Christmas in Uganda!

Christmas day was probably one of the craziest days since I've been here. I didn't go to sleep Christmas Eve until about 4am. We were busy doing some last minute wrapping, and blowing up about 200 balloons! Needless to say, the kids were up at 7am. I knew no one else was about to come downstairs, and me being the only adult that sleeps on the first floor, I knew I had to get up with them. That's when all the fun began. The balloons alone were a huge hit, and by 9:30 none were left. So for hours they played with the balloons and the small toys Santa left at the foot of their beds. The boys got coloring books and crayons to share, and the girls got little Barbie makeup sets. When everyone else FINALLY came downstairs, we ate breakfast. The kids were all so excited because Christmas in known for having wonderful food and special treats. So, for breakfast we ate... cereal! Some fake version of honey combs to be exact. The kids loved it and thought it was the best thing in the world. Every other morning they usually get bread and porridge or eggs.

After breakfast they all got dressed and were ready for fun and games. We decided to play hide-and-seek in the house with Mommy and Daddy as "it." The house is pretty big, but playing hide-and-seek with 30 kids can still be very challenging! The kids really enjoyed it, especially because they got to run and hide from Mommy and Daddy.

Lunch was very delicious! We had salad (coleslaw), rice, and meat. For holidays, we usually get things called monachoma. It's meat that they roast on wooden sticks. For Christmas, we had goat and sausage, which was really like hot dogs. Still delicious!

Next, we had a birthday party for Jesus. Deidrah had a huge cake made that read "Happy Birthday Jesus" on the top. The kids went through all the birthday songs they knew and then sang praise songs. It was really wonderful. After eating cake, it was time to open presents. Everyone got one gift. Most of the boys got remote control cars. One boy, John, was so excited to get his very own soccer ball and a pair of soccer shoes (the shoes used to belong to Noah, my little brother, but he could have cared less.) The girls got one styling head doll for every two girls. They love them.

After playing for a few hours, it was time to eat again. Everyone put on their nicest clothes and we ALL went out for dinner. We brought along two of the staff to help with the kids. We took up six large tables, and half of the restaurant. I know mothers who won't even take their one child out to dinner because of behavior problems, so as we pulled into the parking lot, I was getting kind of nervous. The children were very well behaved the whole night. It took about 2 hours for them to prepare our food, and the children sat and waited patiently the whole time! I don't think anyone even got out of their seat. When the food finally arrived, the children were very very excited. This would be their biggest treat of the day, so for supper, we had... PIZZA! It was surprisingly good though, but nothing like pizza from the US.

When we were finished, all the kids were exhausted. So all 35 of us got back in the 15 passenger van, and went home. We had a nice time sleeping in the next morning.

So that was my Christmas, I hope yours was just as fun!

Andrew.

Little Andrew came to AFTC last May. He was already a year old, but was in very poor health. Every night the staff feared that it would be Andrew's last. His eyes were sunken in and his bones stuck out of his arms and legs. His stomach was quite swollen for his small size becuase of malnutrition. When I met Andrew he just sat on the florr all day, hitting whoever would come by, and groaning and complaining like an old man. At first glance, I would have thought Andrew to be about 6 months old and just getting the hang of sitting up on his own. When I sat down next to him and said hi, a full set of pearly white teeth helped make up his incredible smile. His hair was red becuase of malnutrition but I was told that he was 200% better than those first days he was brought here.

I see myself through Andrew. Wehn I came to Uganda, I was starving. I didn't know what God had in store for me or if this was the place He wanted me to be. But since I've been here, I've gone through so much. I first had to crawl, trying to get to the future ahead of me a little quicker now that I knew I was in the right place. With a lot of helpt form his brother, sisters and Aunties, Andrew is taking his first steps now that he's almost 2 years old. I too am standing a little bit taller everyday and ready to take the next big step ahead of me, whatever it may be. Since Andrew came to us through a probation officer and his has family, he will be leaving soon. He'll probably go after Christmas, but so will I . We will both leave this house knowing our futures are much brighter now and that we will survive whatever come next. And now, our walks will be that much stronger.

Letters from Uganda (3)

So another week has come and gone, and they really are starting to feel like they're flying by. By next Sunday, the kids will have put on their Christmas show for the church, then one more Sunday, then I'm home the next.

None of the Christmas boxes have come yet, so keep praying that they get here within the next week. We went shopping in Kampala (Uganda's NYC) on Friday just to buy some "in case nothing comes" gifts for the kids. So either way, we're covered, but it would be nice for the GOOD gifts from the states to get here in times.

