Hello Dear friends and family!
Laura and I want to thank each of you for all of your prayers and
support and thoughts throughout our stay in Uganda. We have felt so
blessed by your prayers and have really experienced God's favor as we
have overcome so many obstacles. (sickness, change in plans etc etc)
No weapon against us has been allowed to prosper and for that we are so thankful.
We will soon be back in the US and missing our Ugandan friends and life, but it is
so sweet to have such good friends in our lives as we return. Thank
you again for your prayers and love for us! These past weeks have been
eventful and busy and full of children! Even now my baby friends
Sumisa, Mukisa, Moses, Fiama, and Faiziri are all gathered around the
computer hoping that I type their names! They all say hello to you!
And since I have you all here, If anyone is interested in adoption, I
have 51 great options for you! Have a wonderful
and happy new year's day!
Much love from Laura and Rebecca!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Monday, November 28, 2011
Transition to Babies Home
Recently Laura and I have been helping with a conference funded by
Americans from Raleigh that are here for two weeks. It has been a real
blessing to us, and such a learning experience. We are learning more
than I could have ever guessed about our place Biblically as women.
We are so blessed to be working with a good group of people who love
the Lord and help us to learn Ugandan culture and language. After
staying in Jinja (the big city) for some weeks we are transitioning
into living in Bukaleba with the Babies. We have spent time with the
Children and have become so attached! A few days ago we were dropping
some Americans at the babies home and Laura and I were staying in the
car to go on to the conference. But the Babies were screaming "Auntie
Lola I see you!! Auntie Vevicka Come!" It was the sweetest beconing.
Of course we had to get out and visit for a few minutes. The babies
have become so precious to us!
In so many ways I can't imagine leaving Uganda and all of our friends,
but we are planning to return earlier than expected-- January 9th.
Once we were in Uganda and began to understand what the organization
really needed, and it was so obvious to me that our place was to serve
them in Jesus' name in any way God allowed. In Uganda there is not
healthcare in the American sense. Disabled children are hidden under
beds, roped to staked to the ground, starved etc. Among non beleivers
they are seen as a bad omen for the family. Therefore it is rare for
families to bring those children out to meet Americans. It is the
Ugandan way to be extremely hospitable and polite to visitors from
over seas. Bringing out their weakest children is not an easy task.
Also, we found that the disabled children need so much more than
physical therapy, they need food, medicine, love and care, and
education. We have seen some disabled children during our visits to
villages, and in the babies home and they have improved in their
mobility Mukama ye Bazi Bwe (Praise the Lord!). What this trip has
been is a starting place for a partnership, where more can be
accomplished. Laura had been studying Luganda (the most commmon
language) and we have been trying to absorb the culture as much as
possible. There are no words to describe how different the culture in
Uganda is from American culture.
With that in view, most of the donations have gone to food for ladies
and children in the different villages that we were in each day,
transportation for us and for the ladies to be able to come, and daily
living costs. Nothing replaces time spent in Uganda when it comes to
becoming integrated with society. But my hope and I think Laura's hope
too, is to return to the US to get jobs and be a financial blessing to
them until the Lord allows us to come back.
I've found out that I couldn't show up in Uganda and plan something on
my own..ever. Even if I thought I could, I quickly found out that
something had changed and actually we are packing our bags and going
somewhere else, do to circumstances we couldn't control. Part of that
is because of the culture, but another part is probably because being
a part of any biblical body means being flexible and patient. In
American terms the best way to get what you want, or what God wants is
to pray about it. When we agreed to go to the villages and speak with
the Ladies, we ended up meeting some disabled children. But most of
all we have a relationship with those churches and they know what we
look like and who we are. It's a relationship that is so necessary if
we are going to be part of their lives long term.
Americans from Raleigh that are here for two weeks. It has been a real
blessing to us, and such a learning experience. We are learning more
than I could have ever guessed about our place Biblically as women.
We are so blessed to be working with a good group of people who love
the Lord and help us to learn Ugandan culture and language. After
staying in Jinja (the big city) for some weeks we are transitioning
into living in Bukaleba with the Babies. We have spent time with the
Children and have become so attached! A few days ago we were dropping
some Americans at the babies home and Laura and I were staying in the
car to go on to the conference. But the Babies were screaming "Auntie
Lola I see you!! Auntie Vevicka Come!" It was the sweetest beconing.
Of course we had to get out and visit for a few minutes. The babies
have become so precious to us!
