Home is Where the Heart is

Many people have been asking me, "How is it being home?" That is a hard question for me to ask. Yes, this is where I've spent 24 years of my life, but the 10 months I spent in Uganda has created in me a 2nd home. I left a part of my heart in Uganda. It's there among the red dirt roads, it's blowing through the warm tropical breeze, and it's there among the sounds of children laughing. I miss my home, but I am so happy to be back with my family and friends.
Throughout my time in Uganda I have learned so many things, things I'm sure I don't even realize yet. It has changed me in ways I can't explain, and maybe it will take me years to really understand it all.

___________________________

The travel home was long, but the Lord was on my side. I sat by friendly people and I actually slept quite a bit. Airplane chairs are not a piece of furniture I would ever want to purchase for my own home. I think it's fit to say that they could be one of the most uncomfortable places to sleep, but when you're tired, it doesn't always matter. After my 8.5 hr flight to Amsterdam, 5 hr layover, and my 9 hr flight to Chicago, I was SO excited when I saw the Great Lakes out of my window. Finally something I recognized, and man it never looked so beautiful to me before. I was sad when we had to fly over Grand Rapids, I wish I could have just jumped out of the plane right there, but nearly 20 minutes later we landed in Chicago. The city was huge! I looked at the skyscrapers in awe. I hadn't seen something so large and shiny in so long. I anxiously waited as we slowly walked off the plane. I couldn't wait to get off that plane and into my parents arms. It had been too long since I've been able to hug them. Seeing them for the first time was great. They were there, standing behind the rope with big smiles. It almost felt like a dream.
My first week home is slightly a blur. Seeing everything for the first time in 10 months felt a little strange. Almost like I was looking at everything through photographs. It brought back nice memories, but it didn't feel like I was actually there. It wasn't a bad feeling, but it also didn't feel great. The place I have called home for a while was now so far away - though I will admit once I laid in my bed for the first time, all those feelings went away. I was laying on a cloud of joy and it was amazing!
The Lord sent me a blessing when I first got back to Michigan. It just so happened that 3 of my dear friends I met in Uganda, were going to be visiting Michigan during my first week back. Charlie was visiting from Australia, Bekah from Tennessee, and Amber from Washington. I was so excited! Along with some of my fellow Michiganders (that I met in Uganda) we all had the opportunity to spend some much needed time together. I even had the joy of having Amber stay with me for a couple of days. Amber was my housemate in Uganda for the last half of my stay. We served for about 4 months together, and it was great. It was such a blessing to have Amber stay with me for those days. She was with me through all of my first steps. We had fun reminiscing about the time we had, and it helped make my transition that much easier. It's amazing how the Lord works these things out!
My time in Uganda was life changing. I am so happy the Lord brought me there. The people I met there have made lasting impressions on my heart. I pray that one day He will take me back there so I can see my friends/family again. I am blessed to have been able to take this giant leap of faith. The Lord has truly rocked my world, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
I want to take some time to thank each and everyone of you who are reading this. Your support has made all of this possible. Without your thoughts and prayers, I would have been lost. Your financial support has gone out to help so many people in Uganda. Together we have helped families and those living on the streets eat, we have helped children go to school, and friends get a start on new opportunities. I am left without words to express my gratitude towards all of you, all I can say is thank you. Thank you for loving the people of Uganda with me. It has been a true adventure, one I never dreamed possible. Thanks to the Lord, and through all of you, it came true.
If you would like to hear more of my adventures I would love to tell you about it, please ask! You can call me, stop me on the street, or email me at kendallvberg@gmail.com. Thank you so much!

The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you

The Lord lift up His countenance on you

and give you peace

Grace & Peace,

Kendall

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

This post won't require much reading. I wanted to share with you some pictures that capture some of my favorite moments that I have spent here in Uganda. As my time is nearing it's end, I have been going through my photos and realized how much I have done/seen since I arrive here in August 2014.

When I first arrived in Uganda, I was greeted by these crazy kids. It didn't take long until I called them family. Although I was their teacher for a short time, I still lived in the same house as them and did almost everything with them. I miss these guys! They taught me a lot about life in Uganda, and made me feel comfortable in such a foreign culture.

Noah and Josie. While the Fisher's were finalizing their adoption of these 2 cuties, they kept us busy around the house. There was never a dull moment with these two running around. At the end of the day, even if they didn't get along with each other, they still look out for each other. Their stories are incredible and although they are not biological siblings, I know the Lord put them together with the Fishers for a reason. They share a special bond and I hope nothing ever breaks that.

