Pictures from Last Sunday and Thursday (July 28th :)

Sunday with Regina's Church in Muni

 (Regina's Family)

 (The Girls)

 

(ORA: Bernard and Amos)

 (ORA: Showing me how to play a Rocks Game)

    (Brian:ORA)

(The ORA Children love their Playground)

Thursday: July 28th--Playing at the Boy's neighborhood

 (Robina stylin' in her shades)

 (Crazy Pictures)

                                            

      (Morris let Robina wear his sunglasses)

(The baby "ndri" had to get in on the fun!)

               (Climbin' on Shoulders)

**What a treat to spend part of my birthday with these children :) So fun!

More Pictures from Week 2

(Better Late than Never)

Jane's "Aku" and Re-Visiting Harriet and Lillian

Saturday: (7/23/2011)

(Washing hands before the meal.)

 (What a treat to spend our morning at Jane's)

 (Benja loves being on his daddy's shoulders.)

 (Jonathan)

 (Village Children)

 (Timbo caught a rabbit :)

 (Jane's niece Anette likes to help take care of David)

Saturday morning the whole family headed over to Jane’s for a late morning tea. (It was actually a meal.) It was delicious and very fun to see where Jane lives. We got to meet her 3 children—Karis (8), Jonathan (5), and David (10 months). They are so precious. She also has a niece that lives with her named Anette, who helps a lot with David. We met her father and her brother Sam. Benja was pretty popular with her children. After dinner we all went outside and watched Timbo and some of the other village children play.  

 (Karis is showing her "si")

 (Jane says he always wears this expression)

 (So precious!)

 (Karis, Jane, David, and Jonathan)

This afternoon Meg and I decided to be adventurous. There were two girls that I had met at a university the team visited named Harriet and Lillian. I had hoped to somehow get back to see them, but I wasn’t even sure of the name of the university or where it was. We got the name of the university and had a vague idea of where it was. I was having my doubts about whether it would work out to see them. It’s not uncommon to call unannounced/unscheduled in this culture. To me, it still feels a bit awkward, but I’m learning. We found the house and Harriet was inside! She remembered me instantly and welcomed us in right away. Lillian was still at a lecture. There were many other friends that we got to meet: Comfort, Synfa, etc. 

As soon as we sat down Harriet started cooking a meal. We talked for a while and then Synfa wanted us to see her home. We started to walk over, but Harriet got ‘upset’ because we were leaving—so she gave us 2 minutes J Well, we walked through a field and across the way to Synfa’s home. She had us come in and she started boiling milk – so we knew we could not leave until we had had tea. Ugandan’s are so very gracious and it’s very hard sometimes to know the way to not offend. Well just as we started being able to drink our Chai/Tea Harriet came and had brought Lillian. We all laughed and talked for a bit and then we headed back to Harriet’s. She had cooked somehow a full meal in the small time that we were at Synfa’s (dinner included rice/meat/cabbage, onion, tomato salad/ avocados/ and mangos). We had a really great time learning a little about each of the girls and their families. We also got to ask them their perspective or advice on a few parts of Ugandan culture. We had such a great time that it was hard to leave. But it was getting very dark outside and we knew we needed to get home. I’m hoping to visit again in a week or two and I have their numbers now so that I can contact them.

 (The Mug's Logo was "Rambo")

Friday: (7/22/2011)

Friday is the day I’ve been able to set aside for Sabbath while I’m staying here in Arua. This morning we headed out to a friend’s home named Geeje (pronounced HAY-JUH). Her family is from the Netherlands and just got back to Arua recently. She has a ministry with local ladies where she distributes their products (cards/bags/stationary etc) and gives 50% of the price directly back to the women and the rest goes back into their supplies. I ended up buying quite a few cards. It was very fun to get to see where they live and have some coffee and hear a little about her ministry.

Once we left there, we headed back into town for a bit to run some errands. I did a little reading and resting during the afternoon. We enjoyed a fun dinner of homemade pizza and breadsticks with the family. At around 7:30, Meg and I went to a going-away party for a woman named Sandra. It was at the home of the mayor (where the ladies’ bible study is held each Wednesday).  There were so many goodies. (I ate so much that night compared to normal, including mint ice cream!) It was fun to get to hear stories about Sandra’s 2-year stay in Arua and her plans for the future. We had a time of prayer to end the evening.

Wednesday and Thursday

Thursday: (7/21/2011)

—This morning I was having doubts about whether I could really bring anything today—whether what I was doing was really helping, whether I was being a good steward of the opportunities to learn while I’m here. I spent a good bit of the morning thinking and praying. The Lord gently reminded me that it’s not through my own strength to bring anything new today. In fact, my devotions spoke about that this morning—but it took a while for it to sink in I guess (this seems to happen a lot to me). What the Lord asks is for us to be willing to come to Him in our weakness, so that He can work through us and pour Himself into other’s lives.

I was also really missing my family a lot. This is nothing new because I’m always missing them a bit when I’m not home; however, I have a couple letters that my sisters have written to me over the years and I always take them with me when I go on longer trips. Marianne and Margaret, I am so thankful for you both and continue to pray for you daily (P.S. I was missing the chicken broil today J You will have to let me know how it was!)

This summer has given me a new appreciation for my two parents as well. Both showed me that they loved me every single day when I was growing up. The analogy of God as a loving Father is easier for my mind to picture than many in the world. Many of the children I’ve been talking to have at least one parent who is somehow gone (dead, abandoned them, etc) if not both. Thankfully, these ones have found that needed love and security through other people who have taken on that role. The frustrating thing is that there are dozens and dozens of more children in Arua who need to be shown this same love (that’s just in Arua, how many children all over the world have this same problem? It overwhelms me and frustrates me sometimes). Will these children ever know how special they are or how valued they are?

Jane came over again this afternoon to teach me more Lugbara. We worked on simple statements, questions, places, etc. Then she and I headed over to Stella and Florence’s home. We rode with our Boda driver Mawa for the first time. That was quite a hilarious experience.  It was raining, but we decided to go anyways. I’m thankful that our destination was not far. We started out with 4 children in the home when I arrived and it grew to about 35 in all by the time we had to leave. We sang and told stories and danced and sang some more. Because of the rain we had to stay inside and quickly filled up their house.  It was such an encouragement. The smiling faces make it worth it. Jane and Eunice are such blessings to everyone that they come in contact with.

Wednesday: (7/20/2011)

First thing this morning Meg, Timbo, and I went to visit Medlin at Arua hospital. That was a cultural experience all in itself. Medlin is the wife of David who provides for the street boys and girls. She just had a beautiful baby girl 3 days ago, named Melody. I got to hold her! :)  (Definitely a highlight of my week!) She is so precious and strong and healthy. What a joy to celebrate with them on her birth. I was so happy to finally meet Medlin after hearing so much about her. Even while recovering in the hospital, she possesses such a sweet and understanding nature. It was such an honor to meet with them. I also met a woman who was assisting Medlin on her recovery. She works for a couple that lives here in Arua. They are associated with YWAM! (It's the little connections).

 (Melody and Medlin)

 (Ah yes, She is an amazing little girl!)

 (Timbo was so excited to see the new baby.)

 (Looking at David's photos and videos from the week before)

Market/ Supermarket—We went into town to get some fresh vegetables etc at the market. I also had my first experience at a Arua supermarket. It was fun, and I decided to buy some snacks that looked similar to ones I used to buy last summer in Asia. They are very tasty!

I had another lesson with Jane this afternoon and then went to the MK Bible study. It was again a different number of children since last week. Be praying for these children and my time with them. God is using this as a stretching experience each week. 

blessings,

Mer