Banange (My Word)

Banange is about the only word I have really learned in Luganda which is the most common language in Kampala. It means "my goodness" or "my word." I'm working on learning some other things in Luganda but it has been slow going so far. I don't get much exposure to it around the house because the kids all speak Luo because they are from other parts of Uganda. The most exposure I get is during Friday School, but banange, I have not even told you about that, have I? Again, I apologize that there has been little posted on here. It seems that the internet is finally stable enough to allow for more posting.

-Blessing and Cursing-
I think one of the problems (believe it or not) was my post that cursed the internet. The other night I was reminded that I 'cursed' the internet and instead I decided to verbally bless the internet. Since then I have had very few problems with the internet. I thought it was interesting because there has also been a lot of name calling among the kids, and Eric had to talk to them about the importance of their words.

-In other news-
The medical team is gone, and just before the last team member left I completed a short video about their time in Namuwongo (the slums of Kampala). I am hoping to put it up on here sometime soon which is easier said than done. Their time here was very productive, but it also consumed all of my time. However, it was a really blessing to be able to give of myself in that particular way. I helped in the various parts of the clinic as well as doing a lot of filming for the video. The best part was praying for people after they had gone through the clinic. The thanks and blessings that we received from people was abundant. We even were asked by Muslims to pray for them. There were several people who asked Jesus to become Lord of their lives for the first time and many other's who recommitted their lives to Him.

School is now in full swing, but we had a few bumps on the road. A detention punishment has been enacted, and the boys in my room have to do push-up if they are late or misbehave. By the looks of it they are either going to become very fit or very obedient by the end of this year. It seems to be working, and there has been a lot less burping in the class room.

I have been taking a lot of videos and I hope to to put some of them together soon.

That is all I can think of for the moment, but I will post again soon. If you know of anyone (especially at BECF) who would like to read my updates please send the link of this blog to them.

Things to pray for:
-Patience for myself and Lilian (the other teacher)-
There have been a lot of issues that keep piling up in the behaviors of some of the kids, and it is hard to turn those habits around.
-Provision-
My sister has gotten engaged and really wants me home for the wedding in September. The ticket is around $1,500 so that is something that I am trusting God will supply by some means.

Thanks for reading. Sorry if there are mistakes I really wanted to get this up asap.

Oops (again)

So it has been brought to my attention that I made another, rather large, mistake in this blog and in my letter.
I gave the wrong P.O.Box number for Lifechangers.
So, here is the corrected address:

Lifechangers 

PO Box 3709 Cookeville, TN 38502

Office phone: 931-520-3730 

(3709 not 3909)

I have also been working on some videos lately more that writing and will get those up as soon as the Internet permits. 

Whirlwind

The action here has been nonstop. Starting with a busy day of playing with the kids and packing for the medical team on Friday (18 May). This morning (21 May) everyone left at 6:15am which means that some of them were awake at 5:00am which means that I was awake at 5:00am this morning….

Let me see…how can I capture all of the wonderful things that have happened so far? Well, Jessica Mumford has been instructing me learning how to teach the boys (Rick, Bosco, Daniel, Francis, and Vincent), and that has been great. I had one day of training and now I have the boys to myself. It is pretty straight forward, but it is a challenge to explain things when to the boys when I am not completely sure what their books have taught them so far. I learned many of the subjects in a very different manner. Sometimes this is an advantage because I can tell the boys the way I learned something to see if it helps them. One of the boys is struggling with fractions in math, but I think that with time he will understand. It has been such a joy to teach them.

Our schedule is:

8:30am-10:30am              First Session

10:30-10:50                       Break

10:50-11:50                       Second Session

11:50-12:00pm                 Break

12:00-1:00                         Third Session

1:00-2:00                            Lunch Break

2:00-3:00                            Fourth Session

Sooo…our mornings are going to be pretty full, but the boys have a really good attitude about their school, so it should be a good first week.

It is strangely quiet here with the medical team out in Namuwongo slums. There are very few quite times here. Either we are doing school, or helping the medical team get ready, or cleaning the house, or cooking, or eating, or ‘mowing’ the lawn, or kicking a ball, or any number of things. It has been a blessing to see everyone pouring themselves into their work.

