Wednesday, January 11

We left Kampala this morning and we are headed north on our way to Murchison Falls. Our driver is a Ugandan named Jimmy and he has been telling us tidbits about Ugandan culture. We pulled over for their version of a “drive-through” where about 10 people surround your van, knock on your windows (and often slide your windows open) to offer you meat on a stick, coca cola, chapati (a tortilla/pancake), fried bananas, dried beans and many other items. Jimmy bought us a pineapple for us to eat later at camp. The rest of us bought coca cola and chipati, which has become a favorite of ours here in Uganda. We should “reach” (arrive) in about 4 hours.

It’s very relaxing here in our van. It’s amazing what perspective gives you. After riding in many different packed vehicles, it feels great to be in this spacious van. Yes, it is from the 80s, dirty, the burgundy fabric is torn, the headrests don’t match, and there is no air conditioning. But my legs aren’t cramped and it is a comfortable seat. We all have commented on how luxurious it feels. And last night we stayed in a little cottage at the hotel that felt amazing. Sure it was dirty, the walls had who knows what growing on them, and there was a cockroach in the kitchen, but there was a shower, toilet, and decent beds. We were very thankful.

As the green countryside passes by I’m thinking about the children we met this week. Their faces keep coming to mind and I smile thinking about special moments that we shared. There are 3 boys that are on my mind–all of which were in my “red” family.

The first is a boy named Enoch. Enoch is a boy who stood out to me from day one. He was eager to answer questions both in our small group and the large group sessions. He jumped up to be in the self-appointed worship choir, and he volunteered himself to be our representative in the dance competition. It was very clear that he was bright and other students looked up to him. I became more and more proud of him as the week went on. At the end of the week the camp leaders nominated students for “servant/allstar of the week” and I pleaded my case for Enoch. While he didn’t receive quite enough votes to win, he received an honorable mention since many others agreed that he was deserving of the honor. Throughout the week I got the chance to hang out with him and he showed me some of his dance moves. He wants to be a doctor someday and a musician in his spare time. His favorite artist is Chris Brown and he likes both American and Ugandan music. He has a shy smile, great little laugh, and he tries to play it cool. He has a good heart and incredible potential. I am a big fan of Enoch.

The second boy is called Ismail and he straight up stole my heart. Ismail and Enoch are good friends as they are in the same grade/level (S2) at one of the best schools in East Africa. Only the brightest boys who receive the best marks on the national exam are able to attend this boarding school in Jinja. (Can you tell that I am proud?) Enoch and Ismail are both 14/15 and neither of them have a father. Ismail lives 9 hours away from Jinja and must take a bus to and from school. In this case, he came down for camp a night early and stayed 2 days later. Ismail has the biggest smile and his outgoing, lighthearted personality spreads joy wherever he goes. He is funny, sincere, smart, and talented. He hopes to be a lawyer someday and I absolutely believe he has the potential to do so. He is a hardworker and in his own words “school is only difficult if you are not working hard.” The school system here is very competition driven, so a student must work hard to rise to the top, get into a good secondary school, and hopefully have the chance to go to university. The night of my birthday the camp broke out into an impromptu dance party after the dance competition and Ismail was my dance instructor. I danced with him and other students literally for hours. Finally they shut the music off and told us all to go to bed.

The last day of camp I pulled aside Enoch and Ismail to tell them how proud I was of both of them. I encouraged them to continue working hard, serving others, and being great leaders.I gave them each a copy of my Beautiful Love CD as a gift. But told them to be discreet with it since I didn’t have enough for all of the campers. They were grateful and I could tell they felt special in that moment. I had hoped to ride back to Enoch’s village with him but had to say goodbye at camp instead. I was fighting off years as I waved goodbye to him and all of the other campers. So many of them kept coming up to us and telling us how much they would miss us– even students we barely had any time with. It was in those moments that I was starting to see the impact that our team had made.

It was Saturday evening and after the students had all been taken back to the villages, our staff headed back to Jinja and the Children of Grace office. I was so happy to see Ismail there at the office. Due to his 9 hour journey and the fact that the buses don’t usually run on Sunday, he would likely be staying until Monday morning. This made me very happy That evening he joined our team for dinner and I saved him a spot next to me. He burst into a smile when I motioned for him to come sit next to me. He sat close and told me a little more about his family. When he is on holiday (the month that they aren’t in school– Dec/Jan) in northern Uganda he stays with his Grandfather in Lira. We all got into a conversation about ages and when I said I was 32, he told me that I was the same age of his mother. She had him when she was only 16. In that moment I didn’t feel old as I expected that I would. I felt happy. I liked the idea. It felt right that I could be Ismail’s mother.

The next day was Sponsor Day where team members invited their sponsored kids to come hang out for the day. We also invited the kids of friends back home to come as well. For years I have had the opportunity to sponsor children through both World Vision and Compassion International. Because of my incredible experience with Children of Grace– their organization as a whole, their philosophy, and their incredible staff–I made the decision during camp to sponsor a 4th child through COG. I had expressed to the staff that I wished I could sponsor one of the kids at camp, but I knew that all of them already were being sponsored. When we arrived back at the office of COG, I found out that one of the campers had been dropped by their sponsor, so they were looking for a new sponsor. They told me his name is Humphrey and I exclaimed “Humphrey?! He is in red!” I had clear memories of this quiet and shy boy from my group. He had big eyes and his face tilted down when he smiled. “So do you want to sponsor him?” the COG staff member asked.
“Absolutely! I would love to!” I replied.
I was told that they would try to contact his guardian to invite him to sponsor day, which was the next day. I was so excited that this boy who I had been with all week was going to be my sponsored child. What a blessing.

