Should have seen this one coming...

Maybe it will come as a shock or perhaps you saw it coming all along, but nonetheless here we go...

Since arriving in Uganda I've felt a peace about being here. Perhaps you'll be offended by it, but in all honesty, I don't miss home. Or Sacramento if you will. I miss people individually, but I'm very content being here in Uganda.

The support of my mom, dad, and brother has let me know that what I am doing is good and that here in Uganda is where I am supposed to be. And the support from Kari and Cassidy from the beginning of this journey has shown me that missions is where God wants to use me. They have given me all I've needed to keep going.

With the contentment that God has given me and the fact that I have absolutely no commitments back in Sacramento...I have decided to stay in Uganda.

Kelsey Stays in Uganda. Wange?! Yep.

God has put it on my heart to continue serving here and how could I ever say no?

I do now know how long God has planned for me to stay here, but I am confident that he will provide for however long he desires for me to be a part of his army here in Uganda.

I ask that you prayerfully consider supporting me financially. If you feel led to support me financially you can donate at http://www.gofundme.com/3g0r7o or you can email me at kelseymagnolia9@gmail.com for an address to send cash or checks.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Peter

Meet Peter. 

Peter is one of five boys who live in the New Creation Family Home. I'm pretty sure he is the most "innocent" out of the five and is the most gentle. 

Peter is pretty quiet but always has something perfect to say at just the right moment. He has a kind heart and shows so much love towards the little ones who run around the house. You can find him holding Joshua or Nicole or simply kicking a soccer ball around with them. He's going to make a great dad one day.

Peter enjoys soccer as do all the boys but is the one who just plays to have a good time and isn't too competitive. I find myself being quite protective over Peter for he reminds me of my brother. Very gentle, loving, caring, but also can throw in a good punch line. 

Please pray for Peter to continue doing well in school and to continue focusing on God. It's easy for the boys to become distracted so prayer for him to be able to stay focused in the chaos would be wonderful. 

Eron

Meet Eron. 

Eron is probably the quietest one in the New Creation Family Home and is also probably the most gentle. She's not so big on soccer or dancing and definitely enjoys her alone time. Eron reminds me of myself in many ways which draws me to her. She's very shy, not ever wanting to be the center of attention, but has such a bright spirit and love for The Lord. 

Eron is flawless is every way. Just look at that smile of hers; it tells all. 

Before coming to the NCFH, Eron prayed for a family after being abandoned by her own. It was then that she was brought into the NCFH. The night she shared her story is the night that changed things for me here in Uganda. 

Please pray that Eron will continue to do well in school and that her faith and relationship with Christ will continue to grow. Also pray for her to know that she is loved and cared about. 

(I will slowly be introducing you to all of the children in the New Creation Family Home, where I live)

Home

After initially thinking that three months in Uganda was going to be a long time, I now feel as if it's just not long enough. It's been a month of living in Uganda and things are finally normal. When I ride down the street, things just feel like home. This is how it is, and that's normal. I may not have a shower or be able to flush toilet paper down my toilet, but that's normal. Posho and beans for dinner is normal.

My prayer coming into this adventure was for God to make this place my home and I can truly say that he's 100% answered that prayer. I can't say I haven't been scared along the way or haven't wanted to return to California from time to time, but God has always pulled my through it.

Early on, before even arriving in Uganda, I connected with the song Home by Phillip Phillips. I always listened to the lyrics as if God was speaking them to me.

"Hold on to me as we go, as we roll down that unfamiliar road. And although this wave is stringing us along, just know you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna make this place your home. Settle down, it'll all be clear. Don't pay no mind to the demons; they fill you with fear. The trouble it might drag you down, if you get lost you can always be found. Just know you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna make this place your home."

I held on as I rolled down the unfamiliar road that soon became familiar. I know how to get places and know where my "home" is. The place which has been made my home. Things became crystal clear as I settled down and looked forward. The demons tried to fill me with fear on numerous occasions, but I shoved them away. Trouble has gotten me down, but when I've been lost, I've always been found.

And the truth us, I know I'm not alone, because this place indeed has been made my home.

I serve a God who takes me places I've never imagined going and he never leaves my side. It's so refreshing knowing that God doesn't need me. So refreshing. God could do all of this on his own. But the fact that he wants me is simply amazing.

God has no need for me, but he wants me with his entire heart. He wants me here, at home, in Uganda and I want nothing other than that.

