This last week has been so incredibly full, and I would not have it any other way! I have loved every minute of it. It all started on Tuesday, though I have a hard time believing that it has been less than a week, when we began our street ministry.

                I guess I should back up a little bit and explain things a bit better. There are five districts to Watoto, North, East, South , West , and Central, and our class has been broken into district groups so that each week we serve in the church at our district. Those large district groups are broken in half to make it easier to do some of the ministry’s. I was very blessed in my group, and in my small group (North district group B) I have been put with some wonderful friends. There are five of us Brian, Saul, Debbie (makes me think of you Mum) Vicky, and I.  I know I have already said it but I am so thankful to God for putting me in a group with these four!  Anyways, on Tuesday when we had all been divided into our small district groups we were driven to various slums throughout Kampala and told to walk until we found a family that we felt God has called us to who will become “our family” for the next five months.  Well after some initial confusion about where we were supposed to be my group got going and as we wandered we ended up in a back ally, when we turned  a corner to get out we found  a beautiful young woman, very pregnant, sitting there. She has become our family. Rashidah is 19 and due to give birth to her first child any day. That first day was hard for me as I really don’t know any of the language and am still finding my way in a culture that is largely the same but then wildly different from the one I am used to. For the most part I just sat and listened, though I really did not know what was really being said, as I had asked Vicky to translate for me when we got back to the bus.  What I found out was incredibly sad, but I found that though I fought tears I was not as moved as I would have expected. The only way I can explain why is that I never actually talked to her and it was like hearing a story told to you about a friend’s friend, if that makes any sense.  I did care about her but not with the crushing sadness and emotion that I had expected.

                Wednesday we again went back to visit, Rashidah, and I am so glad to say that this experience I felt much more comfortable getting to know her and the others she lives with. I managed to talk to her a bit, she understands English but does not speak it well, and then spent a large amount of time playing with the children of a friend that she lives with. During the playing they discovered my hair and I quickly found that the attention had turned from the game we were playing to feeling my hair and moving it all directions trying to get it to stay rather than fall back into place.  The next day we spent the afternoon buying things for our families that we had identified as needs, and boy was that an experience!!!

                 Our list was extensive; Rashidah has next to nothing for herself or the baby. What she was able to purchase near the beginning of her pregnancy is for the stay at the hospital. So Thursday afternoon my group and I headed downtown to the market.  Some of my other classmates were a bit shocked that I would be taken there but I loved the experience! Very few white people venture there so I found myself being constantly called to, and touched. There is no way I would ever go there on my own, I would be lost in the maze of vendors in a matter of seconds! Going with my group however had the effect of building my trust in them by leaps and bounds. When we were finished at the outdoor market we went to the supermarket to buy the rest of the things on our list. Never before have I weaved through traffic the way it is done here.  In the three weeks that I have been in Uganda I have yet to see more than one cross walk, everyone just walks where they please when they please. Car jams are common place and we had fun squeezing between many taxi busses all squished together in order to cross the road. I am just thankful for the jam otherwise I doubt we would have crossed so quickly. In the end it was a rush to be back at the church on time but I truly enjoyed my day.

                Friday we got to return to our families and give them all that we had bought and again, though I was not moved in the way I expected to be, I was deeply moved.  Rashidah did not have the words to express her thanks but from where I sat she didn’t need the words. Her smile lit up the small poorly lit room and there were tears shimmering in her eyes. When we left, though she is very malnourished, she found the strength to stand and walk us back out to the bus where we all stood chatting until we had to leave.  In the moment when we hugged goodbye I knew that I loved this dear woman as I would any of my friends back home and her baby is like one of my own family even though she ( I think it is a girl) is not yet born. I find myself thinking of them throughout every day, wondering how they are doing and praying that when the time comes for this precious little one to come into the world all will go well and Momma and baby will be safe and healthy.

This week marked the first week of classes and though it has been busy I feel like there is not all that much to talk about. We did a few classes on community and then a couple about personalities. Turns out that my personality type is steady very loyal and easy going, that is all a nice way to say people pleaser,go figure!

Saturday we had our first village day. Yay!!! I learned to wash clothes by hand ( all my Ugandan classmates were shocked), mop a floor ( no it is not the same as at home in Canada) and, one of my favourite parts , make chapati. Sooooo.... good, it similar to Nan Bread but not quite. I will be doing my best to make it in Canada as often as possible. The highlight of my day though was playing with some incredibly cute kids. We tried to play three way patty cake, that was interesting, and had many tickling sessions.
Today was the church district tour. All went to each of the five "celebration points" to see what they were like and next week we will break into our district groups on Sunday to go serve. For me that means going to Watoto North with my group. That promises to be interesting! Though our group does not have many "strong " personality types ( as we would say at home) we do have some very outgoing people. I am sure that amidst the work will be a lot of laughter. Afterwards us internationals went out for Indian food! Woohoo!!!! It was so good. I know it seems so wrong that we are in Uganda and we eat other ethnic foods, but it was amazing!! We were on the rooftop of the mall sitting on a lovely couch with the rain falling down around us eating Nan. I loved it and I think most of us agreed that we would be going back sometime in the next six months.

