LAST DAY AT AMANI

     Tears, hugs, tears, chocolate cake, tears, warm embraces, tears, gifts FROM mamas to me, more tears, laughter, reflections, praises, prayers and tears.
      The main mamas from my cottage spent most of the afternoon writing down bible verses for me that were from their heart to mine. My devotions for the next days will bring sweet melody to my heart.
     I picked up a painting painted just for me. How special is that? Check out the lady in the painting. And the dresses are little pillow case dresses!
     Left Amani early Thursday morning with preschool Auntie Mary AND the bestest  two 1st grade students (Matthew and William). We drove to Entebbe, had a picnic lunch, and took an hour SPEED boat ride to Chimpanzee Island. (Priceless...watching the smiles on the boys as they were speeding along!). Spent the afternoon observing orphan chimps of all ages, speed boat ride back, dinner AND icecream dessert on the BEACH of Lake Victoria.........
      And then a difficult goodbye.
      Amani, my heart is both breaking and bursting with joy. Who knew that could be possible.
      THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO ENCOURAGED ME, PRAYED FOR ME , FOLLOWED ALONG WITH ME ON THIS ADVENTURE, AND LOVED ME!

REFLECTIONS PART 2

     Well, waking up at 4 am on my last day at Amani probably is an indication of the anxiousness in my heart at the thought of leaving. My head and heart are racing at the list if things I want to do today, the errands I have to do, the commissioned painting I have to pick up, the boys to snuggle with, the Mamas to embrace and the tears to be shed.
     But reflecting is a good thing, and makes my heart sing!
    
     I estimate I have walked about 200 miles since I have been here and my stained red dirt feet are a reminder.
     My teva sandals are ruined, and I lost my good glasses. Sigh........
     I will miss Mama Josephene cleaning and doing laundry for me, as well as miss Mama Cooks great cooking (except the posho)  I will need to go back to WW upon return. (and if you don't know what that is.....good for you!)
     I have been sooo healthy. One day a slightly drippy nose, and one day of a backache. But the Lord has given me so much strength and protection, I am grateful that not one day was wasted not feeling 100%. This morning I did wake up with some rash on my chin, that I am hoping is not some gunga gunga African thing, but rather maybe a stressed cold sore misplaced?
     I brought 7 dresses, (3 exactly the same b/w ones, and 3 the same blue/green. 1 orange that I have given to Mama Joyce) SO if when looking at pictures, it looks like I'm always wearing the same thing......I am.
     I have been to the pool about 25 times, mostly swim lessons with the boys, but a few snuck off by myself sonshine therapy times.
    
     Yesterday after our pool show extravaganza one of the hotel staff handed me a bible verse and told me it was for me from them. If you get a chance to look it up, it was Job 11:15-19. We as Christians are often watched, when we least expect it.

REFLECTIONS PART 1

                                                                  GOD IS MY REFUGE AND STRENGTH.     PSALM 46:1
      I am trying to not think about leaving, but Mama Grace caught me just lingering longer at lunch time and said..."I can see the sadness in your eyes as you watch the boys."
     But the hours are getting fewer while the hugs get longer and sweeter.
     In the 8 weeks I have been here, I estimate:
    
     I have done rock-a-bye-baby 1280 times to loud squeals as they are swung down as the bow breaks, twice every morning. (The last person gets it 3 times to avoid pushing and shoving)
      I have brought 40 rubber balls to the room, one each morning to start our morning play with...until they start crying and grabbing balls from each other. This morning I counted 7 in our room, the others probably swiped by other cottages or hiding in bushes. 
     I have read over 200 books, PLUS "Going on a Bear Hunt" over 60 times, some days twice a day....to a dramatic interpretation with sound effects. I have already ordered my own copy from Amazon, as it is my new favorite book.
     I have taken about 40 cold showers.
     I have changed about 1300 diapers and done equal number of "this little piggy" at each change.
     I have stuffed over 2000 diapers.
     I have taken about 20 boda boda rides.
     I have taught 2 little boys how to sound out 3 letter words. Great progress!
     I have give hugs and kisses......too numerous to count.

OPRAH

     This past weekend, another volunteer, a staff member from Amani, and myself went to WildWaters Resort for a night. It is located on a private island IN THE MIDDLE of the Nile, accessible to us only by a small boat dodging the rapids.
     I felt like, if OPRAH came to Uganda, this is where she would stay. I felt, as we had this island all to ourselves, the staff there just for us, that we were part of the rich and famous. I imagined when we saw the helicopter landing pad, that she would fly to the island and land right there! I could imagine being wealthy as I lounged in the natural rock pool supplied with filtered water from the Nile. We were given the best of the 10 cottages, feet from the Nile Rapids, (almost deafening roars) .I'm sure Oprah would have had this cottage.  I took a bath out on the patio, yards away from the raging Nile rapids and decided that there could be no better solitude than that. As I ate a 5 course dinner, followed by what seemed minutes later, a wonderful breakfast and delicious lunch, I thought of Kings feasts and kind if wondered how they could keep eating so many rich foods.
     And as we bid goodbye to the amazing staff, and drove home, I regained my senses and remembered I am NOT rich and famous. And if these had been American prices, I could have not afforded such luxury. As we passed village after village,  watching little, nearly naked African children, happily play, I was reminded of my main purpose of being here was not to self indulge (although I treasure every memory of that night) but rather to just love on my little boys at Amani.
     HOWEVER, upon returning, it was like a light bulb went off in my heart. .....I may not be famous, but returning to 16 precious boys chanting...Auntie Cathy, Auntie Cathy......really made me smile and feel wanted and needed.
      And RICH? Oh!!!! I am so rich. The experiences, adventure and memories I hold are priceless.
   
