Hey! :)
I know it's time for me to write another post, but I really don't know what to write about.... There is just so much I could say!
Yesterday, preschool was pretty crazy! Before this week, we always had a break between the first hour of preschool and the second, but now we don't have that break anymore because they want us to try something new during the kids' snack. Apparently some of the parents who have adopted kids from here have noticed that they have no concept of how to carry their plate to the table because they are always just handed their plate at Amani. So, we had them line up, pick up their plate (with 2 cookies on it), walk it to the table and sit down. They actually did pretty well overall! :) Although, one kid was holding his plate at a really strange angle and his cookies help falling onto the floor and breaking.
One thing I've noticed that has been interesting is that there is definitely a difference in some areas of what these kids know and have been exposed to, and what kids in families (back home) know and have been exposed to. Like, for example, yesterday, one of the volunteers was painting the girls' fingernails and one of the boys just didn't understand why he couldn't get his painted too! Em was trying to explain that there are some things that girls do that boys don't, and there are some things that boys do that girls don't. We were talking later about how even something like make-up is probably something that the boys here have never really seen because few of the volunteers wear it, and the mamas don't wear it either, at least not much.
The rainstorm last night was SOOOO beautiful. Em and I just ran outside and got drenched, and it was sweet :)
We have been eating lots and lots of chapati here! It's pretty much like a fried pita and is really delicious! It's also SO cheap - like the equivalent of 10cents per pita! We are going to try to find a recipe and make it when we get back to Canada, but i highly doubt it'll be as good!
Gotta go to start up preschool for the day!
Much love,
Alyssa
Monday, June 7, 2010
Grasshopper Fun (by: Emily)
Last night a few of us decided to do something adventurous...well...maybe it doesn't seem adventurous, but I'm not always brave enough to try "interesting" foods. Grace, Megan, and Tarrah were eating grasshoppers and Grace remembered me saying I wanted to try one too! So, they picked up some from the market and we each held onto our grasshopper getting ready to put it into our mouth... I don't think I would've freaked out as much until I looked at it and saw the little black eyes staring at me...that was gross! We all put them in our mouths and it was much different than I expected. I was told they were salty and tasted like a pretzel, but they tasted fishy and the body was kind of hollow so as you bit down it all just caved in. I didn't chew it very much...I ended up swallowing a big chunk of it whole. It was a very interesting experience....and I don't think it tastes like a pretzel!!!
Another fun thing that happened yesterday evening was a beautiful rain storm! Alyssa and I ran through the grass and sang and danced...it was SO much fun! I absolutely love the rain...especially African RAIN!
Another fun thing that happened yesterday evening was a beautiful rain storm! Alyssa and I ran through the grass and sang and danced...it was SO much fun! I absolutely love the rain...especially African RAIN!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
African Church Service! (by: Emily)
I met a wonderful woman who works at Amani this weekend. It was really sweet getting to chat with her because we're almost the same age...I'm 19 and she's 20! Our birthdays are even a couple of days apart! It was neat getting to hear about her life and how different it is from mine. She has a beautiful voice! We were singing together into the night and she was teaching me some new songs -both Lugandan and English! She was such an encouragement to my heart! A few of us from Amani ended up going to her church yesterday, which was a very cool experience! It's definitely very different than my church back home. People were dancing and singing and no one was standing still! They were all SO friendly and we were welcomed and greeted by a lot of wonderful people!
One thing that is very different about Africa is the fact that they seem to have no concept of time. Church was supposed to start at 8:00am, but by the time it started it was closer to 8:30am. The next service started at 10:00am, so we expected that we would get out at least 10 minutes earlier so that the new people could come in. NOPE! The first 8:00am service went from 8:30am until around 10:45am! There were a lot of people waiting around the church outside because there were no seats as the first service was still going on! I thought it was kind of funny because all of the people waiting for the 10:00am service already heard a lot of the message from our 8:00am service! The church itself was different than a typical church back home. Most churches I've been to are in a building with at least 4 walls and a roof. This church had a tin roof with no walls. The floor was just dirt, and because there were no walls, I noticed a few chickens wandering around during the service! I couldn't help but smile as I was loving the JOY of all the people I met and their excitement to worship Jesus!
