time sleeping with a mosquito net!



In front of Buckingham Palace...this pretty much sums up how we were feeling at this point after an overnight flight and 5 hours of walking around


In London...when we were a bit more lively...or else just forcing ourselves to act it!

London!

Disclaimer: Sorry for the terrible formatting and random order of pictures...I can't get a handle on this blogger stuff, especially with a finicky Internet!!

Well tonight is our last night at Matoke Inn. We leave tomorrow morning at 6 am to get on the post bus…literally a bus that stops at the post offices along the way to deliver mail…it should take us about 5-6 hours to get to Tororo with all of the stops ~ should be interesting! Thought I would try to get a few pics up while I can. The one above is when we first arrived to the Newark airport and got dropped off across the street…6 girls with about 15 suitcases plus carry ons and purses ~ definitely a comical moment that needed to be documented.
It has been a good weekend of orientation with Karen and lots of chances to get to know the rest of the team as well as the great couple that is also staying at the Inn with their baby. Earlier today we went to Watoto church which was wonderful. I think I was surprised at how much like an American church it was, but I think this particular church was originally started by a Canadian…so take from that what you want. The service was in English with contemporary Christian songs, announcements, and even a sermon on the body of Christ very much like what you might see in the States, though perhaps still a little more…lively? than North River  What I was really blessed by was just being able to reflect on the body of Christ and how we truly are brothers and sisters in Him even when far away. It really makes what being a member of the body of Christ really means a little more real. This is also the first Sunday since the bombings last weekend so we spent time in prayer in regards to that..it was really something to be able to pray for Uganda with the Ugandans.
After church the 6 of us went to an Italian pizza place right near church…yes, you read that correctly..it was owned by this sweet little Italian lady and it was GOOD. Afterwards a couple of us decided to walk road…ok quite a bit off the road…and following a little dirt path for awhile through fields and farms. We got a pretty great view of Lake Victoria!
Yesterday we had the last few hours of orientation with Karen…it was really interesting and helpful to hear about Uganda’s history and culture and also more about Tororo and Smile and what we’ll encounter there. It sounds like we have the potential to become quite overwhelmed with the need there…prayers would be appreciated for wisdom and discernment and eyes to see what’s really going on and how God would most like to use us…as much as we would all love to help in every area and try all of it, we know that we will probably need to pick a couple areas to focus on. Many things will be possibilities such as just helping to bathe and feed the children (and just to hold and love on them as most of them are lacking these things), plan activities such as crafts and Bible stories, help out on the more academic side with tutoring and school-related activities, possibly even help out in the classrooms, mentoring the older girls around 12-15 years, spending time in the program for the women, helping in the clinic….annnd the list could probably go on. You get the picture!!
I’m not sure how much internet I’ll really be able to get out there…here the Internet tends to go in and out along with the electricity…however we are fortunate enough to have a generator here at Matoke Inn! I don’t think we’ll be quite so lucky in Tororo! After spending a few days here in Kampala, I am excited to see how Tororo compares and what is in store for us there! Again , prayer request s would just be for our traveling tomorrow which could be very long , a good adjustment to our house in Tororo (we will be pretty much on our own to figure out shopping, cooking, laundry, etc. ~ hopefully there will be someone to help us!), and that our hearts would be prepared to take on whatever God has for us at Smile! More to come soon hopefully 