     My God shall supply all your needs according to His RICHES in  glory by Christ Jesus.
      5 days before I leave Amani :(  :(   :(

JIGGERS

     Jiggers are a parasitic anthropoid found in most tropical and sub tropical climates. Today I followed along with a mission group here called Sole Hope. (I encourage you to check out their web site. www.solehope.com). They are an organization on a mission to put close toe shoes on African children...one pair at a time.
     Sole Hope offers hope, healthier lives and freedom from foot related diseases through education, jobs and medical relief. They support villages by teaching the trade of shoe making. The money the shoemakers earn helps feed, clothe, educate and house their children.
     Today we went into a village to remove jiggers and provide new shoes. It reminded me so much of our Dominican Republic days doing dentistry. I was in the foot washing station. After washing the red Ugandian mud off these children who never wear shoes, they are checked over for jiggers. Jiggers are then dug out with a razor blade and safety pin. After successfully getting rid of the jiggers, they are bandaged and given a new pair of shoes.
     The shoes are made from recycled jeans and the soles are made from old tires. One can host a shoe cutting out party in the states. Maybe something we can do at Adult VBS some year. The kits are then sent here to be made into shoes.
     It was a good day.
     I'm running out of bedtime story ideas, BUT was inspired to tell the "Shoemaker and the Elves " tonight.
    
    

A VISIT TO MAMA JOYCE

     One of the sweet Mamas from our cottage is Mama Joyce. She invited me over on Sunday afternoon, which was one of her days off. Another volunteer, Mariah, and I went on a 25 minute boda boda ride to get to her village.  We were greeted by many children that lived near her. Mama Joyce has 2 children and together they live with her mother. I'm pretty sure a sister and a coupla more kids live there as well.
     First thing, Mama Joyce introduced us to her children. It is a custom of her tribe for children to kneel when approaching elders. All the children knelt but her older son knelt and kissed my hand. His name is Trophy. Shamefully, I can't remember the other son or daughters name. (But we did have alot of fun.....and to be honest, sometimes I can't understand their names when they speak it, and after the third try I smile and say, "lets go play kids.")
      Secondly, we did the thing we have talked about for weeks. We exchanged dresses for the day. She and her mom dressed me in her traditional dress called a Gomez. Oddly, to my weight watcher mind, they put a very bulky layer UNDER the Gomez so that you have plenty of cabina. (butt) Then the outer layer of fabric. And Joyce then put on my dress.
      Thirdly, she then showed us around her garden, along with coffee bean trees and banana trees.
      Fourthly, I ooohhhed and aaahhed over the food preparation and her sisters who were cooking it. Later we ate a delicious traditional meal. I'd probably botch trying to tell you all that was served, so I will leave it at delicious. I do know she went out back and cut up a jackfruit for us to have for dessert.
      After a great time of dancing, laughing and just having nice conversation, Mariah and took a boda boda ride back before dark.
      I was blessed by Mama Joyce and her family.
     

THE MAMAS

     I don't exactly know how many Ugandian Mamas work at Amani, and I don't even to pretend to know  all their names, but I do love and admire all those I come in contact with. They work very hard here. The Mamas that are in the cottages work 12 hour shifts, 3 days on, three off. I know Mama Sarah, the cook , works every day, the others I'm not really sure of their hours. But I try to show them love and respect every time I see them. Don't tell my husband, but I'm known by the Mamas as Mama Sweetie.
     Now first off, I'm really just an Auntie here, so to be referred as a Mama just melts my heart. And second, the sweetie part comes from (and this is the part my dentist husband can't know) the fact that every single day that I have been here, I have made an effort to hug and kiss and give a sweetie (piece of candy) to every single mama here. From the Mamas who cook, to those that clean, to those in the office, and of course to the cottage Mamas....I find them each and every day and tell them they are loved and appreciated.
     So in return I have earned the title Mama Sweetie.
     I think my sweetie budget has been bigger than my food budget.
     The kids, who like any child love and crave the sweeties too, KNOW that my sweeties are only for the Mamas. They see me give them to the Mamas every day, and unlike most everything else that they say "Also me " to, they now repeat what I always say....
     "These are only for the Mamas because they work so hard". And they don't beg me for a sweetie.
     But they do beg me for a hug and a kiss, and a story.
     P.S. I have not had a single sweetie since I have been here.  Because, to be honest, I'm kind of in it for the hugs and the kisses and the stories too.

CHAPATI

     One of the things I discovered that the children here do not have a clue about is food production. Each day their food is brought to their cottage already prepared by Mama Sarah. They eat it right away. Nothing is ever left over or kept for the next meal. #1 They don't really realize where food comes from or how it is prepared. #2 I learned (when I tried to explain that the Jack o lantern rotted and I threw it away) that they hadn't really seen old rotten food.
     So as a "field trip" I took our cottage of 16 boys, plus some visiting nurses, on a walk to see Chapatis being made. Its like a fried bread that they LOVE, and get a piece of occasionally as a special treat. But had no idea on how it was made. We feasted on 15 of them while watching him roll them out and fry more. ( $..20 each) Then I brought some of the dough home, and we fried it ourselves with my 2 school students. (And added some Nutella that a past volunteer left.) I'm pretty sure we could put Mr. Chapati man out of business if we opened a Nutella Chapati stand.:-)
     I will need to go back to Weight Watchers when I return after this discovery.