Christmas In Uganda...

Was wonderful.

While it is hard being away from my family and friends, I feel extremely blessed to have shared Christmas with my friends and family here. We started the Christmas celebration last Sunday at church. The Sunday prior Pastor John has asked everybody to write down a person in the church who they thought deserved a gift for Christmas. He encouraged us to think of the people who go above and beyond in their service to others. This past Sunday we gave out gifts to over 20 people and it was amazing. As each person was called to the front, the entire church cheered and people hugged each other. The sense of family and community in this church is so strong. It is always a blessing to be in the presence of true, heartfelt joy and gratitude.

Then Wednesday we had the opportunity to hand out food to over 60 adults and 40 children in our community. We met in the church, Pastor shared the Word, we worshipped and then handed out the gifts. We were able to give out soap, rice, sugar, corn and salt. It was wonderful to be part of such a celebration. I was again amazed at people’s genuine gratitude and joy.

Christmas day was wonderful. Like Christmas in the US, the day began with church and was then followed by a big meal. However, unlike Christmas dinner in the US, we shared our meal with over 40 people, including 20 children. It was truly amazing. We brought van loads of kids from the orphanage to the house, the women that stay with the kids at the school came, friends from the community joined us and we all indulged ourselves in a fabulous meal. We were extremely blessed with support from several friends in the US and were able to buy all the food the kids love. There was no posho and beans. We ate matooke, 2 types of rice, potatoes, beef, chicken and chiapatti. To top it all off, we also served soda with the meal. One of my favorite parts of the day was when the kids were eating their meal. They all shared their food, giving their friends the food they didn’t want, trading matooke for rice and tasting each other’s sodas. It was truly a feast and one that I am sure made God smile.

The kids went back to the school for a day of movies and the rest of us relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company.

Like I have mentioned before, the way this community lives out the Gospel by serving each other and working together as the Church is truly amazing. They operate in true community and I absolutely love that I am able to be a part of it. I see the way this community operates and my heart aches for all church families to act the same way. I see God being glorified in their joyous, generous hearts and I am know that God is teaching me His ways through this community.

Christmas Means Freedom

My favorite author is Brennan Manning. There is no question about it. Each time I read his books I feel like it was written for me. Earlier this year the pastor of my church in Chicago recommended a Brennan Manning book called, “The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus.” I read it before I came to Uganda and am so glad I brought it with me. Out of my two bags and 100 pounds that I brought, all the Brennan Manning books made the cut. The last section of this book focuses on the significance of Christmas and what the birth of Christ means to us. In one of the last chapter called, “Christmas Means Freedom, “ Manning writes:

“The wailing Infant bears witness to a God whose Word is fresh and alive, who is not the defender of the old, the already-settled, the well-established and familiar. The God we encounter in Jesus is free from preoccupation with His own glory, free to be for us, free to be gracious, free to love and let be.

This Christmas such a God might well expect us to be creatively responsive and thus truly Christlike. Indeed, He might call us to set free captives bound by loneliness and isolation, to share our hope with prisoners of gloom and despair, to invite the unlovely to our table, to celebrate our freedom in forgetfulness about our comfort and convenience, to cry the Gospel by ministering to widows and orphans, to be the church by bringing soup to the poor, to ignore conventional expectations, to call His Son out of Egypt once more.”

I get the sense that we are on the verge of a major change in our Church. I have had several discussions with friends and family over the need to ‘think-outside-the-box’ and challenge the conventional ways of doing things. I think Christmas is the perfect time to start making those changes. I know many people take time to serve the poor and buy gifts for those in need during the holidays and I think that is great. However, with that said, those things are often times secondary to everything else we do for Christmas. They are secondary to gifts, grab bags, turkeys, holiday parties and cookies. I think this year we need to switch the order and make Christmas primarily about the exact things Jesus did while He was on Earth. He spent time with lepers, widows, the lonely, the children and the hopeless.

I wonder why more people don’t spend their Christmas doing these things. Are they worried they won’t get the new shoes they’ve been waiting for or new set of tools? Are they worried it won’t ‘feel like Christmas’? What would it be like to visit a nursing home on Christmas and decorate cookies with those that have no visitors? What would it be like to bring Christmas dinner to a family without food? What would it be like to walk the streets of Chicago and hand out gloves and hats to those living on the streets? I actually know the answers to these questions – it would be absolutely amazing. I think if people did it once they would never go back.

