Moments like these....

April 19, 2012

The thought of trying to catch up on blogs over the last 2 weeks has got me feeling a bit overwhelmed…so instead I’m just going to tell you about today, and another time I will catch you up (promise!)

Today Alex was gone for the whole day so I was on my own. (Well, as much on your own as you can be in a house full of kids….the primary kids – Robert, David, Mansen, Johnson, Lemukol and even Jacob from senior, were all home today.)

My days start almost the same every day now – the boys start making their way in one by one, someone starts some music, the move around, preparing for school (around 615am). I usually get a knock on my door around 650am from someone needing something – whether pills, lotion, pens, etc. I drag myself out of bed (the rats have me getting less sleep that I’d prefer lol) and then I am up.

Right now we have 2 boys on medication – One for Typhoid and a parasites and another is on anti-biotics. I give them their pills, as well as their lunch time ones and head back to my room to check my email…slowly my rooms starts to fill with secondary boys combing their hair using my mirror, asking to use my lotion (yes, they like twilight woods best!) and making sure that they look ‘smart’ before they head off to school. Today they have 3 exams, then 1 more tomorrow, and they are off for 1 month of holidays!

After saying goodbye to the senior boys I take my bible to the outside couch/bed and drink my tea.

Then the excitement begins, I am sure that I heard rats AGAIN in my closet last night, so I ask Robert to look. He calls Mansen and together they begin to search through my things. Just as they’re about to give up and they call me back into the room, they spot 2! They catch one and bring it outside, laughing and screaming and calling another boy who is still sleeping to come and help. Unfortunately that one gets away, so they head back for the next one. This one is not so fortunate, they manage to kill it (I wont mention how) and dispose of it. Victory! Lol. And on that note, I have found a cat named Rue, who will be coming to live here shortly. Does anyone have any advice for me.. I am NOT a cat person, but I prefer them over rats!

Anyways, after this excitement Robert and I head into town to go visit some old friends at welcome home, as well as another friend in town. Can I mention that on Wednesday it rained most of the afternoon (which as far as I know is pretty unusual around here) so the road to town was pretty muddy and bumpy. On top of that I was in a skirt, it was the boda driver, then Robert, and then me sitting sideways. Needless to say I think I will have bruises on my hip in the morning from not quite fitting onto the seat like I should going up and down bumpy roads!

The afternoon was fairly calm, I did some work with the younger kids, and printed off some colouring pages for them to practice drawing and colouring. The 2 girls from across the road have been here almost every day and they coloured some princess pictures for me to hang on my wall J

Robert, 2 of the girls and I went for a walk in the evening and had fun chatting , picking flowers and taking pictures.

Thursday nights (and Tuesday nights) are devotions nights. This week it was Jacob’s turn and he spoke on Malachi 3:6,7. He did a great job reading and sharing what this verse meant to him, and then the rest of the boys took turns sharing their thoughts.

Most of the boys head off to bed/do revising in their own rooms at this time… (we eat around 845, then devos at 915, so its usually around 10). Tonight one of the boys was sitting alone on the couch and I went and sat with him and asked him if he was ok. This is the boy who will notice when I am feeling sad or frustrated and always ask me the same thing, but today it was my turn. At first he said no, he was fine, but surprisingly shortly after a few moments of silence he opened up to say that he was missing his mother and father. We are planning to take him back the village he grew up in soon to see what family is around (he thinks maybe a jaja, sister and auntie). I’m guessing that thoughts of going back to find family are making him think about what he has lost. It was a hard conversation to have, and tears were shed, and unfortunately another boy came in and took over the conversation, but he said we would talk more about it tomorrow..so please pray for me to know the words to say!

Sometimes living at The Sanctuary is hard. I often find myself in the middle of conversations (or arguments) where I have no idea what is going on because of the language barrier. But, when moments like this happen, and I get the chance to be there for the boys, I know why God has called me here. There are moments when I feel so lost and unsure of what I am doing here, but I know that I am where God has called me to be, and I am humbled to be given the opportunity to be in this position. Please continue praying for me as I struggle to know my role here at The Sanctuary, and to know how to be there in a way that each of the boys need.

Love you all, and will soon catch you up on my recent trip to Masese (the local village, and seeing Moses!)

Good Friday

Today was a good day. The boys didn’t have school today, so I actually got to be around with them for breakfast. Then Alex and I went off to see Randy (from Waterloo) who had so generously donated soccer jersey’s for each of the boys with each of their names on it AS WELL AS their favourite number! We are so thankful for his donation, and the boys were so so happy!