The Boys. Amiss, Zach, Abadu, and Samuel. I'll never forget these boys and all the memories we've created with them. The first day I met Zach, he ran up to the van on main street and peeked in the van window to say hello to us. Not too long after that did we meet his buddies Amiss and Abadu, when they would be at our gate every morning playing with our dogs and calling our names. And Samuel, who was dropped off at our house by a boda boda driver. The moment I saw his sweet smile I knew he was a special boy. These boys have lived a life not many of us can understand. They left their families to live on the streets, and learned to fight for themselves. I am so excited to see where these boys are now, in school and progressing.

Charlie, Brittany, and I went to a Ugandan Cranes game with a group of our friends. Uganda beat Ghana, which made for a happy bunch of Uganda fans. The stadium went wild and many memories were made. 

This is my friend Ruth and her youngest daughter Joy. Ruth lives in Naigobya and I go and sit with her at least once a week. [The three following photos are her children as well]. Ruth doesn't speak much english, and I don't speak much Lusoga so our conversations are limited. We sit and we laugh. We laugh at our misunderstandings. We are getting better every time, but it's a slow progress. It's good we know some words in each others language to bridge the gaps, and we also use universal hand motions. Her family has taken a very special place in my heart. Her children, Joy, Zytuna, Gerald, and Sophia, are some of my best buddies. I am going to cherish every last moment I get to spend with Ruth and her family before I leave. 

This is Gerald. I love this boy. He is in St. Paul's Nursery Top class. I often see him at school, and I also have the opportunity to go into his classroom to teach phonics. His smile makes me melt, and his giggle - oh, boy - it's one of the cutest things ever. He's a quiet boy, but if you get him alone or with the other boys in the village he opens right up. 

This is Joy. She's my shadow in the village. When she sees me walking close she yells my name and runs right into my arms. When she's feeling good, she doesn't stop smiling. I've seen this little one sick too many times. There was one time she was sound asleep on the mat, laying next to her mother [Ruth]. I sat and spoke with Ruth for a while and soon Ruth tapped Joy and told her I was there. Joy cried and wiped her eyes and finally looked over and me a gave me a sweet weak smile - raised her arms and reached for me. I grabbed her and she immediately fell right back asleep in my arms. Through joy and pain she always gives a smile. 

This is Zytuna. I know I have written about her before. She is one of my dearest friends here in Uganda. Looking just like her mother Ruth, she is beautiful and full of joy. She is the oldest sister (living in the village) of Joy, Gerald, and Sophia. Zytuna captured my heart the first time I saw her. She asked me my name and once I told her she immediately began to laugh. I questioned my name - I never thought it was funny in anyway, but I soon realized she would laugh after anything I said. It was most likely my accent. Every time I came to the village I would see her working hard. She has many tasks around the house; fetching water, caring for her siblings, working in the garden, moving the cattle, and cooking. 

This is my friend Patrick and his beautiful baby Michelle. Patrick was the day guard at the Fisher's house. I saw how much the Fisher's adored Patrick and his family, so it was easy for me to feel the same way. During our school breaks the kids and I would go hang out with Patrick. We would eat jackfruit & sugarcane, play volleyball, or learn to ride the motorcycle. Since the Fisher's have gone, I have still maintained a friendship with Patrick and his wife. I try to visit them at their home in Jinja, or travel out to their village in Tororo. It's always a blessing to be around this sweet family. 

This is one of my favorite families to spend time with. They live just down the road from me, along the River Nile. This family is known by almost everyone in Jinja. They live right off the path where many people travel. In their home (which is a tiny shed) they sell small snacks to passerby. This Mama is a friend to many. She has one of the kindest hearts I know. Whether you're a pastor or one of the biggest thugs in town, she'll open up her home and give you a meal. She cares, and it's very evident. Every time I visit, I always catch her sharing laughs with everyone who passes by. Her children are always working hard. The girls are always helping Mama around the house, while the boys man the garden. You're bound to be greeted by their sweet smiles no matter what work they are doing. This family is truly a joy to be around. 

This picture doesn't need much of a caption. As I was walking down by the River Nile one day, out of the trees runs this little guy. Maybe he was just bathing in the river, or maybe he just felt like being free on a warm day. I couldn't resist snapping a shot of his cute buns frolicking down the road.

This is my family. Amber and Job have been my lifesavers on this journey. Without these two, I would have been lost. Through laughter, pain, and sorrow, we made it through an incredible chapter in our lives. Through crazy adventures, late night talks, and family prayer time, we have grown stronger. I am so thankful for these two wonderful people. 

Before Amber left Uganda, we took a family trip to the Kings hill in Bugembe (only a 15 minute trek from the house). Amber, Job, and I sat and overlooked the Jinja district in awe. What a beautiful place we live in. With the sun and the clouds hitting the land in different areas, we joked about which parts belonged to Mufasa and which belonged to Scar. [I mean we are in Africa, it wouldn't be right not to bring up the Lion King at some point ;)]

My sister, Maddie, and Yasin (a.k.a. lil' chunk) over at Sole Hope Outreach. I am SO thankful my sister had the opportunity to come over and visit me in Uganda. When I go home I know I'll have someone to talk to about the place I have laid my heart in for the past 10 months. 

