Random thoughts as I leave Africa

During the last two weeks I have re-discovered some things about my self and discovered some things about my Lord and Savior...Jesus.  Both have been truly eye opening and I hope life changing.  For the last six weeks or so I have had the pleasure of living with a young couple adopting a child from Uganda.  Because the adoption process was taking a long time the orphanage allowed them to have temporary custody of him.  So Sarah and Jethro joined me on many occasions.  During that time I watched how people reacted to them.  A white couple in Uganda, adopting a Ugandan toddler.  Some people were quite nasty, "I know that baby", "Give me my baby." Others were very nice, "Thank you for your good work."  But the way people looked at us was truly eye opening. They were obviously adopting a child.  Their family was different.  Jethro loved to have me carry him and would say to me, "Up Jajja!"  A Ugandan baby calling me grandmother. What a blessing.  Then last Sunday in church the pieces started coming together.  What does adoption into the family of God really look like?  Even though I know I don;t deserve salvation, I can fool myself into believing that it is the most natural thing ever.  No big deal.  Then I remember Jethro.  His parents adore him.  They jumped through many hoops to get him.  When the adoption got tough and was delayed, there were those that said, "You can always try again with a different child." But Shawn and Sarah loved Jethro.  Jethro didn't deserve to be adopted, but he is.  Yes, I know all children deserve a family.  But he didn't do anything for Shawn and Sarah to earn their love.  They freely gave it to him.  He is very different from them.  But after being with them for 4 weeks he already has some of Shawn's mannerisms, and he clings to Sarah when he is scared.  I am sure that all of these parallels to the spiritual life are obvious to most of you, and to be honest...I knew them too.  But I never saw them so clearly illustrated.  I need to NEVER forget that God wants me...despite my flaws...despite my being different.  Satan and his demons will taunt me from the sidelines, but God's Holy Spirit will give me words of comfort and hope. You know... Shawn is adopted too!  What a great gift for Jethro!  His father will always understand that piece of him that wonders, "Why me?"  I too ask, "Why me Lord?"  For now, I will have to be content with the loving words He speaks to me through His word and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  But there is a part of me that wants to ask Him face to face, "Why me?"  I can't wait to hear Him say, "Because I loved you."

The first lap around Uganda is almost over

It is now February 13, 2011 and I have not posted in almost two months.  Where I live now in Wakyliga (outside of Kampala Uganda) has unreliable electricity and for some reason the Internet is hit or miss.  Every time I have tried to post it simply will not load.  Go figure!  But I write a regular e-mail for my friends and supporters and if you would like to keep up with what is happening in Africa, simply e-mail me at ginajaye@gmail.com and I will make sure you get on the list.  So when I booked my return flight to Arizona back in early November I had no idea that national elections take place in November, and who could have predicted the situation in Egypt?  But people here in Uganda are very nervous.  Rioting has been predicted from the opposition.  The current president, Museveni has been in power here for 24 years.  He is a shrewd politician but the opposition is stronger than it has ever been.  The last election, five years ago, brought some violence and much outcry of rigging and unfair practices.  Our lawyer, yes we have one, suggested we stock pile food at the boys home and stay in place during that time.  The election is on Friday Feb 18 and I am due to fly out at 12:15 on Feb. 21.  So I am going to Entebbe on Saturday and will stay in a hotel and lie low.  The boys are not even going to the airport with me, which is a ritual for them.  We have been buying food and other items and will be covered well into March.  There is a LOT of fear here and not the sense of outrage that seemed to sweep through Egypt.  But the fact that the protesters were effective in driving Mabarack out of office gives the opposition some fuel for their fire.  So how am I posting now?  Well I am at a coffee shop that resembles a Starbucks in the rich section of Kampala.  There is great Internet coverage here and the coffee is good too.  So what have I been doing?  Mostly parenting a group of sixteen boys in the home.  I have also been leading Bible study for the Women's project and telling Bible stories and singing to the kids at the street program and in an orphanage.  (kids don't care that I can't sing well, HA!)  I also try to manage the money to run the programs.  I brought a scanner/printer with me and so I scan all of the receipts for reimbursement through our mission organization, GTN.  Which is really funny because printers here are really cheap and you can get your ink re-filled for pennies on the dollar.  Speaking of pennies on the dollar, a DVD costs a dollar here.  Yep, one greenback.  In an "official" DVD store, on the street they are fifty cents.  So I have bought the boys some great movies that they have really enjoyed.  Their favorite so far was Disney Peter Pan I and II.  So I bought them the live action Peter Pan, another big hit and we rounded it off with Hook.  But the movie that has brought the biggest laughs was Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  Go figure.  I was able to get caught up on my favorite show, the closer, and I saw the kings speech.  WONDERFUL movie.  The other missionary and I had a baby shower for one of the women in the Hope House.  It is a program to give hope to former prostitutes.  They have learned to make jewelry, receive counselling and Bible studies, and have formed some new friendships.  All are HIV positive, most have kids.  Beatrice was pregnant when she started the program.  She was so surprised and the women all had fun.  I have been shopping a lot as the boys all started back to school Jan 31 to a new term and most were promoted to a new grade.  All most all needed new shoes.  Their shoes are all second hand shoes from the US that are shipped here, dyed black and repaired if necessary.  They aren't cheap by African standards and you can only take a few boys at a time to the market.  So I have gone a lot.  When I go, I treat the boys that go with me to a lunch out.  A real treat!  I have eaten some very interesting foods.  Nothing bad so far.  I have had fried grasshoppers and roasted goat.  I have had sauteed greens and boiled bananas.  I have basically had no milk for three months.  Until I came to this coffee shop I had only had instant coffee.  But I love the food and you can definitely get used to instant coffee.  Church here has been interesting.  Because I know God used a donkey to speak and allowed even me to become a children's pastor I have tried to hear God's voice wherever I am.  Sometimes it is MUCH harder than others.  I have loved being able to worship with my African brothers and sisters.  MVBC worship will be a little boring after this, ha!  Well I will try to be better about keeping the blog up to date, check out my facebook page too.  Thank you for being a part of my journey!  Love always, Gina