Today being a holiday was the big Nile Breweries Rugby Tournament. The boys school (Jinja S.S.) played in the first couple of games, and of course most of the boys were on the team. I was alittle bit worried, because already the boys have complained of so many injuries from playing rugby, but they were eager and invited me to come and watch. In the end it was only Ambrose and Patrick who ended up playing, and it was very fun to watch. Their team was MUCH smaller than most of the other teams, but even the bigger teams played ‘fair/gentle’, so thankfully, no one was hurt!

Alex and I and some of the boys stayed to watch a bunch of games, and then Alex and I went to get a Rollex (FIRST ONE since arriving! Delicious! J For those of you who don’t know/remember – a rollex is a chapatti with an ommlette inside of it, and then made into a wrap). Then we stopped to use the internet, and I headed off to meet with a lady I had met in Uganda on my last trip who had been here for a week and was leaving on Saturday. She was staying at a guest house in town, so I spent a couple of hours with her, and then walked back to the games. At this point there was a very large crowd, and loud music playing. The environment was exciting, and I watched the final couple of games with Alex, and a couple of mzungu girls that I knew from another project. The boys found us at some point and sat with us as well.

Probably the biggest moment of the day…that I still can’t get from my mind is that I saw Moses today. Moses is a boy who lived at The Sanctuary for over 2 years. He was one of the first boys that we helped. About a year ago he started acting out, not following the rules, curfew, doing chores, attending class, etc. so after many warnings and consequences, we had to ask him to leave. He has contacted me over the last couple of months, always telling me that he misses me, but asking for money. Today at first I could tell he was uncertain as to what to do, but when he finally saw that I was looking for him (he played on the boys teams – so I had already seen him), he came running to give me a hug. It was so difficult. He looks so different – more wild, carefree and yet hardened. We talked for a bit, and then I promised to meet him in Masese on Monday and got his number so that I could call him.

Walking away from him then, and even now when I think about it is very difficult. I know that he made his choices, and that maybe I cannot do something to help him, but I will always feel like he is one of my boys. Even though it has been so long, I continue to pray for him, and ask you to do the same. God and put Moses in a special place in my heart..I don’t know why, but I won’t stop praying.

Anyways, after the games, I went back home to find some of the younger boys who had been around the house all day. I went for a quick walk with them before it got dark and then came home.

George showed up tonite and so he and I and a bunch of boys sat around and talked for the rest of the night. It was a lovely evening relaxing on the front porch and enjoying learning from each other!

Sula Bulungi (good night)

The first week….

I think that I am spoiled…Everyone here at The Sanctuary is taking such good care of me. Alex has been great, taking me on the bike where I need to go, buying extra food for me so that I get the nutrients my mzungu body needs lol (like extra fruit, lettuce, cucumbers, etc.) The boys have been saving eggs over the last while for me, so that when I prefer eggs for a meal, they are there. The young boys never let me enter the compound after coming from town carrying anything, they always run to carry it….my meals always contain more of the veggies/meat/etc. and less of the posho. Like I said..i am spoiled. Mind you, who knows how long this will last, but for now I will enjoy it.

It has been really fun to be around the boys over the last week, and to see how they have changed, and boy have they changed! Things that I had to remind them to do over and over before I left, are now done without a thought. Small things like wiping the table after a meal, going to bed on time, actually finishing the kitchen cleaning (not leaving floors with crumbs, or counters with food still on them) they are now doing. Of course there are still things that they need reminders on, but they have really stepped up taking on their responsibilities.

Not only have they changed in how they do their chores, but they are also more mature, right down to David and Robert. What once would have for sure caused an argument will now just be a joke. The older boys have really taken on the challenge of setting a good example to the younger boys, and if the young ones are having issues, they will try to work them out with them first before bringing it all to the staff’s attention.

Don’t get me wrong, things are not perfect, but it is really exciting to see how much the boys have changed and matured over 1 year. I am very proud of them!

