Catastrophe in the City

this is Grace.

update on blog
This past Saturday Global Family Rescue peeps and I went back to Nakaseri's house, the lady that has been bed ridden for four years. It was a great day because Grace was feeling a lot better than the time before. She was sitting and was not as gaunt. We brought doctors to their house to give them care. Nakaseri is dying of Syphilis; she is in the final sages of the disease and will soon go mental. Grace is actually seventeen and has a two year old child. She is young enough to treat her HIV. She was extremely dehydrated and is severely malnourished. We took her to the hospital where she will be looked after. Nakaseri would not let us take her blood for the longest time because she was afraid of the needle, finally she let us. We are going to try to get the best care possible for her. The doctor was completely disgusted with their living situation and said the reason they were so bad off was because of poverty; poor sanitation, bad food and water, and lack of personal hygiene. We bought them beds so that they do not have to sleep on the floor any longer.
News about me
I started working at a primary school called Eagles Nest. It is an American/Ugandan missionary ran. The school is in the same area as my church. The area is Mengo Kisenyi, which is a Somalian refugee area. I went to my first class today and I had about 120 students… "eh eh" It was great though. I am really excited about teaching them how to read, and count, and everything else that P2 kids do!
Tonight I needed to get to Kids Bible Study at the church so I got a Boda boda. I told him that I needed to go to Christianity Focus, Ps. Kiganda, Kiganda Zone, Kisenyi, Mengo. Do you know where it is? He said "yes Madame I do." This cat took me everywhere besides the church. I called a friend to tell him how to get their in Luganda because this guy did not understand what I was saying. So when I gave the phone to the sabo to get him to hear my friend he started saying "I do not speak Luganda, speak English to me" WHAT ALL BODA BODA GUYS SPEAK LUGANDA!! Anyways I was on this boda for about 45 minutes…Sketchy! When I got to the church I had a great study with the kids. I taught them a new song and we put dance to it. These little Africans –they can dance!! Tomorrow Sherri and Matt are coming into town, so I will have some people to hang out with! I have been lonely since Ishta left and Andrea told me that she is not coming till December. I have been keeping myself busy though. I am supposed to be going into the village this weekend with the Tashobya's. I do not know if I will really be able to go though because I have just remembered that my kids are supposed to sing at a this over night youth event. "Ai yi yi" that could be a really long night. I am really excited because out Ministry conference at the church starts this Sunday.

The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of life
Im an all American rebel making my big get away… like steve mcqueen I am really not an all American but I can act like I am when I listen to Sheryl Crow! Today was sooooo phenomenal. I went to church at 9 and did not get out until what 4 and I left before it was over because I was starved. Church was so awesome. A British/American/ Ugandan friend joined me. I will explain his story in a few. Meanwhile, I am so excited about what happened at church. A visiting Nigerian pastor ministered today. We saw many miracles and he spoke with such eloquence. He called me on stage after service to prophecy to me. He told me that I was blessed with a loving heart that could not be tampered. He said he saw a NGO in my future that I started helping female children. He said that many seemingly unreachable people were going to invest in me/my work. He also said that I am thinking that my ministry will be concealed to corners but that my ministry will be open walls. He told me there is no telling how big and awesome it will get. He also said that someone connected to my father will help to start the program. Also that God is already opening the doors for me to meet very influential people who are going to back me. He said many other things. Anyone who knows me knows that he was exactly on queue. I was so encouraged. I have been feeling like my dream was so much larger than me.. well it is so much bigger than I but it is not out of my hands. I was so blessed. Then I went to lunch with my friend I met by freak chance. He has been in the North. He was telling me his stories about him living in an IDP camp. He actually drank the same water and lived exactly how these 2 million people live everyday. He is a student and he is sponsoring four kids to go to school. He was telling me the story of one girl he sponsors. She was abducted by the LRA when she was 10, she was raped and became pregnant when she was 12. She escaped by running 200 km. through the bush with a five month baby on her back. She would drink mud to have something in a liquid form go down her throat and lived on leaves… whatever she could find. Kind of makes me be a little thankful. The amazing thing about this girl is she remained so crimson and joyous. The weird thing is that the more of these children who have been through things none of can even imagine have more joy than I. It is like they see the real meaning of life. They define happiness through triumph and just because they are alive is more than enough. This girl is 15 and going to beauty school here in Kpala. She is graduating in a short while and she is not going to stay here in the city and make money but she is turning around and going back to Gulu where she was hurt so badly, and she is going to help other girls who have been through what she went through but have no means to go to school. What is life to me? What is life to you? What do I value? What do I consider success? Life is so much more than what I see, think, hear, read, or even dream. As I sit here in my nice clothes I think maybe there is a greater calling to my life than just to get married and have a few kids and have the American dream. Sorry Bambi, that is not me. Life has more meaning than I can ever imagine. Why did God die for me? I think maybe he wanted me/all of us to do extraordinary things. I know everyone is not called to Africa –but you know there are troubled people everywhere. I was reading the Monitor the other day, and there was a article about President Museveni going to Germany to speak to some Xian group. He said communist China has given more to Africa then the Christian West and we are the ones who supposedly to work on love. I will try to find that article. It really convicted me. Who am I to tell you to be proactive? I can only hope that is already instilled in everyone. I teach a bible study to kids 5 times a week. These kids come excited and faithfully. I wish everyone could go to Mengo, the place where I teach. It is a HORRIBLE horrible area. It is mostly Somalian refugee area but is know for prostitution and thieves. It is disgusting. These kids live with nothing. There are several kids who do not have money to even go to school. One girl in particular, her name is Baritha. Her parents both died of AIDS and lives with her grandparents. She recently became a Christian and her grandfather will no longer pay her school fees because she is no longer Muslim. All she wants to do is go to school. For everything she needs about 110,000 shillings, which is about $70. Wow, can I spare a pair of shoes or maybe a cup of coffee a day for this girl's education. What has she done to not deserve an education? I can solve her problem. I do not have a lot of money but I can do that. Define necessity? I can honestly tell you that I can look at a hummer with a little bit of disgust. We are so much bigger than we think. You have the power to turn a persons life around. You have the ability to give a child ultimate happiness. Question yourself, your goals, and ambitions. Making millions is not the only gratifying thing you can do. Believe in youself and your ability to show Gods love, not only with your money but with your prayers and dedication to your world. These people know their government, We should also. We control what happens in our country. Let us talk to our Senators to pass bills to get the US into helping these people. The US just gave Africa what 60 or maybe 30 billion (i cannot remember exactly) for AIDS medicine but the Africans do not think it will be affective because they do not have enough money to maintain the hospitals or to pay people to give the medicine. We can do something about that. These people are so dedicated to God. They pray and attend church more than you could even imagine. Tomorrow we have lunch hour prayer 12-3, then there is bible study at 6pm and then all night prayer. This is more than religion to these wonderful people, it is their whole existence. Why can we not dedicate prayers to them? Go on week long fast with them. It is not Gods will for these people to die of disease and poverty. We need to pray for their well being and their Government.
On a bit of a lighter note, I had a great night last night! I spent the night with Ishta's auntie Grace. She was so wonderful! She has three BEAUTIFUL kids. It was a really great experience. Someone stole a bag from me the other day. I was so mad because it just had markers, my study group notes, and the kids work. I hope they felt wonderful when they found NO cash!
Seriously think about your life and the meaning of you

