Africa United June 16, 2010
Hello!
I feel like it’s been a while. I have to start by saying a huge thank you to all of you for your prayers and condolences about my grandmother. I feel like it was so long ago and I’m sorry that it has taken me such a long time to send my heartfelt thanks. Your words of encouragement and comfort meant so much to me and my family. My flights back to Canada went beyond smooth and my flights back to Uganda were an absolute disaster, making me so appreciative and aware of your prayers which God answered when they were really needed.
I had a dream after my parent’s phoned and told me that my grandma was about to pass away. In it, I was with my family beside her hospital bed and we could tell that she was suffering a lot. Then, suddenly, an amazing thing happened. The grandma that we knew, with the weak and tired body, was gone, replaced by a beautiful and happy child who was dancing, something that my grandma hadn’t been able to do for a long time. When I woke up, I knew that my grandma had left this world but I was filled with incredible peace and hope knowing, without a doubt, that she is with Jesus and I will see her again. She is there not because of who she was but because of who she knew. I look forward to the day that we can dance together for our King.
Thank you again for your prayers.
The quick trip to Canada was a blessing and very worth it, but things have been non-stop whirlwind since the day I got back to Uganda. I can’t even remember what year it is, let alone what month or day (I still think it’s 2007 most days). The only thing that I know for sure when I wake up is that the kids must be back in school because I can hear myself think (although that doesn’t mean that the thoughts are sensible) and I can walk down the hallway without stepping on something (or someone). I can smell the cleanliness and I treasure it. My children have made me appreciate Clooney, who poops and pees everywhere, eats almost everything and destroys everything else, and pours her water all over at least eight times daily. Well, maybe the kids aren’t that bad but I sure understand why my dad has always claimed that Twinkie is his favourite child.
I have to thank God because we are able to get World Cup coverage (very fuzzy) on our TV (which I bought for Auntie Christine before I left for Canada the first time). We are a little addicted but it’s so exciting because Africa is united and I actually feel like a part of that now (even though I don’t think I look like a part of it yet). I’m cheering for England (as a tribute to my third home and for you Dave and Sue), the Dutch (either because I’m scared of them or because they’re pretty darn cute), or any African country, especially Ghana. Auntie Christine likes Portugal and Italy (I hate Italy) and Uncle Eman likes France and Cameroon. So our house has become a football haven but in a weird way it’s bringing us together. Except when we’re cheering for opposing teams.
This past week I realized that the many “rats” we cohabitate with are not actually real rats – they’re mice. This was a groundbreaking discovery for me as I find mice much cuter and therefore easier to live with (although I’m pretty sure there’s a dead one in my room right now because something really stinks). I will add to my long list of things I thought I would never say: “What just ran across my bed? Oh, it was just a big mouse, praise God”. This list also includes “No, I will not marry you”, “I’m tired of rice”, and “Thank you for praying for my zit”.
As I mentioned earlier, the second term of school started at the end of May, which was a third of the reason that we’ve been so busy the past few weeks. Preparing for school is always a little stressful. It starts with making a list of all 91 of our children and figuring out how much of what each child will need. Then we have to try and accurately add everything together, go out and buy it, and then sort through it and give it out. It’s a lot more complicated then it sounds, especially because that doesn’t include the second and third shopping trips after we’ve realized that my calculations were wrong and we don’t have enough of everything, or the fourth, fifth, and sixth shopping trips once school has started and kids are coming to us every few days telling us that they need this or they lost that or this is broken or that was stolen. And then we have to pay school fees, which is always an adventure in itself.
The school system here has made me very thankful for how spoiled we are in Canada. For example, not only do we not have to bring our own toilet paper to school, but we can be confident that when we go into a stall, there will be some there. Such a blessing, believe me.
We also had Kristy here for a few week, arriving just before I went back to Canada. She did an absolutely amazing job of preparing and running our first ever and very successful Daycamp program. The program was originally supposed to run three days a week over a period of two weeks but because of my unexpected absence, we had to condense it into six days in a row. The first three days were about 40 of the children from our old program (ages five to seven) and the second three days were about 25 of the children from our new program (ages eight to thirteen). I think I mentioned in my last email that we weren’t really too sure what to expect, except that we were confident that there would be some fun and some chaos involved. Well, in my opinion anyway, there was more fun and less chaos than expected. Kristy was so prepared and organized and confident in what she was doing that the week went great. The kids had a great time making crafts and playing games but most importantly learning about God, His creation, His love, and how to pray.
