A Whole New Perspective (by: Emily)

WOW! So much has happened in this past week! It's sad, but this is the longest I've gone without the internet in quite awhile!

Anyways, life in Uganda is CRAZY. I am in love with this place...I don't want to come home... Mom and dad, would that be a problem?? haha...don't worry! I am going to come back! I'm not sure how though..it's going to be hard! I love the culture! Being a part of the Western culture, we measure wealth according to our money and our possessions...these people have so much JOY. They are RICH in faith! So many people I have met are so in love with Jesus...and that means so much more than anything else to them. Everyone here has this joy that I've never experienced before. If you walk anywhere, you are greeted by so many people! It's such a contagious joy! The thing is, it's been really difficult for me to understand that these people are truly happy...I cried today when I became aware of the reality of how much these people here make. The school fees are very expensive...and most families have a lot of children. People are barely getting by. I passed by a village yesterday and was consumed by a huge crowd of children from the village who circled around me! Lyss and I took a video of them saying hi and some pictures with them...they are so excited about that picture that is displayed back for them on the screen! My friend Macey and I met a couple of other children on the way home and they taught us how to do a little African dancing...I've already forgotten though! We got the chance to teach them the song "I love you Jesus deep down in my heart"!! They loved it...SO precious! I have been gaining such a new perspective on things that I've only heard of before. I've never seen poverty like this...neither have I seen joy like this. We are SOOO busy all the time...we work and make so much money, but not even close to what these people make and they work SOOO much harder than anyone I know. The mamas here barely get to sleep at night. I talked to one who said she might get between 3-4 hours a night. Everyone here enjoys life....they are so joyful and friendly and everything is slower. Even their talking is slower! I'm starting to talk slower like them...they break up all of their syllables here and it is so different than our culture...I love it!

The poverty is getting to me big time...but, when I see their culture and how much joy they have...these people are happy!! They don't complain...these people work hard through every condition. I talked to one mama who is not married and supports her friend who is unable to work. She says it is very hard to get by...but, she was still happy to work hard and in LOVE with these beeeeautiful little babies that God created!

I don't know why I am in the place I'm at...I don't get why I have so much and why they have so little. I don't understand why I've never realized that only 4% of the world makes more than $2 a day...and I don't understand why I've never been curious or it has concerned me at all. Things are coming into perspective and God is definitely taking the blinders off my eyes and revealing to me a life that I've never known before...and maybe, I will never truly understand it. Yes, these people are poor in the eyes of the Western world...but wow...they have more joy than anyone I've known.

hmm...I have a lot more to say, but not too much time!

I am starting to feel a bit sick today, but I'm only a little dizzy. We are trying to drink lots of water...and even though I have lost my appetite because of the heat, I'm still trying to get things down. Don't worry mom and dad...It's not that big a deal and I don't even care...I just love everything here so much!

OH, and the boda boda rides are incredible!!! It is proper for ladies to ride sideways on them...I tried for my first time and it was great!!! I can't get over how many boda-bodas there are...and they swarm you and beg you to let them drive you somewhere. I've had a guy ask me for money for a picture with him. I've also had street children beg for money, although it is illegal to give them money. We can only buy food for them. These street children are often forced to beg for money from their parents. Some are even threatened a beating if they don't bring enough home. That is definitely very sad.

Also, I've fallen in love with one little girl. I want to bring her home, but, she is unadoptable. She will never be able to be adopted because she has family and they won't sign her over. It's a pride thing...some parents also think of their children as property. It's heartbreaking to know that for a lot of these kids, adoption will never be possible. A few of the children here have special needs, including the little girl I adore! The parents here don't really understand children with special needs...if they're not talking or walking some parents consider their children to be dumb...they are often physically abused.

I had an outing day yesterday and brought my little boy out for some chocolate cake! All of the kids get a chance for an outing as their is a binder and rotation system. The little boy I had was crazy....he was so excited and squirming everywhere! It was very overwhelming when he was inhaling his cake and milkshake...but, some of the other aunties that were on outings gave me a hand. These kids get very excited for special one on one attention...so their outing day is a real treat! I want to take my beautiful baby swimming this week because I'm told she absolutely adores it!

I also had the chance to take a little boy to church yesterday. Oh man...that was an adventure for sure! He had to "su su" (that means pee here) a LOT...well, at least that's what he told me, but he never really did. He pretended he had to su-su and would wiggle around a lot...so I must've brought him at least 4-5 times...I ended up just sitting outside with him because it was very disruptive to the service! haha..it was quite the experience! BUT, I'm not upset with him even though we did chat about it outside...the service was way too long for him to sit through! Next week, we will check out Sunday School!

Well, I think that's all for now. A lot has happened in such a short amount of time...and I'm loving every minute! This culture is so rich.....SO beautiful. It is not a dirty, scary, violent country that people often believe...it's truly beautiful.

Opps...I better go! The babies are almost done their naps and ready for outdoor fun!!!

Much love,
Em