In so many ways I can't imagine leaving Uganda and all of our friends,
but we are planning to return earlier than expected-- January 9th.
Once we were in Uganda and began to understand what the organization
really needed, and it was so obvious to me that our place was to serve
them in Jesus' name in any way God allowed. In Uganda there is not
healthcare in the American sense. Disabled children are hidden under
beds, roped to staked to the ground, starved etc. Among non beleivers
they are seen as a bad omen for the family. Therefore it is rare for
families to bring those children out to meet Americans. It is the
Ugandan way to be extremely hospitable and polite to visitors from
over seas. Bringing out their weakest children is not an easy task.
Also, we found that the disabled children need so much more than
physical therapy, they need food, medicine, love and care, and
education. We have seen some disabled children during our visits to
villages, and in the babies home and they have improved in their
mobility Mukama ye Bazi Bwe (Praise the Lord!). What this trip has
been is a starting place for a partnership, where more can be
accomplished. Laura had been studying Luganda (the most commmon
language) and we have been trying to absorb the culture as much as
possible. There are no words to describe how different the culture in
Uganda is from American culture.
With that in view, most of the donations have gone to food for ladies
and children in the different villages that we were in each day,
transportation for us and for the ladies to be able to come, and daily
living costs. Nothing replaces time spent in Uganda when it comes to
becoming integrated with society. But my hope and I think Laura's hope
too, is to return to the US to get jobs and be a financial blessing to
them until the Lord allows us to come back.
I've found out that I couldn't show up in Uganda and plan something on
my own..ever. Even if I thought I could, I quickly found out that
something had changed and actually we are packing our bags and going
somewhere else, do to circumstances we couldn't control. Part of that
is because of the culture, but another part is probably because being
a part of any biblical body means being flexible and patient. In
American terms the best way to get what you want, or what God wants is
to pray about it. When we agreed to go to the villages and speak with
the Ladies, we ended up meeting some disabled children. But most of
all we have a relationship with those churches and they know what we
look like and who we are. It's a relationship that is so necessary if
we are going to be part of their lives long term.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
30 village Tour de Uganda is finished
Greetings!!
We have now finished our tour of the villages speaking on Nutrition, Hygiene and Disease Prevention. We have a 3 week follow -up scheduled to re-visit some zones and see if the ladies have made changes. We are not sure how this will be scheduled. The Director of AAI is very busy with year ending reports and planning for the next financial year. They hope to begin more than 200 new churches next year.
To celebrate the ending of this section we went with one of our interpreters (we will re-schedule with the other) and our driver, Ali, to the Source of the Nile. It was breath taking and we got on a small boat and saw where the water springs up from the ground and makes swirls and bubbles on the surface. In the boat were lots of Indian nuns from a convent near-by. They were very rowdy, splashing a lot and getting every one very wet. I thought it was hysterical. Our good friend, translator and speaker, Agnes, was not pleased. After we went to a restaurant called the Source. She liked that much better! Ali said he wouldn't forget it until the day he died.
We are healthy, getting good sleep and well hydrated. Pray for us that we will be able to see God's hand clearly at work and that he will use us for his glory.
It seems very likely that we will be back in mid-January. After the meeting with Pastor Godfrey, the director, we will know for sure and keep you posted.
Love you all, Laura and Rebecca
We have now finished our tour of the villages speaking on Nutrition, Hygiene and Disease Prevention. We have a 3 week follow -up scheduled to re-visit some zones and see if the ladies have made changes. We are not sure how this will be scheduled. The Director of AAI is very busy with year ending reports and planning for the next financial year. They hope to begin more than 200 new churches next year.
To celebrate the ending of this section we went with one of our interpreters (we will re-schedule with the other) and our driver, Ali, to the Source of the Nile. It was breath taking and we got on a small boat and saw where the water springs up from the ground and makes swirls and bubbles on the surface. In the boat were lots of Indian nuns from a convent near-by. They were very rowdy, splashing a lot and getting every one very wet. I thought it was hysterical. Our good friend, translator and speaker, Agnes, was not pleased. After we went to a restaurant called the Source. She liked that much better! Ali said he wouldn't forget it until the day he died.
We are healthy, getting good sleep and well hydrated. Pray for us that we will be able to see God's hand clearly at work and that he will use us for his glory.
It seems very likely that we will be back in mid-January. After the meeting with Pastor Godfrey, the director, we will know for sure and keep you posted.