I was amazed at how interested the kids were and how much they learned in such a short period of time. I know that I often underestimate and lose sight of what God can do because I’m so worried about what we as people are doing. Daycamp reminded me that God will work not only through us but also in spite of us. It also showed me that He can do wonderful and powerful things in the minds of children. It was exciting and humbling. Thank you for your prayers and thank you again Kristy for using your gifts to serve God and serve us.
We were also able to take the older kids (fourteen and up) in our program on a field trip to Wonder World, an amusement park in Kampala. Now, by the name one might assume that the place is somewhat wonderful and exciting and fun. However, from the mindset of a spoiled North American like myself, it is far from any of those things. I was supposed to fly back into Uganda the morning before the big trip but because of plane problems, I ended up getting into Uganda the morning OF the big trip.
Perhaps it was jetlag and lack of sleep combined with emotional fatigue, a little bit of stress, and a very upset stomach that fuelled my anger and discontent toward Wonder World on the day of the trip. Whatever my reasons (excuses), I spent almost the entire day absolutely miserable. Wonder World doesn’t have a lot to offer, I knew that because I had been there before. Their only attractions for older children are a big boat ride, an octopus ride, go carts, bumper cars, and some waterslides. When we arrived at around noon, none of those rides were running. By the end of the day, the only attractions for children over the age of seven that were operating were the waterslides (none of the children who were with us know how to swim) and the big boat. I was far from happy. I spent the first three hours complaining, convinced that the whole trip had been a waste of time and a waste of money.
The kids had a blast. They must have gone on that one ride, the big boat, close to fifteen times (I went on it once and just about lost my recently digested airplane food). Most of the girls rented bathing suits (yes, rented, they were rented again immediately after our girls took them off and worn by other women without even being washed, it was a little disturbing) and went into the pool, where the water came just above their waists. They don’t know how to swim but they weren’t afraid and they had so much fun. Only four of the boys were brave enough to get into the pool but they were also brave enough to try the big waterslide. They also had so much fun. A lot of the kids who didn’t dare get into the water just watched from the sidelines. But even they had so much fun.
In my tiny mind, the trip came nowhere close to meeting my expectations. And instead of following the example of the kids and enjoying myself despite the setbacks, I wasted most of the day seeing only the negative. The kids never saw anything negative. They appreciated every moment. I didn’t realize that until the end of the day when we were dropping them off and I saw Margaret, a twenty six year old girl in our program who I had never seen smile before, beaming with joy as she got off the coaster and turned around and said thanks.
Auntie Annet told us a few days after the trip that all of the kids had been talking about the trip for days. Many of them had never crossed the Nile, or in other words had never been more than a few kilometres from home in their entire lives. For them, it was an experience they will never forget and one they will always treasure. We could have taken them to eat posho on the side of the road and they probably would have been happy.
God taught me a lot that day. Not only was I humbled by the kids and ashamed of my own behaviour, I realized how much time I spend in life looking at things from the wrong angle. I waste so much time and energy being negative because I think I have the right. Living among people who literally don’t complain and appreciate every moment in life despite their hardships is such a blessing because everyday I learn something from them. Everyday I am amazed by their attitudes and blessed and humbled by them. I am also constantly reminded that God will exceed all of my expectations. He has done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
We were also able to complete our third and biggest house a few weeks ago, thanks to the generosity of a couple from the church. Franco, a fourteen year old boy in our new program, has been living in a small mud house with his mother and three older brothers and three younger brothers and sisters his whole life. He lives in a very remote area. Franco and his family are a very hardworking and humble family.
They now live in a three room, two door brick house that is not spacious by our standards but very spacious according to theirs. They are beyond thankful and beyond happy. They are also beyond deserving. Franco’s mother wants you to know that she never expected anyone to build her family a house and that she’s never seen anything like this happen before in her life. She had no idea that these kinds of things were possible. She also wanted to tell everyone to please keep doing what you are doing because there are so many other families who need to be blessed as well. Oh, and she says thanks. So do we.
