Friday, February 29, 2008
Didn't even know it was leap year.
Love and peace to you all.
Yes if you were wondering...it has been a crazy hectic week.
Friday evening: Car breaks down in the middle of town. Only Chris and I.
Saturday a.m.: Take bodabodas to get car in order to retrieve luggage from airport in Entebbe full of shoes and clothes from wonderful hearts in America.
Saturday p.m.: After many many shillings and a lot of frustration reach Entebbe. Wait and wait. Receive luggage. Bring back home. Kids freak out. Love shoes and clothing. Love. Love. Love.
Sunday a.m.: Drive to Kanungu.
Sunday p.m.: Reach Kanungu. Ps. it is crazy beautiful
Wednesday pm: come home to Kampala.
Thursday: back to teaching.
So there were a couple more details involved but in short, this is how the last week went.
Chris and I are learning what it takes to raise a family of a billion kids. This must be said:
Thank you Ma and Pops for everything you sacrificed and did for me. I am learning how much it takes to raise kids. Sacrifice of time, money, self, and cleanliness. (that one I threw in due to panic. But it works.)
Teaching is getting better and better! I think this is a prime example of how God is seen in our weaknesses.
We are seeing God work everyday. It is amazing how much He does when we do not confine Him to a box. Pray that we continue having faith and leave everything to Him. We have way too many projects for us to handle. It's got to be the Big Guy on this or we are gonna drown.
Thank you for your support. I cannot say that enough. Without all of you, none of this is possible at all. Everyday we are amazed at how God is using you. Thank you thank you thank you.
peace and love.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I've had way too much tea and water today
Yes we are still alive...eee I may be the worst blogger ever. So sorry. We have been very busy and had little internet access lately. Chris went into the hospital, which was very funny but horrible for him. He is healing and getting better. We are still teaching. And no, I have not gotten any better. But I do love teaching P5. They are the greatest kids. Mostly, they like me and the others don't. Golly, how selfish is that huh?
The boys are doing great. Exhaustion is pretty prominent. But the kiddos and their spirits keep us going.
My birthday was so much fun! We took the day off and had a shower for the first time since American soil. Holy moley, it was so great! Let me tell you, when one of the highlights of your 21st birthday is a hot shower, you know it has been too long. Seriously, though we had a great time. Plus, we made new friends and had a great time.
We have loaded some pictures on to this site. Please check them out. More are to come whenever we find the time. I love you all and miss you. Hope your lives are full of love and joy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dorcaschildrenshome/Africa
The boys are doing great. Exhaustion is pretty prominent. But the kiddos and their spirits keep us going.
My birthday was so much fun! We took the day off and had a shower for the first time since American soil. Holy moley, it was so great! Let me tell you, when one of the highlights of your 21st birthday is a hot shower, you know it has been too long. Seriously, though we had a great time. Plus, we made new friends and had a great time.
We have loaded some pictures on to this site. Please check them out. More are to come whenever we find the time. I love you all and miss you. Hope your lives are full of love and joy.
http://picasaweb.google.com
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
"Madame, madame!"
Yes believe it or not I am a math teacher. Here is the tricky thing about being raised in the school system in America and deciding to teach in the school system in Uganda:
1. Well the kids do not speak much English.
2. Showing up for class....is not entirely necessary per say.
3. Time? Oh I am sorry, so it does not matter if I show up an hour later than when you said yesterday?
4. Books are not really available if you will. Meaning, I have 2 out of my 5 curriculum books. The kids do not have books. Period.
5. The heavily used blackboard is my only means of communicating the problems I want them to learn. I think I will grow a fondness for chalk. Seriously, my lungs are beginning to need it like nicotine.
6. I don't really have scheduled time that I am teaching. Strangest thing to me really. I show up, wait for the other teachers and students to actually get there. Then simply ask which classes do not have teachers. And those lucky ducks get to be taught math for two hours. No classes are not two hours long, but nobody changes classes when the suggested time has been set, so...Math all day! woot woot!
Despite this, the past two days have been wonderful and long! We had white visitors yesterday which was more of a blessing than I could ever imagine. We could actually talk to them! And boy did we ever.
Besides the usual proposals and frequent visitors, not much is new or crazy. Thank you for your prayers and love.
Love back. And back. and back.
1. Well the kids do not speak much English.
2. Showing up for class....is not entirely necessary per say.
3. Time? Oh I am sorry, so it does not matter if I show up an hour later than when you said yesterday?
4. Books are not really available if you will. Meaning, I have 2 out of my 5 curriculum books. The kids do not have books. Period.
5. The heavily used blackboard is my only means of communicating the problems I want them to learn. I think I will grow a fondness for chalk. Seriously, my lungs are beginning to need it like nicotine.
