Beauty at Acheru! A picture filled post!

This past week I have spent so much time with everyone here. I leave my house in the morning for work and don't return until late at night. I want to make the most of every last day I have here to be with the kids and with their caregivers. I wanted to just take this week to make a photo post to just show more of the beautiful people I get to live day to day with. 

On Sunday I am leaving for a few days to visit my friends at GSF and say goodbye to my Solomon and Kenny. Then I will return for my last week here at Acheru. 

Okello and his father. Okello is one of my students who is always there first thing in the morning ready to learn! He is about 11/12 years old and has never really gone to school before.

Momma Stephan and baby Stephan!

Scovia and Okello both came back! 

This is our Orthopedic officer Johnson. He has become a close friend and neighbor!

All the patients waiting for dressing and or exercise!

Resty is a shy teenage girl who loves to just sit by me and after about 10 minutes of silence she will tell me a little bit about her life in the village.

Doris and Jennifer with baby Joshua (the nurses baby)

Catherine with her mother and brother Frank.

Aisha with her mother and brother Musa. Aisha is here due to a sore on her leg that we believe comes from the water in her village. Many patients have come from this village with the same sore.

Mama Peter, Lookman, and Peter waiting for dressings! Peter has been here nearly the whole time I have been here. He is finally saying "Emmy". He will hopefully go home soon. Pray for Lookman as we continue to figure out how to best heal his wound as it doesn't seem to be getting better right now.

Adolph and Allan. Two crazy boys!

This is how I spend a lot of my free time. Painting nails for the girls. Keep Aminah in your prayers as well as her wound seems to be getting worse. She comes from the same village as Aisha. We believe the same dirty water has caused this bacteria in her.

Daisy and Peter.

Seriously so cute.

This is Adolph's dad. He has been digging none stop since they arrived. He works from 6 in the morning till 7/8 at night with only about an hour break for lunch. He decides to work these hours. He is the most patient and hard working man I have ever met.

I peeked into the house one afternoon and found Lookman and Luke peeling potatoes.

This is how I spend most of my saturdays. Under the mango tree with everyone.

The kids playing their favorite Ugandan game. I still have yet to figure out all the rules, but somehow I win everytime! I think they let me.

Entering into home!

Lillian also came back for a visit!

One day Bosco and Martin decided to try and bathe our dogs. They did not enjoy it.

Adolph has had one of the quickest recoveries we have seen! He was only here for about a month and a half. When we first arrived they took him on an emergency trip to Corsu (the hospital) for surgery as his bone was dead and sticking out of his leg. A month and half later it has closed up, healed, and he is running around like nothing!

Fleeing from anxiety.

As I sit here to write this post I have realized that it is only 4 weeks until I go home. I'm not even sure how to even begin to process this.

These past few weeks have been such a growing period for me. God has been teaching me a lot about just being still, being present, and not becoming anxious about the future. What a relief it is everyday to wake up and know that I don't have to worry about what is to happen. I don't have to worry about what I will do when I get home. As long as we are seeking Christ throughout our day, then we have done what we are suppose to. We don't have to fret about our plans, because it is only HIS plan that is important and he will lead us through it. 

:: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.::

 Matthew 6: 33-34

:: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus::

Phillipians 4:6-7

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We are now into week three of our bible study with the kids. It has really been a continual encouragement to see how well it has been going. Everyday the seats are full and the kids are eager to hear the story. This past weekend they kept begging me for a new memory verse. By the time Monday came around they were all ears waiting to hear what the verse would be. 

I just continue to pray as new patients are coming in that this study will continue to be an encouragement to the kids. Especially as we have many kids coming from the north soon and have no translator for them. I just pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to speak through us. 

This weeks verse (after learning about the birth of Jesus):

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! 

Hebrews 13:8

Jesu Kristo yomu jo, leero nemirembe gyonna

Moses with his picture from last weeks study of Joseph.

Just a typical afternoon.

The kids love having dance parties on the veranda.

Patience. One of my youngest students!

Me with the girls! Catherine has finally been able to leave the bed!

Luke and the boys.

Encouraging week of school!

:: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these"::

Matthew 19:14

This week was really fun at school.  We got to do a lot of hands on activities that kept the kids active for the entire school day!  In fact some days they would sit right beside me as I ate my lunch and say "Emmy..emmy...emmy, school time yet??" Such an encouragement as a teacher!

This week I also talked with teacher about starting a bible study for the kids. Together we taught the class and I think both of us were encouraged by it. We studied the story of Noah all week. I started with just reading the story on Tuesday and having the kids fill in the story with stickers. The following days we did various activities to go along with the story. We ended today with a fun relay of them "herding" animals on to the "boat" using plastic balls and straws. They also had a memory verse to remember for the week.  We agreed that they would learn it in English and I would learn it in Luganda. Each and everyone of the kids knew their verse! Even I learned it in Luganda!