I pray that this Christmas we would look to Jesus first, focus on the freedom that comes with the naked, humble, vulnerable baby in the manger. Jesus wasn’t known for doing things the traditional way, so why should we?

Broken Hearted

It has been a long time since I last wrote. There are many things I want to share but I have failed to take the time to sit down and share them.

Before I moved to Uganda I read Richard Stearns book, “The Hole in Our Gospel” and absolutely loved it. Richard Stearns is the President of World Vision and in his book he shares countless stories of his encounters with the widows, orphans and poor from around the world. I could write several blog entries on this book as it is filled with great insight and amazing stories.

In the very beginning of his book, Stearns quotes a prayer from Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision. It says, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” As I have taken time over the past few weeks to think about this quote, I have realized the true weight and implication of it. While it absolutely terrifies me to think about having my heart broken, I think it is far worse not have my heart broken. I think one of the worse things that can happen to us is to become immune or desensitized by the atrocities in this world. I pray that I would never become desensitized to seeing children go several days without food. I pray that I would never become desensitized to seeing a 3-year old girl scream as her mom drops her off at the orphanage because she can no longer care for her. I pray that I would never become desensitized to child-led households. I pray that I would never become desensitized to hearing about polygamist fathers and their 5 wives and several children that they do not care for. I pray that I would never become desensitized to taking children to the clinic for malaria, typhoid and other diseases. I pray that I would never become desensitized to seeing kids have nowhere to go over the holidays because they have no parents or relatives. These things are the very things that break the heart of God and I think it is absolutely detrimental that we never get use to them. For when we get to use to them, we will stop acting and that cannot happen.

I am terrified to have my heart broken but I choose that over the alternative. I trust that when my heart is broken by what I see here, that God will mend it and will carry me. This is what needs to happen. God’s heart is broken over the 26,000 people that die every day of hunger or its related causes. God’s heart is broken over the 1 of 4 children in developing countries that are underweight. God’s heart is broken over the 854 million people that do not have enough food to sustain them. God’s heart is broken by the 2.6 billion people (40% of the world’s population) that live on less than $2 a day. God’s heart is broken over the 33 million people that are infected with HIV, 70% of them living in Africa. God’s heart is broken over the fact that in Africa, only 59 percent of children attend school and only one in three will complete primary school.

All of these people are children of God. They are all precious treasures in His eyes and I pray that I would see each person as He does. I pray that people all over the world would have their hearts broken over the things that break God’s heart. I pray that those people would trust God with their broken heart and take this Christmas season to reflect about what they can do to love and serve the widows, orphans, fatherless and poor.

Needing God's Wisdom

I’m sorry it has been awhile since I last wrote. This week was great and flew by just like the rest. I will say however, that the week started out on a difficult note and left me with a lot to think about.

Last Monday, Julius (my co-worker) and I took one of our kids to the clinic for a check-up. Derrick is 13 years old and is HIV positive. Upon arriving at the clinic we were met by his counselor who informed us that they would not be giving Derrick any more medication because he had refused to take the medication they had given him before. She went on to tell us that he has wasted hundreds of dollars in medication and that his grandmother refuses to allow him to take the medication they give him. After going to his grandmother’s house to ask about the medication, we learned that she does in fact refuse to let him take his medicine because she is scared of the side affects and thinks that medicine with side affects cannot be good for Derrick. We went back to the clinic and after a few more hours, discovered that the situation is extremely complicated and frustrating. Derrick has told several counselors at the clinic stories about not being fed, not having money for school fees and other nonsense. Derrick is sponsored by the school and has plenty to eat. In fact he gets a special diet and takes food home with him. At the end of the day the details of the lies don’t matter, it only matters that a 13-year-old boy who is sick with HIV is so messed up that he is lying to the only people trying to help him. Julius and I left extremely frustrated with the situation. It makes me sad and angry. I am sad that we live in such a broken world, and I am angry that I don’t know what to do. We can’t ignore Derrick, we can’t leave him to be on his own, but at the same time how do you help somebody who leads you in circles with lies and inaccurate information?

