African Muzungu

One of my favorite weeks ever in Uganda started with the first day of our 2016 school year for Genesis. Welcoming new students along with the old all while hosting a wonderful team from Bear Valley Church in Littleton was definitely a thrill! I had missed my kids so much while I was gone, so finally getting to be with them again was a long-awaited joy. Although many of my kids weren't quite as enthusiastic as I would have expected them to be... mostly because I had "cut weight" while I was gone, and apparently some of them weren't quite sure if it was really me. HA! Once they were convince it really was me, they quickly warmed up, and we're settling back into our Bible study routine. Lining up by class for parade on the first day of school On Tuesday we got to take our P4 and P5 student on a field trip with the team to Sipi falls. All of them had an absolute blast, especially when we reached the top of the 2nd falls and they got to play in p...

The first day of school can be so exciting! Or scary....   For some of our kids here at Genesis, it’s their first day of school ever.      For others, they come to build on their knowledge from previous teaching. I was struck with the difference between the kids coming in for the first time, and those retuning.  One group is shabby, with dirt stained clothes and uncombed hair.  The other is (mostly) neat with their uniforms from last year and (most) heads freshly shaved.  One group sits quietly, not knowing what to do or expect.  The other group chatters away, requiring frequent intervention from the teacher.  It's a visual reminder of the huge impact we can have on these kids. Yes, we can teach them good hygiene. And to wash their clothes. And to sit well and listen quietly. And to write their letters and numbers. And to play well with each other. But mostly importantly we mu...