Well the last two days have left us all tired and most of us burnt ( myself included sorry mom ) but all of us are happy and so excited to begin our first official week of Watoto 360 tomorrow.

On Saturday we had a tour of the two villages near Kampala, Subbi and Bbira. They were more than I had ever imagined!!! Subbi is situated on the top of a hill and overlooks much of the lush green country side, where Bbira is flat and woven among the trees.  When we visited Bbira we found ourselves surrounded by children who were eager to play with us, cuddle, or sometimes just walk up to us and stare at the strange white people.

Sunday was the Festival of Hope, and it truly was amazing. The first thing we students were tasked with was greeting all those who came. This was a little different than greeting at home as everything was outside so greeting meant all of us lining the entrance waving and shouting good morning everyone who drove or walked by. It was quite an experience and though I did put on sunscreen I only remembered my arms and face so my front and neck are now burnt from the couple hours standing in the sun waving. At the end of the day the whole thing was wrapped up with a concert and I loved watching as most of my new family joined in the dancing. I would have loved to join them but my arms were full with a beautiful little girl. At first we played peek-a-boo together but in no time at all I had a sleeping little one all curled up against my chest. I would not have traded that moment for all the dancing in the world. Besides when her Mother collected her and went home I got my dancing lessons from a little boy and when all was said and done I was told that I really was quite good. I think all of us internationals are well on our way to completing our goal of learning to dance as well as our Ugandan classmates!!

On the way home on the bus we met 10 year old Esther and once again I found my heart was stolen. It was her birthday and we all got to sing to her and she confided in Jack and I that her dream is to have voice lessons. When I told her that my sister was a voice teacher all she could ask was how and where to find me and Natalie so that she could have lessons. I find myself praying now that if it is Gods will he will place me in the cell that spends each week at Esther's church so that I might build a greater relationship with this beautiful little girl. I will find out tomorrow, I am nervous but I know God has a plan for my life and all I can do is pray that I might serve Him no matter where he places me.

Well the last few days have been so full I don't even know where to begin.  Wednesday was our last day before meting the rest of our Ugandan classmates, and it was the first time that we met many new little friends. We woke up in the morning with a certain anticipation knowing that today we were going to the Watoto Baby home based in Kampala, called Bulrushes. We could hardly contain our excitement!! However we were not expected until three, so that left us with most of the day to find something else to do. While we waited Mumma Esther took us all to a craft market, and what an experience that was!!! In such a small space there was so much, it was almost overwhelming but at the same time I loved it. As we all spread out looking at our own pace at the different stalls three of us, Natalie, Danielle and myself found ourselves the joy of three beautiful little girls eating their lunch. It seemed that everything we said and did was funny to the one and the other two easily caught on to her laughter. I must confess that at the moment I am finding my own unique form of culture shock is in not knowing what to say. I would gladly cuddle every little child that I see but if you ask me to talk to them I don't know where to start. This is a major frustration to me but I am so glad to have Natalie around. This is her second time to Uganda and she has been blessed in that she connects so well with people. She loves them and they seem to know it so when she begins talking to them it comes so naturally.  I hope that in time this will come naturally to me as well, but for now I am super glad to have Natalie to follow around! The two of us also met another woman, Maria, who is expecting a baby in April. She blossomed as she showed us a picture of her two other children and talked to us about the names she had picked out for this baby.  As we left we were able to pray for her and that she would have a safe delivery of her baby, it was very cool.

Around two thirty we were finally able to have our tour of Bull rushes, and I will not lie, I did tear up at the sight of all those precious children. Before entering we all had to promise not to touch the baby's as right now there is a ban on the orphanage with some of the children sick. It was so hard to walk by their beautiful faces that were just crying for us to play with them and not be able to do so. There were a few who we were able to do things like play peek a boo with and to see them smile at even that was amazing. One of my favourites was playing peek with a little boy through the window of his room. I would hide behind the wall and then pop up and he would just get this huge smile that made me crouch down and do it again. After a while he started crouching and then when we would pop up at the same time that smile would flash again. They were all so precious and beautiful, I cannot wait until we can go and actually play with them for a full day.

When we got home around four we had some down time and then the last international student arrived and our family was complete. Thomas was incredibly excited to no longer be the only boy in the house.

