Rain, Rain, Go Away

"He's done so much for me that I can not tell it all."

-Namatala worship song

Yesterday at school was so, so much better than it has been lately. As a teacher, I have been given full reign to discipline the kids but I really didn't know how. They don't really understand/respond to the concept of time out. I tried taking away recess time but they are so sneaky, and in a class of 50 second graders, it's easy to sneak out without me catching them. I have the option of "caning" them with a big cane pole but that just seems a little harsh to me, plus I don't really know these kids. Yesterday one of my favorite students named Rebecca was acting up during P.E...I asked her to be quiet several times and when she didn't I ended up swatting her little bottom! Ahh! I hated it, but that got everyone's attention. I don't think it even hurt her but from then on everyone understood that I was a REAL teacher. Both the students AND I had a great day and I'm hoping for more of the same on Monday! I only have 3 more days left at Covenant before I go to Kenya.

It has been raining almost every day here. Yesterday I was walking home with some of the I Choose You kids from Namatala and it started POURING. We started running and singing...it was so fun! I invited them to our house and they came inside the courtyard with me for some shelter. We feasted on fruit snacks and they dried my hair with a towel and tried to get the mud off of me (so sweet). When one of the little boys was rubbing mud off of my leg, he turned to his friend and said,

"look, Teacher has fat on her legs like a pig!"

Seriously! Uganda doesn't do a lot for my self-esteem :)

Today I watched the local music competition which Lulwanda Children's Home was a part of. All of the kids did wonderfully, and I have videos if anyone sponsors a child there and wants to see him or her! Also today, I led a Bible study for the women at Namatala. I shared my testimony and it was a really special time. These women truly have NOTHING. I want a faith like theirs! The way they trust and serve God is incredible.

Thank you to those of you who prayed for our little runaway Betty. She has returned to school and her family. We appreciate your prayers that nothing like this happens again!

Runaway

"Maybe success is measured best by nothing less than our obedience."

-Jimmy Needham

Yesterday morning I woke up to find 3 people sitting in the living room, which is not unusual. Almost every day someone is here at 6 or 7 waiting for Morris or Aida to wake up so they can talk to them. Such a busy life this family leads!

Anyway, these people were here to report to Aida about a missing girl. One of my students in P1 (1st grade) class at Covenant School. Her name is Betty and she is 6 years old. She is part of the I Choose You program, which is a ministry that takes children out of the slum (Namatala--very close to my African house, I walk there often.) and provides education and basic needs for them. They have not seen Betty since Tuesday morning. Apparently this is not an unusual occurance. Several I Choose You kids have struggled with the transition between the slum of Namatala to the good life they've been given. These kids have dug in the rubbish heaps for food their entire life, so when someone offers them good food, clothes, and a private education, they don't really know what to do. What a perfect analogy of my spiritual life! I have been given so much but I'd rather dig for rubbish and fall back on a life of sin than take the FREE GIFTS I have been given. Aida says she tells the runaway kids that if they just took a few more steps past the rubbish heap, they would be at the school. So close, yet so far away. Please pray for Betty and her family. Her sister was the one encouraging her to go into town and look for trash at the hotels. Pray that Betty is safe and that she will come home to the good life soon.

On a lighter note, I washed my own clothes yesterday with Eva!! It took SO long and I don't think that is an African experience I want to bring back to America. About halfway through, my hands started cramping up and I was really wanting a washing machine. I thought I was doing pretty well, but it turns out as I was putting clothes in the rinse bucket, Eva was rewashing them because I didn't do a good job. Aida said that if a man saw me washing like that he wouldn't even pay 1 cow for me as a bride price. She said I am only worth a pig! We discussed my qualifications as an African bride and laughed about that for a long time.

I have had some hard school days lately, but coming home to the precious 4-year-old son of the lady that rents from Aida cheers me up SO much. His name is Marvin and he always comes yelling "Julie" (not mzungu) and he is ready for hugs and kisses. Even when I'm tired, one of my favorite parts of this trip is playing with Marvin and his brothers!

The rough school days have made me challenge the idea that I am being a "successful" teacher. Sometimes it seems like the kids aren't learning anything at all, but I can't think of a better way to teach them that fits with their system of education. I'm trying to remember that loving people and being available is what I am here to do, and if I can do my best at that, that's all I can do.

Not the queen anymore!

"Go everywhere and tell everyone the happy news!

Tell them I love them so much that I died for them.

It's the Truth that overcomes the terrible lie.

God loves His children. Yes, He really does!"

-The Great Comission, Jesus Storybook Bible

Thank you for praying. A barrier broke yesterday with my African family...I was finally allowed to eat with them as part of the family. Even though Ugandans find it impolite to speak while eating, it was still SO NICE to have company! I love NOT being the queen of this household. I was even allowed to cook with James and kill a chicken! Wow.

Speaking of cooking, I am eating so well here. So well, in fact, that my headmaster at the school said this to me today...

