Life here has been super hectic! Monday, we ran errands in town and Rebekah went to a meeting for the orphanage. There has been a man who is constantly bothering her, a former employee demanding that she owes him money. Rebekah fired this man due to him lying about money and stealing it along with food. He was dishonest in a lot of instances and is now trying to take even more of her money. Rebekah has documents proving that she did everything right and that is why he won’t take Rebekah to court. So yes, she’s working out that issue! Hopefully it will all be over and resolved soon! On Tuesday and Wednesday the nurse came and he did a check up on all of the children along with the staff.
Also on Wednesday, I visited the kids school in Rupa, which was a long but very enjoyable walk from the orphanage. We didn’t stay at the school very long, the kids just wanted to show me around and they wanted to be back in time for lunch. You might be surprised to find out that the staff and teachers that work at the school also live on the compound. It is the same with the police and prisons and many other occupations. Once we got back to the orphanage, we ate lunch and then two older girls and I hiked up the mountain, although some younger girls refused to stay behind and followed us up the mountain, eventually meeting up with us near the top. There was no way to convince them to go back so naturally we just had them stay with us. I was excited for the walk back, as the climb down was much easier than going up. But of course, the girls decided we should take fire wood with us down the mountain. The mountain had recently been burned and all the grass was gone (which was very sad and ugly but I was glad I went before and got nice pictures.) So we ended up taking down some dead trees and carrying them down. I had my backpack so I took about 5 of the larger branches and put them in between my straps and my back. We also took what I’m pretty sure was the most difficult path down the mountain. Well, it really wasn’t a path at all but at least we got some good laughs and a nice workout!
This Thursday we didn’t go to the prison ministry due to Rebekah needing to go to another meeting in town.
The weather has been so nice lately! So windy and a little cloudy, it’s a sweet relief from the burning hot days! Although, it still hasn’t rained and that’s disappointing. When Rebekah was in Kampala there was some very heavy rain on that side, but it was still dry as a bone here in moroto. We’re all still hoping that it rains here, this area needs the rain very badly.
Most of the schools have decided to release even a day earlier on the 24th, instead of the 25th. The younger kids’ schools also decided to give out the report cards on the 24th, not the 25th as they had first planned. I’m sure all the students are glad to be on break a little earlier than they had thought! I know the older boys are very excited to come home and play lots of football! They apparently have the best team in the whole country and have their own winter tournament where they play against many other teams in the area! I can’t wait to watch them play some before I leave!
Today (Nov 24th when I’m writing this) is Thanksgiving! I hope you all had an amazing holiday and spent your time with lots of friends and family! Thanksgiving has to be close to my favorite holiday, I love making lots of food and giving thanks to God for all the blessings He has given me and the people around me. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be here in Moroto, I feel so comfortable here and I love being with the children and playing with them!
The boys are back! Last night Rebekah went to the bus station and picked up the last of the boys returning home! It’s a full house now and football games are well under way! And guess what?! They’re letting me play also, they’re inviting me! Ah! I’m so happy to get to play! I was afraid that they would say I had to stop playing once the older boys got back but now I get to play against these boys! We play in the morning and in the evening and I gotta say my legs are feeling it! Oh, but it’s all so worth it! I forgot how much I love playing! Anyway, yes the boys are all happy to be home, safe and sound.
So, a little future planning has happened while I’ve been here. As I’ve talked with my mom more about my schooling and done more research I’ve decided to do the CNA (certified nurse assistant) program then continue for another year to do LVN (licensed practical nurse). I’m wanting to work in between the programs as a CNA to raise money to pay for the LVN classes. I also want to hopefully travel back to Mission Moroto if I can during my holidays. Although, I’m not sure how paying for classes and traveling to Africa is going to work out but if I’m supposed to come back, a way will be made! At the moment I’m trying to pray and see the path God has for me and is leading me towards. Looking back at the classes that I took on what seemed to be on a whim turned into the classes that were needed as prerequisites for the LVN class is such a God thing! I have no idea if what I just said made any sense so I’ll rephrase it haha! So I previously took some electives that seemed out of the ordinary and separate from my career path. But they turned out to be needed for me to take the LVN class. Those elective classes that I had no idea why I wanted to take so badly turned out to lead me right into LVN. It’s just such a God thing, and it’s so cool to see that even back then he was setting me up and preparing me to take this LVN class. I hope to go into nursing to help people, maybe in America, maybe somewhere around the world, I have no idea but I just know this is where God is leading me and I’m so happy to be following his plan for me!
As some of you know, yesterday was my birthday! Yayyyy! I turned 19 and had a small celebration here with some of the girls. I had brought with me from America two boxes of chocolate cake mix and Rebekah had the amazing idea to buy some chapati and dip the chapati in the cake mix like a dip. Fantastic idea! So I whipped up the box mix, just with some water, but not so much that it was too liquidy. I then walked with one of the older girls, Mercy, to the town center and bought a bunch of chapati. When we got back I gathered up some of my girl friends here and we locked ourselves in one of the girls’ houses! I then explained that it was my birthday and that the sweets were to celebrate. I ripped off a piece of chapati and scooped up some chocolate mix and then I got to see first hand a feeding frenzy. I got to say these girls went poco Loco and the mix was gone in less than 10 seconds! Hands flying everywhere, people laughing, Mercy scolding them all for eating like boys, much more laughter!!! It was so amazing! The bowl was finished off and they were all licking their hands with glee! It made for a great story and everyone was telling how the chocolate massacre looked from their point of view! We were all laughing hysterically! I have to say that was a great moment in my life that I will always look back on fondly!
It seems to be that at this time of year the kids’ skin illnesses are mainly ringworm, chickenpox, and some jiggers. While there may be a little less Malaria going around, these skin diseases are very contagious, uncomfortable, and painful. If you could all continue to pray for healing and good health among all of the kids and staff that would be amazing and much appreciated! Thank you!
Also a little side note. Baby Peter has been sick a lot lately, if everyone could please pray for his health along with all the other kids’ that would be amazing!
Thank you everyone again for reading and being with me as I go on this journey! My time here is almost coming to an end and I’m starting to prepare my heart for the culture shock that I will experience going back. That is also something I ask that you all pray for. Please pray for my heart to be prepared to leave all these wonderful people and children and to go back to the busy hustle and bustle of America. I’ve become so used to the slow and comfortable life here in Karamoja and I actually kind of dread going back. But I miss my family very much and my life is there. I’m ready to go back home, but also not ready at all.