This majestical creature was spotted on our safari. While Maddie was here, we had the opportunity to venture out to the west side of Uganda and see God's beautiful creation. Reaching Murchison National Park, we saw Murchison falls and so many beautiful creatures. I must say the elephant was my favorite sighting. Never have I seen a creature so strong and beautiful. The giraffe was a close second. Maddie and I had so much fun seeing all of these beautiful things. We even saw brother lions, which is a rare sighting. This is an adventure I'll never forget, and I blessed to have been able to share it with my sister.

Some of the street boys and I in the main market. Amber, Job, and I would go out on some saturday mornings and have breakfast with some of the boys who live on the streets here in Jinja. Sometimes they're wild and almost uncontrollable, but they're hard not to love. These boys have seen things I pray they never had. They live a life no kid should EVER have to. There are many different reasons why they've come to the streets, for each child it's different. Maybe it has to do with abuse at home, witchcraft in the village, or being kicked out of their village. Each child has a different story, but they all share a brotherhood because of where they live now. Although they fight and put each other down sometimes, there still seems to be a kind of brotherhood that is unbreakable. These boys are seen as scum by a lot of the community. All they want is love. They need love.

This is Isa, his jaja (meaning grandma in Luganda), and Joshua. Isa lived on the streets in Jinja town. Amber, Job, and I quickly befriended him as his sweet personally shown through the rest of the boys. He's an easy one to love. Every time we saw him on the street he would greet us with his cute little smile and give us hugs. After getting to know Isa and a little bit of his story, we had the opportunity to bring Isa home. He had enough of the street life and wanted to go home. We traveled about 30 minutes west and there we met his Jaja. She's sweet and we knew Isa was going to be treated well there. We sat and talked with her for a while, and we made plans to keep visiting so we could check up on the both of them. Now, Joshua (the boy in the red) was Isa's partner in crime. They roamed the streets of Jinja together, and became the best of buddies. Joshua is almost complete opposite of Isa. He's loud, never stops talking, and is the joker. They were great partners on the street because they were opposite. They would take care of each other. When we planned a visit to Isa, we decided to take Joshua along so he could see his friend again. Joshua still lives on the streets, and we though maybe if he saw Isa living a good life at home, maybe it would encourage Joshua to want to go back home too. They had the best reunion ever. Immediately when they saw each other they gave each other a huge hug and began to laugh. It was a moment that we'll cherish forever. These boys have challenged us and taught us a lot about life. I'm so happy to have them in my life.

These are the boys of The Street Child Project. I love these boys. They have a special bond that many boys don't share. They've lived on the same streets, been through the same torture, and seen things that they probably haven't seen at their age. They have all grown (and are still growing) into wise and loving young men. When I see the boys that currently live on the streets, and then see these boys, I find hope. What the Street Child Project has done, is something incredible. They have helped these young men be something, at one point, they probably never thought they could be. Living on the streets is something I'll never fully understand, and after hearing stories I pray no more kids will ever have to live.

This is my buddy Steven. He lives over at the Street Child Project, but he has a special story. He was never living on the streets, but he definitely hasn't had an easy life. I fell in love with this boy the moment I met him. I went to visit the compound and he immediately came into my arms. You knew he just wanted to be loved. He's became an orphan at a very young age, and is now possibly going to be adopted. He's a sweet boy. The Uncles at the Street Child Project have quickly fallen in love with this boy too. The boys all take good care of him and he gets the attention he needs. When I go a visit he spits Luganda at me and I just pretend I understand what he's saying. We play and play and play. His laugh is contagious. It's a loud laugh, and it's often questionable if it really came out of his little body - he laughs with every muscle in his body. We play with his toy motor cars, and chase each other around the house. I will never get sick of him running into my arms every time I step foot in that compound.

The kids at Arise Talents Uganda. I don't even know where to begin in talking about these kids. They have my heart in so many ways. I met these kids on January 1st of this year. It was the best New Years Day I have ever had. We went to King Fisher Resort and had a wonderful time dancing, playing, and we even took a boat ride on the Nile. Since the day we met, I have loved these kids. They make it easy to love them. Every time I step foot in their compound I have to brace myself because I get bombarded with hugs. They have a love so real. They have talent like you wouldn't believe. Many of them paint and dance. They sing, weave baskets, make bags, and their knowledge of the Bible is incredible. They challenge me to be a better person - to love unconditionally.