The next morning we all arrived back at the office and as we pulled in we could see that many children had already arrived. Some of our returning team members quickly recognized their sponsored kids and ran to embrace them. Others waited to meet their kids for the first time. It was clear that each child had come dressed in their finest attire. Little girls were in dressed that were slightly tattered. Boys looked neat in their pants and button-up shirts. One little boy even donned a suit that looked about 30 years old, with his pants too short– revealing his red socks and worn black shoes. I was introduced to him and told that his name is Herbert and that he is sponsored by my friend Alison’s brother, Kelly. I had received word that Humphrey may not make it, so Alison asked if I would help host Herbert since she was already looking after 4 children. I introduced myself to the timid 9 year old and asked if he would like to go swing in the backyard. He revealed a quick smile, nodded his head, and took my hand. When we got to the backyard, we found several other kids taking turns on the tree swing. When it was Herbert’s turn, I boosted him on to the swing and he grinned from ear to ear. As I began to push him on the screen he giggled and continued to smile. After a few minutes we heard someone calling for all of us so we stopped, he jumped off the swing still grinning from ear to ear and came to take my hand. From that point on I knew that Herbert saw me as his companion for the day and I was delighted.

My day was made even better by the fact that Ismail was joining us. I was eager to spend another day with this special boy. We all loaded on to the bus and headed for a church in Jinja. We arrived late but church in Uganda lasts for a really long time, so there was still much that we hadn’t missed. We sent the kids along to Sunday school, and then I caught Ismail’s eye. He let out a big smile and reached out his hand for mine. Melted my heart. We walked into the church hand in hand and found a place to sit. The preacher was already in full swing speaking of the importance of being light in the world and not letting the church just become a social club. The needs in Jinja are great and he challenged his church stop judging and start loving more. He spoke boldly and with conviction. I resonated with his words and felt the challenge even as an outsider. After church we went outside to wait for the children. Once Sunday school let out, I spotted Herbert and he quickly found me to take my hand. Again, my heart melted. We all made our way to a lunch spot downtown where we sat in a shaded courtyard for lunch. Each of these kids was served a huge plate of food and they all looked at it with big eyes, both overwhelmed and eager to jump in. I sat with Alison and her sponsored kids, as well as Herbert. On my left was my little man in his suit and on my right was a 6 year old named Karen with a wide missing tooth grin and spunky personality. Their plates were filled with cabbage salad, rice, beans, potatoes, chicken stew, matooke, chipati, and pineapple that they were washing down with their choice of soda. Karen pointed to her knife and asked what it was. I explained and demonstrated that it was for cutting. She and many of the kids were likely used to eating with their hands, but they awkwardly tried to use the large utensils on our table. The way that Karen kept pointing to her potatoes leads me to believe that she has never had them before. I cut one of them for her and told her to taste it. After one bite she quickly ate the rest of it. Before the meal I had brought the children to use the restroom and wash their hands. When Karen walked in she just looked at the toilet, clearly confused, so one of the COG staff swiftly picked her up and helped her. This shocked me. Here this 6 year old had likely never used a toilet. I would later learn when we took the children home that Karen is from Massese, one of the poorest villages around Jinja where large numbers of people live in unfathomable conditions.

After lunch we headed to Lake Victoria for something the children would never forget. Upon arrival we piled into what looked like “Jesus boats” to me. Large wooden canoe-like boats with bench seats in rows down the middle. Only I’m guessing the boats in Jesus’ day didn’t have motors on the back of them like ours did. The kids were giddy as we asked them “have you ever moved on water before?” most of them said “no.” I was able to secure a spot right in the middle of Ismail and Herbert. Perfect. As we took off I was surprised to learn that Ismail had never been in a boat before. He too was beaming with excitement. As our boat made its way around the lake, Herbert would periodically look up at me with a grin and his arm hanging out the side of the boat, splashing the water. He was in his own world and having the time of his life. Ismail was on my left and he too was having a fantastic time. I turned on my video camera and we both laughed as he talked about the lake and what a great time he was having. Our trip around the lake included a swing into “the Source,” the source of the Nile river. I was so happy just sitting next to these boys, enjoying the afternoon. We snapped some photos and I decided to show him some photos of my friends and family. I began with a picture of my baby nephew named Gabriel, at which he oooh’d and ahhh’d. Yes, I am a proud Auntie. I continued through and showed photos of my whole family and some friends. After we were finished he said “I want to make another video for your family.” So I turned on my camera and he sent the warmest greeting to my family.

I have wondered about more of Ismail’s background, so I thought this was a good opportunity to ask him about his family. I asked him more about his mother and he said he will usually go visit her in her village during holiday. I asked for clarification: “like for a day?” and he replied “yes.” Wow. Only a day? I asked about his father and be said that he had killed. “how was he killed?” I hesitantly asked. “He was killed in Northern Uganda by the LRA rebels in 2002.”
“I’m so sorry” was all that I could say.
He told me that his brother and sister stay with his mother, which means that he doesn’t really see them either. He is the first born. His Grandmother has also passed away. My heart was heavy for this boy who had very little family to speak of. Suddenly, I felt extremely thankful for my family, even with its dysfunction. I know that I am very loved and I will always have a place to call home.

