This may be my final post until we return. Tomorrow we head for the land where the Village of Hope is being built and where the men have spent their time. I did ask about posting pictures but William, who runs this internet cafe, said that his dial up speed was too slow. I will post a few somewhere online after I get home. I will make a final post stating where you can find them.
Today was our final day with the girls. They all wore the t-shirts that they tie dyed and we wore African Freeware -- basically a caftan. The girls were excited to see us in our outfits and said we looked smart. They were so proud of their shirts.
Denee shared today about how the girls were special in God's eyes and so were their children. She had a white box decorated with craft jewels. She told them that inside the box was the most special thing to God. Then Carmelita took the box around to show the girls. When they opened up the box, there was a mirror inside and they saw themselves. You should have seen the smiles.
Denee wanted to give each girl a mirror to remind them that God thinks that they are special. She searched but could not find one that was cost effective. She went online and found them on ebay but they were larger than what she wanted. She emailed the supplier and told him what we were doing and asked if he could cut them smaller and what would it cost. The generous man donated 55 mirrors, so we had enough for every girl.
When she was finished teaching, we asked the girls to stand and tell us something that they liked about themselves. One of them said that she liked the fact that she was alive. She said that many people did not live to her age (15 or so?) and that each morning when she woke up, she was grateful to God that she was still alive. And that not only was she alive, but that so was her child.
One girl said she was glad that God had given her the gift of bravery. She shared that she had spent the early part of her life as an abductee. She had been given to one man to be his wife. One day, they gathered up all of those who had been abducted and put them in one hut. The were going to burn the hut down. She suddenly was filled with bravery and kicked down the door. She grabbed her best friend and ran out of the hut. She and her friend were the only ones to survive. These are the kind of stories that grab your heart.
Once these girls became pregnant, they could not go back to school and many of them miss it. Without an education, it is hard for them to get a job. We made certificates for them, had taken and printed their picture with their baby, we had one of our group shots for each of them, a picture frame to make and a piece of chocolate for each of them. They really seemed to like their picture.
Then one by one, many stood and thanked us. They thanked you too. They recognized that we had taken time away from our families and friends and they wanted you to know that they were grateful. And they said that they would pray for us. Those who have so little would pray for us.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Johnna, the chicken-chasin' mama
Since I gave Mary a new name, I felt it was only fair that I got a new name too. Yes, I did actually chase chickens. Each day, they bring lunch out to us where we are working with the child mothers. It is a 40 minute ride from the hotel down a very narrow dirt road. When lunch is done, the chickens sometimes come in and eat the leftover pieces of rice laying on the floor. They share pretty well with the dogs and an occasional small child.
But a couple of times there are too many or they get a little close to the children and become a bit of a distraction. So, up I get and head towards them. We all wear long skirts that are rather billowy. They make a great chicken chasing outfit. I just grab the sides of my skirt and head their way. There is an art to this, I must say. You must position yourself just right between the chicken and the people and scoot right and left as I shoo the errant birds towards the door. The dogs seem to understand pointing. Today there were three chickens at one time. Evidently my skills were appreciated because I got applause.
I know I am writing a lot each night but so much happens that I want to share. But in rereading the blogs, I see that I have left out a lot of ministry happenings. Many of these events were able to happen due to the generosity of you who sent us. We have been able to purchase calabash drums, sticks, and leg bells for four of the camps. These are used by the children when they dance and sing like they did for us at the festival.
We were also able to purchase 50 pairs of shoes and gave them to the child mothers on the day that we washed their feet. They were so excited. Some of them had come barefoot. Yesterday was another day of teaching them to tie dye. We were able to buy 50 t-shirts so that each girl could have a new shirt. Some of them come in the same outfit every day.
Every morning we eat breakfast out on a little patio area in front of the hotel. There is always someone who comes by and needs food. We all brought snacks to eat here so we always bring something out to share. We also give them bananas from the hotel. They never beg really, just stand there until we acknowledge them. One morning, a deaf mute came by. Marianne had seen him the day before in our travels and gave him 5,000 shillings -- about $2.50. He used it to get a hair cut and then found us the following day. He motioned for a pencil and paper. Denee gave it to him and he sat by the side of the road and wrote his story.
He lived in a village too far from Gulu for him to know how to walk home. He had been brought here by a lady who promised him that she would take him to school and then she abandoned him. Now he only wanted to go home. I can't put into words the look on his face and the emotion he conveyed trying to tell us that he just wanted to go home. Denee asked if there was public transportation to his village and Marianne asked Jacob, our driver, what it would cost. All it took was 20,000 shillings or $10. Our team paid for his ticket and Jacob went to purchase it and took him to the bus station.