Gwee Go AWAY!

GGWEEE GO AWAY!!!
I really love Uganda! I really really do, I have this love for common wealth that is weird. I probably wouldn't love it as much if I were from here. It is just so crazy to think that I could live here forever and totally be 100% happy. I have had a really great week. I went to a Dr. Creole Dollar seminar last night. It was really awesosme. I have not fully understood church since I have been here –until last night. I went by myself and was a bit taken by the crowd. There were nearly half a million people there. Africans do love religion. You know I did not expect the Muslim community to be so large. Okay, this week what have I done--- Sunday I went to church it was raining cats and dogs. The roof is pathetic, I could not even teach because we were wet. After church I met an American named Matt that I met at the wedding I went to Saturday. By the way I went to a Kuhingira, which is a ceremony for the parents of the bride to give their daughter away. My God it was so long and boring and in Luganda. Anyways so I met a really cool American and we went to lunch Sunday with his friend from here. We went to Café PaP and had fajitas. We ate really fast because he had to make a flight two hours later and he ended up missing the flight, not because of me he had enough time! Anyways we hung out later that evening for eats. It was a lot of fun hanging out with someone who could quote anchorman with me. That was a definite change in conversation comparing African vs. American. You know Americans are so much different than we give our selves credit for, whether it is the lack of culture or the pride of culture we are different. It is so funny how quick I can spot an American. They are so… different! True story. I really miss my family. I think everyone should move here. Uganda is so free. My theory is that they do not have to really work for their survival like the rest of Africa –well for the most part. Their main source of food is banana and they grow freely without any maintaining. They are the source of the Nile- so fertile soil is a fact. I went to see Oceans 13 Tuesday, It was AWESOME! I really think Brad and george want to marry this mamma! Ishta has to leave to go back to India Sunday and I am so upset. I really do not want her to leave, I love that girl we are so alike it is FREAKY! Well I need to sleep . Well goodnight

My almost Arrest

My almost arrest!!!!
I had quite the experience last weekend.. "Aiii yi yi" as the Ugandans would say! We were going to Mbale –which is about 4 hours east of Kampala. We were having such a great time driving through the rain forest and hills with tea leaf growing all over them. You had better believe that I was Asian in my video taping. I was getting everything. Then the news came from the driver that we were about to cross the Nile river. You know I HAD to get that on tape. Well I pulled my camera out preparing for the taping when armed military guards start yelling from across the road.. "Muzungu pull to the side of the road- you will be arrested" Oh my God it is going to be another Broken down palace –I am going to die in a prison-my parents will never want me to travel again-should I call my embassy, were the thoughts racing through my mind. The soldiers were yelling at us and they had guns and I was sooo scared. He was mad because I was videoing the bridge over the Nile. There is military intelligence on the bridge. The ironic thing about all of this was that my camera was not even on! Anyhow after 45 minutes we called Ishta's cousin –He is a lieutenant in the UG army. He promised them money we think because the guy gave me back my camera and told us to leave. Last week a journalist was sent to prison for the same thing. Thank you Yesu~