April 3, 2012-Whew what a week!

Dear Family and Friends,

April fool's day went off without one trick but the week leading up to it was pretty crazy.  Two Saturdays ago, the laptop of a volunteer was stolen from the house.  It was during the afternoon and I was here alone.  I was working in my room and listening to music.  I now know that a former street boy from a friend's home had come over without permission and the temptation to take the computer was just too much.  As soon as we found out that it was missing I called a friend that works at the home and told him to keep his eyes and ears open.  The next few days were difficult.  I am going through a Bible based study on healing from trauma and abuse with the women of Hope House, and that week was the characteristics of an abuser and of an abusive family.  Very tough stuff.  All of these women have been traumatized and the Ugandan way to deal with it is to pretend it didn't happen.  I am encouraging them to absolutely think out of the box and expose their hurts for God' healing and forgiveness.  But it is very painful for them, and for me.  We cry together, pray together and laugh together as well.  Tuesday I got the word that a boy had come home with a new cell phone and cash in his pocket, and not hiding it.  So the workers and the other boys kept pressuring him to tell the truth.  Wednesday AM he confessed and we all got to work.  I met the uncle(male leader in the home) with a bunch of money.  He took the boy to the place where he originally sold it and then got the police involved to find the next buyer.  In the end, we recovered the computer.  The money...well it oiled the wheels of "justice".  I also paid to keep the boy out of jail.  So why pay to keep this boy out of jail?  He is 15, spent a year living on the streets of Somalia, and has been living on the streets in Kampala for a long time.  No parents, he is in third grade and is learning a whole new way to live.  The prisons here in Uganda would not have helped him in ANY way.  He is a new Christian, a young man who needs loving guidance and  compassion.  Has he stolen before?  I wish I could say no...but that would be a lie.  He has, but he hasn't experienced unconditional love, the feeling of family, and the respect of others and to return respect to them.  Please pray for him.  Thursday I took the computer out to Bombo where the volunteer is staying, only to find him scary sick with chills, fever and headache.  So back to Kampala Friday morning and straight to the clinic.  I thought for sure...malaria.  But no, it is a virus that he has had to just wait out.  On Thursday, a volunteer couple who are adopting a boy were able to bring him home.  He is 19 months old.  Whew!  

For me, I know have a month left here.  I am already grieving the loss of day to day friendships I have made.  But looking forward to the next chapter of my life.  I have been applying for jobs that have anything to do adolescent behavioral issues, foster parenting, adopting and refugee work.  Probably over thirty jobs, but no responses yet. If you know of ANY job openings, I am willing!  Maybe not Starbucks...I can't get up that early...ha!   But anything else, I am willing.  I am excited to transition into working more in Mexico and Phoenix with sex trafficked girls and women.  And some of you don't know that I have been accepted into the masters program of Social Justice and Human Rights at ASU.  I will start taking classes this fall.  I still am planning on staying on with GTN as a missionary.  I will be working to develop leadership training opportunities for women that I can facilitate.  I have already spent some time with ReviveMexico in Mexico City and will return there.  They work with street children and trafficked girls.  Unfortunately, I am sure that there are opportunities to serve in my own backyard.  For those of you that support me financially, you are under no obligation to continue since my focus has changed from Uganda, Africa to Latin America and Latinos in the US.  If you do desire to travel down this path with me, I would be honored.  But if you want to continue to see your donations make a difference in the life of Ugandans I can recommend a number of ways to do that including supporting the group I have been working with.  It is entirely between you and the Lord. I will be back in Phoenix late the night of May 6.  So I will see my church family on  Mother's Day and the rest of family and friends as soon as I possibly can.  

