WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE

     I feel a little guilty writing so often, hoping I am not cluttering your inboxes with jibber jabber. But to be honest, everyday something mighty seems to happen and I am anxious to share. We volunteers had a Bible Study tonight, and I was so blessed by the different thoughts we each had. We come from so many different walks of life, and yet together we serve Amani and our mighty God.
     Well day 3 of home school went well....but I am excited to share what my afternoons have been.
     I am teaching swimming lessons!!!!! There is s hotel pool about 1/2 mile away, an easy walk with my student. The Amani children seem to be really afraid of water. It is not shocking to me, as there were so many Dominicans we knew over the years that were not comfortable in water either. So our plan here for the remaining 6 weeks that I am here is.....each Tuesdsy-Wednesday-Thursday (3:30_5:30 pm) I will take ONE child for all 3 days. My motto at home at Schroedervile pool, to achieve a successful pool lover, is FREQUENCY. My goal is to just have them enjoy water fun. Swimming to the ladder would be amazing.
     The first day 6 year old William had a death grip on me, and by the end of today, the second day, he was going down under to the bottom of the shallow part to retrieve a toy. He was impressively holding his breath pretty long.
     There are children of the long term staff that are welcome to join us as well(especially because they serve as good examples).
     So that's my confession, that I weaseled my way to a pool job:-) :-) :-)  But in reality, the staff here seems thrilled there is someone willing to do it.
     Tomorrow the activity director and volunteers  are taking Amani children on a boat ride on the Nile.
     And did I mention I changed about 40 diapers as well today?
     BUT I got over 40 kisses and hugs at bed time. Priceless.
     And I ran into one of my daughters (Emily from Hong king) friends from her moms group (in Hong Kong) who is HERE in Jinja adopting 2 children! How random is that!!!!!!. I was thinking she should just bring an extra child back to HK for Emily, and to be grandbaby #8 for us. !

HE REIGNS

     This is the second attempt at writing this post, so if the first draft mysteriously appears after all, I am sorry you are reading 2 versions of the same day.
     We woke up to it raining and storming, and that always makes squirrley kids, but it was a great day after the sun came out. We have been getting use to a schedual change, and there were a few days there I was feeling my age. But I think I am getting into the new routine and feeling great again. You are going to laugh when you hear my new jobs.
     Well I mentioned last time that our two boys that are 6 were attending school away from Amani daily.  But there was some incident there and the director of ABC decided to pull them out. (ANY guesses on where this is going....)  Well, since these are school age kids, not attending school, guess what? Should we call it Cottage School? With yours truly as the teacher. So Monday-Fridsy, in the mornings, I am teaching first grade. Of course there really isn't any curriculum or many books, so in my typical fashion, I am winging it. Maybe I should stay the school year........:-) :-) :-) :-)
     The afternoon has changed also, and I will share that EQUALLY exciting change in the next PST.
     But I will skip ahead to telling you that in the evening I get their PJ's on now and brush their teeth, put them in bed, and tell a story before lights out to 16 precious boys.
     AND I would like Calli, Lane, Max, Jack, Add, Lindsey and Natalie to know that none of the boys say a peep while I brush their teeth to "Twinkle twinkle little star"!
    
     A BIG shout out to my beautiful granddaughter ADDY on her 1st birthday. I love you.

     I had a piece of my heart broken today. One of my adorable little 5 year old boys (whose best friend is about to leave here adopted) asked me, "Auntie....Can I come home with you to America?"  I had to tell him, no I couldn't......he burst out crying. Well that's not really true. It was worse than that....his eyes filled with tears and he silently sat there weeping. So was my heart.

WEEKEND

     Yesterday I went with the other volunteers to Kampala. ( the capital city of Uganda, in the South Central part of the country, near the shores of Lake Victory, and  is about 3 hours from where I am staying in Jinja) There we shopped at outdoor markets for Ugandian made products. Several items seem to be a common thing. Here women make beads from paper strips and make them into beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and many other things. Baskets are also woven, wooden bowls carved, and bags, clothes, and accessories sewn. It was fun to just have a fun day out away from ABC.
     I had my first cup of coffee since arrival at 1000 Cups, a coffee shop specializing in coffee from many African countries.
     Today, Saturday, is our day to spend the morning helping with misc. projects around ABC. I helped chart weight and growth charts of the children here. Saturday afternoon, as well as the rest of the weekend is ours to do as we want. I wanted to visit another ministry I had heard about: H.E.A.L. Ministries (Hands Embracing All Lands), an outreach for abandoned and abused women who are trying to provide and still care for their children. They teach them a saleable craft, or to sew or garden, or to raise livestock. All the while, also providing free childcare, as well as temporary housing in emergency situations. WOW. BUT today, along with ALL the above, they offer a Bible Club of sorts to any child that comes. Every Saturday they get about 200 kids that wander over. These were very poor children. Heads mostly all shaven (a way to just eliminate issues), clothes that were mostly rags, little to no English skills  BUT praising the Lord and having the time of their life dancing, singing and hearing Bible Stories. Each child gets a hard boiled egg to eat as well. Again, a humbling experience.
     From there we walked home, stopped for an amazing pineapple lime smoothie and to purchase a new handbag at a little shop.
     I'm trying to walk about 4 miles a day.
     Starting next week, I may start schooling 2 six year olds for 1.5 hours in the morning, as well as teaching swimming lessons 3 afternoons a week, to the 5 oldest children here.
      Tomorrow morning I am taking one of the TWIN girls that is here to church with me. The new volunteer that arrived yesterday will take her sister. I think in the afternoon I may head to the pool, WITH NO KIDS, for an afternoon of Quiet Time. Unless it rains. It has been kind of rainy.
      All is well with my soul.