This is just one story but there are many more. The kids here are broken. It is really hard not to get mad at Derrick and say that we won’t spend out time on such kids, but the truth of the matter is that Derrick is one of God’s children and grace says that while he doesn’t deserve our help and love, we will provide it to him regardless. Derrick needs love and I pray and trust that God would give me wisdom on how to love Derrick.

A few new roommates

It is 8:30 am, I've been up for over an hour drinking tea and relaxing as the house is slowly waking up. It is wonderful.

This past week I moved into Pastor John's house with him and his family and it is slightly different than my previous living situation. For the past month I have been renting a small one room apartment but now I live with Pastor John, his wife Esther, their 4 children (Caleb age 4, Cephus age 3, Karissa age 2 and Chloe age 6 weeks), John's cousin Julius (I work with him a lot), 4 teenage boys that attend our school and 4 other younger boys. Also, another American has arrived and is staying here. One of the boy's mothers has been here for the past 2 days and the visitors from the US are still here. So I went to living by myself to having 19 roommates in a few short hours. Not the typical living situation but it is very cool to see how this family operates. Everybody helps out, nobody complains and they seem to truly enjoy each other. I have no doubt that if 4 more people showed up they would make room. Then they would proceed to feed them and love them well.

I share this because in June I got a small glimpse of this and it really affected me. I think this is such a clear depiction of the gospel being lived out. What a beautiful picture, that anybody and everybody is welcome?!

There is something else that is pretty amazing about this place. When I got up at 7:15 am today, one of the older boys was wiping down the floor in the kitchen, another boy was ironing and soon after a few of the younger boys were sweeping the lawn (TIA - This is Africa). The attitude towards service is unlike anything I have ever seen. They truly serve and love so well. I pray I adopt this attitude towards service.

Small observation - huge implications

This past week has been extremely busy as we have visitors in from the US. The wife, Vicki, has been staying with us while her husband and son have been doing work a few hours away. We have taken Auntie Vicki (what the kids call her) all over, introducing her to the kids, women in the community and taking her to a few tourist places in Kampala.

This past Monday, Auntie Vicki and I had dinner with Auntie Rose. Auntie Rose lives on the church property and her and I have become very close over the past month. Auntie Rose is absolutely amazing. She makes a very small income as a teacher but has taken in 6 children. 4 of the children are sponsored so there is a little relief from food as they are fed through the school, but she cooks for them, buys them clothes, cares for them when they are sick and most importantly shows love to them everyday - she is wonderful.

Dinner with Auntie Rose was great. We ate a huge feast with all the kids and spent hours enjoying each other.

The next day I asked Auntie Vicki if she had a good time the night before. She told me that she was a bit overwhelmed with Auntie Rose's generosity and hospitality. She said, "In the US we give out of excess and Auntie Rose gives out of sacrifice."

It is Thursday night and I am still thinking about that. It is absolutely true. Auntie Rose truly gives out of a joyful heart regardless of how much she has. She has very little, lives in a small 2 room house, sometimes has 10 people sleeping under her roof and feeds any person that comes into her house. I have a lot to learn from Auntie Rose and I am so grateful to have several more months with her.

Auntie Vicki's statement is so true and I think has huge implications. In my mind the big difference between those that give out of excess and those that give out of sacrifice is trust. It doesn't require trusting Jesus if we give out of excess but it takes tremendous trust in Jesus to give out of sacrifice. It requires us to trust that while we give what little we have, He will provide more. It requires trusting that loving people and sharing what you have with others is more important than keeping all you have for yourself in the event you may need it in the future. I definitely have a lot to learn and pray that God would be patient and persistent with me.

As a thank you for the dinner, Auntie Vicki wanted to buy Auntie Rose some food since she couldn't have her over to her house in St. Louis. It was incredible. We spent about $70 and probably bought enough food for 2 or 3 weeks. We bought rice, sugar, tea, onions, tomatoes, beans, cooking oil and soap. We also bought her a lantern since using a candle each night to do homework can be very dangerous (especially with 5 kids running around a very small space).

We brought the food to Auntie Rose last night and I have no doubt that she will turn around and use that food to feed others.

This is why I love it here - because of people like Auntie Rose.

TIA - This Is Africa!

I haven’t written in awhile and I feel like there is so much I want to share. Over the past two weeks a lot has happened.