Everyone has been a little quiet since Daphine left. Sometimes we'll mention her name or ask the kids what happened and silent tears start flowing. John, who's the brightest 7 year old you will ever meet, was very scared and from the moment Daphine left, had terror all over his face. He, like Daphine, came to AFTC from Welcome Home Ministries. Deidrah (Mommy) brought John in to her office the next morning and talked to him about the situation. When John heard that Daphine was going home, he thought she was going back to Welcom Home. We was terrified he too would be sent away. You see, it's not that Welcome Home is not a bad place, but the love the children feel at AFTC and the family they are "adopted" into is like no other. This is now home. This now family. To leave would be heartbreaking. When Deidrah told hime that he wasn't going ANYWHERE a huge smile flew across his face and that look of fright wasn't seen again.

Johnny Boy

Just as I've been writing this, the power has gone on and off 3 times!! Luckily the computer saves my emails so I can start again where I left off. The power is tricky though. Today it went on and off all morning until it finally went off around 3pm, came back around 6:15, went off again at 7 and is now on again. Hopefully this is the last time for the night (10pm)... or at least until everyone's asleep.

Attack of the Grasshoppers! ~ Letters from Uganda.

Two nights ago, I couldn't sleetp at all. All night I could hear tapping on my windows. I figured they were just the giant flying ants that we have, but it was LOUD. When the sun finally came up, it stopped. But as I finally tried to get a few minutes of sleep before I had to get up and start my day, all I could hear where the children outside my window, so going back to sleep wasn't an option. I went outside to see what all the commotion was. There were giant grasshoppers EVERYWHERE! The kids spend hours catching them & putting them in plastic bottles, then taking them abck to the uncles and aunties. I was sitting in the living room eating breakfast when 8 year old Dan brought me a bowl of "snacks." Fried grasshoppers! The kids loved them and ate them like they were candy. I tried one, but decided quickly it was going to be the last one. Everyone else couldn't get enough.

Liza with her "delicious" grasshoppers!

Other than that, things have been pretty calm in our little town of Jinja. I did catch Malaria though. It only lasted about 4 days, and I was fine. In America, Malaria is thought to be a very ugly, life threatening desease. In actuality, most cases start off as a type of bad flu. Without the proper medication and attention, that's when it came become bad. Medication can be found in most towns with a drug store at around $5. This is what I bought (even though I was on American perscribed anti-malaria medicine) and was back on my feet in just a couple days. It's that $5 however that keeps most people on this continent able to get well. Without the money to pay for medication, the illness with take over their bodies. It's the little bodies that get it the worse. Without the strength to fight, Malaria usually wins and consumes many young lives in Africa. It is a sad and shocking truth that most people will never be able to understand. I'll probably never be able to give blood in America, but to have that realization of what so many go through on a daily basis will forever change my life and help in my fight to help save others.

Otherwise, keep Christmas in your prayers. The boxes that have been sent since I've left the US still havent arrived. Also please pray for the kids. They are all trying to sort the whole Daphine situation out in their heads. They all had a tearful goodbye and it's been a sensative subject around the house.

God has revealed many things in my life the past couple of weeks. It's been tough to sort through them but I'm trying hard. Please prayt hat God really speaks to me in my reamaining time here about the future.

I love you all andhope to get to send you another update soon!

Daphine.

Sorry it takes so long for me to write, but the amount of time I get on the compuer is limited.

Everything here is still wonderful! We're all just counting down the days until Christmas! Pray that the boxes that are being sent with gifts for the kids will arrive in time. We are already acared that we might not have anything Christmas morning if the boxes aren't or weren't DHL. But if gifts don't come we're all going to have a good time.

We had to let a child go yesterday. It was a tough and bitter sweet ending. Daphine is almost 5. Her mother was convicted many years ago of the murder of Daphine's father. Daphine was actually born and spent the first 2 years of her life in prison with her mother. After that, the probation officer took Daphine and put her in Welcome Home Ministries. Welcome Home only keeps kids for so long until they find the closest relative, and take them there by their 5th birthday. Before that could happen, little Daphine was transferred here to Answering for the Children. She was here for a little over a year. She didn't talk at all when she first came, but soon got very comfortable and fit in well with the rest of the kids. Daphine's mother was found innocent and released a few months ago. Other than Daphine, she has a son a few years older than Daphine. She hurreid home to see him as soon as she got out. She came to find out that her son died shortly after she went to prison, about 5 years ago, and was never informed. She soon cam to find Daphine and was eager to take her back to the village to live. It took a few months for the mother to get back on her feet, but she would visit often. Yesterday morning, I stepped outon the front porch and saw the mother. Without ever meeting her, I knew it had to be her. They have the same eyes. I knew it would be the last day for Daphine here at Answering for the Children.