Several times, we've seen a man come by in his wheelchair. At least once, we fed him breakfast. He was very appreciative. Today, he came by again and Marianne felt lead to go talk to him. When she did, we found out that he had leprosy. Jacob confirmed this. He said that he was a good man who used to have a job and could pay for the medicine needed to keep the leprosy in check. He does have a home but no way to earn money for food. He eventually lost his job and could no longer pay, so now the leprosy is beyond help. And the sad thing is, he had no clothes. He had a sheet of plastic to cover his legs. He's lost almost every finger and toe. Our team has purchased two t-shirts and a blanket for him. You don't ever want to see someone who has leprosy that is uncontrolled.
We are so blessed in America. We will all come back more grateful.
But a couple of times there are too many or they get a little close to the children and become a bit of a distraction. So, up I get and head towards them. We all wear long skirts that are rather billowy. They make a great chicken chasing outfit. I just grab the sides of my skirt and head their way. There is an art to this, I must say. You must position yourself just right between the chicken and the people and scoot right and left as I shoo the errant birds towards the door. The dogs seem to understand pointing. Today there were three chickens at one time. Evidently my skills were appreciated because I got applause.
I know I am writing a lot each night but so much happens that I want to share. But in rereading the blogs, I see that I have left out a lot of ministry happenings. Many of these events were able to happen due to the generosity of you who sent us. We have been able to purchase calabash drums, sticks, and leg bells for four of the camps. These are used by the children when they dance and sing like they did for us at the festival.
We were also able to purchase 50 pairs of shoes and gave them to the child mothers on the day that we washed their feet. They were so excited. Some of them had come barefoot. Yesterday was another day of teaching them to tie dye. We were able to buy 50 t-shirts so that each girl could have a new shirt. Some of them come in the same outfit every day.
Every morning we eat breakfast out on a little patio area in front of the hotel. There is always someone who comes by and needs food. We all brought snacks to eat here so we always bring something out to share. We also give them bananas from the hotel. They never beg really, just stand there until we acknowledge them. One morning, a deaf mute came by. Marianne had seen him the day before in our travels and gave him 5,000 shillings -- about $2.50. He used it to get a hair cut and then found us the following day. He motioned for a pencil and paper. Denee gave it to him and he sat by the side of the road and wrote his story.
He lived in a village too far from Gulu for him to know how to walk home. He had been brought here by a lady who promised him that she would take him to school and then she abandoned him. Now he only wanted to go home. I can't put into words the look on his face and the emotion he conveyed trying to tell us that he just wanted to go home. Denee asked if there was public transportation to his village and Marianne asked Jacob, our driver, what it would cost. All it took was 20,000 shillings or $10. Our team paid for his ticket and Jacob went to purchase it and took him to the bus station.
Several times, we've seen a man come by in his wheelchair. At least once, we fed him breakfast. He was very appreciative. Today, he came by again and Marianne felt lead to go talk to him. When she did, we found out that he had leprosy. Jacob confirmed this. He said that he was a good man who used to have a job and could pay for the medicine needed to keep the leprosy in check. He does have a home but no way to earn money for food. He eventually lost his job and could no longer pay, so now the leprosy is beyond help. And the sad thing is, he had no clothes. He had a sheet of plastic to cover his legs. He's lost almost every finger and toe. Our team has purchased two t-shirts and a blanket for him. You don't ever want to see someone who has leprosy that is uncontrolled.
We are so blessed in America. We will all come back more grateful.
Monday, August 3, 2009
I Bless the Rain Down in Africa....
That's from Toto, I think and I'm not even sure those are the correct lyrics but that's how we feel. The rain did not come this year during the rainy season. The crops haven't come in like they usually do. We've heard rumor that people have died in the north due to crop failure. Carmelita has asked many of you to pray for night rain. By raining at night, it will allow us to continue to meet with the girls and do our work. They have to walk so far, it would help that it not be in the rain. And by having the rain at night, it will also help cool us down.
We've been having a lot of problems with the electricity. We've had two more nights without any power. That means no fans. Last night, it rained and even as I sit here tonight, it is raining. Continue to pray for rain for these people.
The food here has been good and plentiful here. Every morning, we have toast, eggs, and bananas. Every day at lunch, we have rice, beans, potatoes, beef, chapulta (I'm guessing at the spelling) which is like a tortilla, and boiled mashed bananas. Dinner is either Ugandan pizza and fries or rice, beans, chicken, potatoes, boiled mashed bananas, and once, the most delicious green beans and carrots I've ever had.
