This Week

I still wake up every morning thinking--is this real? Am I really here, living in Uganda? I love being here, every minute. I can't believe I've already been here for over 3 weeks. I am trying to enjoy every minute that I can. I am living in one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, with some of the most hilarious service-minded people serving the most loving individuals I've ever met. I feel so blessed and fortunate to be given this opportunity to be here and working alongside such great people. I know that I was meant to be here, as long as I can keep my mind focused on the work that needs to be done while I'm still here.

This week I was able to go stay at St. Stephens School. Salah (the principal) even drove us up there (it’s about an hour drive) He is a really great guy and does so many awesome things for those kids in his school. He has been having problems with YOUNG  girls (12, 13)  dropping out and getting married or living with older men. They think that they will “provide for them” and they may not see their potential that if they go to school, they could have a career and provide for themselves. Sam, Kara and I taught week one in our self esteem and empowerment curriculum to the girls at the school in Senior 1, 2, 3, and 4. It went really well! They are definitely not used to group discussions and answering questions. Pretty much the style of teaching here is the teacher writes on the board and you copy it. So more interactive learning was a foreign concept to them, but by the end of the lesson they seemed to like it. We also taught a leadership skills class to the student leaders at the school. They were great, and more apt to speak up and have discussion. During lunch, we got fed SO much Posho (flour and water pretty much) and beans. Ha I felt ridiculous because some kids at the school couldn’t even afford lunch and I didn’t want to eat what they had given me. But I ate as much as I could.

So there were 4 of us at St. Stephens this week, but the rest of the team was up in Bunabeyoka. It is a village up the mountain where they are building the health clinic! We are really excited about this project. It is really going to effect a lot of people who have NO health care whatsoever. I am going up there to help with construction really soon.

I also returned to Namatala this week to meet with Philip. I am excited to get the water filters and start installing them in this slum. This is an incredible place. I love it there. It has really touched me. The people live in such poor circumstances, but they are so incredibly happy. It’s easy to make each story a sad, guilt filled one. It’s heartbreaking to see their circumstances and it seems overwhelming. But the reality is, these people whose circumstances are some of the most impoverished people on the earth choose not to dwell on their trials. Instead, they praise God thanking him for everything they DO have. (Families, humble homes, meals when they are lucky, etc) We have a lot to learn from them and I love being there.

The phrase "everyone smiles in the same language" has been one of my favorite. No matter the language, continent, job or home we all feel the same emotions. We all have trials and sadness, the only thing different about each of us is our perception. Even if I can't communicate with some of the people here, I am so glad that Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to be here to learn from and live with these people.