I can't believe I have less than a week left to take all of this in!!! I'm going to be really sad to leave, but I'm looking forward to seeing y'all when I'm home!
Much Love,
Em
One thing that is very different about Africa is the fact that they seem to have no concept of time. Church was supposed to start at 8:00am, but by the time it started it was closer to 8:30am. The next service started at 10:00am, so we expected that we would get out at least 10 minutes earlier so that the new people could come in. NOPE! The first 8:00am service went from 8:30am until around 10:45am! There were a lot of people waiting around the church outside because there were no seats as the first service was still going on! I thought it was kind of funny because all of the people waiting for the 10:00am service already heard a lot of the message from our 8:00am service! The church itself was different than a typical church back home. Most churches I've been to are in a building with at least 4 walls and a roof. This church had a tin roof with no walls. The floor was just dirt, and because there were no walls, I noticed a few chickens wandering around during the service! I couldn't help but smile as I was loving the JOY of all the people I met and their excitement to worship Jesus!
I can't believe I have less than a week left to take all of this in!!! I'm going to be really sad to leave, but I'm looking forward to seeing y'all when I'm home!
Much Love,
Em
Saturday, June 5, 2010
A Week Left to Cherish (by: Emily)
A WEEK FROM TODAY AND I'LL BE LEAVING ON A PLANE TO GO BACK TO CANADA! I cannot believe the time is flying so quickly!!!!!!!!!!!
Today was so much fun! As Alyssa said, we took the kids on a swimming outting and they had a LOT of fun! The girl I brought is such a sweetheart and I absolutely adore her! She was so excited to go swimming, but when we got there she was very scared in the water. I totally understand her fear since these children aren't used to being in the water. When we first got there I cried a lot...I took my shoes off to go into the pool and I had a whole bunch of huge ants bitting at me feet...it stung a lot and I think I scared my little girl when she saw her auntie crying! I am very thankful she didn't get bitten though! It was not a pleasant experience!
I decided to come into town today to call my family. I haven't talked to my dad since I was back home! On my way here, I met a very interesting boda driver. I was very clear that I didn't want a ride, but he didn't seem to get my determination to walk...and then he asked me to marry him! Don't be alarmed, marriage proposals are quite common here. They don't really mean too much since they don't even know you...it was interesting for sure. I tried to be polite...but it's just so weird to me how bold these people are to say whatever is on their mind. It's definitely a new adventure here every day!
Kwagala,
Em
Puppet Show and Swimming! (by: Alyssa)
Hey!
Today marks "one week left" in Africa :( It makes me really sad to think that all of this is soon coming to an end.
Em already told you about us going to see that family again. :) It was really special - they gave us their email and said that if we're ever back in Uganda, we should contact them. We brought some of our leftover food with us when we went to see them, and one thing was a package of rice. When we gave it to them, they we so grateful and said "Should we boil it or steam it??" They thought we brought it to them so they could cook it for us! And they were totally willing! Obviously we told them that they could keep the rice for later :P
Yesterday, it was raining a bit in the afternoon, and the volunteers were stuck with no ideas of what to entertain the kids with. We tried watching a movie, but the DVD didn't work, so Em suggested we do a puppet show! It was HILARIOUS - not really for the kids, but for us! haha! They kids were midly entertained, and Em and I were killing ourselves laughing :P First, we tried to make a little play about a bunch of kids at Amani who learned that it's best to listen to their aunties, haha! Then, we reennacted the Lion King, using lion puppets, giraffe puppets, and a bunch of others. Finally, we attempted to do the story of the three little pigs, except we didn't have any pig puppets, so we used a cat, a sheep and a little doll. Definitely a memorable time.
This morning, we went on a big group outing with most of the preschoolers, each volunteer responsible for one. It was our first time going to the pool with them (we use the pool of a nearby hotel) and they absolutely loved it! Some of them were a bit scared at first, but they warmed up to it eventually. The little girl I took was pretty much fearless - she wanted to swim on her own, even though she didn't know how! And she was jumping without hesitation into my arms off the side of the pool. There was also some kind of graduation ceremony happening at the same time and there was some really loud music playing that the kids were dancing to. They are SO funny when they dance. Like Em has written in many blog entries, music is in their blood here in Africa, and even the little ones understand rhythms pretty well. :)
Tomorrow, Em and I are going to try to go to two church services, as it's our last sunday and we want to experience as much as we can!
