By the Numbers

Interestingly enough, my first Sunday here (last week), the sermon topic at church was singleness. Apparently, Pastor Andrew is doing a series on “The Family”, including marrieds, singles, children and family, which Sarah told me after I laughed about it to her. He even had all the single people in the congregation stand up! Ha ha!

This Sunday, at Kampala Baptist Church (pictured here), the sermon topic was children. Pastor Andrew had some interesting statistics that I’d like to share:

• 46% of births in Uganda are unplanned
• 1 in 4 girls have sex by age 18; 50% of those have a baby by the age 20
• 57% of Ugandans are under the age of 24 (lots of kids!!)
• Uganda ranks 3^rd in the world in fertility! 

Single mothers may think they only way out of their situation is to get a man to provide. Too many times, that “solution” results in another baby and the man walking away from his responsibilities. And this could happen again and again and again.

And then you see children having children, which often results in grandparents raising their grandchildren. This can also be the result of HIV killing the parents (mostly due to sexual practices). In any case, the children are the victims and often go on to have children of their own when they are still children. A vicious cycle, indeed.

With so many children, and parents often working or gone altogether, they are left to fend for themselves. And these are the dangers they face: child sacrifice, child molestation/rape, child abuse, child neglect and child trafficking (among others).

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that children in the world have such horrors thrust upon them. But forgetting or staying ignorant doesn’t make it any less true. I often think, what can I do … but I know of one thing that can move mountains. I get on my knees. Join me won’t you?

Let’s remember … children are a gift from God.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

My answer is yes! It’s a special thing indeed to have 18 choruses of “Good Morning, Auntie Leslie”; a round of hugs and special smiles; and having special notes written just for you slipped shyly into your hands. It’s no wonder I feel loved.

Almost every day since my arrival I have received a missive from one of the children. Perhaps a color page with my name on it, or stickers or a story they wrote or a simple letter with a drawing on it. All done for me. A special delivery if you will. I think how undeserved I am of such adoration.

But I’m adored nonetheless. And not just by these 18 beautiful souls. For you see, as I’m reminded over and over in the guileless letters of children, I am a princess. I’ve been given the title by none other than the King of Glory. And He has written a beautiful letter to me as well. It’s pretty long and takes a while to read, but it’s there anytime I need a reminder that I’m loved.

In the world of Facebook and emails, I can’t tell you how blessed it feels to get hand-written notes. Don’t you agree? My grandmother always sent cards or little notes to tell me how the weather has been or what she did that day in the garden. I always loved getting the mail and seeing something other than junk or bills.

Oh and let me not forget to mention the lovely cards and notes of encouragement that I received before coming to Uganda. I saved them to read when I arrived and they are now proudly hung on my wall. A visual reminder of the love of friends and family and the prayers that are being said on my behalf. Thank you friends!!

And so, my challenge to you is to write. Not on your friends Facebook wall or in an email. Write. On paper. Take the time to show your friends and family that they are loved. (You have a pass on writing to me, since I’m a continent away! But, if you feel the urge, I do have an address now. Let me know and I’ll message you).

Movie Night without Electricity?

Though I’m writing this in the wee hours of Sunday morning, my mind is still on Friday. Friday was only my second “official” day at the home and it started much like Thursday. Knock, knock on my bedroom door and in walks Henry. Henry is always ready with a smile and a way to help. This morning, he helps me boil water on the charcoal stove for my oatmeal. Then it’s on to class. I’m helping the P1 students. P1 – Primary 1 and the equivalent of our first grade. We are reviewing math and science and continuing lessons in their religious studies education. P1 gets out at 1pm and the rest of the grades at 4pm. And on Friday, the kids let loose. It’s the start of the weekend after all.

I walk down the hall towards the girls room to excited squeals of Auntie, Auntie! I brought a calendar with me; one that my sister made for me with pictures of my family and they all clamored to see it. They love looking at pictures of any kind and as I told them who the people were, they would go back through the book and say to the girls who just joined in the fun “That’s Auntie with dark hair”, “That’s Auntie’s Birthday”, “That’s Auntie’s mother”. Soon the conversation led to who slept in which bed. With all 12 girls in one room (It’s akin to a slumber party every night), they have triple bunk beds. If I were a little girl again, I would love to sleep in these! And this led to invitations to sit in their bed and chat or play cards. Carol, the wild child is of course on a top bunk, so they laughed as I climber there. Next it was on to Bena’s, whose bunk is in the middle, where she beat me in slap jack; then to Sharon’s, whose bunk is on the bottom, where again I was beaten in slap jack! These girls are good! All the while, I’m receiving invitations from Teddy and Shafiga and Mercy and Vickie … I have many more afternoons of this to look forward to!!