The tailoring women are one day shy of completing their course, one which started in September last year and was originally intended to last three or four months. In true Ugandan time, it is coming to a close tomorrow. The garage will be empty and the laughter (and arguing) that we’ve come to love so much will be no more. The women will be graduating on Saturday and it will be a party that I know will be one of our best by far. We opted out of having them make their own gowns and instead bought them very nice material for them to make matching Ugandan dresses.
I feel like a mother who is watching her children leave home, a mix of emotions including sadness (we’re going to miss them), pride, and excitement. If the success rate is high, we would love to start another course in the fall but for now we will take a break. I know that even if none of these women is able to start a successful business, the program has already been a success. The relationships that we have built with these women over the past nine months are ones that I am so thankful for and that I know will only continue to grow in the years to come. If that was the only purpose God had in all of this then we are thankful for that. But I’m sure He’s got bigger plans and I can’t wait to see what happens.
When I think about how far we have come, and how far I have come, in the past year, I am honestly and truly boggled. I can’t think of a better way to explain it but to say that I’m still a little in shock and still completed overwhelmed and amazed and in awe at what God has done. Boggled.
I hate doing finances. God did not bless me with talent regarding these things but somehow, by His grace and a bit to humour Him I’m sure, I manage to get by. There are ups and downs to doing the finances however. The downs are the stress and confusion and sometimes worry that comes with wondering how we’re going to keep going. But the up is that I get to see how much money we are spending. Yes, that may sound a little funny considering that nobody really wants to think about how much money they spend. But that’s the great thing.
Of course I don’t want to see how much money we spend, but I’m forced to. In being forced to see it I’m also forced to appreciate it more and be more thankful and in awe because, quite frankly, I have no idea where it all comes from. That’s the truth. And when I think about that I know, one hundred and ten percent, that I really have nothing to do with it. Clearly, most definitely, without a doubt, this organization exists and will continue to exist because of God. There is no logical, human explanation for what we have been able to accomplish in the past year when you really think about it. I know that God is using you and I don’t want to undermine your part in all of this, but I am convinced that He is behind it all. I may sound like a broken record on this but it’s so amazing that I can’t stop bringing it up.
Fifteen years ago I was a typical rebellious teenager who wanted nothing to do with God or the church. I was sick and I was angry and I blamed God. I saw how much my parents gave to the church and I hated it. I never knew Uganda existed. God changed me. He used the sicknesses and the church to open my eyes to Him and I will forever be thankful for both.
Ten years ago I thought I knew God but I realize now that I really didn’t. I still had a long way to go (I still have a long way to go). I had still never heard of Uganda. But my heart was changing. I had seen the pain in the world before but I was starting to feel something about it.
Five years ago God broke my heart about what was going on in the world, specifically about Africa. And my life changed when I heard about Uganda. But I never in a million years expected this.
Fifteen years ago I could tell you the names of every actor and actress on at least five different soap operas off the top of my head. My friends used to call me the walking TV guide because I knew every program on every station at all time slots during the day. I didn’t think the world was bigger than Bo and Hope and Lucky and Elizabeth.
I can now tell you the names of all of the 91 children in our program, names like Bweguyibwa, Nakyeyune, Gwokyanya, and Abawawule (I can even spell them!). Without pausing, I can tell you where they go to school, which classes they’re in, where they live, and if how many rolls of toilet paper they will need to bring to school. I don’t say this because I think that’s an amazing feat, I say it because it is an incredible example of what God can do. And if you don’t see God in that, you need to look again.
The story of what God did in my life, and is continuing to do, is nothing compared to the millions of stories around the world about what God is doing in other people and in other countries. Every story is different in some ways but the same in others.
It is estimated that 30,000 children die every day because they don’t have access to food and clean water and medication. That is a number that we can’t even comprehend. It is something that seems too big and too far and too insurmountable to even begin to think about. But there are other numbers. The number of widows who suffer, the number of innocent people who are killed, injured, and affected by war every day, and the number of people who lose their families and homes in natural disasters. There are the number of families who are abused and abandoned, the number of people who live on the streets or who have fallen victim to alcoholism or drug abuse, the number of elderly who are neglected and lonely, the number of women who are selling their bodies to survive, and the number of children who are sick and dying too young. When you add all these together, the number is too big.
The number of people who are suffering needlessly. The number of people who need help. The number of people who are crying out. The number of people who are hopeless and lost. The number of people who need to know they are loved. The number of people who need a Saviour.