To HIM be the glory!
Much love,
Alyssa
Today marks "one week left" in Africa :( It makes me really sad to think that all of this is soon coming to an end.
Em already told you about us going to see that family again. :) It was really special - they gave us their email and said that if we're ever back in Uganda, we should contact them. We brought some of our leftover food with us when we went to see them, and one thing was a package of rice. When we gave it to them, they we so grateful and said "Should we boil it or steam it??" They thought we brought it to them so they could cook it for us! And they were totally willing! Obviously we told them that they could keep the rice for later :P
Yesterday, it was raining a bit in the afternoon, and the volunteers were stuck with no ideas of what to entertain the kids with. We tried watching a movie, but the DVD didn't work, so Em suggested we do a puppet show! It was HILARIOUS - not really for the kids, but for us! haha! They kids were midly entertained, and Em and I were killing ourselves laughing :P First, we tried to make a little play about a bunch of kids at Amani who learned that it's best to listen to their aunties, haha! Then, we reennacted the Lion King, using lion puppets, giraffe puppets, and a bunch of others. Finally, we attempted to do the story of the three little pigs, except we didn't have any pig puppets, so we used a cat, a sheep and a little doll. Definitely a memorable time.
This morning, we went on a big group outing with most of the preschoolers, each volunteer responsible for one. It was our first time going to the pool with them (we use the pool of a nearby hotel) and they absolutely loved it! Some of them were a bit scared at first, but they warmed up to it eventually. The little girl I took was pretty much fearless - she wanted to swim on her own, even though she didn't know how! And she was jumping without hesitation into my arms off the side of the pool. There was also some kind of graduation ceremony happening at the same time and there was some really loud music playing that the kids were dancing to. They are SO funny when they dance. Like Em has written in many blog entries, music is in their blood here in Africa, and even the little ones understand rhythms pretty well. :)
Tomorrow, Em and I are going to try to go to two church services, as it's our last sunday and we want to experience as much as we can!
To HIM be the glory!
Much love,
Alyssa
Friday, June 4, 2010
African Mother! (and more music fun!!!) by: Emily
I can't believe it will be a week tomorrow until we leave to go back to Canada! The time seems to be passing so quickly...and I really don't want to leave yet!
Yesterday afternoon during my lunch break, I met a new friend named Peter. He is probably the most amazing guitar playing ever! AND...his voice is amazing! He performs a lot in Uganda with different bands and for different churches. It was really fun getting to hear him play! He taught me a Lugandan song and a couple of songs he wrote himself!!! We also did a duet which sounded SWEET when we harmonized together...ahhh..I'm just loving the music here! He promised to come back next week to teach me some more, so I'm looking forward to that!
Alyssa and I also did some music with the preschoolers this morning! We got out the drums, tambourines, and shakers and Alyssa and I took turns playing guitar! The kids loved it! One thing I thought that was really funny was when I played the song "Beautiful" by Phil Wickham. It's not really a song for little kids...and not very good for dancing! BUT...it's a beautiful song and they wanted to hear more. I've been missing my wonderful friend STEPH DAIGLE like crazy...so this song made me think of her! The kids loved singing the "oooo" part. I thought it was funny how into the "ooo"s this one boy was getting, and then I realized he was saying "moo" when he asked me to keep singing about the cow! I thought that was really funny because the song is all about how beautiful God is..."I see your face in EVERY sunrise"...but the kids were all saying "moo". We ended up doing all of the animal sounds..."meow"..."woof"..."oink"...etc. It was pretty fun!! I LOVE THE MUSIC!
Today was really fun because we got to visit a family that we met a couple weeks ago. The mother, Harriet, is one of the most joyful women I have ever met! Harriet is so precious...she wanted us to take a picture of her so that we could show our friends back home our "African mother". Her family is so hospitable!!! They once again welcomed us with open arms and even when we weren't chatting, it was nice to just sit in their company. They taught us how to make the African beads out of paper that Alyssa and I have always wondered about! It was very exciting!!!