 God said "I will never leave you!" Joshua 1:5

Katonda Ngamba nti "sirikuleka gwe" Yowsa 1:5

Learning our Abc's! This week it was the letter "A" and "T"

Using the 10 frames!

Abc memory match! One of their favorites.

Kids all over the world love their own personal white boards.

Even Daisy and her "baby" joined class!

Holidays in Uganda!

:: Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the path of PEACE:: 

                                               -Luke 1: 78-79

Just like in the states, we here in Uganda have finished the holiday season. The holiday season I knew would be the hardest for me with missing home. Knowing all my family would be together, friends would be getting together, and houses lit up with lights. Though we didn't have lights around Acheru we did decorate the place with banners, balloons, and even a Christmas tree! 

For Christmas at Acheru Luke and I decided to once again serve a large meal for everyone here. We had many friends come and help with the cooking. Reacho, Auntie Maggie, and I spent the whole afternoon making chapatis (pretty much a tortilla). Luke, Tom, and some of the moms spent the afternoon making potatoes, chicken, and rice. It was nice to come together as a group and fix a meal together.

After lunch Luke and I passed out the presents we got for all the kids and caregivers. Again it was just a time for us to show our appreciation for all they do for us here. It was a lot of fun to watch the kids open their small gifts. They were so excited to receive their small gift. It was as if we had just given them a million dollars (or a million shillings here). 

At the end of the day I was humbled by how the community of Acheru came together to celebrate this day as a family. Even though I was missing family I had to remind myself that all of us here were away from our families. The patients were not able to go home, the staff had to stay here, and the caregivers could not go home. It was nice to come together as the Acheru family to celebrate this day!

Reacho and I making Chipatis!

Martin's family!

Since Catherine couldn't come to the celebration, I brought it to her.

For New Years I was at the Central Region's conference. Here all the missionaries with AIM in the central region (Uganda, South Sudan, Chad, Congo, Rwanda) got together. It was nice to all be around each other sharing in our struggles and our praises in our various ministries. Everyday the Lord was teaching me something new and I left feeling so encouraged and also challenged to really be a true disciple of Christ. 

I have now been back at Acheru for a few days. I have been spending most of my time with the patient Catherine. Right before Christmas Catherine fell off the swing and broke her leg that had just recently gone through a bone transfer. Due to the fixator on her leg we were not able to cast her leg. Our orthopedic officer, Johnson, had to come up with a way to keep her leg set so the broken bone could re-set itself. Unfortunately for Catherine this means she is on bed rest for at least 3 weeks. I have made it a priority of mine to spend time with Catherine each and every day. 

Catherine is a little girl who has had my heart since the day she arrived. I previously wrote a post inspired by her. I never have been able to really know where her heart lies with Jesus mainly because she speaks very little English. And then today as we were just sitting on her bed shading in different pictures of animals, she looks up at me with the biggest smile on her face and says "Jesus". That's all. Plain and simple. "Jesus". I took that opportunity to respond plain and simple "He loves you". Afterwards we spent about 5 minutes singing "Jesus loves me".  Only Christ knows where her heart lies but I will continue to pray that God will work in her heart and in her life in a miraculous way. 

Love this girl. Catherine.

Blessings.

Days like today are the days I will miss the most. Did anything spectacular or out of the ordinary happen? No, and it doesn't have to happen. My day only consisted of mundane tasks that everyone has to do. Cleaning, washing, cooking, etc. But because I was surrounded by this community for it all,  it made the day perfect. The evening spent with everyone around the burner eating maize. Me spitting out my little luganda I know and the mothers bursting with laughter. The kids huddle together in the corner planning what their next mischievous trick on me will be. The new little boy sitting near by observing everyone with the biggest smile on his face. The weather is the perfect kind of chilly. We can hear the music coming from the nearby village church. Everyone is enjoying themselves. These are the days I will miss the most. 

It amazes me how God can bless us in such simple ways, and for the most part we don't recognize the tiny blessings he gives us daily.  Let's open up our eyes to the mini-blessings we receive everyday. Look for him in everything and everywhere and you will be amazed at how he is ALWAYS at work in your day.

Later everyone will come over for a movie. It will be the perfect ending to the day. As long as the power decides to stay on!

I made a quick trip to GSF to see these lovely ones! (Tom)

Sam!

Back at Acheru with my girls!

I also had a short visit from some of my older GSF friends. (Sharon, Solome, Barbara and not pictured: Ruthie)

Hope in suffering.

:: How marvelous, how boundless is your love. How wonderful, sacrificial, is your love for me.::

-Rend Collective Experiment

It seems that everyday here in Uganda I am hit with how much God loves us and how incredible that love is. It's easy to come here and see all the suffering and be angry at God about it. Your heart aches for the things you've seen and you think "in the states this wouldn't happen..this could be fixed.." But even in those moments Christ is there. He weeps for these same children. He weeps for their circumstances. But more than that he weeps for their souls. 

