My first week in Uganda

[my classroom with teacher juliet!!]
I’m not sure where to start. I am in Uganda…! Still a little overwhelmed by that. It still feels very surreal.

So maybe a list is the best way…

My first weekend here was spent resting, meeting Jamesdon and Corynn [the couple I live with] and our neighbors, Amy and Evan. Saturday night we went to Ggaba Church and heard Pastor Peter preach.

Monday I helped in ARM’s baby home.

Tuesday I went to Ggaba to meet Juliet [the kindergarten teacher I will be helping] and then I made my way [FINALLY] to Bethany Village.

For those of you who care to know more of the details…
- Jamesdon and Corynn are a couple from California [around 27- they have been married 3 ½ years]. They have been here since July and will stay until August and might come back after that. We live together in a nice apartment with hot showers and my own room! They have been so helpful at helping me figure out every little detail and making me feel comfortable. Jamesdon is a great cook and has already made homemade bread and French toast! I seriously would be lost without them.

- The baby home is ARM’s newest project so there are only 4 babies so far. There will be more in the future as soon as all the paperwork has been completed. Daniel is the oldest at around 1 year. He has several problems [like his vision is impaired] but he is so much fun! Joshua and Aidan are around the same age [maybe 4 months?] and Rachael is the newest at 2-3 months. They are the sweetest little things. I will probably help out at the baby house a lot because I can walk there in about 10 minutes.

- I love Juliet [the kindergarten teacher]! She is so kind and I am excited about helping her. The kindergarteners are so cute and crazy. I can’t wait to get to know all 22 of them. Their English is not very advanced so that makes things a little complicated.

- Food- we go to the supermarket and buy milk, eggs, pasta, cereal, coffee, different meats, etc. I have only had a couple of African meals so far [and that is perfectly fine with me!] I think Jamesdon is going to make pizza one night this week.

And for what you’ve all been waiting for [or maybe just me?]

Yesterday afternoon I took a boat across Lake Victoria to a boda station [bodas are those motorcycle taxi things]. I took my first boda on the back roads to Bethany. So let me just say that was quite an experience…. First of all it rains everyday… so dirt roads tend to be muddy and puddle-y. The driver of the boda works for ARM so I knew he would take care of me and he did. It’s funny because you get on and you don’t really know what to do… I’m thinking I really want to wrap my arms around this Ugandan and hold on as tight as I can… but that feels a little strange so I guess I’ll just hold on a bit more loosely. Somehow my backpack unzipped as we were passing through a little village so I had children and and old man running to me with all of my belongings. Everyone was laughing at the mizungu [white person] as I rode by. You get used to being stared at and laughed at eventually I guess.

When we arrived at Bethany I met Juliet [the girl from Texas who is my age living at Bethany]. It was awesome to finally meet her. We spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other. It seems like we have so much in common and it was refreshing to talk to someone my age who is not married. I am excited about getting to know her more! Carol and Rose [2 girls from my house] were waiting for me when I arrived. I went up and saw Francis [the orphanage manager] and then saw my Anita [the one I sponsor]! Juliet walked me over to see the rest of the Granny House as well. They all knew I was coming so they weren’t very surprised to see me but they seemed happy. Sweet Paul walked right up to me and hugged me. So did Moses and Dorah and Mary and Michael and Derek. It made me so happy to see them again!!!! Gosh I love those kids. Their new house-mother [who is also named Juliet!] was very sweet and I am glad they are being taken care of so well. She was surprised that I remembered all of their names and faces so well [I’m thinking… how could I ever forget?!]

I can’t put into words how I feel about these kids and how wonderful it was to see them again. Mommy Jane [the house-mother for Alma house where Juliet stays] was very kind and made us dinner. I got to participate in their worship and devotion time. At the end Jane went around and told me about each child, all 11 of them. She told me that Anita was very excited about me coming ☺ Hearing that makes it all worth it.

Francis came by for a while and teased me about not coming sooner and not having a husband like he usually does. I saw my friend David as well.

A few little stories

This little one, Christen [gcm people- the one that was wild and everywhere] lives in Alma house. She is so much fun. She caught a lightning bug last night and was holding it between her fingers as it was lighting up. Juliet asked her if it was an insect. “It’s a star,” she said. [picture adorable Ugandan child and accent.] so good.

So after that I am again convinced there is nowhere on earth like Bethany Village. It is a little piece of heaven.

This morning we [Francis, Uncle Willie, 4 of the house mothers, some other randoms, Juliet and I] took the boat back to Ggaba. In the middle of the lake I noticed we were slowing down and a boat labeled “Uganda Police” was headed our way. I had heard that often the police here just want you to pay them off so I was a little nervous that might be the case. They stopped us and asked, “Where are your life jackets?” Francis glanced in their boat and then said, “Where are yours?” [ They had just a couple] Everyone laughed. Apparently you can be as arrogant as you want with them. They went back and forth talking about the importance of life jackets and Uncle Willie thanked them for “allowing his children to see him for more days.”

Juliet [my age] spends a week at Bethany and then a week at the baby home and just goes back and forth. I am thinking and praying about splitting my time between the school here and Bethany. I just need to be there more.

So that’s all for now!