I hope you enjoyed some of the photos that capture some of the greatest memories I've made here in Uganda. Since I'm headed back to the states soon, I would love for my next blog post to be a sort of Question/Answer. I would love for you to comment on this blog any questions you may have for me about my time here in Uganda - or anything really! If you don't want to comment on the blog post you can feel free to email me any questions at kendallvberg@gmail.com or message me on facebook. So let the questions begin! 

Grace & Peace

Love,

Kendall

Last Man Standing

This past tuesday evening I took a bittersweet 3 hour matatu (public taxi) ride to Kampala. It was bitter because I knew I only had about 24 more hours to spend with my dear friend Amber, and it was sweet because we had one night to eat good food and relax away from the every day life in Jinja. Wednesday evening Amber left Uganda to head back to the states. For those of you who don't know, Amber was my roommate for the past 3 1/2 months. She came to Uganda in September and after her 3 months were up, she decided to extend her stay for another 3 months. The Lord put us together for a reason. Right when I thought I was going to be living all alone for my last 6 months here, I went to coffee with Amber. We sat and we talked about life in Uganda. It was clear we both had a heart for this place, and that the Lord had called us here for a reason. We were both stuck. Not sure what He really wanted us to do. Since I was done teaching for the Fisher's I had the option to go back to Michigan, but I felt I had to stay. Amber was done volunteering for her 3 months and she had a return ticked for the beginning of December, but she felt she was supposed to stay longer too. We talked about what it would look like for her to stay longer. It wasn't what she expected financially since none of us really have paying jobs while we're here, but the Lord works in beautiful ways. He provided. We found a wonderful 2 bedroom home for the 2 of us, and we began searching for where the Lord wanted us.

Amber and I playing 'Red Light, Green Light' with the children in Tororo

I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to serve along side of Amber during these past couple of months. As I continued my teaching in Naigobya with Every Child Ministries' Afayo Team, I still had time to serve with Amber in various places. Some of our favorite places to serve were at Sole Hope, The Street Child Project, and Arise Talents Uganda.

Every Thursday we would usually make our way over to the Sole Hope Outreach house. This compound is located just right down the road from our house. Thursdays are the days that Sole Hope does an outreach jigger clinic. I don't want to go into much detail about jiggers since I've blogged about them before, but a jigger is a type of flea. It burrows under the skin and lays eggs. It is important for people to learn how to take care and protect themselves of jiggers. We usually drive out to a neighboring school and set up each station. There are many jobs during a clinic. They need people to wash feet, hand out sweeties & stickers, remove jiggers, taking footnotes, carry people from place to place, handing out shoes, and education. Amber and I loved going on Jigger clinics. The sole hope crew has become some of our closest friends. When you get a group of people together, serving the Lord and helping others, it creates a special bond. 

Amber carrying a child from station to station, at a jigger clinic

Consoling this cutie while he has jigger removed. (Photo Credit: Jordan Kelly)

Another place that Amber and I liked to serve at is The Street Child Project. It's located right across the street from Sole Hope Outreach house. This project has a special place in my heart. On this compound live 16 gentlemen and 2 uncles. Uncle Fred and Uncle Eric are the 2 men that make this project happen. They love these boys and it's very apparent. All of the boys that live in this house used to live on the streets at one point in their lives, some longer than others. This house serves as a place for these boys to become accustomed to living in a home again. When you live on the streets, you get a freedom that does not making living under an authority figure easy. On the streets you get to do whatever you want, eat whatever you can get your hands on, and hang with whoever comes along. Living on the streets is not easy for anyone. Along with the freedom comes a sense of fight over flight response. You have to be on your toes at all times. There seems to be a hierarchy on the streets, so you never want to be on the bottom. If you blink your eyes for a minute, something could make you loose your spot in the hierarchy. 

The boys who live at this house have lived that life, but are now learning how to take the things they learned on the streets and use it in a more positive and productive way. They all attend schools nearby, and on holidays they get to spend time with their families. The boys range from ages of 5 to 17. You can imagine how loud a house of 16 boys can get. Some may find it hard to handle, but Uncle Fred and Uncle Eric have it down. I love walking past the compound and hearing the boys playing in the yard. When we go and visit the house you most likely will see a little rough housing, sporadic dancing, some football in the yard, and cards being played, but what you are guaranteed to see is joy. The joy on these boys' face will light up a room. If we had any free time, Amber and I would walk over to the street child project and just take in their joy. Some of my favorite memories with Amber and the boys are our infamous dance parties. I would bring over my computer and speakers, set up a playlist, and there would be lots and lots of dancing. One thing we did before Amber left was enjoy a bonfire. It was a bonfire the African way. We got 5 kilograms of meat and chicken and roasted it on sticks. Added some salt, and the meat was ready for eating. Get 16 middle school boys around a bonfire and you would expect no good, but we enjoyed a night of fellowship. Two of the boys led us in some worship, and then we followed it by a question time. We discussed different questions they had about the bible, we prayed and enjoyed some laughs. A memory I will never forget. 

