the holidays 🚙

DID YOU KNOW? It’s illegal in Alaska to whisper in someone’s ear while they’re moose hunting.

Just a fun fact to start this update off with… SUPER important information. J

Africa has disposed in me some addictions, yet has also supplied new ones in replacement. And I’d like to think they are HEALTHIER addictions (if that’s at all possible). Instead of having to drink coffee every day, lately I can’t go a day without eating raw mangoes or avocado’s with salt. WOOHOO for healthy African food addictions!

This past week was the last week of school before the “holiday” days—a full 3 weeks of freedom from SCHOOL (the glory days)-- where all the students get to go back to their homes, relax and forget about the worries of writing a paper in time, or in baby class terms, whether or not they’re holding the pencil correctly. Not only the students get a break, but the teachers do as well! Some much needed time away from the constant stress of keeping kids in line (a.k.a beating [not what you think—spanking] the unruly) and so on. Although, as I’ve observed, a lot of the teachers take advantage of the break to go back to school themselves; to expand there knowledge, so in the future they can have better opportunities hopefully. I found this extremely awesome that the teachers choose to spend this designated holiday time to study on their own! It just goes to show, how dedicated these teachers really are… which spurs me on. and as I observe these fellow teachers, They teach ME what it really means to be a teacher, which someday I hope I’ll hold such things principle as I pursue this specific career.

A week ago, I didn’t want to think about the holidays… just because, I didn’t know what In the world I was supposed to do for 3 weeks, the main purpose of me coming here was to work at Zzana, and here comes the dreaded days of NO WORK (idle time), not to mention my much-loved ministries I get to lead with all the kids would have to be put on hold. But, then I actually thought about it, and realized “IM IN AFRICA. I need to experience this dang place. I have to go enjoy this beautiful country that I’m in.” These past two months I’ve been cooped up in the same common area, Zzana, nfufu (the “neighborhood” where I stay), and Kampala. Thus, next week, 3 girl friends and I will head to Jinja to ride elephants, bungee jump off of waterfalls, and kayak down the nile river. okay, maybe we won’t do things THAT crazy (I’ve been forbidden to do such things, much to my disappointment.).  Jinja is located next to the famous Nile river, and is known for its tourist attraction, of course. So, I’m excited to be able to go experience the magnificence of the nile, and have the freedom to chill with my homies. While we’ll only spend 3 days in Jinja, there is still more than 2 weeks of free schedule, that I have to fill.

I wanted to find out some families that needed assistance with their kids. With God’s providence, Starting tomorrow, I’ll be going up to a certain missionary family’s house to help out with homeschooling the kids, which I’ll do for the majority of this week!

Also, at church today I got to talking with a man who runs a certain orphanage and school off of Jinja road. I knew right away when he brought this up, that I wanted to explore this ministry and somehow be a part of it for at least a couple of days. So, I’m praying that God can use me in these area’s, and that my time of “freedom” will be spent in the most profitable ways, according to His will!

Besides the hasty planning of filling my holiday schedule with “important” things ;) God has had to remind me that I need to be silent, and listen to His voice. I think He was trying to get this into my brain for a couple weeks now, I find it so easy to become distracted and caught up by this physical life, that I can go days without giving God any of my time. Last night (Saturday), I had a choice to either stay at home or go to choir with all my friends (btw, I’ve stepped down from the choir ministry for now due to various reasons.). for some reason, I decided to go with them to the church (knowing it would be a long night—they tend to stay late)… But God brought me there for a reason, I spotted one of the church ladies heading to the primary classrooms and remembered that on Saturday evenings she holds a prayer meeting. With sudden urgency, I hurried after to join her in prayer, knowing that I needed to do exactly that. We spent an hour and a half earnestly praying that our own love for Him would be rekindled, for the ministry leaders in church, and for the upcoming Sunday (congregation, teaching etc…). I was truly blessed by this time of prayer, and God restored my heart! Praise the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

I love you all, and miss you!

slapping buffalo's and other shenanigans.