Our boat ride wrapped up and we headed back to the COG office where we had to say goodbye to the kids. Our team split up in different vehicles to help escort the children home. My car took Karen home along with some other children who were also from Massesse. I had heard about this village from a couple people and it was known to be the poorest of the poor. As we pulled up the bumpy dirt road it seems like children everywhere yelled “mzungu, mzungu hi!” Their faces lit up and they started waving and laughing. It seemed that we were quite the funny attraction. Looking on either side of the one lane “road” there were shacks that acted as store fronts as well as homes built with any combination of mud, sheets of steel, grass, twigs, wood, and bricks. It was common to see children only half-clothed or babies with no clothes at all. And many of these children appeared to be unattended as they played in the dirt, or with a piece of metal, or by the side of the road. Even what appeared to be babies and toddlers. I’m told that there is no well in this village, so everyone must hike down to Lake Victoria for water that they put in jerry cans and haul back. This is the water that is used for bathing, washing (clothes, dishes) and boiled for drinking. And all of it must be hauled up the hill from the lake probably a mile away. We all got very quiet as we drove through this village, as all of us wrestled with how to even begin to process what we were seeing. I’ve seen documentaries on poor countries, so many of the sites weren’t anything new. And yet it was all new. Something about being there to see it with my own eyes, smell it, hear it, made everything different. This was reality, not just a story about people somewhere far away. This was home for children that I now knew and loved. And it was messed up. After dropping off the third child I felt tears welling up and I quickly looked out the window. “I have to hold it together. I can’t let these kids see me cry.” So I took a few deep breaths and prayed for strength.

After all the children were escorted home, we regrouped at the COG office. I was happy to see Ismail waiting there at the house. His big smile and lighthearted spirit made me feel better right away. I was delighted to know that he would be joining us for dinner. We left for a restaurant on the Nile called Mezzanine. It was a mzungu hotspot situated on a hill with a large deck serving as the restaurant seating. The sun was setting and it was very peaceful as we sat and enjoyed our time together. I saved a spot next to me for Ismail and got to introduce him to pizza. That evening the founder/directors of COG arrived into Jinja from the states so they came and joined us all for dinner. They have been spending time in Jinja for 10 years, so they have a great perspective on life there and they were able to answer a lot of my questions about the educational system and adjusting to life in Uganda. After we were done eating I invited Ismail and another sponsored child with us named Martha to walk down the stairs to the waters edge. They were eager to go explore down there so we made our way down to the water and tried to snap some pictures in what was now darkness. It was so fun to experience their joy-even as teenagers- over things like soda, boats, the river, and food. I knew that in the morning I would have to say goodbye to Ismail, and I was already feeling sad about it.

The next day was our free day and one of our last days in Jinja. A couple of our teammembers opted to go rafting while the rest of us had various plans in the city. I have sponsored children through Compassion International for about 12 years now and through research had discovered that there was a Compassion project there in Jinja. So before our trip I had made arrangements to go visit on our free day and see firsthand the work they were doing. My friend Alison had agreed to come along and she was eager as well to see the work that they are doing. Sadly there are a lot of organizations out there that are poorly organized and poorly run. Often times the money doesn’t all go to the kids or there is little relational contact or the work they do is inefficient. My time with COG has taught me that you really need to do firsthand investigative work before you financially back an organization. I was incredibly impressed with COG and I was excited and curious to see Compassion at work.

I arrived at the COG office to meet up with Alison and wait for our ride to the Compassion project. A group of people were getting ready to drive downtown, and both Ismail and Martha were to be dropped off at the bus station. I saw Ismail walk up with his backpack in hand and big smile. I handed him some snacks for his long bus ride and gave him a big hug, promising to write him. He smiled and told me that I would find a letter in the room where he was staying. The van was leaving so he didn’t have time to grab it and bring it to me. Everyone piled into the van, and as they pulled away I waved until they were out of site. After they were gone, I went directly to Ismail’s room and found a single letter and pen laying there on his bed. I started reading it as I slowly walked back to the main office. About a paragraph in, I was both smiling and crying. The letter is one of the most meaningful things I have ever received in my life. And I will always treasure it. The place where I had to stop reading and gain my composure was when he started talking about how safe he felt with me and that he felt like he had been with his mother. But that the kindness, love, and smiles I had shown him was even more than he had experienced from his mother. Holy cow. This brought me both joy and sadness. I was so happy and honored that he had seen me as his mother. That’s how I had felt towards him during our time together– that he was my boy that I loved and was extremely proud of. But I also felt sad that his own mother had never shown him the love that he deserved. He is an incredible boy and it is simply unjust that he didn’t have parents. Nonetheless, I felt honored that I had gotten to show him love over the course of a week and that he was leaving knowing that he was loved and cared for.

By this time I was full on crying and I knew that I needed to pull myself together because the folks from Compassion would arriving any minute. I knew that my strength was going to have to come from God. I had the privilege of going and being with more children, and I wanted to be able to be fully present.

In a little while a man named Patrick arrived with a car and driver to escort Alison and I to the Compassion project. In the car we learned that Patrick is the project director and he immediately started sharing with us about their site and his own history with Compassion. Patrick grew up in the Compassion sponsorship program, and therefore was able to get an education, and eventually became a project director. He is a wonderful example of what sponsorship can do in the life of a child. He made it a point to thank us multiple times for being sponsors because he fully understood how much his life had been changed and in turn how the lives of thousands of children were being changed because of all that sponsorship offers a child.

We took a turn off of the main road onto a small dusty road, around some trees and up to a church building where the project is based. Upon our arrival, Patrick took us around to the different classes meeting both in the building and around the building. They were divided by age and each student was dressed in a uniform consisting of a light blue short sleeved shirt and a navy dress or slacks. The kids smiled, waved, and politely said “good morning” as we were introduced to all of the classes. Some of the kids were shy and quietly smiled as we walked in. The younger classes giggled and quietly said “mzungus!” This made Alison and I smile.