Love you all, Laura and Rebecca
belated update
Rebecca and I are really enjoying our time here. The first month we have visited a different village everyday speaking about the Lord, nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention. We have met 2 disabled children whom are now walking; Praise the Lord. These children are hard to locate. Saturday we found a home for disabled adults but it is in a sad state of disrepair and there appears to be poor management. It is not in any way affiliated with Arise Africa.
Thursday through Saturday a large group of women are meeting for a time of prayer and fasting. Pray for us that we will glorify the Lord and have a blessed time learning with breakthroughs. I feel that there will be more opportunities to meet disabled children after this prayer meeting. I will keep you updated. Our family has mailed a camera, so pictures are coming soon. We have been using the mission camera, but the wire to upload the pictures is lost, at this time. TIA.
One funny story:
We surprisingly stayed in Bukaleba, where the AAI orphanage is instead of the guesthouse in Jinja. So we didn't have a change of clothes. So the next day we got a change of clothes. We wore them to the orphanage and the babies had diaharrea while R and I wore holding them. So the next day we didn't go by the guesthouse either so we had to wear our 'dirty clothes' which looked clean to us then. Sadly we met the pastors wives on Monday in the same outfit we had worn Friday as if we were wearing the same clothes for the 4th day. HOW embarrassing!! But then we realized we were going to wear the same clothes for3 days. As if it really matters between 3 days or 4, but I'm telling you we rolled in the floor when we thought about giving a talk on hygiene.
Love you all!!
Please pray for breaking the bondage of the mindset of poverty.
Thursday through Saturday a large group of women are meeting for a time of prayer and fasting. Pray for us that we will glorify the Lord and have a blessed time learning with breakthroughs. I feel that there will be more opportunities to meet disabled children after this prayer meeting. I will keep you updated. Our family has mailed a camera, so pictures are coming soon. We have been using the mission camera, but the wire to upload the pictures is lost, at this time. TIA.
One funny story:
We surprisingly stayed in Bukaleba, where the AAI orphanage is instead of the guesthouse in Jinja. So we didn't have a change of clothes. So the next day we got a change of clothes. We wore them to the orphanage and the babies had diaharrea while R and I wore holding them. So the next day we didn't go by the guesthouse either so we had to wear our 'dirty clothes' which looked clean to us then. Sadly we met the pastors wives on Monday in the same outfit we had worn Friday as if we were wearing the same clothes for the 4th day. HOW embarrassing!! But then we realized we were going to wear the same clothes for3 days. As if it really matters between 3 days or 4, but I'm telling you we rolled in the floor when we thought about giving a talk on hygiene.
Love you all!!
Please pray for breaking the bondage of the mindset of poverty.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Hello!
We have been enjoying everyday in Uganda so far!We have so many new friends who mean so much to us!! They make our lives easier in many ways and I am so grateful for them.
Today I prayed for a woman out in Nakataba village who is anemic and can no longer eat. She is dying slowly and they asked me to pray for her. I held her head in my hands and asked for God to be with us, and give her mercy. Each day brings a whole new bag of learning experiences. For the next 2 months we'll be traveling to different villages to teach them about hygiene, making crafts to sell, giving physical therapy if needed, and telling bible stories and our testimonies. It is tiring to meet so many new people everyday but I think eventually we'll get used to it. In December, we'll live at the babies home in Bukaleba--there we have already made good friends with the babies and the "aunties" who work there. One of the Babies is named Esther. She is 1 and she calls me mama. She reminds of Miss Bear ( my teddy bear) I just love her to death. I also made friends with tons of other kids. They are all so precious to me. Especially a two year old who is the same size as Esther. He has permanent nerve damage from a malaria treatment that he got in the form of a shot. He should have gotten an IV drip instead but the doctor refuses to change his ways.
There are tons of issues like that, but we are learning to speak Lasoga and learn their ways--we don't want to come in imposing our views, but serve from the bottom up--we do try to keep the children safe though. Everyone gets a kick out of the fact that Laura and I are learning Lasoga-- we know a good many words now and we can tell that people appreciate it. Our life is not physically demanding like we first thought it would be. We have running water at night and beds to sleep in. In the day, we mostly talk to the women and children and then we eat lunch together. The cooking methods are really interesting--cooking over a fire, and meat that has never been refrigerated...So far we have not gotten sick from it. Though we have frequent access to the internet, the power goes out a lot and different things come up so that it's not as regular as you would think.
I'm learning that so many things are done differently in Africa--there are so many delays and changes that what you expect to happen rarely ever happens like you think it will. I'm learning patience and to wait for things to take place.