I serve an awesome God.

If you make crowns for your class...

On Fridays at the New Creation Centre school, Taylor and I have an hour to do art projects with our students. We never have many options of what to create since supplies are limited, so simple is usually the route we take. This week I had the brilliant idea for our class to make crowns.

So here we are, with our little class of nine, making crowns together. The boys made king of kings crowns and the girls were making God's royal princess crowns. We should have realized that things were going to head downhill quickly when we saw that our students had no idea how to use scissors. It ended up with Taylor and I cutting out the crowns for the students and them decorating them. This wasn't too big of an issue with the two of us and only nine students.

But of course before we knew it, there were students from other classes trickling in. Teachers just kind of let students roam for the most part. So there we were, making more crowns for the students who had made their way into our classroom.

Slowly, more and more students began to come into the classroom, which is about 10' by 10' and is taken up by desks and tables. There is no AC and there are only two small windows. So it's hot in the classroom as it is, so with twenty students in there, let's just say it was hotter than Africa. No joke.

As we were making crowns and trying to finish up before lunch, another woman who works at the school came into the classroom to ask for us to make crowns for every student in the school for their performance they would be putting on the next week.

We couldn't say no, because that's just who we are and we were now stuck in a sea of twenty to thirty children in a 10' by 10' classroom making over 70 crowns, with no AC, I was sick and coughing my life away, while cutting endless amounts of crowns, and dealing with needy students. Oh, let me mind you, it was also raining cats and dogs outside which made everything that much more chaotic since all the students were stuck inside.

In the end, the floor looked like a Taylor Swift concert after the falling confetti and our voices were shot from literally yelling at students to leave the classroom because it was so crowded and beyond Africa hot. We bribed students to clean the floor with stickers, since they are kind of a big deal to them.

Finally the students were forced back to their classrooms and Taylor and I made everyone who was not in our P3 class leave. It was refreshing having our class back to normal.

Needless to say, if you make crowns for you class, the rest of the school will want one too.

We now have the task of completing making crowns for those who did not have the chance to make one. And I have a strong feeling that Taylor and I could write a book and make some big bucks off of it, because this is, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, status.

In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed.

Today I was once again reminded that I am responsible for my own happiness and that the only person who can make me feel better is Jesus Christ. I've also learned today that it's okay to feel the things I feel and that it's okay to cry. And finally I've once again been reminded that things will always get better...my mom's always been spot on with that.

Today was a much needed day. Claire decided to come to school with Taylor and I which made the day a tad more exciting to begin with. Our class was somehow on their best behavior which actually made the day at the school enjoyable. We even had time to have fun in the classroom and time to take photos together.

Today also brought a wonderful experience. The students were not served porridge at break, and after Claire, Taylor and I return from eating lunch at a cafe across the street, we found that the students had not been served lunch. In this moment, I though of Matthew 25:42 which states, "For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink." I thought about the PB&J sandwiches I had made for each of us girls that morning and the bananas I had also packed away.

And there wasn't a second thought about not giving that food to the students. Of course we did not have enough for all of the children, so we gave it to the six children who lived in the home with us. And to my amazement, when I walked back into the school, they were sharing the food we had given them with their friends.

Taylor had just happened to have packed her Annie's crackers in the backpack that morning also and so we gave them to our P3 students. Claire also gave her water away to one of the girls from our home who was not feeling well. It was just amazing to see everyone coming together and serving God.

Claire and I left the school before Taylor did today, and I had left my water bottle with her. Lawrence was apparently very concerned that I had not been drinking my water. Taylor told him that we thought something in the water was making me sick, which is why I had not been drinking it. He went on to state that he could tell I was not feeling well today, especially since I was locked in the bathroom. Yes, I did get stuck in the bathroom at the school. I went into panic mode thinking I was going to be stuck in there forever, until some of the students went and told another teacher who helped me out. I have never been more happy in my life to be out of a bathroom!

Our night in the home was spent with the power out, which was actually quite an experience and a lot of fun to be honest. I played some worship songs on my guitar while some of the girls sang along, Charles was determined to fix a flashlight of mine which I told him was a lost cause, and of course, the little miracle worker fixed it. "Don't worry Auntie, I'll fix it and bring it to you." And oh did he do just that.

Today has helped me to realize that it's okay to feel the way I feel, but that things really do always get better. I am beyond thankful for the grace God has laid on my life and all He's done for me.The concern and love the children have for me is such a blessing. Taylor and Claire have been life-savers. And I just cannot believe that I am living in Africa, in Uganda, and am serving the Lord in such a wonderful place.