"You are getting so fat! You will go home and your mama will be so happy that Ugandans feed you well."

Only in Africa.

Another great quote story: For those of you who don't know, I love cows and I love to talk to them when I drive past them on the highway! I saw a really cute cow when I was going somewhere with my friends Jared and Eva, so I waved and said, "hello, Cow!". Then Jared looked at me and said,

"Oh my, do American cows know how to wave when you greet them?"...haha!

The best part of being in Uganda is getting the undistracted opportunity to love people. I get to spend all day serving kids and teachers, and it gives me energy instead of making me tired! I am so convinced that what Jesus did for us really is happy news, and my goal every day (more than teaching kids how to read or write) is to show His love to these kids around me. I'm praying they will know Jesus intimately and know that His love really is the truth that overcomes any lie.

I sang in the church choir yesterday. Big adventure, but this girl can keep up with the moves AND sing in Luganda at the same time! WHOOP! What a victory, all thanks to the grace of God (really, I mean it).

PS--for those worried about my proximity to the multiple explosions in Kampala, I am safe and sound. We are praying for the families of the many people who died.

MZUNGU

"Thy free grace alone

From the first to the last

Hath won my affection

And bound my soul fast."

I finally got to talk to my family tonight and it was just in time! I have been struggling the last few days with lonliness...the people here are so friendly, but there is such a culture barrier that I have a hard time breaking through. I love my African family, but there is nothing like understanding and being understood in the good ol' USA!

School is going so well. I walk there and back every day (only about 15 minute walk) and I have been enjoying my time teaching, grading, and making charts for the walls! The kids are great...they understand that I am their teacher and they need to respect me, but they also love to have fun with me! Our lunch break is 2 hours long so I usually eat with my fellow teachers or the headmaster, play with the kids, and watch a group of older students play tag rugby (coached by a white guy!).

Today I went into town on a motorcycle with my friend Eva and the cook (more like CHEF...he makes the most delicious food, and so much of it! I think he is fattening me up to eat me at the end of my trip). It was interesting to experience all the smells, colors, and sounds of a busy market! I felt very African, but I still can't avoid all the stares and people calling me a "MZUNGU"--white girl! I got a little tired of that label, so I asked Eva what the word for "native Ugandan" was...now when people yell "mzungu! mzungu!", I say, "muganda!". They get a kick out of it.

Tonight I practiced with a real Ugandan church choir! My friend Paul (he lives next door and calls me Black Girl) is the choir master and he was even excited to learn some of my American choir songs. Somehow I got talked into singing with them at church tomorrow...I'm sure everyone will LOVE watching the white girl try to dance and sing at the same time.

Week 1 Review

I now have internet and will be able to update more often...probably more often than I need to! I am here in Uganda and LOVING it. I'm healthy and getting lots of good food and rest. There is way too much to tell! Here are a few adventures I've had so far:

1) Met 4 American girls and spent their last few days in Uganda with them. That made my transition to Africa life much easier!
2) Killed a chicken (more like...watched).
3) Experienced a "Say Yes to the Dress" episode in my living room...Mama Aida rents wedding dresses to brides and we had so much fun getting Beatrice ready!
4) Went to an African wedding. In my Chacos. In the rain (more like hurricane).
5) Started teaching full-time at Covenant Primary School. I teach kindergarten-3rd grade (Reading, Bible, Art, P.E., etc.) and I love it.


Currently the best part of my day is reading to 4 of the Ugandan kids that live with us. We read under my mosquito net every night out of the Jesus Storybook Bible. Oh, I can not think of anything sweeter than kids climbing into bed and asking to be fed God's Word! I am so blessed.

I will update again soon!

Morning in Amsterdam

Here I am in Amsterdam after somewhere between 9-12 hours of flying (I lost track)! I sat next to a nice man from Moscow who spoke very little English but had some good things to say about America. I was looking at one of those airplane magazines with him andhe pointed to a picture of a state fair and said, "shark to tourists"...it was a tourist trap! He even made shark teeth motions with his hands. So fun.

The Loftises, the Bobos, Matt, Collin, and I are all here safe and healthy. The next leg of our flight will land us in Entebbe, Uganda where we will meet up with my host family and 8 South Africans. Prayers for another safe flight, good sleep, and reasonable plane food (a luxury, I know) are appreciated :)

PS--Blogger is in Dutch here. It's a good thing I've posted before or I wouldn't be able to figure it out!

The Packing Room

A week from today, I will be on a plane flying to Uganda for the 4th time! I am excited but a little anxious. This trip is so different than any other I've been on, but I'm looking forward to all the new adventures God will bring my way. Currently, the guest room is the "packing room" and it is covered in clothes, gifts, medicine, and teaching curriculum. Since I only have about 2 weeks between Africa and move-in day at Texas A&M (Whoop!), the guest room is also home to dorm decorations, sheets, and 70 pink clothes hangers.