My days have been divided into thrids. All of the boys are gone to school from when they wake up, until about 1pm, then the younger boys come home, and around 530 the rest of the boys come home. The first part of my day is catching up on emails, working on budgets, paperwork, sorting through paperwork, etc. The second part is working with the boys get prepare lunch, and then spending time with them. Sometimes that is playing games, going for a walk, and lately it has been washing and cleaning their things in their rooms. The last part of my day is with the older boys (and younger). When they first come home it is relaxing time. Some go to play football, others do their chores, or just hang out. I usually sit on the front couch with whoever is around and chat about their days, etc. Sometimes I will go in to Bukaya with some of them to buy bread or oil or whatever we might need for the meal and next day. At 8pm everyone is expected to be home, and this is when the boys revise. I will either help them with their work, or make questions for the younger boys to keep them busy while the other boys are studying. If we’re lucky, we get supper around 9pm, and after that they either continue to revise, or do laundry (uniform cleaning for the next day..etc). And that is my day. Pretty great eh?

Evenings are also when Alex and I will meet with any of the boys how are having issues or complaints. Last night we spent an hour talking individually to 2 boys who are having a difficult time getting along. Sometimes it is a challenge to be in that role, but it is necessary, and in the end I am thankful that I get to be here…for the good times, and the not so fun times. It is all part of raising these boys to be men of Christ, and mature and responsible human beings.

Sunday Sunday – April 1

Today started off with a trip to visit the LC1 (Local Council). Whenever you have someone new staying at your house, you are required to inform him so that he is aware of who is living in his town. Alex and I had tried to go visit him 2 times the day before, but he was never around.

The LC is a funny man. He likes to make jokes, and watches how you respond. We called first this time (to make sure that he WAS around) and even though we were told he was, he wasn’t. (TIA-This is Africa). We were told to sit and wait, so we did. He soon showed up, followed by 2 other people who wanted to speak to him, but we were helped first. It turned out that he wanted me to tell him (again) the names of everyone living at The Sanctuary, and their ages. Once we did that, we had to pay money just so that we could get a stamp saying that he now knew this information. What is comical and frustrating all at the same time, is that even as the line up to talk to him grew, he took his good old time, carefully writing out each boys names, as well as our names…it was a long process. Finally though we were finished and we walked away happy. The LC has a lot of power, and can essentially deny you what you need if he is so inclined, so we were happy.

This meeting with the LC happened just before church, which of course meant that I would be late for my first church service (not that this bothered me – although it would be been nice to be early atleast for the FIRST time!). We got back and went with most of the boys to church. Church is in Jinja, so we have to pay bodas to take everyone to church.

Church with the boys put a smile on my face. I don’t know what it is about worshipping and learning together, but I love it J

Leaving my church back home was hard. I love all of my youth kids, and friends at that church, and on my last Sunday there, I felt really sad to be leaving. Being at church in Uganda though was better then I thought it would/could be! The worship was great! And the speaking was so good too (and relevant – for myself AND the boys). I am so thankful to have a church like that to attend!

On Sunday afternoon I went with the younger boys, plus our neighbors daughter TiTi (Daniella, who I think I will be seeing a lot of) and a few of the older boys for a walk down to the Lake again. It was fun to walk and laugh and play with them. We came up by a place that has a slide and some swings so we spent some time there watching the little ones play. I had the chance to talk more to one of the older boys who filled me in more on his story. To told me more about his life growing up, and the time that he spent in prison because he was in Kampala begging on the streets. He told me about moving around with his mother, who “took too much alcohol” and was not able to provide for him, and how she died on her way back to their village. It was hard to hear his story, but I was so glad that he was willing to be open with me. ALSO, this was one of the boys who I had a very hard time talking to last year because he lacked in his English skills, BUT now I could understand him with no problems.

That night we had a fantastic meal of meat and posho. Although they don’t have a lot of variety, these boys really do know how to cook! The bad news is that the rice is over, so now we eat Posho, posho and posho until the posho is over. As much as I like posho…I am missing the rice.

My evenings are spent hanging out with the boys, whatever that looks like. Often times that is revising with them, or reading their books. Sometimes I go out on the porch with a couple of them and we practice their reading by reading a child’s bible together. I am also trying to work on my LUganda skills, so sometimes I am there beside them revising as well. Other times they want to look up something on the computer or find a better picture of a map that they are studying for a test. Steven was working on memorizing the first 20 elements of the periodic table, so together we can up with a rhyme to help him remember. These are the moments that I love. Getting the chance to invest into each boys life. It doesn’t always have to be some deep meaningful conversation, but just loving on them, and making sure that they know how important they are.

THE RATS!

