Every week we have “family court” which is a safe place for everyone to share about how their brother, sister, auntie, or uncle has offended them. Then afterwards everyone asks for forgiveness and the relationships are mended. A lot of funny complaints happen at this time, though it goes on for far too long it always brings a smile to my face. One of the complaints was that “Joshua peed on a tree outside, and since then the tree has not brought forth fruit.” HAHAHA!! Gosh, these kids make me laugh. Of course, just as in every family there are serious complaints, but everyone forgives with graciousness.
June 9th was another public holiday here in Uganda called Hero’s Day. It is very similar to Memorial Day in the US. I love public holidays because the kids get to stay home and hang out with me! We ate breakfast and went for a family run. Esther loves to swim and had the idea to bring the little girls, Afusa and Shivan, out swimming for the first time. They have never been, and do not how to swim. It was really fun teaching them how to swim. (You can see pictures of this on the JOAC blog at JOACuganda.blogspot.com.) I got a little burnt; I forgot that equator sun is incredibly strong.
The next day I went to the school for the second time. Before school started the primary classes lined up for assembly. One of the head teachers gave out awards to St. Agnes’ Heroes in lieu of Hero’s Day. Some of the students performed and were proud of their achievements. Once school started I went to Baby class where I helped Teacher Agatha grade and prepare for Monday. I think she was blessed by the extra set of hands. After break consisting of sweet yellow bananas and tea, I went to Primary 4 to volunteer (Davin’s class). The teacher’s name is Silver; he’s really energetic, and he loves his kids. It was really exciting to see passion from him and from his students for learning. I also met some other teachers named Naomi and Liberty. I am very excited to get to know them better.
That afternoon I had the book study with the girls on truth. It is so important to know the truth in order to recognize lies. As women, it’s easy to believe we are undesirable, unwanted, and unloved. But the TRUTH is we are desirable, wanted, and loved. THIS truth will set us FREE! That evening, we went to see Joseph perform. I asked if we could bring some of boys so Brian, Araphat, Joshua, Keith, and little Joseph tagged along. I bought them soda and enjoyed their smiling faces at the live band. Keith got up the courage to dance in front of the crowd and earned 2,000 Uganda shillings (a little less than a dollar-but it goes far here).
Saturday morning I woke up, ate breakfast, and went for a run with the kids. They are really starting to enjoy the exercise. They play soccer a lot, fetch water, and walk to school… they are definitely not lazy kids, but rather they are extremely fit and strong. Emmy especially could be a professional runner if he was given the opportunity. After running, Brian and I went to a nearby town to buy Cassava flour and bananas to make banana pancakes for Sunday evening. It was a really fun time to be one on one with him. I asked him about school, and he proceeded to tell me this story: I (Brian) was in a debate in class about whether or not missionaries in Uganda do harm or do good (interesting topic). One of my classmates asked, “Name a Bible verse that says missionaries are a good idea.” So I recited one of the verses I had memorized, and suddenly the class got very shy and the teacher gave me 500 points. What a great story!! I (Jen) could not have been prouder. I then asked him if he has friends at school, and he thought I said “Do you have a girlfriend at school?” so he responded, “No, because if I had a girlfriend I wouldn’t be able to focus in school.” HA! Gosh, he’s such a great kid; I literally cannot get enough of these angels.
Matoke is starting to grow on me. I really thought I would never like it, but Esther has attributed it to the fact I am becoming more and more African. I wish that were true.
In the early afternoon, rain started to POUR!!! It was unlike anything I have seen before. I just had to go, dance, and run in it. It was calling my name! Soon after I went out in the rain, Kakuru joined me, and she was followed by some of the boys. They were running and sliding in the mud. Soon after the bliss in the rain the boys started to grab the jerry cans to collect water. I joined in. We separated into teams for each side of the house to collect water from the water that was falling off the roof. I was soaked, we all were soaked, but it was definitely one of the most entertaining moments I have had here. All working for the cause of water for our family was just a beautiful site, and it was so amazing to be a part of. (The same thing happened Sunday.)
