That's What's Up

I have lived in Uganda for 371 days. That’s over a year of my life, and in retrospect, that’s not very long. Look at it this way, I have been alive for 8,636 days, 371 days spent away from home is not very long; although, if you were to ask my mother, one day away would be long enough for her. With 371 days down, I have exactly 108 days left until “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can count on me.” --My mom is probably doing a happy dance as she’s reading this. (Mom, sit down, stop dancing, the neighbors are going to have proof that our family is crazy if you don’t cool it!)

Anyhow, the past 28 days of my 371 days, I’ve been on holiday; “vacation” for you Americans. Apparently it’s a British thing. Uganda was originally Buganda, ruled by the British, hence the “B” on the beginning of Uganda. Then when “Buganda” gained its independence on October 9^th, “1960-something,” (thank you Mercy and Eron) they dropped the “B” and became Uganda. So, basically what I’m trying to get at is that there is a great amount of British influence on the language here in Uganda; colour, favourite, holiday, and the “B” word is just the name of a female dog, nothing more. Try writing that on the blackboard of a Primary 4 class.

I woke up this morning to the sound of 15 teenagers and rain drops hitting the roof and realized that I am ready for school to be back in session. I may not miss the 6:30am wake up and 2 hour commute to and from school, but I sure do miss my class. And truth be told, I am bored out of my mind.

Just one week into holiday my roommate Erika left Uganda to head back to America. Cool, Erika, real cool. No, I am happy that she is able to be with her family and friends and I know that it was God’s perfect timing for her. But nonetheless, I’ve been on my own trying to entertain myself over the past two weeks.

Proof that I have my Special Pass

For the past month and a half I’ve been dealing with visa issues. I had renewed my visa…too many times, which forced me to apply for a special pass. And let me just tell you that the people at Internal Affairs are the most unhelpful people ever. No joke. I visited Internal Affairs eight times in just two weeks. “It’s not ready, come back.” Do you not realize I just spent 17,000/- on an hour and a half commute here, and now I have to go back, and then come back again? Ridiculous. Nonetheless, after all the trouble and a beautiful, angel of a woman giving me a hug and explaining the last few steps I needed to take, I now have my passport and special pass sitting right here on my desk. I can now remain in Uganda for the next three months without worry of being locked up abroad. Although, I wouldn’t mind starring on that show, since it’s one of my favourites to watch. My mom may have a heart attack if that were to happen. (Mom, don’t worry, I have my special pass! I’ll add a photo of it somewhere in here so you can see proof that they can’t lock me up abroad).

Once that was taken care of, I finally had some time to relax.

Last weekend my friend Thomas…I seem to know many people with the name Thomas these days. Not that it matters or that anyone really cares. Back to the point, my friend Thomas works with a church called Watoto. You are most likely to have heard of the Watoto Children’s Choir. They tour many countries, singing and performing in churches. Watoto has a church, children’s choir, and many other things. So, Thomas invited me out to tour one of the Watoto Villages. We took a nice little drive out of Kampala and a boda ride up a beautiful hill. Thomas gave me the grand tour of the village: The school, the workshop, the church on site, the children’s homes, the uh-mazing babies’ home, the goat farm with goats cuter than the children, and many other things. It was absolutely wonderful being able to see another ministry which is obviously thriving. Seeing another ministry and hearing about their visions got me really excited for Uganda and all God has in store for them. There are many wonderful ministries out here that are changing the lives of many Ugandans. It was such a blessing being able to spend the day out at the Watoto village with Thomas. After the village tour we grabbed lunch and headed off to a Saturday evening service at Watoto Central church. I had been longing to attend a Watoto service since I initially arrived in Uganda, so that was quite fantastic to say the least. We even sang I Know Who I Am by Sinach. If you have not heard that song, oh you’re missing out. That song is the stuff here in Uganda. You can’t go one day without hearing someone singing it.

My kite that lasted longer than both
Peter and Henry's kites. Just saying.

“Take a look at me, I’m a wonder. It doesn’t matter what you see now. Can you see His glory? ‘Cause I know who I am.”

There was one day where I literally just went to town to hang out with students. They are basically my only friends here after all. I’ve spent some time at KHOP (Kampala House of Prayer), have watched a whole lot of Once Upon A Time, found The Fault In Our Stars DVD in the movie bin at an internet café and watched that. Cried a little—sad movie right there, but amazing book! Read it. I’ve cleaned my room about 14 times if that interests anyone. Henry, Peter, and I made kites last week. Within the first five minutes of flying them mine had hit Henry in the eye, Henry's was on the roof, and Peter's was all tangled up. Another day I took Margret Mae grocery shopping with me and went on a wild goose chase looking for the book…I don’t even remember what it was called, something by Charles Dickens. Margret Mae had to continually remind me of the title.

