King of Pop

What a shock! This is even a huge deal in Uganda. I walked into a bookstore this morning and they were blaring MJ's Number One's album. And people were fighting over how many number one singles he had, to which I replied "13", but they didn't hear me because they were shouting too loud. That felt kind of weird. 

But LAURA, you love him. And I am praying for you today. I mean, not over the fact that Michael just died, but Michael Jackson just always reminds me of you, so as I'm thinking of you, I'm praying for you. See what I mean? 

I took this picture for you in London, Laur. Just seemed like a good day to show you.

Week of Fun.

Well it all started in Gulu. 

Sarah and I left early in the morning and arrived in Gulu early afternoon last Friday. When we got there we went to the guest house we were staying at, and took about 2 hour naps. Then we met with Pastor Alfred, the pastor of Gulu Baptist Church and site manager of Hope Alive, and then we went out for dinner. Saturday we woke up early and went to the Hope Alive program. Hope Alive, by the way, is a child sponsership program that was started by a WorldVenture missionary. There are four sites throughout Uganda, and the main branch is here in Kampala. There were about 200 kids at the Gulu site, and about 8 mentors. The mentors go to the kids houses about twice a week to make sure they aren't sick, help with homework, and make sure everything else is okay. Many of the kids in this site are orphans because of the war, and the head of the house is just a 12 year old kid. So Hope Alive, through its sponsers, pays for the school fees. It also has a food pantry on site. It's a really neat program. There's lots more I'll tell you about that when I get home, if you so desire.

So we were there from about 9:30 to 3:30, and then we went to Pastor Alfred's house for sodas and snacks, where he told us about the NGO's in Gulu and what the government is doing to rebuild the city. That was kind of our purpose in going up there. We have heard a lot of smack talk about the NGO's in Gulu as we have been here in Kampala. So as a westerner, I wanted to know what I could do from my house in Farmington Hills to effectively help here in Gulu. And what I found to be the answer is really what I knew all along. At the core of everything, what people need is Jesus Christ. He is the only hope, the only way to bring peace, and the deepest satisfaction one can ever know. So, support orginizations that support the truth of the Gospel. And Pastor Alfred gave me some specific ways, and we can also talk about that if you so desire.

The on Sunday we went to Gulu Baptist and experienced village church. It was so awesome. And then we went home. And it was the worst bus ride of my life. Our driver was so out of control and was running other cars off the road. Sarah and I were praying the entire time, and its only by the grace of God that we got home. He was insane. Then we entered the heart of darkness, which is Brian's term for downtown Kampala. This is where the bus stop was, and where Renee was going to pick us up. But there was some miscommunication, and all in all, it was a pretty scary half hour. My phone got stolen right off my person. But it wasn't even my phone, i was borrowing it from the Davis'. Such a bummer. And a rough night. 

I think all in all, my time in Gulu peaked my interest for the village life. Kampala is so fast and such a big city.  The picture I had in my mind before I came here of where I would be working looked much more like Gulu. And if you are wondering what Gulu is like, think Evart, Michigan but just African style. Seriously, I kept thinking that.  I would love to come back and stay in the villages for a while someday. I'm just praying about that. 

Then, on Monday, Sarah and I had our final debrief with Renee. We went to this GORGEOUS hotel and ate by the pool and just talked. We called it the "Oasis", but that wasn't its name. But it did feel like we stepped out of Kampala for a moment, and that was such a blessing. Especially after that rough day we had on Sunday. But, it was such a good day and then we went to the Davis' house for a bbq. We each had some time to talk with Renee and she basically evaluated us on our time here. And I'll tell you about that if you so desire. 

Then, Tuesday morning, we left for the Safari. I know you're all wondering, but we did not see a lion :(. But it was still awesome. We went on the game drive wednesday morning for a few hours and saw buffalo, elephants, giraffes, one billion antelope, vultures, baboons, warthogs and various birds (and probably some other animals I am forgetting). And then took a boat down the nile river and saw a billion hippo and some crocs. And it poured! And we got soaked! And then today we went on a hike up to see the waterfalls and they were absolutely majestic. And then we drove home. And here I am. 