6. I don't really have scheduled time that I am teaching. Strangest thing to me really. I show up, wait for the other teachers and students to actually get there. Then simply ask which classes do not have teachers. And those lucky ducks get to be taught math for two hours. No classes are not two hours long, but nobody changes classes when the suggested time has been set, so...Math all day! woot woot!
Despite this, the past two days have been wonderful and long! We had white visitors yesterday which was more of a blessing than I could ever imagine. We could actually talk to them! And boy did we ever.
Besides the usual proposals and frequent visitors, not much is new or crazy. Thank you for your prayers and love.
Love back. And back. and back.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thus far...
This is Meddy and I working along with a bunch of people to redo the futbol pitch. Chris' great idea! The boys in the village love it to death! So much flippin futbol! meddy is a huge jokester and so much fun!
Here are a few pictures I could load after 2 hours ! hee hee I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them with the little goobers.
School begins on Monday! Our days of waking slowly, yoga, jump roping and running, studying Lugandan, then playing games upon games with the boys are up. Monday begins class at 8 am. Believe it or not, school goes till 5pm. eee. Tell me about it.
So far many songs have been sung, many mosquito bites gotten, and much love has been given. Both Chris and I are well and full of joy and love. God is blessing us each day with the amount of love we receive from the boys. He is providing greatly with the sponsors from the US and the way in which he is healing everyone. Musisi remains the only boys still sick after the malaria pounce. We will be bringing him into a clinic soon. Please keep him in your prayers. His mother is dying of AIDS and it is unknown whether she contracted it before or after his birth. Let us hope and pray constantly that he does not also have it. When even the chance that he may have it was said, my heart dropped and sank into my stomach. He is a sweet and joyful kid that I have grown very close to. Anyhoo, lets just keep praying God's will be done.
A side note on being white. Everyone wants to be your friend. Let me just say, I have never been opposed to friendship more than I am now. Seriously, many people come by daily or drop off letters asking for money and telling us how great of friends we need to be. It is strange. Friendship because of what they think we have to offer them...a little manipulative aye? Eee please pray we have the discernment on this one. Never had to judge people immediately and really don't like doing it to be honest.
Guys be sure to check out http://dorcaschildrenshome.blogspot.com
There are more pictures and more stories I have not written here. I think you may like it a bit :)
Thank you for your prayers and support! I miss and love you all oh so much!
ps. if you want to send twizzlers, you can.
pss. we will eat them and share them with the kids...maybe...hee hee we will we will.
Here are a few pictures I could load after 2 hours ! hee hee I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them with the little goobers.
School begins on Monday! Our days of waking slowly, yoga, jump roping and running, studying Lugandan, then playing games upon games with the boys are up. Monday begins class at 8 am. Believe it or not, school goes till 5pm. eee. Tell me about it.
So far many songs have been sung, many mosquito bites gotten, and much love has been given. Both Chris and I are well and full of joy and love. God is blessing us each day with the amount of love we receive from the boys. He is providing greatly with the sponsors from the US and the way in which he is healing everyone. Musisi remains the only boys still sick after the malaria pounce. We will be bringing him into a clinic soon. Please keep him in your prayers. His mother is dying of AIDS and it is unknown whether she contracted it before or after his birth. Let us hope and pray constantly that he does not also have it. When even the chance that he may have it was said, my heart dropped and sank into my stomach. He is a sweet and joyful kid that I have grown very close to. Anyhoo, lets just keep praying God's will be done.
A side note on being white. Everyone wants to be your friend. Let me just say, I have never been opposed to friendship more than I am now. Seriously, many people come by daily or drop off letters asking for money and telling us how great of friends we need to be. It is strange. Friendship because of what they think we have to offer them...a little manipulative aye? Eee please pray we have the discernment on this one. Never had to judge people immediately and really don't like doing it to be honest.
Guys be sure to check out http://dorcaschildrenshome.blogspot.com
There are more pictures and more stories I have not written here. I think you may like it a bit :)
Thank you for your prayers and support! I miss and love you all oh so much!
ps. if you want to send twizzlers, you can.
pss. we will eat them and share them with the kids...maybe...hee hee we will we will.
Monday, January 21, 2008
hee hee
Golly it is more amazing than I ever had imagined. Sometimes I look at what is going on around me and I laugh because I feel so at home but it is a culture I have never known. Kampala is absolutely crazy. It is so busy and has kind of has bought into a cheap version of our western culture(ie. lots of advertising for cell phones, junk, beauty, blah) Which is such a bummer, but luckily I only have to come here to check my email. Otherwise, we live in an absolutely beautiful place! Fruit trees(juckfruit or fwe) right outside my door. Flowers, trees, it is super green! Everyone hangs out and works hard to survive. Naked black babies. So cute! And we just play in dirt all day and no one minds. I love it. I am learning how to cook over coals! yippie. I am going to be a real hippy. Finally. :) The kids. ooo. I freakin love them. I cannot stand it. I could play with them the rest of my life and be happy. These children are the most respectful, playful, joyful, and loving kids I have ever known. To think they came from such hard beginnings. Chris and I are trying are best to learn Lugandan. Everyone is super helpful!
