Quick update

So, I owe you all an update on what God has been doing... but nevertheless, this is not it either! haha Except for the fact that I am feeling better by God's grace and all your prayers! I am not quite 100%, but definitely close.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) we are heading to the second site founded with Hope Alive! in Masaka. This is on the opposite side of the equator - I will finally reach the southern hemisphere! We will return Wednesday, so this is to be a quick trip. The weekend also shows to be busy, but I will try to update again as soon as I can, even if it only a coupe pictures. Thank you again for all your uplifting and interceding with your prayers! They are encouraging and needed in the field, so thank you! Until I return right-side-up again in the northern hemisphere...

Pray please!

Hi All! As you already know I have been up in Gulu the past few days. Well, last night I didn't feel so well and since then have had some kind of stomach bug - I cannot even keep sips of water down yet. I ask you to pray that I will recover quickly, as I do believe this is some sort of obstacle that Satan has thrown in my way of ministry (I still have almost 5 weeks here). More updates to come, as soon as I feel a little better to write! Thanks for all your support and prayers!

2 weeks!!!

Wow! I cannot believe I have already been gone 2 weeks!!! God has been so good!
Friday – what a lovely time with the WorldVenture crew that lives in Uganda as missionaries. All were welcoming and we had an enjoyable time worshipping, praying, playing games, eating food, drinking tea, and fellowshipping with other believers. One was a family with four boys (13, 11, 7, and 4) which was great to see and reminded me of times with my cousins. Two of the families are going to be in the States (Michigan) this year, so I do hope to see them soon!
Saturday – was my first experience with Hope Alive’s Saturday Club…and a chance to hang out with quite a few of the kids who come. It was so awesome to see all of them singing, praising God, and learning His Word. The club starts at 9am, but that is in Ugandan time – so I think we started closer to 9:30am. The time here is never exact. The morning started with praise and worship, and then announcements when Catharine introduced me and many other visitors this week. A breakfast of sweet porridge and banana was next. This was similar to Cream of Wheat/Farina, but with lots of sugar and also more liquid so you could drink it out of a cup. Once it cooled down, it was actually quite delicious. After breakfast the kids so into their separate classrooms – Lower Primary (1st-4th grades), Upper Primary (5th -7th grades), and Secondary/Vocational (8th-college). The teachers for the groups were the older students in the program, graduated students now working with Hope Alive!, and also outside speakers who were brought in by the staff. After the Bible hour the group came back together for a debate about primary education that the secondary students had been preparing for the past few weeks. This was unusual as during this time the kids normally have a game time and a ‘skills time’ in which the students learn different skills such as doing a craft, working on different English or math studies that are not normally easy for the students, cooking, or another type of skill. For the younger kids, we had coloring and drawing set up during the debate. After the debate we had lunch. A yummy Ugandan meal of rice, beans, beef, greens, and irish (what they call white potatoes) was served. After all were fed, we were able to hang out and talk with the kids some more before leaving. I met some adorable girls who became my friends and I hope to see them again at the next Saturday club.
Sunday – was church and was different for me to experience. When it rains or snows back home, people sometimes do not end up getting to church because of flooding, too icy, or their cars don’t start. Well here, they don’t come to church until the rain stops because otherwise they will get soaked while walking or traveling in taxis or bodas. So, church started later, and it was really good. We had a guest speaker from Virginia, US named Jeremy who I could understand perfectly, as I am still working on understanding the Ugandan tongue. I am also learning some Luganda language, which is the second most prevalent language here. I am called muzungu (not sure on spelling), meaning white person. All the kids say it loudly when I pass by, drawing more attention to me, as if my white skin and blond hair didn’t stand out enough. Yet, one cannot help but smile back at the smiling faces of the kids who are saying my descriptive name.
Well, tomorrow I travel upcountry to Gulu to visit another location of Hope Alive! Time to get some sleep!

Pictured – Veronica and Sandra at Saturday Club; My roommates, Kate and Kacie with our homemade pizzas; Dorothy, Kate, Georgina, Shammah (Hope Alive! mentors and staff).

Town!

Today was an adventure to downtown Kampala, also known as 'town'. The day started out with a taxi ride. Now, this is no taxi like in the States...it is more like a 15 passenger van/bus experience. After that we went by Parliament, through a lot of shops, markets, and also another interesting market-type place in which I was proposed to many times! Don't worry, I said no. ;-) We then went window shopping, and I had my first 'boda' ride. This is close to a motorcycle, but more dangerous as the boda drivers are not necessarily the best in traffic (they like to go in between cars and close to the edge of the curb). We told the ones we rode that we wanted a safe ride - it was so much fun! On the way back we had a lovely lunch at one of the food courts in the mall. One of the things that I discovered today are the fruit juiceboxes - pure fruit for about 50 cents - and I believe I am going to be addicted to them! I have eaten some of the best pineapple, mango, avocado, and hummus that I have ever had, and the markets are great for cheap fruit and veggies.
I believe I am officially over jet-lag, and now sleep through the call to prayer at the local mosque and also the sounds of the loud ibis birds that are all over Kampala. Tomorrow I am supposed to go to a gathering with the WorldVenture missionaries in Uganda, and Saturday is Saturday Club that Hope Alive! holds for the kids. This is when I will meet more student mentors and also more of the kids. I am so excited!

I have made it!

Greetings from Uganda!
I have made my trip safely and all my luggage arrived with me as well. The layover in London was awesome, and along with Jodi and Jacob, I have now seen Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London and the Tower Bridge, The Globe Theatre (Shakespeare), Buckingham Palace, and many other sights!
I arrived in Uganda on Friday morning, and had a busy yet restful weekend. Sunday I had an amazing time worshipping with my brothers and sisters here, and look forward to getting to know many of them this summer! Kacie and Kate, my two roommates, are amazing women who are on fire for God. They are a joy to be around and I know we will have many more wonderful times together this summer! Catharine, my supervisor and the head of Hope Alive!, lives two doors down, and I am also looking forward to getting to know her better as well.
There are many people coming to visit/serve this summer, the main office is moving their base, and I will be doing all sorts of things to serve (Though I am not sure what all they will be, I do know I will be leading games, crafts, and some sort of music activities). Today was my first day at the office, and I met wonderful, godly men and women who are ministering with Hope Alive! and devoted to ministry. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to work with such a ministry and amazing people!

I am now a World Traveler!!!

The next time I post, I will be in a different country and on a different continent. Wow. I cannot believe it is today already! I fly out at 8pm tonight and spend the day in London before flying out Thursday night to arrive in Entebbe Friday morning. Looking forward to sharing my travels with you!

2 Days!!!

I leave for Uganda in 2 days!!! This past week has flown by way too fast!
The living room has gone through many changes - clean, to piles of stuff all around, to filled with suitcases and boxes of crafts/game equipment, to open suitcases being filled with all the stuff! My Dad went on a fishing trip with the guys from the extended family and came home saying it didn't look like we packed anything over the weekend - the living room was still filled with stuff! Only a few more things to pack and then on to making sure I have all my paperwork.
Wednesday I met up with Jodi and Jacob, whom I will be flying with to Uganda. We will also spending part of a day in London sightseeing during our long layover there. On Friday my college roommate, Phoebe, and friends Larinda and Chandler all came for a girls night hangout. It was so good to see them all again before I leave! Sunday I spoke in church about my trip. It is nice to know I have a great support group there!
When I return, I am looking forward to sharing all about my internship and how God has worked in my life this summer!
Until then, maybe I should start trying to close my suitcases...