Alyssa is waiting for me outside...we have to get back for afternoon activities! I better go!
Much Love,
Em
Yesterday afternoon during my lunch break, I met a new friend named Peter. He is probably the most amazing guitar playing ever! AND...his voice is amazing! He performs a lot in Uganda with different bands and for different churches. It was really fun getting to hear him play! He taught me a Lugandan song and a couple of songs he wrote himself!!! We also did a duet which sounded SWEET when we harmonized together...ahhh..I'm just loving the music here! He promised to come back next week to teach me some more, so I'm looking forward to that!
Alyssa and I also did some music with the preschoolers this morning! We got out the drums, tambourines, and shakers and Alyssa and I took turns playing guitar! The kids loved it! One thing I thought that was really funny was when I played the song "Beautiful" by Phil Wickham. It's not really a song for little kids...and not very good for dancing! BUT...it's a beautiful song and they wanted to hear more. I've been missing my wonderful friend STEPH DAIGLE like crazy...so this song made me think of her! The kids loved singing the "oooo" part. I thought it was funny how into the "ooo"s this one boy was getting, and then I realized he was saying "moo" when he asked me to keep singing about the cow! I thought that was really funny because the song is all about how beautiful God is..."I see your face in EVERY sunrise"...but the kids were all saying "moo". We ended up doing all of the animal sounds..."meow"..."woof"..."oink"...etc. It was pretty fun!! I LOVE THE MUSIC!
Today was really fun because we got to visit a family that we met a couple weeks ago. The mother, Harriet, is one of the most joyful women I have ever met! Harriet is so precious...she wanted us to take a picture of her so that we could show our friends back home our "African mother". Her family is so hospitable!!! They once again welcomed us with open arms and even when we weren't chatting, it was nice to just sit in their company. They taught us how to make the African beads out of paper that Alyssa and I have always wondered about! It was very exciting!!!
Alyssa is waiting for me outside...we have to get back for afternoon activities! I better go!
Much Love,
Em
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
JOY (and precious moments that my heart will forever treasure) by:Emily
I feel like so many of my blogs have been about joy...and you all probably don't want to hear it again...BUT, I'm learning more about it than ever before! I never really understood what joy was until I came here...these people have JOY!!! Joy is so not about circumstances or about what we have. Joy doesn't depend on anything but Jesus Christ. I'm not perfect at this whole joy thing yet, but I'm realizing that these mamas aren't always joyful because of circumstances in their lives or what they own...they are joyful soley because they know Jesus. I'm so in awe of this joy... and I'm praying for the real-deal JOY every day!
A couple of things I want to share:
1) Music!!!
I'm really loving how God is using music for me to just show these children love! We got a chance yesterday to get the guitar out again and we put on a little show for the kids. Alyssa and I took turns playing for them...it was so precious. This might sound dumb...but I thought I might cry because it really touched my heart to see how much they enjoyed the music. They sang when they knew the songs, and if they didn't know the songs, they would just pretend or clap their hands. At the very end I told them I had a special treat for them. I played a song for them with all of their names in it and something special about each child. They absolutely loved it...even though I didn't always know what to say (I didn't write this song ahead of time, I made it up on the spot). They really enjoyed it and I could tell each child felt so special! Even the mamas were loving it...I've never seen them laugh so hard! I sang a part for each of them too!
Earlier that day, Alyssa and I had some manduzi (NO IDEA how to spell that...it's kind of like a plain doughnut here) and we shared with the kids in preschool. They all love their sweeties! It was really cute seeing them so excited about the manduzi..and they were just all sitting and eating it when I burst into song about manduzi. It was just a silly song about how "I love manduzi, it is so yummy, I love manduzi, oh yummy yummy" and then "yummy yummy...in my tummy...yummy yummy OH OH manduzi!" It may seem crazy to you...but the kids got into it and LOVED it. They were dancing around and seeing along! Alyssa recorded me singing it with the kids after and I had a "microphone" (a small toy I found) and I got each of the kids to take a turn to sing into it!!! I know you all probably think I'm nuts...but I love to sing and I am all about making music...and the kids don't mind my corniness one bit!!!