For example, our money transfer was supposed to be done two days ago, but we still haven't gone to the bank. I can't even explain why really-- just that the man who is going to take us got busy with some other things and will try again tomorrow. Even our friend Susan who is Kenyan said TIA (this is Africa)
I know God is teaching me a lot, even about the difference in my life from those who are around me.
One of the things that I really want to help change is the nursing situation at the Babies home. My dear friend Miriam is the nurse there and she works almost 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There is only one other nurse who comes by occasionally to help. When Miriam got malaria, she only stayed home a few days before returning to work. But she was so sick, that she was soon hospitalized for 2 days because she hadn't rested. The day she returned home from the hospital, she went back to work.. She is only 23 and she is an excellent nurse. But she needs someone to work with her so she can go to sleep at night. I'm going to talk to Godfrey about this and see what he says-- but I pray that some help will come for Miriam.
The babies home is a wonderful home for babies! But by American standards they have many needs.
When a baby gets adopted, the aunties and Miriam are very sad because it's like losing a child of your own. But on the other hand, the child gets a life full of the care they need. There are many paradox's like that-- Uganda has a lot to offer, everyone seems to be so joyful. But on the other hand, some peole need a lot of help.
For everyone who want a pictures-- we will get a camera in a few weeks and put some up!
Blessings to you!
ps. we have been giving cards and clothes away to our friends and the people we meet so thank you so much for your generosity and thoughtful gifts! they are really appreciated!
We have been enjoying everyday in Uganda so far!We have so many new friends who mean so much to us!! They make our lives easier in many ways and I am so grateful for them.
Today I prayed for a woman out in Nakataba village who is anemic and can no longer eat. She is dying slowly and they asked me to pray for her. I held her head in my hands and asked for God to be with us, and give her mercy. Each day brings a whole new bag of learning experiences. For the next 2 months we'll be traveling to different villages to teach them about hygiene, making crafts to sell, giving physical therapy if needed, and telling bible stories and our testimonies. It is tiring to meet so many new people everyday but I think eventually we'll get used to it. In December, we'll live at the babies home in Bukaleba--there we have already made good friends with the babies and the "aunties" who work there. One of the Babies is named Esther. She is 1 and she calls me mama. She reminds of Miss Bear ( my teddy bear) I just love her to death. I also made friends with tons of other kids. They are all so precious to me. Especially a two year old who is the same size as Esther. He has permanent nerve damage from a malaria treatment that he got in the form of a shot. He should have gotten an IV drip instead but the doctor refuses to change his ways.
There are tons of issues like that, but we are learning to speak Lasoga and learn their ways--we don't want to come in imposing our views, but serve from the bottom up--we do try to keep the children safe though. Everyone gets a kick out of the fact that Laura and I are learning Lasoga-- we know a good many words now and we can tell that people appreciate it. Our life is not physically demanding like we first thought it would be. We have running water at night and beds to sleep in. In the day, we mostly talk to the women and children and then we eat lunch together. The cooking methods are really interesting--cooking over a fire, and meat that has never been refrigerated...So far we have not gotten sick from it. Though we have frequent access to the internet, the power goes out a lot and different things come up so that it's not as regular as you would think.
I'm learning that so many things are done differently in Africa--there are so many delays and changes that what you expect to happen rarely ever happens like you think it will. I'm learning patience and to wait for things to take place.
For example, our money transfer was supposed to be done two days ago, but we still haven't gone to the bank. I can't even explain why really-- just that the man who is going to take us got busy with some other things and will try again tomorrow. Even our friend Susan who is Kenyan said TIA (this is Africa)
I know God is teaching me a lot, even about the difference in my life from those who are around me.
One of the things that I really want to help change is the nursing situation at the Babies home. My dear friend Miriam is the nurse there and she works almost 24 hours a day 7 days a week. There is only one other nurse who comes by occasionally to help. When Miriam got malaria, she only stayed home a few days before returning to work. But she was so sick, that she was soon hospitalized for 2 days because she hadn't rested. The day she returned home from the hospital, she went back to work.. She is only 23 and she is an excellent nurse. But she needs someone to work with her so she can go to sleep at night. I'm going to talk to Godfrey about this and see what he says-- but I pray that some help will come for Miriam.
The babies home is a wonderful home for babies! But by American standards they have many needs.
