June 19, 2013 8:23pm
Today was a good day. I only got about 3.5-4 hours of sleep last night before waking up near 3:40am. I was still tired but unable to fall back asleep. Around 5:30am, I found my flashlight and Bible for some quiet time. That was a great start for my day.
After a breakfast of beans, potatoes, banana, and toast, I climbed aboard the van to head into Kampala. Uganda is indeed beautiful, but I was surprised at how familiar and comfortable it all seemed to me. In some ways, it reminded me of Belize or the Mexican Riviera towns. I'm pretty sure God was in that calm space for me as I was expecting Africa to feel completely foreign. Instead, I have to remind myself often that I am actually in Africa.
We exchanged our currency and ate lunch in Kampala. Cafe Java could have easily been any little strip mall restaurant in DFW. In fact, it would be a relatively trendy one in DFW!
Finally done with lunch, we drove back to Entebbe toward Foodstep's Homecoming. I met Nathalie, and as she gave the tour, I was so impressed and blessed by her ministry. It was clear what a difference they are making in the lives of her 58 "sons" and "daughters" from Kampiringisa as well as for the children still there and even in preparation for the future children at Kampiringisa and the Homecoming. She reminded me of Corrie ten Boom -- the home she was making to restore former children prisoners of such a desolate place, her disregard for her own comfort or health while caring for and loving these children, and her efforts to improve the living conditions and outlook of these abandoned children -- even down to getting the children at Kamp involved in growing their own food! I am so grateful that God has placed her here for such a time as this and that I could meet her and hopefully be even a small part of this incredible story.
Spending time with the kids at Foodstep had awkward moments and some bright spots. After Nathalie's brief tour, I wasn't quite sure where to go, what to do, and who to interact with next. There were 3 adorable little girls I found quickly. I thought I'd most likely connect with one of them the most as they were closest to my own daughter's ages. Instead 5 other little souls touched me the most. Deliberate T. colored his coloring sheet as close to the small example on the packaging as possible. Despite his staying home from school today as he recovered from malaria, he flashed the brightest and most spectacular smile when I gave him attention and commented on his work. Breathtakingly precious.
Then there was lovely S. When we first arrived, she stayed as far away from us as she could. She seemed to plant herself in the back of the crowd without a smile and barely a glance. She hadn't been at the Homecoming for very long yet, and we found out that she had a tumor on her neck and had been the subject of mockery and more for it. I barely even saw it. What I saw was a girl delighted to have stickers on her face, play chase, and see what she could get away with with this new Mzungu. I never would have imagined I'd be chasing and tickling her when I first arrived.
Then there was A. He was so pleased to learn tic-tac-toe, and he picked it up so quickly. It was a joy to play with him.
Another boy talked to me about how he used to be 1st in his old class but how he was 6th in his current class. He clearly enjoyed school and asked me regularly to critique his coloring efforts. I was more than happy to tell this 11 year old boy how well I thought he was doing with each detail.
All 4 of these children would be middle to late elementary in age I believe, but then there was little P. He was rather new to the Homecoming too and was there on a somewhat trial basis. At one point, he threw himself to the ground in a fit that no one quite understood. My interest was piqued. Later, I motioned an offer to pick him up, and he readily accepted. It became clear quickly that his receptive language was far better than his expressive language. I quickly made up a little game of an activity to play with him. I'd lower his head backwards to the ground, count to 3, and then say "up" as I lifted him back upright. He enjoyed it, caught on after a few repetitions, and quickly started saying the vowel sound in "up" after I counted to 3 to get me to lift him back up. His smile and laughter were delightful. He stayed in my arms as I chased S., played 1-2-3-Up with him, and later as we sat together. I'd imitate the sounds I heard him make in the hopes that he would start to understand the idea of deliberately imitating my sounds too. He clearly enjoyed it all, and I was so grateful to have the experience and to be placed here during his possibly brief initial stay at the Homecoming to love on him individually.