Tomorrow Sarah and I are going to go to the mall to pick up some gifts, and then its our final pizza movie night. Can't believe I'm almost leaving Uganda. 

and here's some pics. just some highlights. 

Some of the beautiful Hope Alive children. 

Our little tent at Murchison. 

I was so pumped I just wanted 

everyone to see it. 

This was my favorite Giraffe shot. 

What an awkward little pose.

Got lots of pics of these guys for you to see pamma. 

Elephants! SO INCREDIBLE. I got so many pictures of elepants. 

The Falls. 

Independence Falls is on the left and Murchison Falls is on the right. Breathtaking. 

Rainbow.

 

SAFARI.

WE ARE LEAVING FOR THE SAFARI TODAY!

Sarah and I are leaving in about 5 minutes. I am so excited. It's been a fast few days, so I'm sorry about my lack of blogging, but I'll get right to that when I get home thursday night. 

But here's the thing. Murchison Falls, where we are going, is not known for its Lions. I mean Uganda in general is not known for Lions, but its really hard to see them here. The last team that was here saw TEN, but many teams don't see them. Can you please pray that me and Sarah would see one? Just one. It doesn't even have to be a male, but that would be AWESOME. Lions are my fav, and I've dreamed about this moment since I was a little kid. Drama, I know. But, I mean, if the Lord brings it to mind and you feel like its not that lame, I would appreciate your prayers. :)

SO pumped. Even if I don't see a Lion. 

oli otya.

my friend joseph from UCF thinks its the best idea to just speak luganda to me, and not tell me what he is saying, but just say it over and over again. he thinks i'll learn it best that way. that's why i titled this oli otya - it means hello. and this was the fourth round of things he just said over and over again - and I didn't know any of the proceeding phrases he said. but i knew the answer to this one, which is bulungi. joseph, you little stinker. 

tonight I gave my last talk with the choir. It was on "I AM the vine." I didn't know this, but Ivan (in charge of choir) said in staff meeting this morning that last week they spent quite significant time talking about what they were learning through my time of sharing with them. I had no idea. I wasn't even sure they were listening. But they were. And I pray that the Lord was glorified in those times and that it was His words that stuck with them and not my own. 

I am beginning to feel the weight of James 3:1-2 that says teachers will be judged more strictly. I am learning so much through my own study time, and every week and every topic there are like a million things that I need to improve upon. And I am going to be held accountable for that. I want to be a person of integrity who really walks what I speak, and that's where God's awesome grace comes into play because I have so far to go. 

Sarah and I found out today that we are actually going to Gulu THIS WEEKEND! just schedules getting changed again. That means that my last day at UCF is going to be this thursday now, instead of friday. But, we won't have to say goodbye to all our Ugandan friends because we will be back at our churches for service on 29th June. So even though I won't be working all next week, I'll still get to see everyone one last time. Then, our game drive got moved back to next wed-fri. all things go.

I am looking forward to so many things in these next 10 days, but then I can't even believe that after all those things are done I will be leaving Uganda. I don't think I am ready to do that! But, of course there are things I am excited to come home for too. 

I can't wait to write to you about my trip to Gulu. 

weekend update.

Oh man! What a great weekend it has been!

Yesterday I was going to take my day off and go to the pool, but it was rainy and cloudy, so I decided instead to work on my talk for Tuesday night during the day and then take my day off tomorrow (Monday) and go to the pool. But, if the weather isn't nice tomorrow, then I suppose I'll just skip the pool altogether. But at least I'll get to sleep in a little!

The yesterday afternoon, Nate and Sarah and I went to the Uganda vs. Tunisia Rugby Match. It was so nuts! But it was probably one of the most fun things we have done so far. I had never watched Rugby before, but that game is intense. We had a blast. 