We also taught the kids a couple of songs. One of the songs the kids absolutely ADORE. We read the kids a Bible story about the man named Zacheus and then taught them the song and the actions to go along with it. Now when I'm with the kids some of them just burst into song and they love the part when you yell... "ZACHEUS COME DOWN FROM THERE...cause I'm going to your house today..cause I'm going to your house today!"
I am just loving the music here...it seems like there's a song for everything! If they're sad, happy, or just being super cute...there's a song for them!
2) Bedtime
One of the most precious moments I've experienced this far was getting to put the kids to bed. I've only got to do this once because the mamas usually do it, but last night there wasn't enough mamas so we all helped out. It was really chaotic as they were all getting bathed, changed into pajamas, and then getting their teeth brushed...but the actually bedtime melted my heart. I went over and gave them a little kiss on their cheeks and one little boy said in the sweetest voice, "Auntie, can you pray for me?" Okay...those words MELTED my heart. It was at that moment when I was thinking...I just never want to ever leave Africa! These kids are too precious!!! I got to pray with a couple of other children and tell a little bedtime story. Kisses were blown and hugs were given...it was such a loving moment and one of my favourite parts of the trip so far!
Much Love,
Em
A couple of things I want to share:
1) Music!!!
I'm really loving how God is using music for me to just show these children love! We got a chance yesterday to get the guitar out again and we put on a little show for the kids. Alyssa and I took turns playing for them...it was so precious. This might sound dumb...but I thought I might cry because it really touched my heart to see how much they enjoyed the music. They sang when they knew the songs, and if they didn't know the songs, they would just pretend or clap their hands. At the very end I told them I had a special treat for them. I played a song for them with all of their names in it and something special about each child. They absolutely loved it...even though I didn't always know what to say (I didn't write this song ahead of time, I made it up on the spot). They really enjoyed it and I could tell each child felt so special! Even the mamas were loving it...I've never seen them laugh so hard! I sang a part for each of them too!
Earlier that day, Alyssa and I had some manduzi (NO IDEA how to spell that...it's kind of like a plain doughnut here) and we shared with the kids in preschool. They all love their sweeties! It was really cute seeing them so excited about the manduzi..and they were just all sitting and eating it when I burst into song about manduzi. It was just a silly song about how "I love manduzi, it is so yummy, I love manduzi, oh yummy yummy" and then "yummy yummy...in my tummy...yummy yummy OH OH manduzi!" It may seem crazy to you...but the kids got into it and LOVED it. They were dancing around and seeing along! Alyssa recorded me singing it with the kids after and I had a "microphone" (a small toy I found) and I got each of the kids to take a turn to sing into it!!! I know you all probably think I'm nuts...but I love to sing and I am all about making music...and the kids don't mind my corniness one bit!!!
We also taught the kids a couple of songs. One of the songs the kids absolutely ADORE. We read the kids a Bible story about the man named Zacheus and then taught them the song and the actions to go along with it. Now when I'm with the kids some of them just burst into song and they love the part when you yell... "ZACHEUS COME DOWN FROM THERE...cause I'm going to your house today..cause I'm going to your house today!"
I am just loving the music here...it seems like there's a song for everything! If they're sad, happy, or just being super cute...there's a song for them!
2) Bedtime
One of the most precious moments I've experienced this far was getting to put the kids to bed. I've only got to do this once because the mamas usually do it, but last night there wasn't enough mamas so we all helped out. It was really chaotic as they were all getting bathed, changed into pajamas, and then getting their teeth brushed...but the actually bedtime melted my heart. I went over and gave them a little kiss on their cheeks and one little boy said in the sweetest voice, "Auntie, can you pray for me?" Okay...those words MELTED my heart. It was at that moment when I was thinking...I just never want to ever leave Africa! These kids are too precious!!! I got to pray with a couple of other children and tell a little bedtime story. Kisses were blown and hugs were given...it was such a loving moment and one of my favourite parts of the trip so far!
Much Love,
Em
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