Tomorrow, we go to Kampiringisa. I can't begin to fathom what I'll see and experience or how I'll react. I hope and pray to be a bearer and giver of God's love. This will only be possible if God accomplishes it, so I'm praying.
Today was a good day. I only got about 3.5-4 hours of sleep last night before waking up near 3:40am. I was still tired but unable to fall back asleep. Around 5:30am, I found my flashlight and Bible for some quiet time. That was a great start for my day.
After a breakfast of beans, potatoes, banana, and toast, I climbed aboard the van to head into Kampala. Uganda is indeed beautiful, but I was surprised at how familiar and comfortable it all seemed to me. In some ways, it reminded me of Belize or the Mexican Riviera towns. I'm pretty sure God was in that calm space for me as I was expecting Africa to feel completely foreign. Instead, I have to remind myself often that I am actually in Africa.
We exchanged our currency and ate lunch in Kampala. Cafe Java could have easily been any little strip mall restaurant in DFW. In fact, it would be a relatively trendy one in DFW!
Finally done with lunch, we drove back to Entebbe toward Foodstep's Homecoming. I met Nathalie, and as she gave the tour, I was so impressed and blessed by her ministry. It was clear what a difference they are making in the lives of her 58 "sons" and "daughters" from Kampiringisa as well as for the children still there and even in preparation for the future children at Kampiringisa and the Homecoming. She reminded me of Corrie ten Boom -- the home she was making to restore former children prisoners of such a desolate place, her disregard for her own comfort or health while caring for and loving these children, and her efforts to improve the living conditions and outlook of these abandoned children -- even down to getting the children at Kamp involved in growing their own food! I am so grateful that God has placed her here for such a time as this and that I could meet her and hopefully be even a small part of this incredible story.
Spending time with the kids at Foodstep had awkward moments and some bright spots. After Nathalie's brief tour, I wasn't quite sure where to go, what to do, and who to interact with next. There were 3 adorable little girls I found quickly. I thought I'd most likely connect with one of them the most as they were closest to my own daughter's ages. Instead 5 other little souls touched me the most. Deliberate T. colored his coloring sheet as close to the small example on the packaging as possible. Despite his staying home from school today as he recovered from malaria, he flashed the brightest and most spectacular smile when I gave him attention and commented on his work. Breathtakingly precious.
Then there was A. He was so pleased to learn tic-tac-toe, and he picked it up so quickly. It was a joy to play with him.
Another boy talked to me about how he used to be 1st in his old class but how he was 6th in his current class. He clearly enjoyed school and asked me regularly to critique his coloring efforts. I was more than happy to tell this 11 year old boy how well I thought he was doing with each detail.
All 4 of these children would be middle to late elementary in age I believe, but then there was little P. He was rather new to the Homecoming too and was there on a somewhat trial basis. At one point, he threw himself to the ground in a fit that no one quite understood. My interest was piqued. Later, I motioned an offer to pick him up, and he readily accepted. It became clear quickly that his receptive language was far better than his expressive language. I quickly made up a little game of an activity to play with him. I'd lower his head backwards to the ground, count to 3, and then say "up" as I lifted him back upright. He enjoyed it, caught on after a few repetitions, and quickly started saying the vowel sound in "up" after I counted to 3 to get me to lift him back up. His smile and laughter were delightful. He stayed in my arms as I chased S., played 1-2-3-Up with him, and later as we sat together. I'd imitate the sounds I heard him make in the hopes that he would start to understand the idea of deliberately imitating my sounds too. He clearly enjoyed it all, and I was so grateful to have the experience and to be placed here during his possibly brief initial stay at the Homecoming to love on him individually.
Tomorrow, we go to Kampiringisa. I can't begin to fathom what I'll see and experience or how I'll react. I hope and pray to be a bearer and giver of God's love. This will only be possible if God accomplishes it, so I'm praying.
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