You know, sometimes you've just got to stop and look around and realize that everything is good, that everything has its place in life, and that you make it for yourself.

Today ended with Taylor, Claire and I listening to the lyrics, "In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed."

And blessed I am.

Opa-Uganda Style

I would be lying if I were to say that things have gotten better in the past few days, because honestly, for the most part they have not. The P3 class is still absolute chaos and frustrating things have been happening nonstop. I can say that I’ve had a more positive attitude and that God has been teaching me many things.

Friday, our internet was not working and we thought it was because we had used all of our internet already. We tried to use a spare internet card we had but when I opened the envelope it feel and we couldn’t find it. We were both frustrated and just upset with the day. But we decided to put it behind us and move forward. The internet ended up working the next morning…because Orange (the internet service) had been down. Clearly we stressed over nothing.

Saturday morning began with Taylor and I going to meet one of my friends, Lisa to get much needed pedicures. It was only around $8 and was the best pedicure I’ve ever received. After we decided to get a some drinks and a snack and just chit chat. It was such a wonderful time being able to hang out with Lisa.

Next we headed back to the house and began to set up a scavenger hunt for the boys. We had written clues on paper leading them to their futbol jerseys and game tickets. It was an absolute blast getting to see them run around the house trying to figure it all out. They were absolutely thrilled to be going to the game. So they changed into their jerseys and we piled into the van and headed on our way.

The roads were crazy! I have never seen such spirit. There are not really any laws that I know of for driving, so most of the time we were standing out of the sunroof, blowing horns and screaming and cheering. I also learned that here in Uganda they sing, “Opa Uganda style!” Quite silly.

 Anyhow, we were dropped off at the top of the hill next to the stadium where we would walk in. Of course after getting out we realized we had left our tickets back at the house in all of the excitement. Mama Sherry brought the tickets to us thankfully! Such a sweetheart! I am so thankful for all she does for us. And finally we were on our way into the game. But let me just tell you, it’s not fun trying to get in. Especially with 5 boys and 3 muzungus (white people) in the group.

Thankfully Uncle George had come to help us out. I cannot tell you how many men grabbed my arm while I was walking. It was ridiculous and ridiculously annoying. And there were so many people pushing and shoving that I just didn’t even know what to do or think. I just latched onto the younger boys in the group because I didn’t want them getting lost. At one point we were just about to go into the arena, and had to pass in a single file line through the ticket gate. People were shoving like crazy.

At one point a man started punching another guy telling him to get out. I think it was a worker and “thief.”  But anyhow, when he punched the guy he was pushed right into me, and next thing I know he’s punching the guy again, but this time, the guys head hits Henry’s head. I just about lost it. All I could do was put my hand on Henry’s head, trying to pull him in, as the man’s had kept being smashed into my hand. Finally they passed and more shoving began until we finally made it in!

At this point we had to find a seat. Which was more difficult than we thought it would be…because will it was a game leading to the World Cup. So it was a full house! There were no seats, just cement to sit on, which made it more exciting anyhow. But things turned bad when we lost one of the boys. NO one seemed to be worried except Taylor, Claire and I who about had a heart attack. We just sat in one place and watched the game. Angola scored a point which was a bummer, but then Uganda came back with two more, winning the game! Charles had previously stated that the score would be 2-1, so we were even more excited about that. But now it was time to search for Lawrence. I don’t think I stopped praying the entire time. I was completely terrified that he was lost and had no idea how we were going to find him. We searched and searched and finally walked out and down to the road. He was nowhere to be seen. The boys were okay with it because they know that he knew how to get home. Sherry had found out by this time that we could not find him and headed our way with bodas for us. As we were waiting, at least an hour after the game ended I hear Taylor say, “Is that Lawrence? LAWRENCE!” We both just took off running because we had finally spotted him!

The bodas arrived, and we all headed back home, thanking God for helping us find him. I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared in my life.

But, the game was one of the most exciting things of my entire life. I was quite into it! The screaming, horns, dancing, and pure excitement was such a thrill. Men asked numerous times to take photos with us muzungu girls and police literally lined the field with shields and guns. It was a new experience. One I will never forget for sure; especially with losing Lawrence.

I am absolutely knackered from the day and from all the emotions, but am so thankful for the experience.