Traffic? ooo don't get me started. No rules basically. 21 of us fit in a shaky 11 seater taxi van. Imagine going over massive pot holes, ravines, and trenches in that puppy. Chris tipped him because he could hardly believe we made it alive! hee hee. Sure most drive on the left side of the road, but not necessarily. Pedistrians? Ha. Good luck out there.
Toilets? There is one western like one. It resembles an awful portapotty. But it is super great. There were two huge massive cute cockroaches for a bit. just hanging out just below the seat. Needless to say, I just squatted.
Bathing? From jerry cans and occassionally we have warm water! yeah! It is refreshing in cool water though!
Food? O my goodness it is wonderful. they are great cooks! To top it off they cook over coals or firewood. Can you believe it?
I have fully recovered from sickness and praise God cause that was awful. eee.
Love you all so much! Wish you could be here too.
Golly it is more amazing than I ever had imagined. Sometimes I look at what is going on around me and I laugh because I feel so at home but it is a culture I have never known. Kampala is absolutely crazy. It is so busy and has kind of has bought into a cheap version of our western culture(ie. lots of advertising for cell phones, junk, beauty, blah) Which is such a bummer, but luckily I only have to come here to check my email. Otherwise, we live in an absolutely beautiful place! Fruit trees(juckfruit or fwe) right outside my door. Flowers, trees, it is super green! Everyone hangs out and works hard to survive. Naked black babies. So cute! And we just play in dirt all day and no one minds. I love it. I am learning how to cook over coals! yippie. I am going to be a real hippy. Finally. :) The kids. ooo. I freakin love them. I cannot stand it. I could play with them the rest of my life and be happy. These children are the most respectful, playful, joyful, and loving kids I have ever known. To think they came from such hard beginnings. Chris and I are trying are best to learn Lugandan. Everyone is super helpful!
Traffic? ooo don't get me started. No rules basically. 21 of us fit in a shaky 11 seater taxi van. Imagine going over massive pot holes, ravines, and trenches in that puppy. Chris tipped him because he could hardly believe we made it alive! hee hee. Sure most drive on the left side of the road, but not necessarily. Pedistrians? Ha. Good luck out there.
Toilets? There is one western like one. It resembles an awful portapotty. But it is super great. There were two huge massive cute cockroaches for a bit. just hanging out just below the seat. Needless to say, I just squatted.
Bathing? From jerry cans and occassionally we have warm water! yeah! It is refreshing in cool water though!
Food? O my goodness it is wonderful. they are great cooks! To top it off they cook over coals or firewood. Can you believe it?
I have fully recovered from sickness and praise God cause that was awful. eee.
Love you all so much! Wish you could be here too.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A boring title line should be here: THE TRIP.
hee hee. 8:25 pm. I started feeling nausious. Ugh. I sauntered on down to the bathroom. Definitely sounded like a bolimic. Second trip to the bathroom. And again I get accusing glances. Listen ladies...I am not counting calories mmmkay. Not 5 minutes after boarding did the long long long tedious repetition of up-chucking occur. It kinda went like this:
1.feel it coming
2. grap for bag
3.get oh so hot
4. did like Neli says and took off my clothes
5. let it all come out.
6. get freezing cold and apologize.
7. reinstitute clothing
8. pass out.
9. repeat for at least 4 hours.
After many trips to the bathroom, I finally passed out in the batheroom. That did it i guess. They moved me to first class to lie down. We could have saved all that drama and hubbub long ago if I would have started passed out in bathroom. Write that down.
Anyhoo, Thursday i am finally able to eat. yeah. i think food poisening was the kicker. Please stay away from fishy looking sushi from safeway.
1.feel it coming
2. grap for bag
3.get oh so hot
4. did like Neli says and took off my clothes
5. let it all come out.
6. get freezing cold and apologize.
7. reinstitute clothing
8. pass out.
9. repeat for at least 4 hours.
After many trips to the bathroom, I finally passed out in the batheroom. That did it i guess. They moved me to first class to lie down. We could have saved all that drama and hubbub long ago if I would have started passed out in bathroom. Write that down.
Anyhoo, Thursday i am finally able to eat. yeah. i think food poisening was the kicker. Please stay away from fishy looking sushi from safeway.
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