Margret Mae and I on our boda
ride back from grocery shopping.

I visited Joseph and his mother the other day because I wanted to see them and I also needed to give Joseph the Charles Dickens book I had gone on a wild goose chase to find. He needed it in order to attend his English class and himself nor did his mother have the money to purchase it. I did, and this kid is pretty much my most favourite of all time in the history of ever. So how could I not? I wish you could have seen his reaction when I gave him the book. His face lit up like fireworks on the 4^th of July and his mother was full of happiness. This lady is also one of my favourites, by the way. These moments are such sweet reminders of what God has commanded of us as his followers.

When you support me financially your money goes to three places.

1) My monthly $400 room and board cost

2) Football Saturdays

3) Acts 20:35

I have an envelope of cash labeled, Acts 20:35. Acts 20:35 is where I put a majority of my money which I use to support those in need. I should include Deuteronomy 15:4-11 on the envelope as well. –I am quite positive I am in a season of learning to give freely. I am loving it, and loving not worrying about money because hey, God provides.

Joseph, his mom, and I chatted for a while about life and whatnot, he showed me photos of his sponsors and the letters I had written him in the past, and then he took me on another tour of Baha’I Temple. I thoroughly enjoy every moment spent with this kid. Or shall I say young man? He’s making 19 years in November. Hey-ho!

I attempted to DIY some bubble solution for the kids yesterday and with without fail, failed. Nonetheless, Carol, Teddy, and Margret Mae enjoyed attempting to get it to work. In order to make up for the bubble solution fail I decided to have a Glow Stick Mania Night. I wrote a little invitation and placed it on the table in the family room and within minutes Teddy went running outside, invite in hand, screaming, “You’re invited!!!”

Erin had left two packs of glow sticks with me before she left Uganda a few months back, so thank you Erin for providing us with some awesome entertainment! The first game was Glow Stick Hide and Seek. I sent all the children to their rooms while I hid the glow sticks throughout the house. I then turned off all the lights and they had to find as many as they could. Of course with 15 children they started stealing them from each other and you know how kids are; typical. The other game we played was Glow Stick River Jump. I made two ropes of glow sticks by connecting them together and then laid them on the family room floor making a “river.” The object of the game was to jump over the river without landing in the lava. If you landed in the lava you were out. Once everyone had jumped I moved the glow stick ropes further apart.

Peter didn’t make it past the first round with his short legs. Somehow Mercy made it into the last round “because she is flexible,” with long legged Lawrence, and Joseph. I have no idea how Joseph made it into the last round. Glow Stick River Jump was a hit. I wish we had more glow sticks so we could play the game again.

And...that’s what’s up. Basically I am counting down the days until school is back in session. Eight days and counting.

-->YOU BE THE SUN I'LL BE THE SHINING<--

The Best Day

With just 4 moths left in Uganda, I sit on a front porch (or have been for the past four hours) watching some of my boys playing football.

It's hard to imagine not being here. I have a life back in California and of course that's where my family resides. But Uganda has become my life. Watching my students play football on a Thursday afternoon has become my life.

I remember back in the day when my mom would be out for the day and my dad would take my brother, sister, and I to the park. I absolutely hated it. I was obviously much too old to play at the park and watching my younger siblings play was absolutely miserable. 

It's funny to think of how time changes most everything. One of my favorite things to do these days is watch my students play football. I could watch for hours. 

Perhaps it's not even the watching football part, but the simple fact that they have become my world. Much like a child to a father. I love seeing them laughing. I love seeing smiles on their faces. It brings so much happiness into my life. 

I suppose this is how our Heavenly Father feels as he watches us laugh and smile. 

Four months until I say goodbye to the people who have become most important to me in this world. I am beyond excited to be back in California with my family, but how will I bear knowing I can't run to the market to get some football cliets when a student is in need of a pair. Or bear knowing that there's no one to bandage the scraped knees after a Saturday football match. I won't be able to tell my students I'm proud of them, or be there for Margret Mae when she is just bored out of her mind. When all I need is a little Vanesa hug, she won't be there.

But, I am absolutely confident that God's timing and God's plan is always perfect. So I know when I return home it will be in God's perfect plan. I can embrace my mother and father and walk down the street whenever I want to have a lovely chat about lions and tigers with my cousin Liam. 

So with strange looks on their faces, wondering why I'm still sitting here watching them play football after four hours, I give them a strange look back and  send them a smile...knowing that for today, and the next four months worth of days, I have the pleasure of watching them play football, hearing them laugh, and seeing them smile all my heart desires.

"I hope you know that, I had the best day with you today."