SPINNING PLATES

I woke up this morning, just thanking God for the opportunity  to be here at Amani Baby Cottage, in Uganda Africa. I am so enjoying this special time with the children. I have only been to a few orphanages in my life, so I really can't compare this to many, but I do know the children here get lots of loving, hugs, touch and care from the amazing Mamas, staff and volunteers. This is a Christian orphanage where the children learn Bible stories, songs, have the opportunity to go to church, and are taught to pray and thank God for all they have. I am humbled. Today I gave the Mamas chocolate cookies (which they call biscuits)  that I purchased in town, and they each came up to me so thankful. It just reminded me that we all have an inner desire to feel appreciated and loved. And it does not take alot to show others that what they do matters.
Why did I name the post...spinning plates? Because I remembered watching a circus performer attempting to keep many plates spinning on top of poles all at the same time......and I remembered that as I was trying to keep 6 swings all swinging at the same time, to a chorus of "Auntie Auntie". I really got a work out, doing under ducks to the bigger swings, while keeping the babies swinging in their seats.
Lord, thank you for today and all the hugs you gave me, via these precious children.

OH MY ACHING BACK

Tonight for the first time, I come in from the day with an aching back. I'm not carrying babies all day but there's alot of bending over for putting on shoes, changing diapers, picking up kids, or most anything, since everything is really done on the floor.  And the 2-3 year olds really LOVE to be held as well. I have my limits, I only do one at a time. But then I see the Mamas that are bending over and working alot harder than I am, and I'm not wanting to complain. SO I'll post a few pictures, and go to bed (in my top bunk) and hope to get a good nights sleep.

OUR DAY

Well, having been here a week now, and having learned the names of the 16 boys in my cottage, I feel ready to share what my typical day is like, and to show off my boys.
The roosters begin to crow at 5:45, but because of all the years of Dominican training of sleeping thru the crowing...I.am able to sleep until 7. I shower, make a cup of tea, and do devotions and make breakfast. I will discuss food in a later post.
I leave the volunteer cottage (directly above the children's cottages (or rooms really....same building) (which you can see in the background of the huge group picture that was taken on the day of their huge 10th anniversary celebration.....all those pictured are here now, or have been in the past..and are now adopted out or reunited) at 8:45.
I usually start by reading for 1/2 hour to the kids. I so wish I had brought children's books to read, as the few that are there I've either already read a dozen times, or they are missing pages. But never the less, I probably mind more than the kids, who just clamor to take turns on my lap while I read. Then we just play on the floor with the FEW toys they have (featured in a future blog showcasing the cottage) until snack time.
At 10 we take off the clothes of the 10 younger kids down to their diaper, and they drink HOT porridge.
Change diapers (42 today) and then they go sit on the potty chairs, where it appears most caca (poop), then get diapers and clothes back on to go outside and play. (will show outside stuff another time...its really nice).
About 1 1/2 hours out running and playing, then in for lunch.
Take clothes off again, eat, potty chairs, new diapers, NAP.
I do have 5 boys who are 5 and they go to preschool here during most of the above, but come back for lunch.
At 1 they ALL nap until 3, which then I am off for lunchbreak. (yes you can be jealous of a 2 hour break, where lunch is prepared, and plenty of time for a walk.)
At 3 they get up, diapers changed, snack, then out to play until dinner.
2 times a week I take a child for an "outing" of my choice (with another volunteer and child) during this later afternoon time. Today we took two boys on a mile walk to town to get ice cream (took about an hour to walk there), had ice cream and then put them in the AWESOME DOUBLE STROLLER, and came back in time for dinner.
Eat, diapers, in bed at 7, but I leave at 6.
And then start again tomorrow.
The days FLY by. Really. So now I'll post the boys in my care (along with the two mommas. ) I will post a few girls pictures, but I have yet to really spend much time with them. I have held back some of the cute dresses Jean and Juanita made, until I find a special someone to give them too. Maybe on one of my outing days.
So its my pleasure and blessing to introduce: Matthew, Elijah, Jonah, Simon, Godfrey, Fred, Joel, Noah, Salim, Patrick, Philip, Keith, Charlie, Brian, ..and 2 others I can't think of at the moment.

ON VACATION

Most of the time here so far feels like I'm on vacation. Mama Sarah makes delicious Ugandian food (well there are a few things I pass up, but for the most part, its good.....and better yet served to me already prepared. Mama Josephine cleans the volunteer cottage and does the dishes every day.  Mama Maggie gets what ever fruit/vegetables I put on the list for me at the market. Another Mama gets my dirty laundry, washes it, hangs it to dry, and poof...its back up here before I know it.
ALL of this hard work going on while I read books, change diapers, play ball, change diapers, run around the playground, change diapers, and snuggle with little boys all day.
God has sent me on a glorious vacation.