I have made over 10 trips to the clinic with either sick kids or visiting those that that had been admitted overnight. First there was Angel, my little shadow, she had Malaria. After Angel there was Moses and Fidi, her cousin and sister. Moses had Malaria and is also severely underweight and malnourished. Fidi had to be de-wormed and had an infection on her scalp. Then there was Hasifah who had Malaria and a horrible allergic reaction to the medicine. A few days later I took Roger to the clinic in the morning for Malaria and later that night after Bible club I took his sister, Gift, to the clinic as well for Malaria. Yesterday I took Fidi back to the clinic for Malaria and due to the severity; she had to be admitted overnight.

Tuesday after I took Roger to the clinic I decided to bring my IPOD with when I went to Gift as a distraction for her as the doctor pricked her finger. I am happy to report that it worked. Gift was completely preoccupied when they drew blood. When we got home later I watched as each child was in utter amazement as they put on the headphones and music came out - they couldn’t believe it. They patiently shared and sang and danced as the songs came on. It may sound weird but it was so cool to see, I felt like I was in a different world. I can’t think of a child in America that hasn’t seen an IPOD and here were 5 kids having a blast over something we consider so common.

Also, over the past two weeks Bible club has started and it was been wonderful. Since there are so many girls, I split them up by age this week and had Bible Club 3 times this week. Holidays are coming up and many of the kids are going home to be with family but I am so excited for their return. I am confident that God is going to work in mighty ways through the Bible clubs. I think we will study women in the Bible when they return and then tackle the ever-so-fun topic of sex, boys and relationships. I know they are talking and thinking about it so it is time to take a look at it from a Biblical perspective. This particular topic is going to require a lot of preparation and even more prayer.

Now that I have written a book, I want to share a story. There is an expression we use here; This is Africa, or TIA. I said TIA probably 20 times this past Saturday. I was invited to the wedding introduction of two people that have quickly become my good friends here. Their wedding isn’t until next year but the introduction was Saturday. Here in Uganda, the wedding introduction is a very important tradition in which the bride-to-be is formally introducing her soon-to-be-husband to her family.

I had been told that we had a long journey ahead of us, as the introduction would take place in the western part of Uganda. The craziness started at 3 am on Saturday morning when I arrived at the school to meet everybody else that would be going as well.

I was told there would be around 13 of us going on this journey but upon arriving at the school, I noticed that there were a few more people coming. By the time we left and headed to the western part of Uganda, it was 4:30 am and there were 19 of us in a small, 15-passenger van. TIA. Nobody seemed to mind that for the next 9 hours we would be literally sitting on top of each other. While it was suppose to be a 9-hour trip, we arrived safely to the introduction a full 11 hours after we left.

At one point during our journey we stopped for a bite to eat. As we pulled over to the side of the road, people from all directions came up to the van, trying to sell us water, newspapers, bananas and meat on a stick. I opted for a few cookies – I know better than to get meat on a stick in a rural village in Uganda – that could have made for a very long journey. We also ate pineapple but since it was so sticky and dripping everywhere, I decided to open the window and hang my outside as we continued to drive. Please take a minute and try to picture that. I am in a small van with 18 other people, I have been literally sitting on top of one of the teachers from the school and now I am hanging my head out of the window as we drive down the road. Seriously I felt like I was in a movie. TIA.

The introduction itself was wonderful. I was dressed in a traditional, Ugandan dress and am convinced the children from the village had never seen a white person before. I truly felt like an alien – they were whispering, pointing and running everywhere to get their friends.

4 hours after the introduction started, it ended and without any hesitation we got back in our miniature van and headed home. This time we had 2 extra passengers to make it 20 adults and a 2-year old little girl. We drove for another 9 hours back, over the same road, with the same broken window that allowed a nice freezing cold wind to come into the van, and the same small seat that I shared with one of the teachers at the school. He didn’t know it but he quickly became my pillow. It’s funny that after you share a seat with somebody for 9 hours, you surprisingly feel a closeness to them. There is something about that experience that just brings you together.

I could write for another several paragraphs but will hold off for now and write more soon.

Things here continue to be great and I love being here. I posted a few pictures on facebook and hope to post more soon.

