The Road

Hi Everyone!

When I was little my Dad always told me how difficult his life was as a little boy, and how he had to walk uphill both ways to get to school and home again. I always laughed and gave him a hard time about it. Well Dad, this week I've found it IS possible to walk uphill both ways to and from school.

The craft shop had a lot of work that needed to be completed, so I decided last week to move my sewing class from the craft shop to Dorcas. What I didn't realize when I made the decision was I would have to walk uphill both ways (The home I stay at is on one hill and Dorcas is on the next hill. I have to walk through the valley.) . So here are some photos of my walk; it's very scenic. I hope you enjoy it.

The Kaihura International Full Gospel Church (I think I got the name right)

The hill (My path up the hill is on the left.)

A mob of ants crossing the road

The view from the top of the hill

My final destination: Dorcas

My classes have been going much smoother and focused since I moved them to Dorcas. It is easier to teach without customers coming in all the time. This week we did a crash course on embroidery, I will put up those pictures when they finish their projects. Many of the girls did very well, some not so well. But embroidery is not for everyone. Patrick, Principal of Dorcas, asked me if I would teach an Adult Embroidery class, so we'll see if that will come about in the next few weeks.

The next month is very busy; first: Dorcas is having their 3rd or 4th graduation. Katie and I have been asked to make a cake to serve 70 people. We accepted the challenge. So pray that all the cakes come out of their pans without breaking (there is no wax or parchment paper here to assist me). Then in July, there are 2 Embrace Uganda teams coming, so we will be hanging mosquito nets in neighboring villages and doing other outreaches.

Life will be very busy in the coming weeks; I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you for all your support and prayers. I know they are making a difference.

Love,

Joyce

La Gringa

Life

Hi Everyone!

The last two weeks have flown by. It has been two weeks of joy and sorrow.

Last Sunday, I attended the funeral of Gilbert, the son of one of the Bringing Hope staff members. Gilbert was 6 years old when he died of malaria. I had met Gilbert the week before he passed away, so I didn't get an opportunity to really know who he was; but everyone ( his teachers, family, and friends) said he was a bright intelligent boy with a wonderful future ahead of him. It is difficult to see someone so young pass away; I tend to ask God why, but I know that God's plans are not mine, and He knows far more than I do, so I leave it in His hands. Still, it's a very sad time for Gilbert's family; please keep them in your prayers.

After the funeral, I looked around at all the children that were playing and I thanked God for the blessing that children are. And God continued to remind me of that blessing throughout this week.

I was reminded in the laughter of Anna Marie, the daughter of Zituni an instructor at Dorcas. She is a full of life and laughter 2 year old; who loves to eat bread, write and play. We always play together after class, and I love to watch her face light up as she laughs.

And again I was reminded in the big brown eyes of Joseph an orphan who came to Home Again about 2 weeks ago. Joseph was orphaned 3 days after he was born and no one knows who his father is. His grandmother tried to take care of him but was unable too. So at 1 month old he was brought to Home Again, and that's when I met Joseph.

When he arrived he was sick and emaciated; he was so skinny that his face looked like a little old man. There was no squishy baby to him. But I was so blessed the other day when one of the girls brought Joseph over to see me; I was so excited to feed him and just to talk to him. He is alert and gaining weight. He is still not the normal squishy baby, but he is doing much better, and his future is looking brighter.

I am so amazed at all that God does. Sometimes He chooses to take a life away before we think it's time; and other times He restores life when all seems lost. Why? I don't know, but I trust God through it all.

Talk to you soon.

Love,

Joyce

Aboli

La Gringa

Firsts

This week has been full of firsts.

My first First: I experienced my first Traditional Ugandan Church Service at the local church. It was different; first, they have all the visitors come up front and greet the congregation, and in spite of my protests of not wanting to speak in front of the congregation, I greeted the people. Second, there worship was broken up into 3 or 4 parts with someone speaking in between each section. Then the associate pastor got up after 2 hours and preached in Rutorro for a long time, then he had a the first altar call. I have to confess that I left after the first altar call, but I could here the service continuing as I walked home, and it continued while we ate lunch (The church is so close to the house that we can hear everything). It was an interesting experience, but I'm looking forward to going to church in Fort Portal next week.

My second First: I started teaching this week. It was difficult teaching through a translator at first and the crazy man interrupting my class was a comical distraction. It was actually pretty funny to watch Arthur (my translator that day) run the man off with a stick, only for the man to return again, and Arthur run him off again. But I got the hang of teaching by the second day.

