good day.

Today was a really good day.

Sorry to everyone who has been disappointed by the frustrations in my last posts, I am trying to keep this blog as honest as possible, and if this is the case, 2 months in a foreign place is most likely going to have a few frustrations.  

In the morning we went to the Babies Homes, and I returned to Nsambya.  It was really nice to just sit with the "moms" and peel potatoes, and then just hold babies.  Really relaxing, seriously.

Then in the afternoon we got to return to the Remand Home.  I was very eager about this because I had bought some things for Irene, including a Luganda Bible, knickers, and a towel.  On my way there I said a little prayer, that she wouldn't be there.  She was innocent and had her court date on Wednesday and I was hoping she would be released.  But I was also hoping I would get to see her.  When I got there, I scanned the room and couldn't find her.  I sat down uncomfortably in our usual spot in the classroom, the first time I had felt awkward there.  A girl, Susan, who was friends with Irene came and sat beside me.  I asked her how she had been, and if she knew where Irene was.  She told me her court date was actually today, so that was why she was not here.  We then started the program and it was absolutely insane.  The kids went crazy and it was so much fun to worship with them.  They were dancing, jumping, drumming, shaking like it was their job and it was so much fun to see their smiling faces despite their unfortunate circumstances.  After the message, I started talking to Susan again, asking why she was here and if she would get a chance to get released like the others.  She told me that she had been working for someone for 6 months and had not received any pay.  She decided to ask her boss about it, and he reported her for stealing his money.  She said the judge even acknowledged that he was using her for child labour, something that is unfortunately very common here, but she was still sentenced to serve her term at the Remand Home.  She said she was going to be there until August 19.  All of a sudden, this girl who was just glowing with joy, came bounding into the classroom, and I noticed it was Irene.  She was no longer in her uniform, but in daily clothes.  She ran over to me and gave me a huge hug, with an incredible smile to follow, as she screamed for joy that she had been released.  She was going to stay in Remand Home for a while until she could get money to take her home to Entebbe, and then she would be free to go.  I had never seen her so happy and excited, and when we talked she didn't whisper to me out of embarrassment, she spoke as loud as she could with such joy.  However, she had just spent the entire day in court so she was really hungry, so I let her go and eat after giving her the things I brought her.  I started talking to Susan again, and she told me that she really wanted a Bible.  I guess this caused me to realize how much of a baby I have been here.  Before I left for this trip, the Lord laid it on my heart to use a certain decently large portion of my money for Bibles.  I was going to buy them beforehand, but the people here suggested I wait as some of them can only read Luganda.  As of now, what 4 weeks into my stay here?  I have only bought one Bible.  I also realize that there are so many people here who are just craving love and attention, and yet I am trying to limit myself to one or two people at each project we go to.  This is the reason why I agreed to buy her a Bible, and will be buying some more Bibles for a friend who can't afford to buy ones for the kids she has connected with.  I've decided to become more proactive in fulfilling at least one of the roles God has set for me here, because it is so easy and it is a huge seed that can definitely be grown with the correct resources.  As we were about to leave, Irene came back from eating and ran and gave me a huge hug.  She said to me: "Emily, will you just pray for me right now, now is a time to rejoice!"  I eagerly agreed, and asked her if there was anything specific she wanted prayer for.  She thought for a few seconds then said: "No.  You just pray whatever you feel is in your heart."  This just astounded me.  Almost every child I have prayed for has asked for something, for God to provide their school fees is the main one, but I've even gotten one asking me to pray they will get an American sponsor.  But this girl, who was just released from juvenile detention, had no money to get back home, no parents back at home (she lives with her aunt), and no other family members, had left school because of being arrested and didn't know how she would be received when she returned to school, she didn't have anything that she felt like she needed prayer for.  She simply felt blessed that she had been released.  I prayed for her, gave her another huge hug through her outstanding joy, and left, possibly with a portion of her own joy.  

Later today, me and Vanessa decided to take a boda-boda to visit the Acholi squatters to give them the vaseline we bought for them and see how they were doing.  We got there and immediately all the kids we had seen before raced up to us and gave us a huge hug.  Even the moms smiled and waved at us before coming over and greeting us.  I just love how connected we are with that place, and how amazing those kids are.  We gave the gift to the eldest child, since she is responsible for getting the kids ready for school in the morning, and she said she would try to distribute it equally amongst them all.  I felt really bad because it seemed that my two jars of vaseline were a pitiful gift in comparison with what they need, but they were grateful still.  We couldn't stay long, but we promised we would come back on Sunday and visit after church.  Vanessa suggested to me that we bring a laptop with a movie and some ice cream for them, just as a little party since Vanessa is leaving soon and all her weekends already have things planned.  I am so excited to get to do this with them.  

Also, just as a little update on the team, we just got a few more people in as the other two left, and one is from NORTHERN IRELAND.  It is the coolest thing ever, and I know I sound like a nerd, but I could just listen to her talk all day.  I guess I knew there was an Irish accent from movies and such, but I always pictured them as fake.  She is very outgoing and bubbly and I just love being around her.  Yes, she has already said I can visit her when I am in Europe this spring.  So now I will be visiting my friend Hannah in Bristol, England; Amy Larder in South Hampton, England; Amy Kyle's parents in London, England; and Amy Kyle in Liverpool, England (where she goes to University) and in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  I am so excited.  I have also found out that one of the Ugandans who I have gotten very close with will be doing some ministry in Bath, England for a year, so I will get to visit her as well which is so exciting!  While all these newbies are very exciting, it means that many of the ones I have connected with are leaving.  I am sad to see many of them go, as five of them leave on Monday and five come in on Tuesday, but I am excited to meet more people and hear more stories.  There are so many incredible people in this world, and I am proud to say that I know a good few handfuls of them.