Thursday, January 26, 2012

Do they look happy?

Joel is behind.  l-r Richard, Ronald, John

Ronald

Richard

John, me, Ronald

l to r:  Julius, John, Joel, Ronald

Richard

Julius  

Every day, I fall more in love with these kids than I think is possible.  Every day, I thank God for bringing them into my life.  I don't know how I got so lucky, but I know that I am.

The boys got their school uniforms yesterday and saw their new home for the first time.  They are still doing some repairs to the house and there is dust and paint everywhere.  I was afraid the boys would be disappointed, not like the house, or not want to be there.  Of course my fears were quickly put to rest when they started screaming and running around the house like crazy people!  Mind you, the house is very small and you can see the whole thing from the sitting room.  You don't have far to run!  But the boys loved it and asked a million times when they would get to move in.  They were ready to move in with it still being a mess! 

Today, a friend is taking them to get school shoes from the market and then they get the work of cleaning the house.  You would think they would mind, but not at all!  Even when I told them we would have to scrub the walls, they said ok!  I really do think I am the luckiest person alive!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Yesterday was such an amazing day.  I want to remember every second of it forever.  It started with taking the boys to the pool.  It is always such a joy to see the kids let loose and be kids again.  It doesn't happen very often, but I treasure the moments it does.  So to see the kids playing and smiling and having fun, would have been enough for the day.  I would have felt like the day was complete.

But it wasn't....

I have been looking for a house to move into here and it has been really difficult.  The ones that were a good size were too expensive or they wanted too much money up front.  The other ones were too small or not in good condition.  Finally, we found one and I got to seeit yesterday.  I was so excited I decided to tell the boys right away.  They were so excited and so thankful.  I don't think I will ever forget their smiles...

The best part, they weren't thanking me first.  They realized that it wasn't my doing that had provided for them.  It wasn't me that heard their cries and prayers.  It was God.  And they thanked Him and gave Him the glory.  It was an amazing thing to witness.  They each stood up to say thanks.  Ronald, a boy that doesn't talk so much, said the most beautiful things.  It was just another reminder of how incredibly amazing these kids are.

Today began the days of the hard work ahead.  Raising teenagers isn't easy and it especially isn't easy when you have 8 and they have all been on the streets running their own lives for the past few years.  I thought and prayed this morning that I hoped I would always remember the days like yesterday when the days ahead became difficult.  I pray that I remember the smiles and the looks on their faces when I told them we were moving, when my heart is breaking and I don't know what else to do.   I pray that I never take for granted the good times and they sustain me in the bad.  God has His plan for me and these boys and where ever He takes us, I know He will keep us.


God bless! 



Sunday, January 15, 2012

Welcome home!

Good news!!!


 I made it back to Uganda safely and with all of my bags, that a miracle in itself!!! With the snow starting to come down in Chicago, I got worried I was never going to get to leave! My plane was first delayed an hour, which turned into almost 2 and a half. Thankfully my layover in Amsterdam was long enough that neither of the other 2 flights were effected.
 
When I finally got into the airport in Uganda, I saw 8 of the most amazing kids ever waiting to greet me. Edwin, one of the boys from the street programs, came running up to me immediately to say hello and help me with my bags. The other boys soon followed and it was the best welcome home ever.
 
It feels so good to be back in Uganda, with the kids I love so much so close. But there is still a lot to do. I only have until the end of this month to move them into a different house, so I still need everyone’s help to help make that happen. If you haven't yet, check out the campaign on Indie GoGo and give whatever you can and continue sharing it with everyone you know and encourage them to give also.

Thanks for the support! New pictures coming soon!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Ugandan Sunshine: Disposible Children

I am sharing this post that a friend I work with in Uganda wrote. She has expressed so well, what I feel many days but don't know how to say. I hope you will take the time to read this post and some of her others. She is a wonderful writer and honestly shares about her thoughts and experiences in Uganda.

Ugandan Sunshine: Disposible Children: I am reading a book right now on the child soldiers in Uganda during the war with the LRA. At one point, the young man writing it expresses ...

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

10 days!!!!

Ten days from today, I will be boarding an airplane back to Uganda.  I will be on my way to see the kids that I love so much, to see my precious puppy (ok not really puppy, but still precious), my ill mannered cat, and very dear friends.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

This time home has been rough.  Much more difficult than I expected it to be.  Things are different now and I don't always get what is going on here.  I know I wasn't in Uganda for that long, but it has definitely changed my world view. 

I think one of the toughest things that I have had to deal with is wanting to be back in Uganda and not being able to be.  I have been impatient and at times running in circles trying to get back.  I wanted it to be in my own time, and forgot that it will be in God's time.

A few Sundays back, I was at church and I felt like the pastor was speaking just to me.  He said something like, "If things aren't working how you want them to, you should consider that God doesn't want it to happen now.  Maybe, there are still lessons that you need to learn in order for you to be successful at what you are supposed to be doing."

Oh....

I wanted to be back in Uganda a long time ago and even now that I am going only for a short time, I just realized there were still lessons to be learned.  I have learned so much in these 4 months home, especially the last month.  Had I left for Uganda when I wanted, I probably wouldn't have learned these things.

I know that God wants these kids off the street and that He wants me in Uganda.  I just needed to wait on Him.  I am happy that I am going back, even if it is just for a short time, and I am confident that if He brings me back to the US at the end of the trip, it is because there is something else that I need to learn.  I am now waiting patiently for the day when He says I can be back in Uganda for good!

If you haven't checked out the fundraising campaign on Indie GoGo, please do so, give whatever you can (no amount is too small to make a difference), and share it with everyone you know. 

Thanks for everyone's continued support!!!