There is a rumor floating around that the kids will get school off next week so that I can go help on the Medical team! That would be great, but we’ll see what happens.

Please pray for:

-Our work

That in everything we would work hard with the love of God in our hearts. Pray especially for the medical team as they are working really hard under the hot sun.

-The boy’s schoolwork

So they too might work hard and eventually use these skills for the betterment of the kingdom of God.

A Long Ride...

I know it is typical for someone to complain about plane rides, but I am going to try and not focus on the fact that I got up at 6:00am on the 16th of May, barely slept on the planes, on got here at 12:00am on the 18th of May local time. I am going to overlook the fact that I had 34 hours of travel and maybe slept a total of 6 hours in little 10min and 1hr intervals. No! I am going to stand above complaining and speak positively about how I was stuck in a little seat size prison where I was given little rations to keep me alive and prolong my suffering. I refuse to talk about the screaming children, the constant 'bong bong BONG' of people 'in need of assistance', and the immense stiffness in my legs.

Really, it wasn't that bad actually. It was long, but I met some interesting people along the way.

I started the journey in the car with my super mom who got up early with me to take me to meat four of the medical team members who I rode the rest of the way to the airport with. Then they took off on another flight to Atlanta while I took a different route to Uganda…alone…. Well, along with the three-hundred or so people that I rode with on the different flights to get here.

The first flight—a dinky little flight from Charlotte to D.C.—was actually quite refreshing. The girl I sat next to was on her way to a concert. She was a double major in nursing and dancing which I thought was interesting. She said she was doing dancing because she loved it, and was interested in nursing because she wanted to help the very young and very old. I will keep her in my prayers as she continues on her way. Jessica Mumford--the one who is going to instruct me on how to teach the boys--is also a dancer and is actually leaving for a school in N.Y.C. next Friday (25 May). 

The next flight, across the Atlantic, I sat in-between Godlove and Coffee. I thought this was kind of funny. God's love on my right and coffee on my left; sounds like something that would happen to a writer or something. Anyways, Godlove was also training to become a nurse, and given that the first part of my time in Father’s House will be helping with the medical team I found that it was a good promise from God to have a nurse-in-training named Godlove sit right beside me. I pray that God—who is love—will be with the team and working through them to touch the people of Namuwongo Slums in Kampala. 

The last flight I sat by myself and was able to get a little bit of sleep. I chatted with a few people, but for the most part I read and slept, which was really nice.

When the plane landed in Entebbe I actually arrived before the four medical team members who left Charlotte before me. Getting straight to work and collected everyone’s check-in luggage while they got their Visas. Once everything was collected, we packed up the bus and started our African massage (thanks to the roads) back to Father’s House.

Now we are all tired and trying to rest before things get going tomorrow (19 May). I will be learning a bit about how the schooling works while the kids do their work today (18 May).

Please pray for:

-Rest-

So that everyone can be ready to work hard at whatever they are doing this weekend.

Curse You Internet!

The main reason I have not been posting lately is that there is no internet access! It is somewhat annoying because I have family who are trying to stay in touch with me, and I with them. The lack of internet makes that impossible. I barely had time to send one email today (24 May).

Anyway, I just needed to write a disclaimer concerning my lack of posts, and assure you that I will post anything I have as soon as I have internet. A lack of posts does not mean something bad has happened to me. It just means that the internet is down which is normal around here. I will be writing things in advance as much as I am able. I’m establishing a rhythm around here so I will have more time to write. It is still pretty crazy around here, and will be until the medical team leaves. Even then I will stay pretty busy, but like I said I will write as much as I can.

Finally!

Oh my goodness! I have been trying so hard to get on the internet here, and now I can finally send these old posts!

Facepalm...

Lesson learned. I cannot spell very well and I just sent out my letter without letting anyone read over it. I even caught some easy grammatical mistakes when I read through it again. Please learn from my mistake and allow others to proofread your stuff. Especially before you send to almost everyone in your contacts...
I thought I would take moment to ask for forgiveness for writing such a poor support letter.

Things to pray for:
-My weaknesses-
That in my weaknesses Christ's strength might abound, and that I would seek help from others who do not share the same weaknesses.