Week Two

Well another week has gone by and unfortunately it is going by too quickly!

On Tuesday, we went to a slum in Kampala and fixed up a well. I used a hoe to shovel out large piles of dirt,grass and trash. It was so refreshing to do hard physical labor with a tangible result for the people in the slum. That afternoon, we walked around the slum and talked to the residents about their needs and spiritual life and prayed with them. Spending time at the slum was incredibly eye opening. Many of the mothers there not only care for their own children, but also raise their nieces, nephews, grandchildren and neighbors children as their own. The selflessness and cooperation is amazing.

Wednesday we started off the day at my favorite project, Katalemwa and I really enjoyed it again. I wish I could describe the joy and smiles on the faces of the children there when we walk into the room, but it is completely indescribable. Later that day we went to a Secondary School and before we started our program, I spent some time mingling with the students. They were all between ages 14 and 20 and were so ambitious and driven. The classroom was crowded and the supplies were ratty, but every student there really valued their education and learning. American students could take a page out of their book.

Thursday we started off at the Babies Home and then Remand Home in the afternoon. At the Babies Home I helped with laundry and the way of hand washing here left my hands bloody and blistered. Yet at the same time, it was refreshing to really put work into something and see the results. The love of the children at the Babies Home and the excitement and hope in Jesus at the Remand Home again left me in awe.

Friday we went to the village and cleared land for the future Training Center. I think I worked the harder that morning than I have worked in a long long time. Everything here just takes so much effort,that you have to really put your heart into everything. Then we walked the perimeter of the land and prayed over the people and land. It was a great day, and we all slept wonderfully that night.

Saturday was a free day so we went into the Market and I bought a bunch of souverneirs!!! Everything was very cheap (which I love) and beautiful! Also, we took public transportation (vans) there, and it was only 1000 shilllings each way (about 50 cents). It was a lot of fun. Then that night, we sat around a laptop and watched the Blind Side and for awhile, it felt like we were all back at home.

Sunday we went to church and I LOVED the praise and worship. Everyone here sings with so much passion and dances around and the focus is really on God, not on how well you sing. Then in the afternoon we all split the price of gas to drive to Lake Victoria and spent the day on the beach. We swam and laid out in the sun and walked the beach and just had a great time relaxing.

Overall, it has been a week full of hard physical labor and lots of relaxation. I am learning so much about the culture and myself. I miss everyone at home, but I'm not homesick. A group of four left today and I realized how grateful I am to be here for two months, I would not have been ready to leave today.

Sorry this is choppy, six people are sitting in the room talking to me and they are lovely.

Love all of you!

Also, special shoutout to my grandma, hope you feel better and I love you!