6 pm on a Saturday...

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Is it wrong that it isn’t even 7 yet and I am showered and ready to go to bed? Ya, I am done.

And I think I hear a bat in the roof…there is a big hole in our hallway ceiling…maybe he will come down and play sometime…somehow…YIKERS!

And a kitten came into Saturday Club – we almost kept him, but someone claimed her. She was cute. Reminded me of Tavi. :)

I think God revealed some stuff to me while I was taking a shower. I wanted to scream – for real God! It makes sense and ties in to what has been going on lately. Ha. Oh well, God is good regardless if I get Him or not. ;)

I was supposed to stay at Tegot tonight at Aol Irene’s home. However, I am not feeling all that great and I need some serious alone time. I know I will get that a lot once the girls leave but I am feeling like I really need to have some time to myself. I don’t think I really have had a good chunk since before Kampala and considering I need a good chunk of time once a week it is long over due. It is nice to be in the house and it is quiet. I cleaned, made dinner and spent some time outside. I truly enjoy my porch. I can just sit out there all the time. Put my feet up and get some juice or tea and I am good to go. Odie is slowly getting used to me…he can’t figure out if I am cool or not. HA.

Keep Simon in prayer…he is very ill AGAIN. Praise God Pato came (unexpectedly but appreciated!) and helped out with games and translation. Pray for his involvement with the ministry…he is really a diamond in the rough. Anyways, that left me to do my classic Sliwinski Bible Lesson time on the usual VERY short notice. Simon taught on the different books in the Bible two weeks ago so I went with getting the kids to memorize the first five books. Had some fun motions to go with it and made it easier for the kids to learn – thanks Candacee for that! Most of them can get it – just need to keep on practicing with them. Told them I would award prizes for memorization. I better make it good so it encourages them to memorize more often. Starting in January I would like the kids to memorize a scripture verse a week or so with the ABC’s of the Bible. WELCH EMAIL THAT TO ME! We played some games and then had lunch. Mary and Melissa did profiles for some potential sponsorships. We will see how that goes. Organized relay games and the kids dug it! I am still impressed how much all ages want to play and play fairly. They are so wonderful to watch play!
Scovia today only leaked tears and didn’t squirm or need to be hugged or anything during the cleaning!! We will have to go maybe for a few more days to a week to make sure it is good. Keep on praying! The other children are doing well – but still pray for Big Sharon (we have three – Big Sharon, Jess’ Sharon and Lil ‘Ayello Sharon) who’s foot isn’t doing all that well in scabbing and for Opio Patrick Bicentina who’s legs have some bad wounds but are healing.

I have to say I really do feel like a mother here. From taking Anena to the clinic and comforting her, to building relationships with children, to even sewing torn uniforms, I hope the children see me as a mother like figure as well. I don’t want to replace anyone, but I do want to be an important person in their lives. Along with that I met two children in my neighborhood – Opio Erik and Ogen Caesar. Normally, I would just invite them to play or to read but I want to set very clear boundaries – so introducing hanging out in small dosages. Right now it will be outside of the compound - Opio already found a ladder to climb to look over the barbed wire wall…so pacing the relationship with boundaries will be the best thing.

Just so you know the sky looks exactly the same here.

I wonder when this honeymoon stage will end and the valley will come. I feel like I am preparing myself for it. I don’t want to end up messed up, sad and useless for God….so I really want to build a strong foundation with God now. I know it sounds weird, but I feel like I kinda have to re-lay that foundation because I am in a totally different world with a not a very strong immediate support system. I know I can call, email or IM people, but I really don’t want to do that. I want to work on this with God and trust Him at His word and not putz around. I don’t want to have to process my purpose with talk when I already know the answers. Sometimes I would talk for the sake of making a little drama – you know how women are. We like to talk. Anyways, I know I am here for His purpose and never want to doubt that…not that I am AT ALL right now, but you know how valleys go. Stupid things float in your head. So I am praying that if I do hit a valley I will rely on God and God alone to get me through. Cuz He is faithful and just to do that…and I believe that with everything in me.

My shower here is AMAZING! I think I literally sigh “Oh Hallelujah!” every time it
hits me. It is so cold and the shower head and pressure is amazing – no joke! Better than in my house in the US! And I don’t have to worry about it freezing. Haha. Anyways, I don’t think the water heater here will be used much once the girls are gone…I just can’t take hot or even warm showers.

I have to say that Chris Tomlin really does listen to the Holy Spirit and knows how to draw Him near through worship. I truly appreciate his music. I could just worship forever with these songs!!

I love hearing children’s voices and laughs. It delights my heart.
Little flies are not welcome inside the mosquito net.
Tomorrow I am going to Tegot again…will worship with Tegot Baptist at the village center (the old camp) and then take Anena to the clinic. I am excited. Gonna find out how much it would cost to finish the church. Tegot needs a church home.

OH!

And people need to stop screaming out munu at me. Come on, for real? White people aren’t really all that cool. There is nothing special about us to be screamed at. For real. I am not a rock star. You also don’t need my attention. But mostly, if I told you my name, you should refer to me by that…not munu. It isn’t cute. Oh goodness…no bitterness…just don’t need to be screamed at. I live here people. I am not a guest anymore.

Pray that my work visa goes through….I DON’T want to go to Kampala for a visa update…

Pray for our van, Peko. He needs to survive a long time.

Pray for the proposals I know need to put together with the different phases of development for the people of Tegot. Then, pray, that the funding comes in!!

Overall, pray. I appreciate it. Know that most of you who read this, I am praying for you as well. ;)

A little attack picture...



My girls...Sarah Ayir, Annet, and Barbara


Barbara and me...


Look at those pictures. I need to make some real time for the following girls: Barbara, Annett, Sarah, and Concy and Isabella. Of course Piloya Mercy and Anena Scovia…but that is a given. And Janet, Aol, Winnifred and Winnie, and....oh all the girls are so special! These girls are older….maybe I can do a bible study or something while they are on break.