Most of the boys still have school on Saturdays. For the boys in High School they had school ALL day! The younger boys though had no school, so I spent the morning around with them. I walked in my room at one point and for a moment thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I assumed I was imagining things, so I went on. About an hour later I had to go back and get something else, and this time I was sure that I saw something small and black run into the corner of my room. Let me set the room up for you quickly. There is a single bed with a misquito net over it, a big moveable closet with some clothes I had left here from last year, as well as donated items like medical supplies, school supplies, clothing, etc. I am in the process of getting a desk and hopefully a shelf, but until than, that is all. My clothes are all still in my suitcases which are in the far corner of my room.

Anyways, like I do…being a silly mzungu girl…I give a little scream and go out of the room. The boys (3 young ones) come running to find out whats going on. They go into my room..move everything around, and declare me crazy. But I am certain that I saw something, so I decide it is time to go through the things in the closet. As we begin to pull things out, it seems like it is true, I have imagined it..until Robert pulls away some of the clothes…and finds…a hug rest of baby rats! Yep. I immediately exit the room, (which the boys laugh at) and they dispose of the babies. But now I know that the parents have to be somewhere. We take out all of the drawers and find more clothes spoiled by the rats, and rat poop everywhere! Thankfully in a moment when I am no longer in the rooms they find the 2 rats, and chase after them. Unfortunately though, this time the rats a smart…and the escape out the door and out of the house.

The boys (although they find It quite funny that I am so scared) are good to me though, and clean up all of the mess. They take out all of the clothes to be washed, and sweep up and remains. When it is all put away, they declare the room rat free.

So that is that. Until it comes to having to sleep in the house all alone…and in the VERY room rats were living. That night I couldn’t decide whether I should sleep with the light on or off. On meant they were more likely to stay away, but if they DID come back..i would see them. Off meant that if they did come, there was a chance that I could be oblivious...but they feel safer in the dark, so they are more bold. Anyways, I decided for lights off, and God blessed my with a heavy rainfall so I couldn’t hear anything…and eventually fell asleep.

It has been 3 nights now, and still no rats (atleast not to my knowledge). I am becoming more comfortable with coming in and out of my room – especially with the boys around..but the nights are still difficult!

We bought rat poison to catch them if they did return, but so far it has not been put into use. Maybe tonite!

For anyone who knows me, they know that there is nothing that I am more scared of than a rat (or even a mouse – and yes I realize that this is ridiculous). I have always felt that someday my fear of rats would somehow be used to hinder me in my work in Uganda…(that’s how much I hate them)..but I will continue to trust God..AND to recognize that its only a rat..lol.

The beginnings....

Day 3

The last two days in Uganda have been pretty fantastic (minus one event which I will talk about later). On Friday morning I woke up at 5am to someone coming into the house to start preparing breakfast for all of the boys…I was able to fall back in and out of sleep for 3 more hours though…although laying there I could hear people coming and going and singing, doing their chores, and it was greatJ I finally got out of bed around 8am and showered and got ready for the day. I must say that the shower was as unenjoyable as I remembered. Lol. My options are burning or freezing…and I am not sure which one I prefer. Although I should not complain, I am happy to have the option of hot..even if it is scalding.

Breakfast was comprised of bread..and bread..lol. I fortunately brought tea with me, and later in the day I bought some yogurt to go with itJ

The younger boys only have school until 1pm, so in the morning Alex took me to down to by the necessities (like internet and airtime for my phone). When we got back, the young boys were around and we had lunch. I decided that I needed an hour nap, which was a bad idea, because by the time I woke up I could probably have just stayed in bed for the next couple of hours (yay jetlag!).

That afternoon we went for a walk around Bukaya (which is right on Lake Victoria). We toured around, went down by the water, and the boys tried to teach me some luganda. One I remember is Embwa – dog. J

When we got back the rest of the boys were home, and I got huge hugs from the rest of the boys that I hadn’t seen the day before! I was like being back with family. I am so happy that somehow over the last year I have been able to maintain enough of a relationship with the boys that I don’t have to start over again. For the most part it seems that we can pick up right where we left off, which means our conversations are deeper and more meaningful (not all the time of course, but as they happen. I got to jump right back in to helping the boys revise (right now they are all in the middle of tests and exams). My favourite is helping them with French. It is funny for us BOTH to be practicing a language together that is not so familiar.

Another nice change is that the boys now go to bed at 11pm, which means I can actually go to bed then too!

Anyways, more to come soon! Stay tuned for the rat story! :)