What's up?

Well as we continue to be here our days can sometimes be the same. The experiences aren't but it becomes something that you don't think others want to hear about. Therefore, not many blogs about what has been going on. So I feel as though you should get to hear some of the things that have been going on. Below are some things that have happened over the last couple of weeks.

Oct 31st - yeah we had a bonfire out back and roasted marshmellows roasted pumpkin seeds and sang songs. Earlier in the week we bought pumpkins and carved them. Pumpkins are green on the outside here so it wasn't perfect. The carving, roasting, and fire all got us strange looks from the staff.

During the early part of the month I have had the opportunity to speak a little more. Getting the chance to lead the preparations with the boys in secondary school, and leading the Bible studies at the boy’s home have been great. It has really helped me see that God has renewed passion to teach His word to youth in the US. It has also been interesting to see how well they respond to what I have to say. It is cool to have God speak through me. One of my favorite days was the first study we did at the boy’s home on who Jesus is. The questions were coming from everywhere and God continued to give me the words.

Nov 7th – we had the chance to go to tutor at the discipleship house. That night I had the chance to sit and talk with Ronald. He gave me his story which you have read, and I gave him mine. We were so in to sharing that we missed dinner with the rest of them. Since two of the boys had just celebrated their birthdays and I had one the next day, we had a plate of cookies with candles. I also had to use the bathroom in a plastic bag as we arrived at the house before them and my stomach could not wait. The alley by their house only leads to the front doors of other houses. Since everything was concrete, I could not do the Uganda thing and just squat and leave it cuz it would have been obvious. So, I found a plastic bag and went back by what I thought was an old out house in the corner of the alley. I held it as close to my bottom as possible, after finishing most of my business I realized I was facing where anyone who came out of their door would see me, and as I arranged myself again the door to the outhouse came open. It was a present outhouse. So I went in and finished up, which I should have done in the first place. 

Nov 8 – I celebrated my birthday by going to visit two schools. The first one was in Katonte. I had been here once before. Both of the other Abaana staff had work they needed to accomplish so I wondered around and into classrooms. I have become quite good at walking into the rooms and communicating with them almost exclusively with my actions and expressions. This was necessary as both schools did not speak Lugandan of which I have learned a little. We were having so much fun in the p4 class that the teacher from another room had to come over and tell the class to quiet down. I loved it. Next we drove to Busia. Busia is on the border with Kenya. I mean on the order. Half the kids live in one country and half the other. The road we drove on IS the border, so I got out and walked into Kenya to have a picture taken. The time here was also great as I made my way from room to room during their lunch break, and sometimes I would chase the kids outside. However my favorite moment, and perhaps my favorite moment at any school so far was hearing one of the classes sing. I recognized the hymn and so I got up and went to the classroom. There was no teacher but the kids were just sitting there praising God. They smiled at me as I walked in and started to sing with them. It always gets them excited. When that song was over, they started another. We sand three or four worship songs and I could just feel God’s spirit descending on that room. Then we sang a song that requires you to dance and sing by yourself. Oh yeah it was a hit and I had the kiddos laughing and dancing until we were all sweating. What a holy moment!

Nov 10th- Ryan and I went to the Mabira Forest Reserve to do some hiking and get out on our day off. It was nice to go out on our own about an hour and a half from the house. We are becoming big boys. The reserve is the largest protected forest in central Uganda. We went to explore the rain forest and of course see monkeys. It was nice to hike around and we did spend a lot of time watching the monkeys and enjoying their movements through the trees. We did have one of those National Geographic moments as we were hiking. We came around one of the corners on the trail by a stream, and there in the middle was an old man naked and bathing. He was so dark it was hard to even see him. His machete was lying beside his clothes so we decided we would not document it. I don’t think he was bothered by us one bit and we are pretty used to nudity at this point as well.

I was invited by one of the 2 of the guys at Calvary Chapel to come and join them on Sunday morning to visit another center in town for street boys. They go each week and give a lesson to the boys who stay there. So I went the first week to go and give the lesson. The house or compound is a drop in center for Retract Uganda. I learned about how the program worked and was amazed at the organization of it. This exactly what Calvary, Abaana, and Tomorrow’s Heroes would like to set up together. The boys were all very well behaved as most of them are on a life course to go back home. It was such a pleasure to speak to them about Moses and running away from our mistakes. The boys have such a joy it was contagious. I liked it so much I told those who invited me that I would love to come every week and get into the regular rotation of speaking. Since it is early in the morning on Sundays I could still come once we start camps. They loved the idea and so I spoke again this week about how God calls us and uses us despite our pasts just like Moses. It is great to watch their faces light up when you connect with them.

Nov 15th – Ryan and I had the opportunity to go with the Abaana staff to visit another boy’s home in our neighborhood. Don Basco has 210 street boys who live there. This was by far the best run system and home we have seen. They have 12 acres of land and use it all to help rehabilitate the boys. It was exciting to go around with the Abaana staff and hear them start to dream about how to improve our own boy’s home. They agreed to met with me and whoever else to make up a plan of how to go forward with the New Life Homes in the future. I have already started on my own research to figure out how to make some of it come true!

I have had the opportunity to meet with the youth pastor at Calvary when the others go to tutor some of the boys from the street during the week. We have been talking about how to speak to youth and what are keys to building relationships with them. His name is Andrew as well. I love talking with him and I feel so humbled as he gets so excited to learn from me.

Nov 21st – the security guards were put in charge of fill a ten foot deep 8 foot diameter hole that is in the ground near the front gate. When we got back from being out that day I jumped at the opportunity to go and do some manual labor. However, I am out of shape. It took 5 minutes of swinging the pick and the hoe to rip a blister across my hand. No matter, I just became the guy who would transport the dirt in the wheelbarrow. It was such a blessing to work with Isaac and Alfred. They were so surprised and happy to have me out there. We were able to talk about a lot of things which I won’t go into. Funny how the simple things can be so meaningful.

So there is some of what has been going on – include feeling God’s presence as we live and work alongside these boys on the streets and in the homes. There is a lot of love here and I will miss my friends on the street as we take a break to do camps across the country. However I am excited about the new opportunities and friends we will make there.