After our brief tour, he brought us to their office, which was a room that was 10′x10′ at the most. There were 3 small desks and chairs, a few filing cabinets, a book shelf, 2 straight backed chairs for visitors and a piece of tattered linoleum covering half of the floor. The walls were completely covered with their mission statement, goals, objectives, values, etc. that we’re hand written on large pieces of pastel colored poster board. He invited us to sit down and he began to tell us the ins and outs of the program. 2 other staff members popped their heads in as well– one named Isaac who was in charge of accounting and another named Irene who handled everything medical related. We greeted them and thanked them for allowing us to be there. Patrick pulled out a couple of student files and handed them to us to look through. He walked us through their entire process from evaluating the family and selecting the child to checking on the student and their schooling, to do doing medical evaluations, to giving out basic things to families like basins and mattresses. They were extremely detailed in everything that they do and made sure that every child was being cared for holistically. We learned that their program generally meets 4 times a month on Saturdays during the regular school year. The children come for 8 hours and during that time, receive 2 meals, have Bible class, are taught skills like knitting and carpentry, and have play time. It also serves as a time for the volunteer teachers and staff to touch base with the kids and make sure that they are doing well. Alison and I asked lots of questions and were encouraged as we learned about the program. After all our questions were answered Irene came back and announced that tea was ready. We were then escorted to a small patio attached to the church where a table was now filled with plates, cups, and food. We were surprised and honored that they would go to all of this trouble for us. They served us tea, bread, eggs, and pineapple. We all sat around and talked more about Compassion and the lives of the staff there. About 20 minutes later Patrick slipped away and returned to say, “okay, we are ready. Please come with me.” He then led Alison and I into the main church sanctuary where the children were all now sitting. Patrick brought us to the front row where 2 chairs were waiting for us. He got on a microphone, introduced us once again, and announced that they had something special prepared for us. With that he turned on the stereo and kids began to stream into the room in traditional African skirts. Alison and I looked at each other big eyes and started to giggle with excitement. These adorable children performed a wonderful dance for us to a traditional song, and another dance in their regular uniforms to a gospel song. Both were incredible and I did my best to capture the performances on video. After the songs were done, Patrick then invited us to share with the students. They had a keyboard there so I told them I would sing them a song. I performed “One Moment” and. Roe fly shared that God loves them very much and has good plans for their lives. It was then Alison’s turn to share and she got up and shared beautifully for a couple minutes about how special each one them was. It was incredible and really felt like the message that God wanted them to hear. At that point it was time for us to leave and both Alison and I were sad that we didn’t have more time to stay and hang out with the kids. But we were still on a schedule and needed to get back. Back in their office we said our goodbyes and thanked the staff for everything. I gave Patrick a CD and tried to encourage him and the work that he is doing there. We waved goodbye to the kids as we drove away.

When we returned to the office I received word that Humphrey’s family had been reached and that I could go visit them that afternoon. I was thrilled at the opportunity to go see Humphrey again and even see where he lives. I had just a little time before we would depart so I went and found a quiet place to lay down for a few minutes, my mind already full with the days activities.

In a little while I piled into a van with 3 COG staff and headed out to Humphrey’s house. Turning down a small bumpy dirt road, we pulled up to a humble house very close to 2 other homes. Humphrey’s mentor walked up calling his name and out came several family members. They invited us inside to a small sitting room with a few pieces of furniture. This was actually one of the nicer homes I had seen since it did include some pieces of furniture and what appeared to be pretty solid walls. We all sat chatted and I got to meet several family members who all seemed to live there: his mom, aunt, sister, brother. I was also told that this is his grandmother’s house but that she is currently in the hospital. We talked about school and his family for a short while. Then with a nudge from his mother, Humphrey disappeared to a back room and reappeared holding 2 gifts for me. One was a beautiful hand woven sitting mat, and the other was a wooden carved Ugandan man holding a little spear. I was so honored! This was extremely generous of them since I know that they have very little. I thanked them and pulled out my gift for him: a CD. He smiled as he looked it over. We snapped some pictures together and then it was time for us to go. I hugged Humphrey goodbye and thanked his family for their generosity and hospitality. I was so thankful for the time there with them. We pulled away and I waved as I clutched by beautiful gifts.

When we arrived back at the office I learned that another car was taking off to go out to the villages again. I hopped in the car, eager for the chance to visit more kids. We stopped in a couple villages, dropping off a child and then visiting another child who had appeared sick on sponsor day the day before. MaryAnn, the founder of COG and a nurse, assessed the needs of the child, gave her medicine, and instructed the guardian on how to give the child medicine over the next 24 hours. As MaryAnn tended to the girl, there were a handful of other kids standing around. One girl who appeared to be about 2, stood wearing only a dirty skirt, her belly protruding. She was an adorable child, but it was clear that she too needed medicine. There were a couple babies around wearing no pants or diapers. This is very common since no one has money to spend on such things. It was difficult to not feel completely helpless as we stood there with so many kids in need. We smiled at them, played, and did our best to let them know that they were valuable and loved as we waited for MaryAnn to finish up.

It had been a very full day and it was not over yet. Back at the COG office, a handful of guardians had arrived to set up a mini marketplace for us. These guardians had made necklaces, bracelets, bags, purses, baskets, and art that they were selling. We were all excited to buy souvenirs as well as help support some of the families of some COG kids.

That evening we had a celebration dinner with the COG staff. Our US team had grown very attached to the Ugandan staff and we were all dreading saying goodbye to them the next day.