Then we had language lesson, and then we went out to eat at Lotus Mexicana... which was so delicious. I just really love Mexican food. And I'm so pumped because I have leftovers for dinner tonight. Holler! Then we rounded off a great day with Toy Story. I mean, we borrow all our movies from Brian and Renee who have five kids, so the majority of their VHS' are disney... but I mean, let's be honest, I love Toy Story. AND I got to talk to ALL of my family members on gchat last night, and that was so awesome. 

Then Sunday, I woke up at around 6:30 to prepare for my Bible Study and finish writing out my testimony, which I gave during the 2nd Service. Dr. Lightbody preached this morning and she spoke on Joshua 1 and spiritual leadership. God tells Joshua three times "Be strong and courageous", and backs up that statement each time with either His 1) character, 2) spoken word, or 3) a promise. I have felt in my time here that the Lord is really beginning to show me more fully who He has made me to be.  Krista, I thought of you yesterday morning, because you have told me time and time again that I don't give myself enough credit. And I am learning that God has gifted me with certain things. I need to utilize those gifts, and as I do, I need to be strong and courageous. As I set my eyes on God and follow his will, there is no reason to fear anything. I can be strong and courageous. And I can make mistakes... but even if I do, I learn from that. Out of fear of making mistakes, I think in the past I have been prone to step back and not accomplish what the Lord desired out of me, and as I had read in my Utmost for His Highest the other day, this leads to spiritual sluggishness. 

Just stuff for me to process.

And then after church, all the summer interns and Brian and Renee went to Pastor Micah's house (the pastor of the church I work with), to have a little going away party for Dr. Lightbody. So that was a good time. It was a long day, and I finished it up by doing some writing for my talk on tuesday night (for the last time

tooth.

If the Lord brings it to mind, please pray for my tooth. The pain really subsided for a while, but in the past week it has flared up again and its becoming absolutely unbearable. I wake up every night in terrible pain, and the pain-relieving effects of Advil are slowly starting to fade away, because unfortunately, I have become so dependent on it. I am trying to get an appointment with the dentist that Brian and Renee use, because I don't think I can wait until I get home its so painful. 

Thanks. I appreciate it. 

Catch Up

It's been a few days, let me try to catch up a little. Yesterday and today were busy. 

Yesterday I went to the school and taught literature with Sarah, and that went well. The kids were so smart, so it was fun to interact with them and pick their brains. Then Sarah and I picked up lunch and came home (and watched Dead Poets Society which was SO good and reminded me of Mrs. Horlings all over the place) until our meeting we had last night at the Davis' house. It was basically planning out what our last week here in Uganda would look like. We're going on the game drive the 22nd through the 24th. PUMPED! And then we talked about going to Kisoro, which is in the Southwest part of Uganda for that last weekend. But as Sarah and I were talking after our meeting, we both felt pretty passionate about going up to Gulu. There are many refugee camps there and is one of the major places that was affected by Joseph Kony and the war. Even though Kony and his army have moved to the Congo, they are still greatly affected, and as Brian put it, even though Kony is in Congo, the war is still going on in Gulu. This war is what first put Africa on my heart, especially because of the child soldiers, so it is a great opportunity to go there.

Then today I met with a girl from church, and then Diana and I went into the hostels to do some follow up with people we had met with last week. I went back to the room occupied by Benny Hinn mega fans, and we had some intense conversation. It's those kind of conversations that I never feel adequate enough. But I think those are times when God can really use us, because he is more than enough. And its humbling, and an encouragement to study more and know the Scriptures better. This is real life, and this is what counts. And there are some things as a result of the conversation that I really need to wrestle with and try to understand better, and thats a good place to be. 

Then I went back to the school after outreach and taught art, and then I came home, took a nap, and went to the Davis' for pizza movie night. We watched Newsies. It was great. And tomorrow is my day off, so I am going to the pool, and then going to the Uganda v. Tunisia Rugby match with Nate and Sarah, then language lessons, then Lotus Mexicana - Ugandas only Mexican Restaurant. I do love Mexican Food.