Amazing what love does to heal

I am more than positive little Ajok Winnifred's smile, singing and jumping are all due to the love she has been receiving.

Love is really amazing. It really does heal. I've been witnessing it over and over...I've been challenged by it over and over...it stretches me so much...it actually makes me play the "Be quiet, Sliwinski" game when my mouth or head moves in a direction away from love....

We had guests come to Tegot yesterday. Walked in at 11am not knowing them and by 5pm I felt like I had a bunch of new brothers and sisters.

But that wasn't what was so amazing....
I was soooooooooooooooo proud of the people I work with - from staff to parents to children. Our families welcomed our guests, shared their stories, lives, ate a meal together, walked around Tegot with them, brought sodas, prepared an amazing meal, did speeches, laughed, loved and invited people INTO their lives. Our guests from America were amazed and in awe - and they, too, fell in love with Tegot. I love when people love Tegot....it makes me so proud and full of joy...as if the love I feel is confirmed and warranted...like it really is worthy of my love...though it doesn't need to be, but it just confirms my heart and delights me. It just reminds me over and over how He loves us so....

Pray for Godfred. His family needs it. Especially his wife. Pray for her heart to forgive, love, heal and face towards Jesus. Pray for him to love, forgive and be patient. Pray for his girls to be strong and be able to go through this hard time. Pray Evelyn to be the woman of God that He has called her to be.

I absolutely love my bible study....all because of the women. Becky, Ashley, Lowna, Christine and Mary....oh my goodness. As we were listening to our audio session, I just looked around and thought to myself "I have REAL friend here" and then I just felt such joy. I love them so much. Such cool, different, unique, awesome, godly women. And I get to learn God's Word WITH them....wow!

Ok, so pray that the women come tomorrow for the lab munu ("tongue white" aka English) class tomorrow. I reminded Evelyn, Beatrice and Monica. Evelyn was concerned that there would be no translator. I said "NO! (In my Acholi voice) Eni ngo?" pointed to eye, she said "Wang" and I replied "Yes!! Eye" and she repeated eye. I then proceeded to do that with other things I knew....and then I said "Ah! No interprator!" And then she laughed. She realized that we didn't really need it. I know basic Acholi to then teach off of it with basic English...so we will be ok. We will HAVE to learn. I prepared the lesson for tomorrow....I am excited. Ashley might join me...it will be fun. I am way excited...I love them.....

Praise God we got a HUGE donation of books from Visions in Action through Books for Africa (based in Minnesota). I mean HUGE - like over 3,000 books for our library. PG!!! So excited. PUMPED!!

Our van is almost ready....it will be fixed!!

Just so you all know I did have "meat"...that is, worms....yup. Had to be that. How do I know? Well, I took my three day deworming stuff and don't feel anymore pain. YAY!!! Good ol' worms. Feels good to not be sick. However, too bad it is Friday and I had to take my malaria meds....jacking me up a bit today. boo.

Walking around Gulu always gets me playing the "Tekwenye?" game. What is that? It is when children (sometimes adults) say "Munu!" I then turn around quickly and say "Munu Tekwenye?!" (which means "Munu where?!) People usually are dumbfounded but today a girl of about 10 stopped, jaw dropped and just stared at me with a little "ah!" It made me laugh.