Later Esther begged me to go to an Introduction (which is like an engagement party in the US). I refused. I could not let myself be the focus of another couple’s day in the spotlight. So instead she took Ruth. Ruth didn’t have a shirt to match her skirt, so I offered her one of my mine. While she was putting it on I got out my makeup bag (which I believe this moment was the only reason I actually chose to bring it). I put some blush on her face, eyeliner, eye shadow, and a hint of mascara. She looked BEAUTIFUL!!! I believe it was a really special day for her to feel one of a kind and radiant. She deserves that. I felt like a mom sending her daughter to prom or something. While Esther and Ruth were gone, Joseph and I started playing games with the kids. We started with Simon Says, but it turned into a dance competition. These kids can dance. I wish we had recorded the whole competition because it was so fun! When Ruth and Esther returned we started the competition over so they could join us. The people with the most votes went onto the next level. There were many rounds, but the last round consisted of Davin and I. He can dance, but I was saving the worm for the last round (if I happened to make it that far). I won, probably because of pity, but I’ll take the victory. Haha. I really wish someone was there to video tape this event. We laughed, and we really enjoyed each other as family.
Sunday morning I woke up to the screams and joyous laughter of the kids after pouring water on Esther for her birthday, as is the tradition in Uganda on someone’s birthday. David asked me to share at this Sunday’s Joy of a Child Children’s Church’s service. He wanted me to talk about the study I have been doing with the ladies and to summarize it to the best of my ability. The main theme of the book is that God takes us from ashes and makes us beautiful. He meets us where we are and makes us new. Brian shared before I talked about how he used to be a hooligan on the streets, but now he has purpose, a future, and hope because of what God has done to redeem his life. While I was sharing about beauty from ashes I began to think about him on the streets, and then about the rest of these beautiful souls on the streets and I began to weep. I cannot imagine these little hopefuls hopeless. I am so thankful for Joy of a Child for giving them a second chance for a future and education. They have a roof over their head, food, family, and love. It is beautiful to be a part of such an incredible organization.
After church we had lunch and then a meeting with some women from the community and the young ladies of this house. We finished our study on “Living in the Love with Jesus.” I am quite sad the book is over, but I am looking forward to the study on the Gospel of John that will commence. After the ladies left, it rained! I was so thankful that God held the rain until church was over because this rain was very similar to the day before. I love collecting water in the downpour with the boys. It’s so fun. This time David and Joseph joined in the fun. When the water slowed the boys got out their soccer ball and began to play. I had the urge to play along with them. I am not the best at soccer, and these kids are the bomb diggity. But it was fun to be out playing with them nonetheless.
Because Sunday was Esther’s birthday, David took her out for a romantic dinner. While they were gone Brian, Joseph, and I made banana pancakes. They tasted really great. I am going to do my best to find Cassava flour somewhere to make them for my friends and family back home. Shiba and her son Kamari came over to join us for dinner. I have really enjoyed getting to know Shiba, and through talking with her Ruth really opened up to me as well. I have been praying and hoping for this day, and I am so thankful that it finally came. God is so good. I will not share the stories they told me, but I will say you can be praying for Shiba. She is going to be living at JOAC for at least the next three months. The goal is for her to get her own place with her son, but that doesn’t really seem like an option right now.
Later in the evening, David, Esther, and Joseph had two visitors from their Discipleship Training School in YWAM. It was great to get to know Brenda and Percis, and it was fun watching them all reminisce about their time together.
Today, Monday, June 13th was a very good day (I have been having many good days). Today is Ruth’s birthday. I woke up early and followed Esther’s lead. She wanted to get Ruth back for pouring water on her the previous day. She got a cup of water, and then I followed with more, and then the boys with even more. She was soaked. Then I told her, even though it was Monday, I wasn’t going to volunteer at the school but I was going to take her out for a morning in town. (I will volunteer at the school tomorrow instead.) After a meeting with the adults, we headed into town. I bought sodas, popcorn, sweets, and we got her ears pierced. It was really fun, and she kept on saying, “I am so happy!” Those words made me so happy. I spent like a total of $5, and she admitted that today was the best birthday she had ever had. What!? She said she has NEVER celebrated her birthday before. I understand that birthdays may not be the biggest deal here, especially in comparison to how much I love birthdays, but still… it broke my heart, but made me thankful that I was a part of a day she will remember forever.
Today we started studying John. It went really well, the girls took notes, and seemed like they were really getting the concepts in the first chapter. I don’t know what’s going to come of this study, but I know that it will help them now to how study the Bible better.
Just now Rona showed up. This young woman left the house a day or two after I arrived to visit her family. We really connected in that time, and then she left. She came back today to visit with us and to see me. I am so blessed by her visit, and I really hope she comes by more often.
I’ve been away from home over four weeks now. Really? How is this possible? I have four weeks left, and I feel like the time at this house is slipping away.
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