Friday & Saturday nights are movie nights, but I think someone forgot to tell the power company because the electricity was out. These kids take that kind of thing in stride. There is no complaining, no remarks of how “unfair” it is. We just find something else to do. I had brought the Chornicles of Narnia series for the kids and Sarah and I thought it would be fun to read the stories all together a few nights a week. What better night to start. As I sat on the couch, surrounded by 18 curious little faces and started the first book, I smiled inwardly. This is the stuff I didn’t know I was missing out on until now. At each chapter break, the kids asked for more. Even when the lights came back on. (We did end up watching a movie later.)

Earlier that day, I had eaten one of my little Dove dark chocolate bites (which will forever remind me of the Women’s retreat and my drama girls). The message on the inside said “Life is Good”. I couldn’t agree more.

It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life for me.

If you have never had the pleasure of seeing the sunrise from above the clouds, then you are missing out. It is the most beautiful reminder that God’s blessings are new each day. That is a good reminder on this day of all days. And so I document it. Kind of like a memory stone for the digital age.

After a over 24 hours of travel, which included 18.5 hours on two planes and waiting over 11 hours in three airports, a new life has dawned. And with it exciting new challenges, new friends and hopefully a new perspective.

So, off I go with my friends Sarah and Henry. It’s just me this time. I’m so used to traveling with about 15-20 other Mzungus on the mission teams. Believe it or not, it feels entirely normal to be just me. While we have Henry (the best driver in Uganda!), Sarah and I run a few errands. First things first – I need “connected” while here in Uganda. Off to Orange to get a modem and internet access, then Nokia to get a phone, then MTN to get a line and minutes for the phone. And presto-chango, I’m connected! (Oh, and Samosa’s and chapatti for lunch. SO GOOD!)

Off to the home – where 18 kids are eagerly awaiting my arrival, almost as much as I am eagerly awaiting their smiling faces. In grand Ugandan tradition, hugs all around and all my luggage (all 6 HEAVY bags) mysteriously make their way to my room.

The kids have to get back to their schoolwork, and Sarah and I are heading out to take one of the students who attends New Creation Center (Loving One by One’s primary school) to the doctor. Hopefully the medicines prescribed get her feeling better and back in school in no time!

By this time, I am a cooked goose. I think I only got about 5 hours of restless sleep in the past 48 hours, and my bed is calling my name. Do you know the best way to wake up from a nap? Drums right outside your bedroom door J. Yes, it is worship time at NCFH (New Creation Family Home). I realize the electricity has gone out, but that doesn’t matter. All the kids are gathered in the living room and even though I’m still a little fuzzy, I can’t help but smile at the site. After Bible study and prayer time, we sit for a meal of beans & rice (my first of many such meals!) and then it’s back to bed. I’m still not really cognitive!

And now it’s morning time. Chris just knocked on my door to give me my water bottle that I left in the living room last night, so I guess the kids are up. And off I go again. Blessings new each morning.

Cry Out!

I'll make this short ... click on the link below and read the article by the BBC. And then, cry out!!

Where Child Sacrifice is a Business

The 1 Week Countdown

It is officially here ... the 1 week mark. Lots of emotions at this point. To date, the only thing I've been feeling is pure excitement. And now that the big move is 7 days away, more emotions are coming to the fore. Ones like trepidation, anxiety, fear.  And that's okay with me. I'm giving myself a pass, since I'm moving to Africa and all :).

The past few weeks have been ... well, busy seems to be an understatement. I made a wonderful, but impromptu trip back home to Indiana two weekends ago. My lovely Grammie passed away and it was nice to be with my family to celebrate her life, our memories of her and rejoice that she's in Heaven with Jesus. This past weekend was all about the girls and chocolate, at my church's women's retreat. We had a great time even if I did gain a few pounds over the weekend. I was in charge of drama at the retreat, and being the overachiever I apparently am, I decided to write the scripts. Talk about a "what was I thinking?" moment! But, God worked it all out and everyone loved the dramas. (And that was my "yippee" moment!).

And now ... it's all about packing. Packing my room, packing my bags and packing on the pounds. Technically, I've been working on that for a month or so. I keep thinking about all the goodies that I won't have access to in Uganda and I've been eating and eating and eating.

So with 1 week to go, I'm anxious to get there, I'm filled with trepidation at leaving all my friends & family and I'm afraid that I won't be up to the challenge. BUT ... as I learned in the "Dirty Little Secrets" workshop at the retreat this past weekend, it's best to fight lies with truth. And here is the truth: God's timing is perfect, He will supply all my needs and He will finish the good work He has started.

7 days to go!!!