trip home cancelled from VOLCANO

Well, I am certainly glad I bought travel insurance. The volcano in Iceland has spread ash all over Europe and British Airways is not flying and the rumor is two weeks to clear the ash. S I will be re booking probably with Emirates Airlines and going to Dubai. At least my clothing is pretty modest. But I may have a number of weird stops. I went to church today with Abby and Moreen. It was good but I really miss Bob's preaching. So like I tell of the volunteers, "flexibility is the name of the game in ministry." So I am getting a big spoonful of my own advice. I went to the market today and bought some videos for my trip. We also bought some new videos for the boys. They got August Rush, The Blind Side, Hachiko, and some animated videos. They love August Rush and she got a translated one for them. If you think about it it is sort of an Oliver twist type story. They can relate to a boy searching for his parents. The DVDs cost a dollar and most are current. They are legal videos here in Uganda, but I wonder about the US. Actually I am PRETTY sure they are copies. Especially since I saw the guy copying them, ha!
Yesterday we took the boys from the street to a big soccer field. The game was boys vs staff. they really had fun. One of the boys found a tiny little kitten and wanted to give it to me. My heart just melted. The street boys gave Abby a kitten and she named her Aslan, like the lion out of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. The kids have led such a violent life, she encourages them to be not only be kind to each other but also animals. Both houses have dogs. The house here in the slum has the sweetest dog. Spoiled rotten and he loves the boys.
I can't wait to see you but I don't know when that will be.

still in Uganda April 9

Today is Wednesday and the rainy season has started in Uganda. Monday night it started to rain and it rained HARD for a couple of hours. Most of the city can handle the water but here in the slum it is really muddy. I went to the market with Abby and Uncle Julius. (remember uncle is a term of respect here). I remember hearing once that all of the clothes from Goodwill and Savers that did not get sold were baled and shipped to Africa. Well I can now say with complete confidence that it is absolutely true. We went shopping for clothes for the boys in the street programs. Abby drives a hard program and was able to buy 65 pieces of clothing for about a dollar a piece. We barely made it back to the house before it started to rain. We rode motorcycles, bodas. At some points I honestly had to close my eyes but we made it back safely! I bought an African outfit in the market with Abby's and an Ugandan woman's help. I will wear it to our dinner on the 24th. Most of the money I brought I have been using to help Abby. I want to go back to the market and buy an outfit for all of the boys in the house. If you would like to contribute to this, simply write a check and attach a note that says Uganda. You can buy a complete outfit for under $5 less than the price of a Starbucks. (no pressure or anything-HA) I also know the word for white person, it is Muzungu . I heard it a million times in the market today.
I am trying to understand the culture and religion of Uganda. It is probably 85% born again Christian. The next major religion is Islam. The Catholic church is not held in high regard here and is not considered Christian. There is a very small amount of Mormons. There are Bible verses written on all of the Taxis and on many walls.But polygamy is alive and well here. Don't ask me how that fits in. Over 80% of the people are under 30 years old. War and AIDS have taken a heavy toll.
The Ugandans say that politicians are corrupt. I know many Americans would say the same thing about our government. A man tried to pick pocket me but was caught by the police. He was severely beaten in front of me. I think I should have said thank you but I was simply frozen in disbelief. Uncle Julius pulled me into the taxi and we sped away. He explained to me that thieves are considered the lowest of the low here and are not tolerated.
So what is Abby and the Ugandan team doing here? They are helping (loving) as many of the street boys as possible. They may or may not have already heard the Gospel but they definitely have not experienced love. The kids in the slums have it better, and when you see the picture you will wonder how?, but at least they have some sort of family. But these boys wander the crowded dirty streets, huff a cheap type of airplane fuel, and become thieves. And you know what the people think of thieves. in addition to being fatherless, the boys in the Senge house have all been physically and sexually abused. When God says that He is a Father to the fatherless, who but us can be His loving arms here on Earth?

here is an old post-April about my trip to Uganda

On my way to Uganda tomorrow. I leave Monday, April 5, at 7:20 at night on a direct flight to London-Heathrow. I will then have an eight hour layover and get on a plane to Uganda. I arrive there at 7:30 on April 7. Whew! The purpose of this trip is to investigate the efforts there in Kampala and see if that is a project we would be comfortable partnering with. I will be visiting Abby Tracy and her Ugandan co-workers as they minister to street children. My prayer is that I would be a blessing to Abby and the whole team, and I can't wait to meet the kids. I have all of my clothes in a carry-on and I have 5 bags! The bags have clothes, school supplies, and fun stuff like soccer balls and art supplies. I am also taking bandaids and antibiotic creme. I will be returning to Phoenix on April 20. I am hoping that I will be able to use this blog to communicate with you all. If not, I will definitely update it as soon as I get back. So check back often and pray for the ministry in Uganda.