The girls are very bright and are excited to be working with electric machines this coming week. I'm excited about next week also. I have been practicing on the machines to make sure they work, and to make sure I know how they work...I've never encountered so many different types of machines, Italian, American, British, and French. And all but one without instructions. Some modern but most from the 60s. & 70s. Awhhh, the joys of sewing.

My third First: I was asked out by a Ugandan. Katie and I went to Kampala on Thursday to do some shopping. When we were catching the taxi, some guy named Geoff came up and asked me to go on a "stake-out" and go dancing. I politely said no, then laughed as the taxi drove away.

My fourth First: Being greeted by random people on the street. I'm told that Ugandans love muzungus (white people), and it's common practice for them to stop and greet muzungus on the street. It was so strange to be greeted by, "Hey muzungu! How are you?" or being stopped by a had shake from these random men. But it is common practice here so you shake their hand...smile and laugh and keep going.

My fifth First: Being called by names that would be offensive in the States, but are terms of endearment here. Many men in Uganda find shapely women attractive; and Katie warned me that they are not afraid of letting you know it.

So Katie, Magda (a new volunteer from Poland that arrived on Thursday) and I were walking through the streets of Kampala when a local street vender yelled out "Hey Big Mama!" I just laughed at and kept walking. Not even 30 minutes later another man called out "Just My Size, come here. " I laughed to myself and thought about how angry that would make me in the states; but I'm learning to adjust to the cultural differences.

My sixth First: I have a pet name. The Kyenjojo region of Uganda gives everyone one of 12 pet names. After 2 weeks of being asked what my pet name is I can now answer. My pet name is Aboli...now all I have to do is remember to respond when people call me by it.

It's been a memorable week and I'm sure there are many more to come. The pictures are from my class, which includes the girls from Dorcas and the girls who work at the craft shop. Talk to you soon!

Love,

Joyce...Aboli

La Gringa

Week 1...a good one

Hi Everyone,

Well I have been in Kaihura, Uganda for a week now, and it's been a good one. It's been wonderful catching up with Katie and Chris Sasser, and finally meeting their two awesome boys, Kolby and Logan.

I've spent the week the learning the area and how to get around. It's not very difficult as long as you stay on the right dirt path. And if you get tired of walking, you just hire a Bota (a motorcycle taxi) to take you where you need to go.

The locals speak Rutorro, and I have started learning some common phrases and greetings. But I find myself, many times, wanting to revert back to Spanish when I should respond in Rutorro. It will take some getting use too, but I'll get it eventually.

I have also found that most of the people here are very reserved, and I'm pretty reserved, so it has been and continues to be my hardest challenge. Meeting new people has always been hard for me, and it's worse when I'm the focus of people's attention. The truth is most of the time I would prefer to be out of sight and work, rather than meet new people, but God always has a way of taking me out of the shadows and putting me smack in the middle of where He wants me...attention and all. So I will adjust and adapt because He is with me.

Earlier this week I met with Patrick, the principal at Dorcas, to discus where and when I'll be teaching. I start teaching tomorrow. My sewing classes will be taught at the local craft shop rather than the school, so the girls that work at the shop will be included in the classes. I'm excited to finally be teaching, but the subject matter is still not one of my strong points. I prefer cooking to sewing, but I will do my best.

This week I also had the opportunity to go with a small group and hang some mosquito nets in village homes. The people receiving the nets had nothing, and yet they were so appreciative, they gave us gifts of eggs and bananas. It was a wonderful experience.

I'm excited and challenged at all that God has in store in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray for the people of Uganda.

Love,

Joyce

La Gringa

P.S. The 2 top pictures are the view from the front porch of the house. The 3rd is part of the orphanage. And the last 2 are locals receiving their mosquito nets.

I'm here!

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm here. Everything went great. I'll post more later

Love,

Joyce

La Gringa

In London

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to post a short note to let you know that I'm in London, and everything is fine. I had to pay extra for my baggage, but it is checked all the way through to Uganda. My flight leaves here at 8:00pm local time (1:00pm MST).

Talk to you again soon,
Joyce
La Gringa

Almost There

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to give you an update. It has been a long week, but God is faithful. British Airways Cabin Crew did go on strike, and one of my flights was cancelled. But British Airways booked me on a different airline, so I have a flight. I arrive in Uganda 2 hours later than I was originally scheduled which I'm pretty excited about

The volcanic ash is another issue. Flights have been cancelled on and off this week, and I won't know if my flight is a go until Friday afternoon.

Everything else is ready to go. My bags are packed to overflowing, and I'm excited that the day is almost here. I'm looking forward to jumping into the work with both feet, hands, head and heart.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Talk to you again from the flip side.

Love,

Joyce

La Gringa