12,000 words for ya

"Wherever you are, be all there.  Live to the hilt every experience you believe to be the will of God."                                                                  ~Jim Elliot

 Oli otya (common greeting here) readers, I wanted to give a quick update on life here at Kireka, but more importantly I wanted to take this opportunity for some of you, who don't have the famous Facebook, to "meet" the students that you have been praying for.

Life here at Kireka, is running smoothly....well our version of smoothly. The students are daily teaching me something new about themselves and about the beautiful King we serve. Each day is full of laughter, "whoopsies," and grace in the times that I fail. This next week will be the last full week with my students and I am extremely sad about this. The students were supposed to start holiday on Aug. 3, but things in Africa, can always change within minutes. They will all begin to head home this coming Friday. With the change in plans I'm not sure what the next week will look like for me, but I rest in the fact that my Pops has lived these days before me and He has it all under control.

Outside of my work here at Kireka, I've had the chance to visit different schools, be a guest speaker, and help assess a child, to then help the family start their next step with her. I have also traveled a bit and have had the chance to spend wonderful moments with new Ugandan friends as well as other American Missionaries.

From this point I only have 15 full days left here in Uganda. As I am already saying "see you later" to folks I am aware that I may not ever see these people again this side of heaven and that leaves me with a heavy heart. So with that, I ask that you would be praying that I would finish my time here well. That I would truly understand that I am only a vessel and that God is the one who expands His kingdom. He is more than sufficient and He loves these people my friends way more than I will ever be able to. 


Now, to give you a better glimpse into my world. 

A view of Uganda

 

Visiting the sister school

Traditional Ugandan Dance

dancing ALWAYS makes it better

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.” 
                                                                                                                             ― Mother Teresa

The students were literally running everywhere. They knew it was Friday. They weren't staying in class and if they were they weren't actually participating. Some students were taking wheelchairs of their friends so they could play with them. Others were chasing each other or fighting. After about 30mins of this one of the teachers comes out with a CD player and turns on some African music. Literally they all stopped what they were doing and ran to where the player was and started dancing. In a split second it was as if I was in another place with a different set of students. After the initial shock of this wave of transformation, I began to watch and soak in the scene. My students were happy. They were laughing and having dance offs (competing to see who had the best moves).For the children that were deaf, their friends showed them how fast or slow the music was going. Those in wheelchairs, others would play with them so they weren't left out. The "macho" students were tapping their feet a bit and even the toddlers showed off their skills. 

As I was watching my students I realized that I was at my halfway point here at the school. See school ends almost a week before I leave. Halfway point! That's not possible, but sure enough it's the mark I have reached. So I just sat and took in the time that I knew was already passing by too quickly. And then.....I danced with them.

Life at Kireke School is blessed. Beyond blessed. I have adjusted to the culture, for the most part, and am even picking up on quite a bit of Luganda, which is surprising to me. My days are now filled with a some-what normal routine with my students.The teachers have become protective of me and we are forming actually friendships full of discussions and laughter. I have figured out who's scream belongs to whom, as well as what it means, and the ways I need to adjust my teaching to fit my students. I daily see their personalities come out and am often amazed at the way my Pops reflects Himself through them.


Outside of school I am learning my way around my area of Uganda. Just yesterday, I described to the boda, boda (motorcycle driver) how to get to where I lived. **insert a bit of info- to give directions you have to tell them the city, the main street, and a building that is well known. Then once you are near it you direct the boda from there. He ended up taking a back road and I still knew where I was and was able to direct him. I was pretty proud of myself. I am learning how to bargain and which markets to purchase the best food. And even the children surrounding my school no longer call me Muzungu, but actually call me Madam.

My Pops is at work here, there is no doubt about that and again, I say that I am broken by the fact that He would bless me with the journey of being here. I am extremely grateful for these past weeks but am looking forward to the next weeks and watching my King show off in the beautiful way that He does.

Prayer Requests:
-that I would be an encouragement to the other teachers
-that I would boldly take on challenges and trust in His will
-that my students would continue to really learn and understand that they are loved by the most amazing King.

Hanging out during lunch

with Teacher Rona