Meanwhile in Africa..

So, hey there. Eh, I can’t think of a clever way to say it: I’m in Uganda!

There you go.

The past couple of days I’ve had back spasms, and apparently holding three babies doesn’t help with that so much, so I’ve stayed home today- thinking I would lie on ice all day, but the housekeeper and security guard decided to move the beds around. So instead, I ventured outdoors. With. The. Birds.

I don’t know if any of you know this, but I am seriously afraid of birds, and these guys? They’re black and big with pointy, curvy beaks and loud noises (they sound like monkeys) and they have the front yard as their residence. So venturing outdoors to read is a serious feat for me. One that should not go ignored. I will accept congratulations in any form you care to send it (ok, now that just sounded a bit self centered, didn’t it. I apologize, and I digress..)

So, I went outside. It’s sunny and warm and there are tropical trees everywhere and if you look over the wall you can see a hill with hundreds of houses dotting it. And there are also lots of flies to keep you company, I think they were just worried about my back spasm, it’s cool guys, you don’t have to spend all your time with me, really, go hang out with the birds.

Let’s see. What am I doing here? Right now I live in Kampala (the Capitol of Uganda) and I work at Watoto Baby’s Home here, but in about a week they’ll be moving me to a Watoto village to work in the Baby’s Home there (many more babies there). I’m excited to move out there, it’s lovely. What you think of when you think of Africa (minus the elephants and giraffes- they don’t really just walk around, I know, you’re pretty bummed aren’t you? Haha, Ethan thought I would see them out my window). The babes are amazing. In Kampala there are mostly new babies and/or sick babies because Kampala has the best medical facilities. As soon as the babies are old enough/healthy enough they move out to a village baby’s home.  So, I’ve been playing with very little babes (and a few very sick babes), I’m talking mostly under 4 months. So sweet, and very tiny. They all remind me of little monkeys with their black curly hair, large curious eyes, chubby cheeks and mouths that make perfect ovals when they’re trying to tell you about their day. I can’t show you pictures of them without permission (legal issues and whatnot) but I did include a couple pictures from the other side of the world for your viewing pleasure:

view from where we're all living now (there's about to be 10 of us living in this house)

view from where I'll be moving to in about a week

Seven

Hey guys.
Yeah, so havn't so much been around.
I know, it's shameful, but blogs just feel so self-centered to me. I like other people's, but my own feels strange. I really only did it to prep for creating one for my trip to Uganda. Now, my trip is only a few days away. Literally three days away. I'm supposed to go on malaria meds tomorrow. Woah, also I have to check in for my flight today (Don't let me forget to do that).

Anyways, I do think I'll check in during my trip, but after that Ms. Such-this blog may have to retire. I suppose we'll see.

I do have to tell you something today. Seven.
It's been seven years since I first was called to Uganda.
And now there arn't even seven days until I board the plane.
A Quick Story for you:
I fell in love with Jesus when I was twelve, but by that time I had already figured out how I thought my life should go. I mean, I had it all down, what college I wanted to go to, what I wanted to major and minor in, I even knew what scholarships I would be eligible for (I'm a geek, I'm aware), I never wanted to move out of the tri-state area.
But then everything changed. I was reading this book about a girl who went to Uganda to work at a school/orphange/hospital/church and fell in love with the country and the people there. I only read it because I read anything I could get my hands on at the time. While reading I heard a voice say, "I want you to do that." I had heard of this before- God talking to people- and I always thought the people who tried to tell God 'no' were so ridiculous, he was God, wouldn't he win? But I joined the ranks of the 'no'-ers- I told God no, because 13-year-olds are oh-so-wise.
But then God won, a few months later, before I could think it simply flew out of my mouth one day, "I'm going to work in Uganda." Shortly there after I fell in love with Uganda, my heart moved over there. God made sure of that. I've been working towards going ever since.
And so now I'm going, soon.