During our night of fellowship. Notice the meat roasting on sticks :)

Last but not least, is Arise Talents Uganda. This is where Amber spent most of her time. I would tag along with her if I had the opportunity. These children are amazing. They are the most kind, loving, selfless, and most God fearing children I know. Our friend Dickson started this organization on his own. Now at the age of 24, he helps 25 children, and houses a few of them. He helps all these children get into school, and with the help of a couple special people, they teach the children art, dancing, music, and bible. By teaching these children alternative talents, it gives them an opportunity to succeed past their schooling. These kids are talented. Amber and I had the opportunity to help them create and film a music video for their already recorded song.

Tell me these kids don't have talent, I mean wow! After watching the finalized video Amber and I both teared up and said we felt like proud moms. The kids did great! The smiles that are shown in this video are on their faces 100% of the time. You walk into the compound and there is pure joy from wall to wall. You are always greeted with a, "You are most welcome Auntie!" followed by a hug (or 2) from each child. It's amazing what a hug and smile can do to your day. There were countless times Amber and I were exhausted, but we still made the 10 minute boda ride out to Mufubria to see these kids. And each of those exhausted days, we would walk out of the compound and say, "I'm so glad we came today, these kids have a way of making everything so much better."

Aunt Amber and some of the Arise Talents girls

The Arise Talents kids and I 

I am so thankful for all of these times I got to serve along side of Amber during her extended stay here. I'm not sure I would have made it out to all of these places without her. Now that she is back in Washington, it's going to feel strange going to these places alone, but the memories will always be cherished. Watching her say her goodbyes was hard, and I know I have to do the same soon. Now as I sit in the house alone, I can only sense that the Lord is creating silence for a reason. It is helping me have the opportunity to reflect and pray as I end my time here in Uganda.
My time is dwindling in this place. Some days I feel like I just arrived, and others I feel like I've been here forever. This transition is not going to be easy. Trying to put my all in to serving and also trying to figure out what the Lord has planned for me next can be stressful sometimes. I know the Lord has a plan, but I ask you all to pray for me and also Amber during this time. She is back home, but adjusting back to the American culture, missing all of our new friends/family, and also getting back on our feet is going to be a challenge. Pray that I can remain stress free about ending my time here, and finish serving His people as He wants me to.

Grace & Peace

Love,
Kendall

***If you want to look at any of the organizations in greater detail please visit their websites or look them up on facebook.

Sole Hope:
Website
Facebook

Street Child Project:
Website
Facebook

Arise Talents Uganda:
Website
Facebook

"Naigobya, the land I call my home"

'Oh Uganda, how I love you.' 'Oh Uganda, why do you do this to me?!' These two phrases are often found in my daily vocabulary. Nothing goes the way as planned here in Uganda. The Lord has really tested my patience, in ways I never thought would be. This last month has been trying - but in a good way, if that even makes sense. The people of Naigobya have my heart. The children of St. Paul's primary and the neighboring village have brought such a love to my eyes that I haven't seen before. Every time I set foot in Naigobya I hear little voices calling my name. As I search for the face to the voice I often see those smiling faces through the fields, within classrooms, behind buildings, or even at the highest point of a mango tree. There is something about the way they say my name, never is it pronounced Kendall. It always comes out sounding like, “Kendo!” And I love it. Besides basic greetings it is hard for me to communicate with the children, but one language we have in common is laughter. Laughing is a language with no boundaries. Through their actions I learn so much from these children each and every day I spend with them. They teach me how to work hard and how to willingly do something you really don't want to do. The children here are put to work so much earlier than children in America. They even seem to skip the crawling stage and head right to the walking. It's truly amazing! The greatest thing they have taught me is love. It may sound cliche, but it's true. These children barely know me, they definitely don't understand me, and yet they don't seem to care. Even when I dance like a fool they still love me. It's things like this that remind me of how often the Lord speaks about becoming reborn in Christ - becoming a child of God. Children are more loving than any other creature on earth. They haven't been calloused to the world around them. This is why we need to remind ourselves to live like these children. They are my role models. They've definitely got it goin on! 

