Sometimes, I have a little mental breakdown here, because sometimes its lonely. Sometimes I miss having 'my people' close by. Sometimes it sucks.
But those sometimes are far outweighed by the good things and the difference I feel like I'm making.
Every child deserves to be loved. Every child deserves to be adored. Period. Honestly it is that simple - and if that means that I can't consistently have 'my people' around me, then its a small price to pay... because once one of those kids laughs in your arms, it all doesn't matter so much anymore, because you are getting a glimpse of untainted happiness, and it is beautiful.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Loved and Little Miracles
Yesterday, Leila started to walk - on her own!
I am unsure how long Leila has been here, but she is about three years old, and had not yet begun to walk, because when she arrived she was so severely malnourished that she was the size of a six month old baby (I believe she was actually about a year old... I think).
It is the little miracles though. Her learning to walk is amazing. Some of these children come from truly horrific circumstances, abuse, malnourishement but they are growing here. Not only growing, but blossoming into amazing children, who are learning what it means to be loved. Today, when we were on our way to pick up some visitors, the children were all standing together, singing and dancing. It was beautifully amazing. So much joy from children who have had so much hard stuff. I wish that I could remember to have that much joy, no matter the hard stuff.
I am unsure how long Leila has been here, but she is about three years old, and had not yet begun to walk, because when she arrived she was so severely malnourished that she was the size of a six month old baby (I believe she was actually about a year old... I think).
It is the little miracles though. Her learning to walk is amazing. Some of these children come from truly horrific circumstances, abuse, malnourishement but they are growing here. Not only growing, but blossoming into amazing children, who are learning what it means to be loved. Today, when we were on our way to pick up some visitors, the children were all standing together, singing and dancing. It was beautifully amazing. So much joy from children who have had so much hard stuff. I wish that I could remember to have that much joy, no matter the hard stuff.
Loved and Rain
Today it rained. It was beyond a blessing.
During dry season it is dusty. Not just a little dusty, a lot.
It rained, a lot. Which is great, everything just soaked it up. It was beautiful. I don't think I ever appreciated rain in the states, not really. Here though, water is life, and since you can't depend on city water to be on, (it was off ALL last week), rain means the fighting at the free wells will stop (as it begun to occur when city water was off last week. The rain also means that when I walk uptown, I will no longer come back looking like a village child. The rain also means that during every day it rains, it will be cooler and windy while it rains. Its beautiful.
During dry season it is dusty. Not just a little dusty, a lot.
It rained, a lot. Which is great, everything just soaked it up. It was beautiful. I don't think I ever appreciated rain in the states, not really. Here though, water is life, and since you can't depend on city water to be on, (it was off ALL last week), rain means the fighting at the free wells will stop (as it begun to occur when city water was off last week. The rain also means that when I walk uptown, I will no longer come back looking like a village child. The rain also means that during every day it rains, it will be cooler and windy while it rains. Its beautiful.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Loved and Liz & Christian this post if for you
Guess what I found at the store in Kampala (they have them for purchase in huge boxes too...)
Then, I promptly ate it on the way to the car. It was delicious.
If you are lucky, I will bring you some home.
Then, I promptly ate it on the way to the car. It was delicious.
If you are lucky, I will bring you some home.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Loved and soon (some of) my friends are leaving
I made some dear friends (so far) while being in Uganda. I feel like they were put here in order to help guide me in the beginning, and to encourage me.
They are leaving soon... but last week, I had the privilege to go and spend time with them and I had a blast. I love them and their daughter and will miss them dearly.
But, it would be selfish of me to not share what we ate last time I was there. So you know how you can go to restaurants and get a cookie in a skillet. I was craving that (specifically hot chocolate chip cookies) and so we made are own. Unfortunately, I don't know how those are actually made, and we maybe didn't have all the "right" ingredients. But we mastered it(sort of) and it was delicious.
They are leaving soon... but last week, I had the privilege to go and spend time with them and I had a blast. I love them and their daughter and will miss them dearly.
But, it would be selfish of me to not share what we ate last time I was there. So you know how you can go to restaurants and get a cookie in a skillet. I was craving that (specifically hot chocolate chip cookies) and so we made are own. Unfortunately, I don't know how those are actually made, and we maybe didn't have all the "right" ingredients. But we mastered it(sort of) and it was delicious.
Loved and I am doing a very bad job of documenting in photos
Every time I sit down to write a blog post, I think, wow, I should upload a picture - but then alas, I have none.
I will do better (possibly) in the future.
Things are so beautiful here, that most the time I find myself staring in awe, unable to even think about taking a picture - and then it passes/I move/the light changes/my phone doesn't have battery.
I will try and do better. Just think I'm in a tropical paradise (that is currently covered in red dust), but is still beautiful.
I will do better (possibly) in the future.
Things are so beautiful here, that most the time I find myself staring in awe, unable to even think about taking a picture - and then it passes/I move/the light changes/my phone doesn't have battery.
I will try and do better. Just think I'm in a tropical paradise (that is currently covered in red dust), but is still beautiful.
Loved and tomorrow is Monday
I used to be good at Mondays, before I got to Uganda. I would be so rested and ready for the beginning of the week.
Now, I dread them. I don't mind the rest of the week - but Mondays feel long and sneaky. I mean they literally sneak up on me.
And I do stupid things like stay up late on Sunday nights which make Mondays a hundred times worse.
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