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!