Some of the Top Nursery kids playing

Some of the cutie pie Baby Nursery kids playing

Ruth, some of the village kids, and I

My boys enjoying porridge during break

The lovely and crazy P3 class 

Adrian & Baby Mark

My little buddy, Gerald :) 

I have had a couple opportunities to teach some of these children in the classroom. Their bright smiles and big eyes just stare at me, waiting for me to say something funny. They laugh and laugh, but I'm pretty sure it's just because I sound different than them. It's exciting to play on the playground with the children, but it's even more exciting to see them in a classroom setting. After all, the classroom is where the magic happens! Watching a child learn is exhilarating. As a teacher,  when you see the light bulb turn on, it makes all the repeating and redirecting worth it. Although I don't get to spend too much time teaching the children, I am excited to try and help make these light-bulb-moments happen for the teachers of St. Paul's Primary. Children have so much potential, after all they are the future of country. Going to a village school does not always promise you the best education. St. Paul’s Primary is a young school, and they are in the process of being something great. If you give the children a chance, they can really pursue. In order to make it out of the village, into a greater city, they need to know English. Of course, everyone still uses his or her native language even in the city, but most work requires knowing how to read and write English. For the past couple of weeks I have been working with the teachers, teaching them English. I have also been sitting in their classrooms co-teaching and helping come up with new creative ways to teach the somewhat *coughs* boring *coughs* country based curriculum. It's a work in progress. The hardest part for me has been a lack of materials. As most of you know, I didn't come to Uganda to teach teachers. This has been a little bit of a road block because there is a huge lack of materials - no books, internet is slow, and printing is expensive. Not to mention, the children have to write everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, for themselves. In America we have it made because on a break we can go make copies of worksheets for every one of our students. Here, the children literally write out their own worksheets, leave blanks, and then have to go in a fill in the empty spaces. They write all day long - can you say hand cramp? This has made it tricky for me to be creative. Everything I try seems to lead me to a road block. Slowly, but surely I'm finding the means. It has definitely made me appreciate the resources we have in the states. 
Naigobya is a place I could call my home. I feel comfortable there, the people have become like family, and it has a quaint beauty. I am so grateful for the opportunities that have arose for me there. They have tested me and stretched me more than I thought possible, but it's all making me into a stronger person. I'm so thankful for the kind and loving people there. I am also thankful for St. Paul's Primary school. 

My favorite sign at St. Paul's Primary Learning Center. Love God.

Taking the Step

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martian Luther King, Jr.

I can't believe I've been in Uganda for 6 months already - half of a year! Somedays it feels like I've been here forever and other days it feels like I just got here. I came to Uganda initially to teach for the Fisher family. I planned to teach for a whole school year, knowing that there was a possibility it could be shorter depending on the Fisher's adoption process. Once I finally touched down on African soil I found out the family was going to be leaving Uganda sooner than I thought. I will admit I panicked a little. Here I was, in a foreign country - knowing no one except for this family I met via Skype a couple months before I arrived. I had about 4 months to settle in, teach, and figure out my next plan. Was I going to leave when the family left? Or was I going to stay? As time went on I didn't even question leaving early. I knew the Lord wanted me to stay. My return flight was set for the end of May and I didn't want to change it.
The past two months have been a roller coster of emotions. Within this time I finished up teaching with the Fisher kids, said my goodbyes to them, searched high and low for a place to live, and visited many different organizations to find a new ministry to put my heart into. Coming to Uganda alone was hard, but when I got here I immediately felt comfortable calling the Fishers family. They welcomed me with open arms and taught me so much about putting all my trust into the Lord. There is no way I could have survived these months on my own without having them along side of me while I took my first steps into this new culture.
As time went on, and the Fishers were putting together their final days here in Uganda, I frantically ran around Jinja trying to find where the Lord wanted me to go. I needed a place to call home and also a ministry to pour my heart into. Soon, I began to doubt my decision in staying. If I couldn't find a home and a ministry...did the Lord really want me to stay - or was it just a selfish desire? I struggled with this for some time. The search for a home was a long process, BUT right in the knick of time I found a home. The Lord came through with the perfect house for rent. It was the sign I was praying for. I then felt confident that Uganda is where I was supposed to be.
Home - check. Ministry - well, not quite yet.
So, it's the beginning of January and I have a home...but what am I doing here? This is the question I asked myself for many many days. I tried my hardest to venture out to at least one organization in Jinja every day after the Fishers left. I would pray before I left asking God to tell me where He wanted me. That when I walked into the place He wanted me, I'd know as soon as my foot set into the compound. After countless tears and angry pleads, I finally found where He wants me to be. It has been in my eyesight every since I've been here. For the next 4 months I will be working with the Afyao team out in the village of Naigobya. If you recognize the name of this village it's probably because I often mentioned it in my posts from the beginning of my journey. This is the village where the Hillcrest team, the Fisher family, and I helped build the playground at St. Paul's Primary School. This school is made up of many caring teachers. I have the opportunity, over the next 4 months, to work with the teachers in teaching them English. My hope is to teach the teachers in a way that they can bring the skills into their classrooms to help aide the students. In Naigobya the main language is Lusoga, but all schooling is to be done in English. Every exam is written in English, there for the students must be fluent in reading it to be able to understand the questions. There are only a few teachers at this school that fluently speak English, the rest can speak the basics. If the teacher can't speak it, then you know the students aren't. This is why it is so important that we get the ball rolling on phonics training. School starts next week monday [February 2], which is when I plan to go and meet all the teachers. I will hopefully start teaching the following week, once I sit down the headmaster to make a schedule. I will be out in Naigobya 2-3 days a week. As for the other days, I will use them for preparing lessons, cleaning, running errands, and visiting other organizations within the area.
I am so excited for this new journey. Thank you all for standing behind me through this time of transition. Your prayers have been a huge blessing!! If you have any further questions about my time left in Uganda, please ask! I would love to share.