When a baby gets adopted, the aunties and Miriam are very sad because it's like losing a child of your own. But on the other hand, the child gets a life full of the care they need. There are many paradox's like that-- Uganda has a lot to offer, everyone seems to be so joyful. But on the other hand, some peole need a lot of help.
For everyone who want a pictures-- we will get a camera in a few weeks and put some up!
Blessings to you!
ps. we have been giving cards and clothes away to our friends and the people we meet so thank you so much for your generosity and thoughtful gifts! they are really appreciated!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Here Now!
Jambo! (Hello)
Today was our first complete day in Jinja Uganda. We were greeted warmly by everyone that we met. I have never been anywhere more friendly! We talked today with Masumba (Pastor) Godfrey and decided that we will stay in the Guest House when we are not staying Bukalebe which is a home for babies! We will participate in different initiatives that are already in progress. There are three total, one being the babies house, one is a women and children's group where we will discuss child care, home maintenance, and talk about the Lord with the women. Disabled children will be invited especially during this time so that Laura can help them gain mobility. The third initiative that we are a part of will be economic development for women who are able to make crafts to sell, but have not become vendors yet. Because we are working with programs that are already in progress, we hope to contribute more productively to the communities, families, and children. During the month of December we will be the managers of the Babies home so that the current managers can enjoy the Christmas Holiday. There are 56 babies in all, and we will learn from the current staff for 2 months before we are expected to take over. This is a very exciting, and challenging task. But we are so happy to have a way to truly bless Ugandans who work so hard.
Since arriving, we have graciously been attended to. We look forward to our future days!
Love Laura and Rebecca
ps. we will need to buy a camera so we cannot upload pictures now, but we hope we can soon.
Today was our first complete day in Jinja Uganda. We were greeted warmly by everyone that we met. I have never been anywhere more friendly! We talked today with Masumba (Pastor) Godfrey and decided that we will stay in the Guest House when we are not staying Bukalebe which is a home for babies! We will participate in different initiatives that are already in progress. There are three total, one being the babies house, one is a women and children's group where we will discuss child care, home maintenance, and talk about the Lord with the women. Disabled children will be invited especially during this time so that Laura can help them gain mobility. The third initiative that we are a part of will be economic development for women who are able to make crafts to sell, but have not become vendors yet. Because we are working with programs that are already in progress, we hope to contribute more productively to the communities, families, and children. During the month of December we will be the managers of the Babies home so that the current managers can enjoy the Christmas Holiday. There are 56 babies in all, and we will learn from the current staff for 2 months before we are expected to take over. This is a very exciting, and challenging task. But we are so happy to have a way to truly bless Ugandans who work so hard.
Since arriving, we have graciously been attended to. We look forward to our future days!
Love Laura and Rebecca
ps. we will need to buy a camera so we cannot upload pictures now, but we hope we can soon.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
One Week Until We Leave
Hello Dear Friends and Family!
We want to thank you so much for your prayers and support for what we are doing (traveling to Jinja Uganda to pray for, and give physical therapy to disabled children). Your love is keenly felt and we appreciate all of you who go with us in our hearts.
Laura and I are so excited to be leaving in a week. For us the departure date has come very quickly! We have received shots visa's etc. in the past month and we are finally able to say that September 22nd at 6am we will begin our flight to Entebbe Uganda. We will then drive to Jinja and settle in to stay for 10 months. We expect to return to the states July 27th 2012.
We will use this blog to post updates as we have access to a computer. If you receive email updates as well, then the blog may be a repeat, depending upon how much time we have.
Please feel free to comment on the blog or email us, though don't be alarmed if we do not respond quickly as the Internet is a 2 hour car ride from our home.
Blessings to you,
Rebecca and Laura
We want to thank you so much for your prayers and support for what we are doing (traveling to Jinja Uganda to pray for, and give physical therapy to disabled children). Your love is keenly felt and we appreciate all of you who go with us in our hearts.
Laura and I are so excited to be leaving in a week. For us the departure date has come very quickly! We have received shots visa's etc. in the past month and we are finally able to say that September 22nd at 6am we will begin our flight to Entebbe Uganda. We will then drive to Jinja and settle in to stay for 10 months. We expect to return to the states July 27th 2012.
We will use this blog to post updates as we have access to a computer. If you receive email updates as well, then the blog may be a repeat, depending upon how much time we have.
Please feel free to comment on the blog or email us, though don't be alarmed if we do not respond quickly as the Internet is a 2 hour car ride from our home.
Blessings to you,
Rebecca and Laura
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