At AFTC, all the children sleep in beds. They use an actual toilet. They eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which is different every day. They have many other "brothers" and "sisters" to play with. They get rewarded for good grades and good behavior. There's electricity and running water. Pretty basic right? Well Daphine's mother is from the village. NONE of what I just mentioned can be found there. Deidrah and I can't get Daphine out of our minds, and it was tough to see her go because she has no idea what she is going to. Please pray for Daphine. Pray that she is strong and is put into a good environment ven if the conditions are rough. Also please pray for Deidrah. I can tell this is very tough for her, especially with Christmas so close.

Letters From Uganda (1)

Hey Everyone!

For many, this may be the first time hearing from me since I've left. Sorry. I have to come into town to use the internet, which is extremely slow, and that only happens about once a week.

I hoope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Since Uganda's don't celebrate the holiday, it was a little different, but not much. The director of Answering for the Children, Deidrah, is from California. She makes sure that her family has Thanksgiving dinner every year. This year was the first in her new home, so she was very excited. So excited, that she invited many of the Americans in our little town of Jinja, mostly from Amani Baby Cottage, another children's home. In total we had about 100 people including kids! From about 10:30 that morning to about 4 that evening, I was making macaroni & cheese and green bean cassarole for the whole group! (Which didn't turn out quite how I wanted it to.) We got a turkey the day before. No, really, we got a turkey. It kept me awake most of the night before, until we had it for supper!

Everything here is beautiful. Though it is very different from home, it is still similar in many ways. The people here are extremely friendly and treat you like family as soon as they meet you. I've made many new friends in the short time I've been here.

As soon as I arrived, I fell in love with the kids. They call me Auntie Haley. Michale turned 1 year ol on the the 11th of November, and Isaac is 10. There are 24 more in between the two. Since most of them are in school, I get to hang out with the little ones during the day. Three 2year old girls, and two 1 year old boys keep me occupied. There is a lot of help around the house though. There are other "Aunties" and "Uncles" that work here that help out with daily activities.

A couple of days after I got here, I gave the kids the clothes I brought with me from various poeple at the church and other I babysit for. They loved them! It's still amazing to see the kids in clothes I recognize on other children. They all tell each other "You are smart!" which means, "You're looking good!" Ever once in awhile a boy will put a shirt on that Noah, my little brother, used to wear and I try to keep back tears. Before I left, Noah and I went through his clothes. He was so excited that they would be going to the boys in Uganda. It amazes me sometimes what the hear of a 7 year old can hold. I've taken pictures of the kids in their new clothes hoping to show the kids back home how they, with their parents help of course, have changed the lives of a handful of children in Africa.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING! The children have been learning many Christmas songs and we decorated the house last night. ust like any young children, they are learning that Christmas is about giving and not getting. But it's hard when you can't supply either need. Following this email, I'm sending a list of all the kids, their ages, sizes and requests for Christmas. But Deidrah and I have decided that before any of the kids get gifts this year, we are going to go around Christmas morning and give the children that live close by a gift. Most of these kdis don't even have proper clothes to wear and don't go to school becasue their parents can't afford school fees. We hope to spread some Christmas cheer. So again, if you would like to help out by sending small gifts, baby dolls, barbies, balls, cars, anything, they will be put to good use. When I asked Deidrah what she wanted for Christmas, she answered with tears in her eyes, that this is what she wanted most of all. If you'd like to help, please contact my parenst ASAP.

Other than that, I'm having the time of my life! I finally feel like I'm in my place and where I should be. I feel liek it's taken me 19 years to get here. Everything I have gone through in life has prepared me fort his trip in one way or another. The times when I would ask God, "Why is this going on? Why am I going through these things?," have made themselves clear here. It only proves that God knows you, your life, and that He has a plan for YOU. I really feel that His plan for me has to do with this country, these people, and especially these children. Though I do miss EVERYONE, I can't think about going home, or I get upset. God has revealed so much to me in the past couple of weeks that I'm so excited to see what happens next in my life.

Keep the prayers coming, because they are working!