Tuesday was filled with packing, visiting a few more children, meeting one last time as a team, and saying our goodbyes. Late in the afternoon we all piled on to the bus and waved goodbye to all the COG folks and made our way to Entebbe to drop most of the team at the airport. 5 of us had extended our trip in order to stay for a safari, so we were dropped off in Kampala. It was sad saying goodbye to most of our team, difficult to believe how quickly the 2 weeks had passed by and how much we had experienced together.

I am happy to have these final few days in the country to see more of Uganda and process more of what I have experienced. I have a feeling this will be a really long process. Praying for wisdom in all of this.

Sunday, January 15

We are in the middle of our long journey home. We took off at midnight last night for Brussels, now we are flying from Brussels to Chicago, and then we will fly from Chicago home to San Francisco. All in all the journey is about 30 hours. Lots of time to sit and think–not a bad thing at this point.

The last few days have been wonderful. We had a chance to travel to northwestern Uganda, go on a safari and see animals I’ve only seen in a zoo, relax, and meet new people. All in all this has been an experience like none other. We had a blast and in many ways it felt great to be a tourist once again and have accommodations a little nicer than we have had in the past 2 weeks. In other ways it felt really strange to be a tourist in this country that contains so much need. Ultimately I know that tourism is good for a country and helps the economy, but it still feels strange. I had decided to go on the safari long before the trip and I must admit that I felt a certain amount of guilt in going. Relatively speaking It was not an expensive trip and I knew that it was a once in lifetime opportunity. Still there was part of me that felt bad going. I have a feeling that spending money is going to difficult in a lot of ways now. I don’t regret going. In fact, I would recommend the 3 day trip to anyone and I met some wonderful people. I just have some different lenses that I’m looking through now and I’m not sure how to reconcile everything.

We had 24 hours in Kampala after we returned from our safari and before we had to head to the airport. I got the joy of spending some of that time with my second cousin and his family who are living in Kampala and working for IJM (International Justice Mission). I found out just before I left for my trip that they were living there and I was thrilled at the chance to see them. I have been a huge fan of IJM for almost 10 years now, so I was really pumped to hear that I have a family member working for them. I love what they do and have had the chance to offer my gifts musically to help raise support for what they do. They help set people free worldwide from slavery and other injustices by investigating crimes and working with local governments. My cousin, who is the
Field Office Director for Uganda (and I am extremely proud of him), explained to me that the work that IJM does in Uganda is specifically around land grabbing often affecting orphans and widows. This is a very common problem there with serious repercussions. A scenario he described to me goes something like this: a husband cheats on his wife, contracts HIV, and dies. At that point a brother or uncle appears on the scene and tries to force the widow and her children off the land. This may come in the form of a bribe, and then force– sometimes beating up the widow or even killing her. Once she is forced out, she and her children have no where to go as well as often no means to make money. This puts them all in a very vulnerable position. Where IJM comes in: they get referred to the case by people in the area, they conduct an investigation, and then work to prosecute the perpetrator. Their work in the area has gained them a reputation that is now resulting in prevention of land grabbing. They are often able to settle cases through mediation because the perpetrator gets intimidated once they hear that IJM is involved. So great! They also have hopes and plans to help restructure the court system as a whole. I am so very proud of their work and excited about what they are doing. Please consider partnering in their work: www.ijm.org

Because of the time I have spent in Uganda, I know that I now carry a certain amount of responsibly with me that is greater than those who have not traveled there. I have seen and experienced the need first hand and I must respond. Here are some of the questions I’m beginning to ask myself as I prepare to reenter the USA:
- what breaks my heart right now that also breaks the heart of God?
- what gifts and passions has God placed within me? How can I uniquely use those to make an impact in Uganda and worldwide?
-how does God desire for me to communicate and share all that I have seen, heard, and experienced?
- what is our responsibility as the church as a whole to respond to these issues?

Thanks so much for reading, caring, and praying. Your support means so much to me and I know that this trip would not have been possible without all of you. I invite you to join me as I pray through these things and seek out next steps. What is God calling YOU to now that you have read this?

Please take time to read about these incredible organizations and consider partnering with them:
www.childrenofgrace.com
www.ijm.org
www.compassion.com

Sunday, jan 1

I am not feeling great. I woke up with a sore throat worse than yesterday. Thankfully I slept well– I took Tylenol pm and wore ear plugs. There were many who didn’t sleep well because of the loud New Year party happening down the road. I have learned that people here in Uganda like large speakers and loud music. I woke up twice in the night– once around 12:30 and once around 6:00am. The music was still going!! Wow. So I am grateful for sleep. But I am still very low energy today so I have opted out of one of the training sessions this morning and one this afternoon so that I can lay down. I am praying for strength.

Last night I had a long conversation with Bonnie– who is here helping at camp this week. She was explaining to me about the difficulties and corruption that Uganda has faced for many years. It was very sad to hear the pain that many have endured at the hands of Ugandan leaders over the years. Corruption is very common, making it difficult for many to survive when they do not have money to bribe government workers, police, or even doctors. It made me realize just how fortunate I am to live in the US, and there are many freedoms that I take for granted. Even in all of this, Bonnie is one of the most cheerful and thankful people that you have met. She said that one of her favorite things to do is read the Bible. When I asked her what her favorite passage is, she said Romans 8:31 and on.