Grace & Peace,
Kendall

Achy Breaky Heart

Something hit me this past week. I've noticed it before, but seeing it again really hurts. I've never been one to be afraid of going to the hospital. When a family member or friend of mine is admitted into the hospital, I'm the first to get in my car and head over to see them. The good Lord did not give me a gift of words, and that's okay, I am more of an action type of gal. If you are in need I will be sitting next to you holding your hand, but please don't ask me to give you words of comfort/encouragement...I will open my mouth and you will probably wish I never did. Maybe I'm exaggerating little, but you get the picture.

The other night I heard news of a friend being admitted into the hospital here in Jinja. She is a guard at the compound of an organization that I often visit; she's always opening the gate with a smile. Amber, Job, and I decided that we would go to the hospital in the morning to pay her a visit. Now, the last time I went to the hospital here in Uganda, it was very hard. It was when the Fisher's brought sweet David to the hospital a few months ago, and he ended up passing away before we could say goodbye. Seeing his suffering made my memory of the hospital dismal. He was a patient in the nicest hospital in the Jinja district. Ever since then, I decided that if I could avoid going to another hospital while I'm here (especially if the others were worse than this one), I would. As I put my shoes on to go visit our friend, I thought to myself, "Oh, we're going to the hospital today. WAIT, we're going to the HOSPITAL!!" I instantly began to panic. With every step we took, my heart began to beat faster and faster. What has gotten into me? I even asked Job if he would make sure I didn't run into anything because I couldn't lift my head once we entered the hospital gate. This is not like me. What was I so afraid of? When Jesus was on earth, he was constantly surrounded by the sick and he never got sick himself. But it was then that I realized I wasn't afraid of becoming sick. It was the amount of suffering that goes on in the hospitals that really makes my heart ache. In America, you walk through the hospitals and rarely see people suffering, and I mean really actually SEE them suffer. For every 2 people there is a room behind closed doors. And for those sharing a room, there is even a curtain to block each other from seeing. 

Here in Uganda, there is no curtain. There is no closing of the door. Yes, there is a wall, but it's only about 4 feet high - almost any human being can see over to the other side. In these 'rooms' there are about 3 beds. Most of the beds I have seen are worn and torn. You have to provide your own blankets if you want to be covered and stay warm. Also, if you want drinking water - your best bet is to have someone bring you some from the nearest super market. The water available is not clean. Can you imagine that?! No clean water in the hospital, of all places. In American hospitals you can get fresh ice cubes all day long, if you want - can you say luxury?
After all is said, I guess providing your own blankets and drinking water is not too hard. I think it's manageable for most everyone. The thing that really strikes me as odd is the fact that everyone who is admitted into the hospital is advised to bring along a caretaker. Like your own personal nurse. Most of the time in America we tend to have our family members along side us through our suffering, but usually they come IF they are able to get off work for the day. In Uganda, there are no nurses available to aide everyone, so a personal caretaker should be there to help with any needs. Also, if the doctor prescribes a prescription, you have to go get the medicine from the nearest pharmacy. They don't store anything but the basics at the hospital. You even have to provide your own bandages for any wound that may be healing during your stay. Bringing a caretaker is almost a necessity since you are required to provide all these things yourself.
I'm sorry this post is a little depressing, but I think it's good for everyone to get a picture of what health care is like in a 3rd world country. Please pray for the sick and suffering, especially our friend J. I'm not sure what is in the air these days, but it seems like this is the season for the sick around these parts. And I'm sure the cold temperatures back in the Michigan is not helping anyones health either.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Since the Fisher's are gone, and I'm not teaching anymore, I'm sure a lot of you are curious as to what I've been doing. I will fill you in in the next couple of weeks on what the Lord has been doing in my life. He is ever present in my daily life. 