Yes some of these situations wouldn't be seen in the states. We wouldn't see children coming in with dead bones sticking out from their legs because they couldn't make it to a hospital. Instead they were trying to flee the war in their country. We wouldn't see children coming in with sores that have eaten away at half their thighs because their village has dirty water. We wouldn't see children who have become wheelchair bound because their neighbors convinced them they could be fixed by the traditional healers.  We could fix this things if they were elsewhere. But we aren't elsewhere. We are here, and here all we can do is to help heal their soul. We can show them a bit of Christ's love. We can bear in their sufferings but also help them see that even in their sufferings Christ is found. And even if their suffering he is weeping for them and loving on them.

It doesn't mean I stop being angry with God. It doesn't mean I stop questioning why these things happen. But it does give me hope. Hope that even through these situations Christ will be shown. Hope that He will make beautiful things out of the dust.

Romans 5: 3-5 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

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In an earlier post, I wrote about a little girl named Jemimah. Jemimah was a victim of a terrible taxi crash that left both her legs completely burned and left her mother believing she had lost her daughter. After multiple skin graphs and a fixator on her left leg, Jemimah is up and walking. Jemimah and her family had the right to be angry at God. But what did they do instead? They gave thanks to him. They praised him. They even gave a whole celebration to gives thanks to Him. We were able to be apart of that celebration.

On December 7th I left with the Acheru staff to attend Jemimah's Thanksgiving party. For the whole day we were surrounded by her family and friends celebrating her life and giving thanks to God for the work he did. Though it was a long day of listening to Luganda and only understanding a bit here and there, it was nice to be a part of this day. It blew me away to see how even after this terrible incident their faith has not been shaken. 

2 Corinthians 1: 9-11

 But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us; as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

These two fell asleep on my lap during the ride to the party.

The children with Jemimah

The staff with Jemimah

Celebrating!

Bearing with one another..

:: Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.::

                                  -Colossians 3:11

For the last week I spent my time in Karamoja. We spent the week visiting children at the school for the deaf, visiting families with children with special needs, giving trainings to sunday school teachers, and just living life with the Karimojong. 

The Karimojong here are a special group of people. To best describe the Karimojong it is easiest to divide the post into three major categories: 1. The typical Ugandan view of the Karimojong, the history of the Karimojong, and my view of the Karimojong.

The idea that most Ugadan's have about Karamoja.

Before leaving for Karamoja many of the staff members here had warnings about what we would see. Many told us that the Karimojong refuse to wear clothes, they are hostile, nomadic, and cattle raiders. They told us that they walk around with guns just shooting one another. They look down on the Karimojong as a lower tribal group and not one that they would necessarily want to associate with. 

History of the Karimojong

Many of these ideas that other Ugandan tribal groups think do come from factual and historical events. The Karamojong were cattle raiders and did kill one another over cattle.  Cattle was their lively hood. Because of all the conflict between one another the government took most of the cattle and  disarmed the Karimojong. This has left a loss in identity for many of the Karimojong and a loss of pride.

Due to their arid climate they did move their homes for 3-4 months out of the year. In Karamoja the seasons change from rainy, to windy, to completely dry. Not entirely suitable for livestock or vegetation. The availability for water and food is always a concern. 

My view of the Karamojong

The Karamojong were some of the most welcoming, loving, and friendly people I have met in Uganda. They have a real sense of community and communal living. For a group of people who have gone through so much conflict and who endure such hard living conditions everyday; they were so loving and open with us.  From the kids at the school for the deaf running up to our cars the second we pulled in, to Mama Esther welcoming us into her home for the week, and then Paulo and Adam's families embracing us with hugs and letting us sit with their children for hours; we really felt like part of their community. You could say that this was because we were the white people coming into a town that other Ugandans don't dare venture too, or because we were coming to visit the children who most people don't dare to spend time with. But seeing the layouts of their homes, the open doors, the reliance of one another, the genuine generosity, and the sense of community is so evident in this area and in these people. 

Just like every group of people the Karimojong have their struggles. With loosing their identity and livelihood in cattle alcoholism has increased and the idea of living in poverty has lead to an increase of begging in the younger generation. It is due to these struggles of the Karimojong and their past other Ugandans have struggled to get past their initial ideas of the Karimojong and their fear of this particular group of people.

So what now?

:: Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another….and above all these put on love; which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in one body.::

                              -Colossians 3: 12-15

As Christians we are not to discriminate against anyone. All we are simply to do is bear with one another in our struggles and love one another well. As we are all apart of one body and united in one Christ. 

Paulo. One of the boys with Autism in Kangole.

Two of the students at the school for the deaf.

Adam and his mother.

The cattle center where people can keep their little herds.