Tomorrow morning the campers will arrive and I am both excited and nervous. I have no idea what to expect! During college I worked at a summer camp for 2 summers, I have worked for a month at a young life camp, and I have played for countless retreats at camps. But camp here is a totally different ball game. It gives “rustic camping” a new meaning. There are no zip lines, beachfront, boating, archery, ropes course, gym, climbing wall, snack shack, gift store, pool, game room, bathrooms, showers, indoor chapel, or dining hall. Our meals are prepared and served out of a shack where 5 ladies have been hired to cook for us and clean our dishes. We eat our food out in a grassy field or under any shade that we can find. Our group meetings are held in an open-air shelter with no fans. We go to the bathroom in a hole in the ground AKA “squatty potty.” We bathe using buckets that we fill from a single water spicket. We sleep in bunk beads 3 high with mosquito nets. All in all, this is a different life. And if I’m honest, there are moments where I have thought “am I up for this? What have I gotten myself into?? I’m going to live like this for a week?” But then I am stopped in my tracks.  Where the camp is held is actually a boarding school most of the year where children live. It is unbelievable to me that these conditions are perfectly normal for many children here in Uganda. This would never pass health and safety inspections in the U.S.

My hope for this week is that it would be the “best week of their life so far.” That is always the goal with young life camping and it is our goal this week. But it won’t be met by anything extravagant except the extravagant love of Christ. These children are all coming from homes where they have lost one or both parents to AIDS. They have experienced an immense amount of pain and loss. We hope to show them that they are loved by us and by their Father God. There will be games, songs, education, Bible study, worship and 3 meals a day– 2 more than many of these kids are used to eating. They will receive clothing, shoes, and basic hygiene items upon arrival. These are things that many of them are lacking.

This week I am called to be a servant– something that can be difficult for me. I am used to getting to be the leader or the music person and have a glamorous role. My only role this week is to love the kids and help support the Ugandans who work regularly in their lives. There is no personal gain for me– no way that my career is going to be furthered or recognition that I will receive. If I’m honest, that is hard for me. I like attention, credit, glory. And that’s not what this week is about. So I must lay myself down and trust that God’s strength will be displayed in my weakness. This is all about Him and these children. May I not try to rob Him of His glory.

Tuesday, Jan 3

Yesterday, the kids came!! I was pleased when I awoke and had more energy. Praise God! My throat was still sore, but I had way more energy. We ate breakfast and then prepared for the kids to arrive. We set up tables and filled them with the many supplies that we had brought over in bins as well as what COG had purchased in Uganda: shoes, socks, underwear, shirts, shorts, bandanas, bags, Bibles, and toiletries. The kids arrived in buses and lined up to get checked in. Then, one by one they game down our row of tables where we got to greet them and give them the items. I was their first stop: bandanas. I worked with a Ugandan staff member to locate their name on a list, find their team color, and then write it on a corresponding bandana. As the first kids streamed in, I found myself getting emotional. It felt like a huge honor getting to meet these kids who have been through so much that I will never understand. I loved watching their faces light up and seeing them shyly smile as we said hello and handed them the items. There was music playing during all of this, so in between van loads, we had impromptu dance parties. If there is one thing that I have learned about Ugandans, it is that they love to dance. And they are sooo good at it. They try to teach us there dance moves which always results in all of us laughing,
After all of the kids got checked in and settled in the dorm, we held an orientation where the Ugandan staff explained to the kids what the week is all about. Something amazing here is that they all speak English. It is taught in the schools, so everyone who has attended school is familiar with the language. They speak in a thick Ugandan accent, so it is taking me awhile to fully understand even when they are speaking English, but I’m getting better at it. I’m thankful to not have a language barrier between us.

I have really enjoyed getting to know the staff and volunteers here. We have really bonded over the last couple days and I have been thankful for the training time with them before the children arrived. I am amazed hearing their stories and what many of them have overcome.  They have beautiful hearts and I like those of us in the US, they have dreams and desires, and want to succeed in life. However, jobs are hard to come by in Jinja and opportunity is limited. Even though in the US I am considered a “starving artist” or “poor person in ministry,” to them I am very rich. I have my own room where I sleep, I drive my own car, I have been to college, I eat 3 meals a day, I own many clothes, I have a cell phone, I have luxuries like a washing machine, shower, flush toilet. In comparison, my life is very easy. I tried to explain to them that there is beauty in simplicity and that with many things comes complication and stress. But in the end, I think they are right: my life is luxurious and easy.

Being with the children yesterday was a joy. Many of them were shy as they got used to each other and the leaders. But they brought us all energy and lifted out spirits anyway. We spent time playing games, team building, making tie-dye shirts, and creating a team flag. And then it was time for futbol. People here love their futbol!  After many teams played each other, it was time for dinner.

After dinner we had a time of worship where many leaders brought out drums, some children assembled a choir and we all sang and dance. Worship in Uganda looks very different than in the US. Here it is a full body experience where you are moving, singing, jumping, shouting, and smiling. I had a permagrin the entire time that worship was going on as I watched the children praise God. We sang many songs in English and then some in Lugandan. There are no songbooks, overheads, or fancy slides projected. Everything is learned by rote. One girl named Daphine was kind to translate some of the songs for me as everyone sang. It was beautiful.

After worship we got to hear testimonies from a couple of the camp assistants: Alan and Kathy. They were inspiring as they talked about there upbringing, struggle, and how God and Children of Grace had helped them get to where they are today.

Then came the loudest and most exciting part of the evening. Each team was asked to send their two best dancers to the stage for a dance competition. It was a trip getting to watch these kids. They are amazing dancers! Oh my goodness. They can shake their hips better than anyone I have ever seen. It was impressive. The kids had a blast cheering on their friends and teammates.

The weathers has heated up and the afternoons are very hot. Still it is chilly in the evenings and mornings, which I hear is rare for this time of year. None of us brought blankets, so we are bundling up at night.