An African Adventure

As many of you know, my sister came to visit me here in Uganda for about 3 weeks. The first week she was here, we were busy running around Jinja. Over the 2nd two weeks that she was here, we were busy running all around Uganda. Last weekend we had the opportunity to venture up north to Soroti. I was SO excited for Maddie to get to Soroti and meet our brothers and sisters there. After a weekend north, we then headed to western uganda for a Safari!! It was so exciting! We headed out to Murchison National Park on Thursday morning. It was a three day adventure. We booked the safari with a organization called Red Chilli. We stayed 2 nights at their rest camp in the park.
The first day we drove about 6 hours from Kampala to Murchison National park. We finally reached the park and went straight to the top of Murchison falls. During the reign of Ida Amin in the 1970's the name of the falls was changed to Karabrega Falls, after the King Kabarega of Bunyoro. Since the fall of Amin, the falls took back the name of Murchison but is still sometimes referenced as Karabrega falls. It was so beautiful! We took a small hike to a couple outlooks, then we walked back up to the top of the falls. It is said to be one of the fastest moving falls in the world because if it's small gorge.

After our hike, we all loaded in the van again and headed for the Rest Camp. At the camp Maddie and I shared a tent. It was a permanent tent with actual beds inside [pretty luxurious for camping!]. We went to bed quite early since we were tired from the travels. At about 3:30am I woke to some sort of animal outside of my tent. Slightly freaked out, I sat up slowly to look out my window... It was a giant hippo! He was RIGHT next to my bed, gnawing on the grass - very loudly, I might add. I so badly wanted to take a video to show you all proof, but I was afraid the light would shock him and he'd charge into my bed. Hippos are not known to be the nicest of animals, they actually cause many deaths here in Uganda. It was quite a surprise, there had to be at least 5 of them around the camp that night. I finally fell back asleep for a couple hours, but then had to get up to go on our game ride! This is what Maddie and I had been waiting for all week! We had to load the van early so we could make the ferry across the river. If we missed the river we'd be really delayed for our day.

Our van for the 3 days

The ferry we took across to the other side for our game ride.

We finally got across the river around 8am, and hit the trails. As the sun was still rising over the plains, we saw many different animals. Many different species of antelopes and birds.

Then we saw the infamous buffalo. As we were driving, our tour guide got a phone call - it was his coworker informing them they spotted the lions. Many people go on safaris here in Uganda and never see a lion. They are a rare sighting. There are rules on having vehicles off the trails, and the lions tend to stay far from the tracks. As we kept driving, we spotted the lion, but not just one we saw 2! They were brothers, and soon they were to be the leaders of the pack. As time goes on, they will have to fight for the leader position, but for now they are loving brothers. [I imagine that's what Scar and Mufasa were like before Mufasa received the big man position] It was all so exciting. They were literally right next to our van, just playing and lounging around.

After we saw the lions we kept venturing - all I really wanted to see was an elephant and time was a ticking. We saw some beautiful giraffe. They are really such an amazing creature - the way they walk is so magical, actually everything they do seems magical to me. Even the way they eat.

Maddie and I

As time went on, we finally had our first elephant sighting! There were 4 by the water. Since it's dry season, they spend most of their days by the water; bathing and soaking to stay cool. We were nearing the end of our game ride through the park. We headed back to the camp for a lunch break. After lunch we then headed out on our boat ride. We road the river for about 3 hours and saw many many hippos. And we saw more elephants! I can tell you all, hands down, the African elephant is my favorite animal on this planet. They are so majestic. We seemed to be very lucky - besides from seeing the lions, we saw an elephant laying down and we also watched one swim.

Overall, the safari was such an amazing experience. I can now cross "Go on an African safari" off my bucket list!

Yesterday we traveled to Entebbe to drop off my sister at the airport. It was a sad day, though I am so blessed to have had her visit me for the time she did. Now I will have someone at home who can relate some with my life here in Uganda. 

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I want to leave you all with a couple prayer requests: 

-Safety for everyone traveling during the holiday season. When we traveled to the airport yesterday, traffic was awful and people were driving crazy!  

-The Fisher family. Pray that their adjustment back in the states goes well and they can feel peace during this crazy time. 

-Everyone away from family during Christmas - whether it be missionaries, those in the armed forces, the street children, or those who simply can't make it home for certain reasons. For me, being in a completely different culture and climate during this month has been a challenge. Please pray that the Lord can wrap his comforting arms around all of those separated from family. 

-The Calvery Chapel family, Mamma Bev, and all my brothers as Pastor Jesse passed away last week. A loss is never easy. He was loved and admired by many. 

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I want to thank you all for your continued prayers and support. I appreciate every one of you. I pray that you all have a blessed Christmas and New Year! May your holidays be filled with joy and laughter. 

Sending my love to you and your family.

Grace & Peace