The men joined us here in Gulu on Saturday for the festival. The festival was awesome! Over 400 children from six different camps met us at a local Baptist church/school grounds. We thought that we were going to work with them but they had other plans. It was truly a festival. Children from each camp have organized dance groups that sing and dance. They only have drums for music but can they every make them play. My favorite drum is the calabash. It is half of a gourd that is much, bigger than a large pumpkin. They dry it and clean it. They take spokes from a bicycle and joined them together with a handle and use that instead of a drum stick. It makes a sound like no other and I just love it.
We got there about 12:30. The children took turns singing and dancing for us until lunch was ready at 4:00!! Three and half hours dancing out in the middle of the hot African sun! They jump and stomp at a furious pace. They sang songs of welcome to the visitors. They sang songs about the Lord and how He saved them. They sang that they were tired of being kidnapped. And they sang songs of joy. It is amazing and humbling to sit and listen to them sing with such joy and gratefulness. After lunch, Mary (a.k.a. Scary Mary who is becoming not so scary) narrated the story of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abednigo -- ok, I know I butchered those names but you know who I'm talking about. She used all of us as actors in the story. We had masks and props. The kids seemed to love it. Then it was time for them to go back to the camps.
Sunday we went to church at Watoto. This church started two years ago with 300 and currently has 1500 members. It is a satellite location of a larger church. I understand they have a website. Anyway, it was a great service. It happened to be their two anniversary and they had planned for the service to be outside. They had chairs set up for everyone. Luckily they sold umbrellas to protect us from the sun. Most of the service was in English and so were most of the songs. The service was broadcast simultaneously on two radio stations. We really enjoyed it. We met some people that we met at the Tampa airport. Hearts of Fire is a group of medical people who travel on missions to help others. They traveled the whole way here with us.
After lunch, we went to one of the camps and saw how the beads are made. Most of us took the opportunity to make a bead or two. Then the men headed back out to the land. We will get to go out to the land and stay the night on Friday before leaving for home on Saturday. There the women will get to experience life on the land. Pray that we hang tough!!
We've been having a lot of problems with the electricity. We've had two more nights without any power. That means no fans. Last night, it rained and even as I sit here tonight, it is raining. Continue to pray for rain for these people.
The food here has been good and plentiful here. Every morning, we have toast, eggs, and bananas. Every day at lunch, we have rice, beans, potatoes, beef, chapulta (I'm guessing at the spelling) which is like a tortilla, and boiled mashed bananas. Dinner is either Ugandan pizza and fries or rice, beans, chicken, potatoes, boiled mashed bananas, and once, the most delicious green beans and carrots I've ever had.
The men joined us here in Gulu on Saturday for the festival. The festival was awesome! Over 400 children from six different camps met us at a local Baptist church/school grounds. We thought that we were going to work with them but they had other plans. It was truly a festival. Children from each camp have organized dance groups that sing and dance. They only have drums for music but can they every make them play. My favorite drum is the calabash. It is half of a gourd that is much, bigger than a large pumpkin. They dry it and clean it. They take spokes from a bicycle and joined them together with a handle and use that instead of a drum stick. It makes a sound like no other and I just love it.
We got there about 12:30. The children took turns singing and dancing for us until lunch was ready at 4:00!! Three and half hours dancing out in the middle of the hot African sun! They jump and stomp at a furious pace. They sang songs of welcome to the visitors. They sang songs about the Lord and how He saved them. They sang that they were tired of being kidnapped. And they sang songs of joy. It is amazing and humbling to sit and listen to them sing with such joy and gratefulness. After lunch, Mary (a.k.a. Scary Mary who is becoming not so scary) narrated the story of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abednigo -- ok, I know I butchered those names but you know who I'm talking about. She used all of us as actors in the story. We had masks and props. The kids seemed to love it. Then it was time for them to go back to the camps.
Sunday we went to church at Watoto. This church started two years ago with 300 and currently has 1500 members. It is a satellite location of a larger church. I understand they have a website. Anyway, it was a great service. It happened to be their two anniversary and they had planned for the service to be outside. They had chairs set up for everyone. Luckily they sold umbrellas to protect us from the sun. Most of the service was in English and so were most of the songs. The service was broadcast simultaneously on two radio stations. We really enjoyed it. We met some people that we met at the Tampa airport. Hearts of Fire is a group of medical people who travel on missions to help others. They traveled the whole way here with us.
After lunch, we went to one of the camps and saw how the beads are made. Most of us took the opportunity to make a bead or two. Then the men headed back out to the land. We will get to go out to the land and stay the night on Friday before leaving for home on Saturday. There the women will get to experience life on the land. Pray that we hang tough!!
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