The “slapping of a buffalo” is a phrase used by most Africans referring to when someone has spoken broken English/bad English. For example, “you have to get hot one?” “I want to sing a thong.” “How is you?”… A person that has spoken any one of these phrases has just slapped a buffalo… big time. The detection of a “slap to a buffalo” has become quite the joke around here. Some friends and I are so accustomed to hearing it; our ears perk up whenever it happens, whether we’re in bible studies, in normal conversations, or in a class. I’ve even catched myself slapping buffalo’s from time to time (hahahaha).

A part from the “slapping of buffalo’s”, there really hasn’t been much action ‘round here. Actually, let me rephrase that rewiiiinding. A part from the “slapping of buffalo’s”, there hasn’t been much NEW action, but in fact every day I have to prepare myself for anything that may come, AFRICA IS CRAZY.

I have some praises that I would like to mention. This past Sunday was the second time I got to meet with the kids that resign at Zana and have a bible study! I thought the first time was great, but I feel like things are just getting better and better! I love the freedom and time we get to have together, scattered on the lawn that’s covered with skimp grass to study the word of God. Every time, God fills me with His holy spirit, and I plead with them the importance of surrendering their whole lives to God… and I can only pray that (1) the born again Christians are encouraged greatly, and (2) for the ones that don’t know God, that their eyes would finally be open to their rebellion against God and His all sufficient grace. I feel so blessed to have time with these precious kids.

On top of that, Thursdays have proved to be quite the ministry day. Lunchtime is the Colossians study with the older girls (senior 1&2), and then in the afternoon (4:30) is fellowship with the younger girls (primary). At times, I feel so unprepared for this work, because at times when I meet with the older girls they can ask me a lot of intelligent, hard questions that I can’t answer. But, it just causes me to think more deeply, and to study the word more! Pray that I would have wisdom to be able to answer all of they’re questions.

As the designated art teacher for the baby class, through various craft projects I’ve had them do over the past two weeks, I’ve turned one of the walls into the “baby class garden” in the classroom! And today, I had the kids make “sun tambourines” with paper plates, beans, and staples! The result was a LOT of loud noise; thank goodness it was the last subject of the day.

On Saturday, I attended a wedding. Woke up at 7, and went to get ready with friends at 8 (which was entirely too early). We thought we had to get a ride from another friend who we thought was leaving early. So, we waited and waited from 11-2 at the church. Pacing back and forth through the dirt roads, trying to be careful to not do anything too strenuous in fear of sweating all our make-up off. At 2:30 we made the best decision yet, and took ourselves to the wedding. In high heels and curled hair we trudged to the main road to catch a taxi. From the taxi, we then had to board boda boda’s (motorcycle transport)… by the time we finally reached the ceremony I’m sure we looked as if we survived a hurricane, dusky skin, wind blown hair, tear streaked faces. But, we had arrived, and that was the good fact. It was so interesting getting to experience how culturally weddings are different yet exactly the same. When the bridesmaids (there were no groomsmen) started walking down the isle, I knew that it was going to be a long one. It probably took them about 15 minutes to arrive at the altar; I thought it’d never end. The rest of the ceremony proved to be very similar to American weddings, except that they didn’t kiss at the end. How disappointing. After they officially got married, we moved outside for the reception, and out of nowhere a massive, dark cloud loomed over us & it started pouring. Everyone ran… desperate to get to the church, to safety and warmth! Africans don’t like the rain, but I on the other hand don’t mind getting wet at all… so I took my time. (haha). But once, they had moved everything inside, and the reception celebrations started the power went out. (I think God was testing out how flexible this new couple really was.) I felt so bad for them. But, thank God for generators (again), the reception continued and the food was served (a LOT of good cultural foods) and all was right in the world again!

And by God’s grace, I’m still in Africa alive and well (fairly well), serving God with the best of my ability (most of the time). Just like a simple, fresh, cool breeze can bring such serenity amidst the blazing sun that beats down on our necks for the majority of the day, is like when God completely overcomes you with His refreshing peace, joy, and love amidst all the evil we are faced with from the moment we open our eyes to start our day.

God bless each and every one of you.