Thursday was our first day with the rest of our classmates. Though I have managed to click incredibly well with all my new family members I have found that getting to know my Ugandan classmates is not nearly as easy. However Friday got a little easier and I know as time goes by I will be able to form some good friendships and I can't wait.  Twice on both Thursday and Friday we had worship services for a youth conference that was happening all week and again I was blown away. There is such a freedom of worship here where every hindrance is stripped away and people come as they are. Last night as we concluded the final service all I could think about was the old song that says " I will become even more undignified than this".  For everyone who has been think YC on steroids. I love every moment of every worship service and cannot wait for tomorrow when we have the Festival of Hope at Watoto West where all five churches will gather together, some 20,00 people. I know God will move in that place and it will be amazing!

Home Sweet Home

The last three days have been undescribable! I don't even know where to begin. So far there are seven of us international students with the final comming tomorow. Already we have become a family complete with a host Mom who looks out for us and whom we all love dearly.  When we first met her she told us she was waiting at home for us and couldn't wait until we moved in. Before we could do that on we had to go to thw Watoto central church service on Sunday.

Never in my life would I have imagined being part of a church service like that!! Words cannot fully explain it, it was so overwhelming.  For starters the building is easily four times bigger than out church at home and not only do they have five services each Sunday ( and one on Saturday night) but eah one is packed full of people praising the Lord. So much so that there is an overflow area where everything is broadcased out to. I was reminded of breakforth when everyone worships with abandon, only this is what happens every week. Pastor Gary Skinner has started the year with speaking about fresh starts, as this is the jubaliee year of Uganda.  Never before have I been to a church service where the pastor is so passionate about his message that he is jumping  up and down on the stage!  It alsomst reminded me of myself when in drama I made a mistake at practice ! :)  During communion I was moved to tears by it all, and my heart overflowed with thanks giving to The Lord who brought me to this place. After the five of us who had already arrived went to lunch with our Mom, Esther, and Joseph. That was a time filled with much story telling and it was just so much fun to be out with everyone.

Yesterday after much anticipation we moved into our new home!!! Yay!!!!! Even though we had had a fun morning of game playing and getting to know each other we were overjoyed when the bus pulled in to take us home. I was not prepared at all for this! It is georgous , Sydney will be glad to know my bed is pink and somehow Natalie and I ended up rooming together in the biggest room. Needless to say it has already been deemed the " hang out room " for all my new "sisters". My roomie Natalie is from Texas and I am so excited that I can finally embrace my inner southerner and say y'all and have that be normal!!!  I was going to upload pictures but the computer is not letting me so I will try again later. :(

I am so blessed, already we have become a family and I cannot wait to see where the next six months will take my four new sisters, two brothers, mother and myself!!  Already we have begun planning for how to decorate out prayer room to have thoughts, dreams, prayers, ect. posted on the wall to share with each other and last night after dinner we had a sharing and prayer time compete with singing to close off.  At this moment I feel so blessed beyond measure and certain that I am living as God has called me. I cannot wait to actually begin Watoto 360 on Friday, and tomorow those of us already here are going to baby watoto to spend the day. We are sooooo... excited!!!! After only a few days this country and it's people have captured my heart and I know that I shall never get it back.

Woohoo!!!!!! I made it !!! After years of dreaming I am now in Kampala Uganda. After just under a day I am already falling in love with this country.

My flights were both very good and on the way from London to Entebbe I had no one beside me. That was so nice as it meant I got to stretch out and get comfy when I wanted to sleep.  I landed in London at 1:30 on the second and that is were my first mini adventure started.When I left home I thought that I had an 11 hour layover in London and that was totally fine with me, when I landed however I found out that it was a 22 hour one and that I had to go to a different building to spend the night in terminal 1 instead of 5. That was a bit nerve racking and I got maybe 2 hours of sleep max but in the end I got here and was met by Peter ( my Watoto leader ) and two class mates who I am looking forward to getting to know better.

Right now our permanent home is not ready so we are staying in the Watoto guest house and it is so nice!! The only down side is the bathroom, last night after only just arriving I managed to lock myself in and neither I nor my two class mates could get me out! After what felt like quite a long time they went to look for help and of course that is when the lock finally opened and I was free from my little prison. Though it was slightly embarrising  it was very funny and a good ice breaker :)

Today we had a relaxing morning and then went on a small tour of the city with Peter. I am amazed by the Watoto church! It is gorgeous and way way bigger than I would have expected. McDougal is maybe a little bigger than 1/4 of its size and I cannot wait to go to church on Sunday.

Well the day has come and in a few hours I will be flying out of Calgary bound for London, then after an 11 hour layover I will make it to Entebbe! God has been so good to me and I am so incredibly excited to follow his leading to Uganda. He has answered every prayer that I have had about this trip, not always as promptly as I would like, but in His time everything has and will continue to unfold. For the last while I have been praying that I will find a classmate sitting beside me on the plane, when I mentioned this to a friend he told me this would take almost as big a miracle as me getting the funds that I needed in time ( that happened).  Well today I found out that not one but two classmates will be arriving on the same day at the same time as me! God is so good, I realise that this does not mean that they will be on the same flight as I am but knowing god I will not be surprised in the least if they are.