This is beyond unfair. This is beyond sad. This is beyond awful.
This is injustice. It should break our hearts enough that we do something about it.
I think the world is changing. I think and pray that there is a generation coming that cares more about others than themselves and I think it is time for a revival. I think it is time that we as believers realize that God can and will do amazing things but He needs us to do them through. We are all created for different purposes and God has gifted us all in different ways but we are all called to be like Christ. The world, our neighbours, families, and coworkers, need to see Christ in us as a church and as believers. And there is no better time to show them then today.
There is a family in our program that really needs prayer. We support two of the kids in the family, Sandra and Rita, and there have been problems between the husband and wife for the last few months. To be honest, we’ve never taken anything too seriously until we heard about six weeks ago that the father had beaten the mother pretty badly and had kicked her out of the home. The two boys also left because of the father, leaving the four girls alone with him. To our knowledge, he has not been taking care of the family very well, which leaves the responsibility of the children on the shoulders of Violet, the oldest girl, who is about fourteen. She came here a couple of weeks ago in tears saying that the father had been arrested. We sent food to the family. The father has since gotten out of prison and is back at home but is now trying to sell the property to pay off some people that he owes money to (most likely the people who had him put in prison). The mother is fighting to keep the land because if the land gets sold the six children will have nowhere to go.
We have been dealing with this family’s problems for months now and I have always sided with the mother, probably because I’ve only heard her side of the story. The father has a different side. However, we’ve come to realize that we don’t know who is at fault and that what really matters is the safety of the children. We have also decided that it’s best to stay out of this matter as much as we can, which means that all we can do is pray. Please pray for the children’s safety and their emotional well being. Pray especially for Violet because it breaks my heart to think of what she’s been going through. Pray that God will be near them and that everything will work out in the best interests of the children. Also pray for safety for the mother, who has been threatened by the father.
Praise God for His continued hand of protection over Auntie Christine. We recently prayed over her and she was delivered from some things that had been controlling her life for years. It was an incredible and intense experience, the first one like it for me, but one that showed God’s power and grace in an amazing way. Auntie Christine is finally free from the demons that have been haunting her. She wanted me to thank you all so much for your prayers because she knows that you had a big part in this. Please continue to pray for protection and that God would be able to use her to reach her family and other people who are struggling with the same demons.
My family is coming in five weeks and two days. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about anything in my entire life. My sister and her husband will be arriving at the end of July with my mom and dad, followed by my brother and his wife a week later. This organization would not exist without my family and I’m so excited that they will finally get to see what they’ve helped do and meet the people I’ve come to love so much. Please pray for them as they prepare to come, that things would go smoothly, and also pray for peace and protection for them while they are here. Also pray that they would be willing to learn from whatever God wants to teach them while they’re here and that they would be willing to teach as well.
We are still looking for sponsors for our remaining six children, so please pray that God would bring the right people to the right kids. Also pray for his continued provision and favour for the organization.
Pray for the tailoring women as they finish up their course. Pray for success in their businesses and that God would continue to work in their lives after they leave.
I have a lot of work to get done in the next five weeks as the renewal of our NGO is coming up and we also need to apply for an expansion of the area where we’re allowed to work. Pray for favour with the government and that things go smoothly. Also pray that I would be motivated to get things done.
We had bed bugs (I think). Over a period of three days, I got over 85 bites on my body, in the most unusual places. It was not nice. What was perhaps even more unpleasant was that I tried to combat the little attackers one night by smearing copious amounts of Vaseline all over my body (including in the most unusual places). It was really not nice but quite entertaining for Auntie Christine who laughed at me because I couldn’t even walk properly. But praise God that they are gone (at least the mattress is, it was Gloria’s and she still doesn’t know it’s gone) and please pray that they don’t come back.
Thank you for your prayers and support again. This ministry would not run without you. I look forward to writing again, whenever that may be. I hope you are all looking forward to summer, even in Calgary where it will probably be snowing. I wish you all many blessings and much love.
P.S. The dead mouse was under my bookshelf. We solved the mystery halfway through the email but I wanted to wait to the end to tell you just to build the suspense.
When given the chance, Kimi tends to be long-winded, at least when stationed in front of a keyboard.