I will again leave you with a few prayer requests:

Health – staff members, students and small kids are falling sick left and right. Please pray that God would heal their bodies, bring them peace and keep us healthy.

Exams – the students are all taking exams right now and many of the high school students are stressed and exhausted. Some of them get up at 3 or 4 am to study and after dinner they continue for another few hours.

Holidays – a part from a few kids, all the students that live at the school will be going home this week and will not return until January – February for the next term. Please pray that God would keep them close to Him during this time and protect them. Each of these children are going home to different family situations, some of which are incredibly sad. Please pray for the kids that are staying at the school. These are our kids that truly have nobody to go home to or it is unsafe for them to return home. Pray that they would not feel abandoned or lonely during the next few months.

Personal – please pray that God would continue to keep me healthy and safe. Things are going so well but I am starting to feel a bit tired and rundown. Please pray that I would remain close to God and continue to rely on His strength and guidance.

More to come soon!

What a crazy 48 hours!!!

I have been wanting to write about last weekend for awhile now but haven't found the time until now. Last weekend was absolutely crazy, so much going on but I loved every minute of it. It started out early Saturday morning with the weekly laundry and cleaning. By 10 am I was at the school and off with one of our staff members to meet a few families that live close to the school and have children that are in our sponsorship program. It was so great meeting them and since then I have been back to visit them, making sure they are all ok. I truly love meeting the families and spending time with them, it is a great way to serve and get to know our children a bit better.

After the few visits, I headed back to the school for lunch and played with kids for the afternoon. After returning from internet cafe around 6 pm, one of the little girls, Angel, had a horrible fever and was crying. She isn't in our sponsorship program but lives next to the school and she has quickly become my shadow, following me around everywhere. In fact just yesterday she told me (she is 3 years old) that her and I are going to America, she doesn't want to stay here anymore but wants to come with me. Last Saturday night I took her mom and her to the clinic to get tested for Malaria. Her mom is so sweet but very young and really didn't know what to do with such a sick child. We got her medicine and I'm glad to report she is completely fine now.

Sunday started out with Sunday school at 8 am followed by church at 9 am. After having lunch with the kids at school, I brought 7 of them back to my apartment (remember it is really just one room that is about 12x12). Angel was of course with us and proceeded to spill her Fanta twice within 5 minutes of being there. We had soda, ate cake, painted nails, played outside, colored and put the pictures on my wall and had an absolutely blast. Angel did manage to get a bloody nose 5 times while we were there but all the kids helped out, getting tissues and the waste basket. It was truly a great day.

We returned back to the school, had dinner and played. Another one of my favorite little girls, Yvette, ended up falling asleep in my arms - it was another slice of heaven. That is until she wet herself on me - but all I could do was laugh at that point.

The week ended up being just as busy as the weekend and I was often in bed before 10 pm. I ended up going back to the clinic several times with a few sick children, including a little baby that is severely malnourished. Moses is about 1 years old but can't weigh more than a 6-month old. He lives in the same house as Angel and also had Malaria this week. I took him and his mother to the clinic to both treat the Malaria and also the malnourishment.

I am continually grateful for my time here. God is so good. Each day brings something I didn't plan for but in true Ugandan spirit, I am learning to go with it.

I will hopefully have internet later this week and will be able to post updates more regularly.

I will leave you with this: Tugende means we go in Luganda. Angel told me Tugende America.

Love you all.

Update---

As I write I am watching my dear friend Juliet cook by candlelight – only in Uganda. The power is out again but it isn’t stopping us, we’re listening to great music, cooking and having a wonderful time. I love it here.

From the minute I arrived it was so clear that this is exactly where I want to be. After 3 flights, 6 airplane meals and a full 24 hours of traveling I was greeted at the airport by Gift, Roger, Brian and Sarah – the children I love so much. I am convinced I experienced a bit of heaven right then and there.