Friday, jan 6

The week has been very full and I have little to no down time. I am an extrovert so camp is he really a great environment for me where I get to be around d people all the time. But even for me, I have found myself craving alone time. There is so much that I am experiencing and very little time to even begin to process it. I dont even know if my heart will let me process it all yet.

Here is a brief overview of some of the week.  Tuesday we fell into a schedule that we would follow through Friday: breakfast, worship, small groups/bible study, life skills and health sessions (puberty, HIV/AIDS, decision making skills), Lunch, afternoon activities, futbol, dinner, worship, evening program/activities.

There was a focus on health issues, which is important for them to hear in their context where HIV is a big issue. They used role play as a main way to show potential consequences of bad decisions.

Wednesday we went swimming at a nearby “muzungu” resort. This is a place that generally white people can only afford to go to. COG pays them to let us bring the kids swimming. This is something that some of the kids have never experienced. The few hours that we were there were filled with utter joy for the kids and for us as we watched them.

Yesterday was my birthday and it was one to remember. I walked to breakfast with Alison and Shelby and when we walked into the shed where food is served, all of the kids were packed in there and they broke into happy birthday!! It was so special to hear all the Ugandan children sing that song. They sang it twice and then they presented me with a Rolex and sang it once more. Ha!  Have been hearing about a Rolex for many months, described as one of my friends’ favorite things to eat in Uganda. It is chippotti (similar to a thick tortilla) wrapped around egg, tomato, and peppers. It was so delicious! I learned that one or the Ugandan camp assistants–Alan had spearheaded the mini surprise party. So sweet! I felt very special.

The rest of the day was filled with team time, some of which was spent learning a traditional dance for the team dance competition held that night. It was hilarious trying to dance the way they dance.

By the time the afternoon came, I was feeling spent and overwhelmed. Our US team had a little time to regroup, share highlights and encourage one another. I think that was a needed time for all of us.

One of the kids I have met is a girl named named Sarah. I was introduced to her by Jaci after she found out that Sarah is a songwriter. A few nights ago Alison and I got the chance to sit down with her. We asked her to share some of her songs with us, so in a very quiet voice behind a shy smile, she began to sing. After each song she shared the translation with us. The songs spoke to God being her strength, and celebrating that He is always there for her. As we spoke with her she kept saying how thankful she is to God and how faithful He had been to her. These were beautiful words coming from a sixteen year old, but they were especially powerful because Sarah has lost both parents, and she is HIV positive. Not only that, but just months ago she was very ill and in a coma. Still she was thankful to God and aware of all that God had given her. Alison and I were holding back tears and she shared all of this with us. Unbelievable. She also shared that he dream is to record these songs a d share them with the world. After our time with her, I immediately started scheming about how we might  we able to make that happen. Since I have my iPhone here, that was the first thing I thought of. I use my iPhone all of the time to record song ideas and it actully makes a decent recording. While it wouldn’t be professional, I wanted to at least offer to her the opportunity to record with my phone. So yesterday, she and I sat down to begin the process. I was challenging to find a quiet spot but we settled on a little spot between a couple of unused dormitory buildings. After the first song, I played it back for her and it was awesome getting to watch her face light up as she heard her voice for the first time. We were able to record a few songs yesterday and we hope to record more today. I don’t even know how to process the fact that I am a rich American living my dream while there is an orphan on the other side of the world with the same dream, sick with HIV. I am suddenly humbled, grateful, sad, and questioning all at the same time.

Last night was the group dance competition and it was sooo much to dance and to watch all the other groups. Everyone was very creative and it was really fascinating to see the various traditional dances. After the competition was over they turned on music and the whole place erupted into a dance party. It was the perfect way to end my birthday. Many of the students were showing me different dances. Uganda loves to sing and dance. This might be heaven.

Saturday, Jan 7

We just arrived back at the Bridgeway hotel. I am very much looking forward to a real shower. Amazing how this place that just a week ago felt really sketchy now seems very nice in comparison to the conditions we have been living in this week.

Yesterday was our last full day of camp and perhaps the day where I felt many relationships with kids go deeper. There were certain students that I bonded with and that bond became greater. Two of those students are Ismail and Enoch. They are both in my “red” family, 14/15 years old, preparing to enter S2 (secondary 2), and go to school together.

In the afternoon I got out the guitar and played some songs for the students. It was a blast getting to sing with them. Sarah and I spent some more time recording and we finished 8 songs.  They sound beautiful!

Tuesday, January 10

The last few days have been full as we have been visiting with more kids, debriefing, and saying goodbyes.
Today our team leaves Jinja for Kampala.  4 others and myself will be staying in Uganda for a few more days.  I’m happy that I don’t have to leave this beautiful country yet.  But I am sooo sad to be leaving my new Ugandan friends–the incredible Children of Grace staff.
I have been experiencing soooo much.  I have so many stories to share and so much to process.  I have fallen in love with children with here.
More to come soon.

We got a great night of sleep right now and for the most part I am feeling refreshed. We are about to eat breakfast, meet up with the rest of the team, and then head to camp. The next two days will be spent in training, and then the kids come on Monday for our week long camp. The week will be a combination of health education, sex education, decision making skills, Bible study, games, worship, and relationship building. About 80 sponsored kids have been invited to come. These children are all AIDS orphans, having lost one or both parents to this epidemic. We get to partner with the Ugandan staff here and support what they are doing. Many of them work as Child Mentors all year for these kids, so in addition to building our own relationships with the kids, we want to encourage their relationships since they are the ones doing the long term work here.

