African Muzungu

Last year, we had cows in  the cornfield Handbook Time...... This year, we have chickens in the games circle. No matter what we're doing here in Kamonkoli, it's bound to have surprises! Saturday we had an all day training for our AWANA leaders by two trainers from the AWANA offices in Kampala. ( AWANA is a Bible memorization program started in the States and used internationally to teach and train children in the Word of God. See awana.org ) We were so pleased to have them, and to be trained well by them. While HUM has been doing AWANA for many years now, we have been in need of some fresh motivation and inspiration...as well as new material and training on how to use it! And while the training on the material was necessary and beneficial, our leaders definitely had the most fun with the games training! This was the first time for many of them to see an AWANA games circle, and if you haven't either, here's how they're set up: Translated int...

Just to make your day awesome... a video of our AWANA kids singing one of their favorite songs, Talemwa. Translated, it means: Our God will not fail: He grabs Satan and shakes him and shakes him all around, then kicks him and he falls down to hell. And this is just one reason my life in Africa is so awesome. Potholes, cockroaches, delays, language barriers, confusion, and difficulties. None of them outweigh the joy even one of these little ones brings! And in the end, they're right. My God will NEVER fail!

Walking into the office today, I just knew the day would not be so great. It started with finding out that around half of our staff members have the flu. Apparently, it started with some of the kids last week, and now it’s getting passed around the adults. That meant that even the ones that did make it into work weren’t their usual bright and shining selves. Then add to that the fact that my work for today was not that inspiring: hole punching. Yes, that’s right. Hole punching. We have a whole bunch of new material that we are looking to implement at Genesis, but it all came in loose leaf pages, so all of those needed to be punched and stored in binders. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the curriculum before we send our teachers to be trained in how to use it. But back to the hole punching. Growing up as I dreamed about my future ministry in Africa, I can’t say my dreams included hole punching. Praying over sick children? YES!     P...

Of Blood Tests Trips into Kampala, the capitol city are always exciting for me. They promise wonderful food, fun shopping, and the satisfaction of finding things that are not available anywhere in Mbale. This past weekend's trip had one additional goal for me: have my A1C blood test done...for the first time in way too long due to my nervous procrastination. The A1C is a test used for diagnosing diabetes, and I had my first bad results while I was still in college. I still remember the shock of that initial phone call from the doctor telling me a I had diabetes. For over 4 years, I struggled to fix myself, but failed in every attempt. Then, without medical explanation, Jesus healed me. That was just over 2 years ago, right before I moved to Uganda. This time as I went for testing, I was super nervous. For one thing, I didn't know what to expect from the Ugandan lab, and for two I was desperately trying to keep myself from imagining what a bad result would mean. I should...

Bright eyes, shouting voices, and eager arms welcome me each day I go to the school. Peace and Edith are the most demonstrative with their affection. They know me well since they are 2 of the orphans living at Katherine’s place, and I get to see them all the time. They have lost all trace of pretense and eagerly, boldly demand for my love and attention. They of course receive it in abundance!  But there are also those that stand back. They come to watch me, and look on as those bolder ones clamor for my attention. But I see their eyes. I know that look of longing. I know how much they too desire to be hugged, cuddled, tickled, told stories, and asked silly questions. Daphine is one of them. Her eyes captured me today with their longing, and I knew I had to draw this one in. Escaping the other small arms pulling and tugging at every appendage, I drew her aside, bent down and engaged her with questions. What is your name?        ...

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...

There’s a saying here in Uganda that what you are doing as you enter the new year is what you will continue to do throughout the year. New Years 2012 was my first here in Uganda and I took that to heart by entering the new year praying with my grandmother (we call her Gaga). And you know what? It came true! I entered the new year praying, and 2012 ended up being one of the most important and transformational years of my life prayer wise.   Jesus taught me so much about communing with Him in prayer, more than I could have imagined. My sweetest times of 2012 were during my prayer walks with Him, which I learned to love doing around dusk each day. With that in mind, I knew the best way I could think of entering 2013 was the same as before. Spending time in the presence of my God with my Gaga. It was incredible. Gaga is one of the most godly people I have ever known, and conversing with her and listening to her pray over me is one of my greatest privileges in life. I long to be ...