In the few days I have been here I have taught the kids how to play Baci ball with rocks (this was fun for about 10 minutes until rocks were flying everywhere), been told by a friend that I have gained weight since June (that was awesome), taught the children how to blow kisses and on any given day held over 20 children in my arms – and loved every minute.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Pastor John to discuss my responsibilities for my time here. Here are a few things he mentioned:
· Work with the teachers in the elementary school to help organize their schedules, student evaluations, etc
· Learn Luganda (this should prove interesting, it turns out they pronoun their R’s as L’s which explains why nobody can say Cara J
· Learn how to drive (again this should prove interesting, they drive on the other side of the road, there are more scooters than cars, people everywhere and no stoplights anywhere)
· Spend time with the high school girls, mentor, lead Bible studies – this I can do and am so excited. We have our first Bible club meeting on Thursday night.
· Work with the children that are sponsored by people in US – take them to the clinics, mentor, help with communication between the children and their sponsors
· Help plan an annual pastor’s conference in January

Within a week the list had grown and while my first instinct is to be completely overwhelmed, I am choosing to be grateful. What an amazing opportunity to be a part of this community?! There is no way I am capable of doing all of these things but I know that God is capable and I will make myself available to be used by Him.

I will end this entry by listing a few prayer requests for our kids:

· Brian Nyombi would like to attend a university in the US. We are going to sign him up for the SAT and help him apply at a few schools. Please pray that God would open doors for him. He is an absolutely amazing boy and a heart-wrenching story and this opportunity would be a wonderful gift for him.
· Sarah N – one of the kids Emily and I sponsor is behind in school. I don’t think she attended school when she was young and she is having a hard time catching up. I was just told she that she will need to repeat 3rd grade. Please pray for Sarah.
· Health of the children – it is the rainy season here and many children are sick with Malaria and other sicknesses. Please pray that God would protect their bodies and keep them safe and healthy.
· General well being of the children during their break from school. Many of the children that live at the school return to their families during their one-month break from school. Please pray that God would protect them and keep them well as many of these children will go home to very difficult situations.

Weebale Nyo – Thank you so much.

Wabale Nyo - Thank you so much!

I love it here! I have been here for just over a week and am consistently reminded of why I decided to return.

Last night I was in an office at the school looking at a few pictures on the computer, with me where 19 kids all huddled around the computer screen each screaming when they saw a picture of themself - it was hot, I had 3 kids on my lap and I was tired but I absolutely loved each minute.

This is just one bit of what my life now consists of - it is truly amazing and I am extremely grateful to be here. God is so good.

This week has been truly amazing and I feel extremely blessed by all the support and prayers of my friends and family back in the US. I would love to write more but have to run, time is up on my computer at the internet cafe. I will write more later.

LOVE YOU

Last Day of Work

I gave my notice at work 11 weeks ago and I remember thinking that my last day would never come. But here I am with only a few hours left, packing up my boxes and files and it feels like just yesterday when I told my boss that I would be leaving.

I am so excited for what is to come in the next few weeks but leaving my job is still hard. I have come to love so many people that I work with and am going to truly miss seeing them everyday. I truly feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with this company and these amazing people for the last year and a half.

As many people know, I come become very close over the last year with a couple in Arizona that started an organization called Remember the Poor. Frank and Cindy May have been involved with Nkumba Ministries (organization I will be working with in Uganda) for years and through Remember the Poor started the child sponsorship program and funded several projects at the school. Earlier this week Cindy sent out a blog on my journey and a friend in Uganda that is coming to the US to help us build relationships and raise funds. The link is below:

http://rememberpoor.org/

I would encourage everybody to sign-up on their email list as they send out frequent updates on the status of projects, current needs and share wonderful stories of the kids and staff at Nkumba.

What a Blessing!

The last few years that I have spent in Chicago have been absolutely amazing. Words cannot describe how I feel right now as I reflect on my time in Chicago. I have spent endless hours exploring the city I have come to love. I have met some of my closest friends over the past few years and shared in countless experiences with them. But most importantly I have experienced God's love and grace through the people He has brought into my life. I truly believe that God has used the people in my life to speak truth and love to me - and for that I am forever grateful.

Thank you.

Update on the Well!

Good news - we have confirmed with experts in the water purification industry that Living Water is a good organization to use for digging the well. We had heard that several organizations will dig a well for a lower cost but that after a year there is a huge risk that the well may not be operating correctly, that the filtration system may be broken and the cost of repairing the well could be thousands of dollars. Hearing that Living Water is a reputable, trustworthy organization is wonderful news.

More good news - we are going to dig 2 wells for the school!