We will be without internet for most of the week, so I will try to update when I can. Thank you sooo much for your prayers! Here are some specific prayer requests:

• Health: We are all lacking energy and I woke up with a sore throat today. Pray that we will be strengthened so that we can give 100% in loving these kids.
• That we would love courageously
• That we would have servant hearts towards each other, the staff here, and the kids
• That these kids would be met with hope as they learn about Jesus

Greetings from Uganda!

Our team made it here safely and we are all attempting to get over our jet lag from the long journey here. We are exhausted, and yet thrilled to be here. Many of us have had giddy moments where we have exclaimed “I’m in Africa! I can’t believe I am in Africa!” It’s inspiring to hear the stories of team members who, like me, have felt called for many years to come to Africa. It feels like the fulfillment of a dream. This trip is also special because I am with some of my closest friends who have fallen in love with Uganda. I can’t wait to see this special place that is so dear to their hearts.

We arrived late Thursday night into Entebbe and stayed at a nearby hotel for the night. I had my first experience sleeping in a mosquito net. I must admit that I had flashbacks to my childhood canopy bed. Though it wasn’t as nice—or pink. This was also our first taste of accommodations being very different than those in the states. What might seem like a “run down” hotel in the states is considered a place of luxury here. So we gave thanks for where we were staying.

We woke up in the morning and set out on our 2 hour drive from Entebbe to Jinja. Driving through parts of Kampala, the drive gave us a quick snapshot of both urban and rural life. The landscape is beautiful. Green, lush hills and trees make for a beautiful background to these beautiful people. As I looked at the storefronts—often times run-down sheds that may also serve as the family’s home– it felt like I was watching a movie or something. In some ways things are how I expected them to be. Yet it’s shocking and humbling when I try to comprehend that this is reality for many people. There are soooo many living in great need here. And I have been told that we haven’t begun to see the areas with the greatest need.

Upon arrival at the Children of Grace headquarters in Jinja, we were greeted by the Ugandan staff there. This was quite the welcome! We were met with smiles and hugs and cheers. It felt like a family reunion (the good kind of reunion…not the awkward kind…). For some people on our US team, they have traveled to COG many times before, so for them they were being reunited with old friends.

We spent the day getting to know the staff there and beginning our training time. Their cook, Bonnie, is lovely and she made us delicious meals. The first consisted of beans, rice, collard greens, and pineapple. I got the chance to meet her three daughters who are beautiful. One of my friends had been there 6 months ago and brought a few CDs of mine to give as gifts. Bonnie was one of the recipients. I was surprised to learn that she and her family listen to my CD all the time her daughters have memorized much of it. I got the chance to sign a few of the songs with her daughter, Nancy. Check out the video! I was so honored that I almost cried. Crazy to think that people in Africa have been listening to my music!

Tonight we are looking forward to some sleep and my eyes are getting very heavy. So I’m signing off…

Merry Christmas!

First of all, I want you all to know how thankful I am for all of you. Your support over the years continues to amaze me. I feel passionate about writing songs and sharing the hope that I have found in God, and all of you have helped to spread the music and message. Thanks for partnering with me in this work!

Over the course of the last several months, I have felt led to pursue overseas opportunities, believing that God wants to continue to spread His good news through music. Without me even having to pursue it, 2 unique opportunities presented themselves. I want to share with you about these opportunities and ask that you would consider joining me financially and prayerfully.

UGANDA
In just 2 days, I will be boarding a flight and traveling to Jinja, Uganda to work with a non-profit called Children of Grace. They specifically work with AIDS orphans and sponsor them to go to school. We will be helping to host a camp for the newly sponsored kids where they will learn life skills, health education, and about the love of God. These kids will also get the chance to just be kids and have fun! I’m humbled by this opportunity to go, after many years of wanting to help fight the horrible epidemic of AIDS that has crippled much of Africa. Please join us in praying for my team’s time there, and for all the wonderful kids we will be with there. Keep checking my blog for updates during my trip!

POLAND
I have been invited to travel to Poland this May/June as part of the Prominitz Music Tour with several other bands! We will be playing in several cities and getting the chance to share the hope of Jesus with many audiences. It’s unbelievable how God has opened doors in the country for us to go (Read more of the story below). We are in awe and excited about what God will do there. I want to invite you to consider being part of this trip by donating and making it possible for us to go. The trip expense for each person is around $3000. Your donations are tax-deductible and you can donate online here.

More of the story…
A few years back, Richard Dietrich walked into city hall in Zary, Poland to surprise his wife (Brenda Promnitz) with an updated family tree. To the surprise of everyone, it turns out that Brenda’s family is the direct descendant of the Brother Von Promnitz who escaped persecution/annihilation from those who wanted to snuff out the royal family line. In short, the family Von Promnitz is still alive. In Southwest Poland, the Von Promnitz family is well known and the Polish people have welcomed back the family.

“Count” Richard was invited to bring music to Poland as the Von Promnitz family had done in the 1700’s by employing Georg Philipp Telemann as Kapellmeister (chapel master) for the court of Count Erdmann II of Promnitz. Hence, The Promnitz Tour.

The tour this year coincides with the EuroCup coming to town, and the local governments have decided to sponsor the tour as part of their pre-Cup festivities. The opportunities to testify of and enjoy the Lord’s grace and mercy keep multiplying.

Thanks for considering giving financially. We also ask that you would join us in praying that God would do a beautiful and mighty work there!

I appreciate your ongoing support. God bless you this Christmas and New Year.
There is much coming up in 2012, so stay tuned

elizabeth