When I first got the news that we would need 2 wells for the school I was immediately discouraged. Instead of raising $10,000, we would now need to raise $24,000 and in my mind that was just too much. But as I began to think about it more, I realized a few things: 1) there are many people out there with generous, giving hearts that will support this goal, 2) God is good and will provide for His people and 3) nothing will be accomplished by worrying or stressing out.

God is fully capable of providing $24,000 for the wells and I need to believe that with all my heart. While I am fully aware that God works according to His time and not mine, I would still really love to have the wells dug by Christmas!

I will keep this updated as we learn more information.

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers.

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

6 more weeks and counting!

The countdown has begun and October 15th is just around the corner! I want to first and foremost thank each of you for your prayers and support. I would not be able to do this without you - I feel extremely blessed by each of you.

Many of you have reached out to me with questions on ways you can support my move and I want to let you all know where I stand with raising support. Rather than raising support to cover my cost of living for the next year, I would like to raise money to dig a well for the school and community where I will be working and living. When I was visiting Uganda in June I noticed that not once during my 2-week trip did I see children drinking water. If you ask the staff what the children drink they will tell you that the children drink porridge. Porridge is their 10 am snack during school since most of the children don't have breakfast. The kids that go to the school where I will be working go all day without drinking water.

I don't have to tell any of you the serious health risks of dehydration or feel the need to list the horrible statistics of deaths related to lack of water, I think we all know how incredibly important and crucial water is for our well-being. Also, I don't know anybody that would let their own child go an entire day without drinking water or send their kids to a soccer game without a water bottle and in my mind if it isn't ok for our kids, then it shouldn't be ok for other kids to live under such circumstances.

I did a bit of research on the signs for dehydration and signs of malaria - as you can see from the chart below they have incredible similarities. My first day to Uganda a staff member and I took 3 kids to the clinic to be treated for Malaria and even then the kids didn't feel better for about 3-4 days. I can't help but wonder if those kids actually had Malaria or if they were just in desparate need of water.

Signs of dehydration:
· Weakness or fatigue
· Muscle soreness
· Headache
· Nausea

Signs of Malaria:
· Muscle aches
· Headaches
· Fatigue
· Nausea

The organization we will use to dig the well is Living Water (http://www.water.cc). The water will be purified and safe to drink straight from the well and will provide water to over 1300 students and staff daily.

I will make it one of my priorities when I get to Uganda to do education for the school staff, students and community on the importance of water. I am confident we will see a huge improvement in the lives of the children once we are able to get them safe drinking water.

It absolutely breaks my heart to think of kids not have water to drink after a soccer game or when they feel sick and have a fever. I live such a life of luxury that I cannot fathom such a life and so I ask that you would consider partnering with me on this mission. We have been in contact with Living Water and they estimated the cost would be around $10,000 for the well. I would absolutely love to have the money raised by October 15th and have the well dug by Christmas - what a fabulous gift that would be!If you are in the position to financially contribute to the cost of the well, there are 2 ways you can give:

1. Make a check out to Remember the Poor and mail it to me at 148 Circle Ridge Dr, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. I will then forward the checks on to the Remember the Poor bookkeeper in Washington
2. Visit www.rememberpoor.org and submit your gift via PayPal. Please make sure to note that the money is for the well project
   

Remember the Poor is a 501 c(3) organization that financially supports Nkumba Ministries, the organization I will be working with in Uganda. They will be able to process all donations and send a monthly wire to Uganda with the funds. For more information on Remember the Poor, please visit them at www.rememberpoor.org.

Thank you all so much! I will have access to the internet when I am in Uganda and will make sure to provide you all with regular updates.

With love,Cara

Here we go....

It may be a bit early, but I can't wait any longer - only 12 weeks left!

It is not to say that I will not miss my family and friends dearly but I cannot wait to hold those kids again! I cannot wait to be back with a community that so clearly lives out the Gospel everyday. I cannot wait to hold Roger and Gift and Brian and Sarah and Victor and the list goes on and on.

I would leave tomorrow if I could but I trust God that will do mighty things in these coming weeks and at the very least teach me a bit of patience.

I don't know how much to write - I could write on and on about how excited I am or why I am going but I think for now, I'll post a few pictures of my kids and try to figure out how a blog actually works. :)

More to come later.

Cara