M Love: A what? An update.

Olyotea!
I wanted to let you know what I've been up to the last little while and also give you some good news....I've decided to leave part of me here on purpose...! That way, when I die (after having been to many other places like Lugazi), I'll die having scattered my love all over the world. (and St. Peter won't be able to deny me entrance.) :)

I've been working a lot with my little Crane's Junior class recently. I think I'm just about the most politically INcorrect teacher in the world, but there is no where else on earth I'd rather be right now.

Every time I leave there is a group of girls that insist on walking me home. I have become so fond of them, particularly Askahmn and Shamira who are definitely a part of me now and will be hard to say goodbye to.

I've also been able to work with Caroline, the little girl who is mute and deaf, at the hospital a few more times. I took her for a little walk, we climbed a tree, looked at the birds, colored some pictures, played a few games, jumped rope, flew a kite......all in all she's teaching ME more than i could ever leave with her. I can't stand the thought of knowing her future will never be all it could be. She'll never receive what she deserves, yet she is closer to God than I'll ever hope to be in this life. And for now, spending some time under the sun with some crayons and a loving heart might be all she really needs.
I try to steer clear of the Maternity ward, but I've volunteered at the hospital a few more times, reading to the children afflicted with malaria, bathing the babies, comforting, cleaning, and assisting. It's been great!

I've also spent a lot more time with the children we visit who have disabilities, including Pius. We were able to provide wheelchairs, mattresses, bed pans, and many other needed supplies to the families of these children with our project funds. It's been incredible being a part of it all. We had goals for each of the kids and their families to reach in order to get their equipment... some learning to read, others learning the alphabet, or to recognize letters, making a sound, stretching their limbs, or the simple act of eating every day. They all reached their goals! In fact most went above and beyond! It was incredible.

I've kept up my visits to the orphanages in both Lugazi and Jinja. We play with them, provide clothes and supplies, watch movies, and give our love. It has been such a rewarding opportunity. We work a lot with the primary and secondary schools as well, teaching classes on English, nutrition, sex ed, business, history, music, and so much more. We were able to put together a library with over 2000 of the books we had donated for all the schools to use. We also built a brick addition to the Ssanyu school so they can educate more children. Needless to say it was laborious and expensive, but so worth it!

The last thing I've been working on is Adobe stoves and square foot gardens. We have about 13 stoves yet to finish and only 4 working days to get it done. We're all feeling a little overwhelmed. We've made it possible for almost every primary school (elementary school) in Lugazi to have one of each, and have taught countless others how to do it and keep it going. We're so proud of that!

Anyway, so far, Cranes has been my favorite place to be in Africa. I'm starting to feel like what I want to do with my life is become teacher. I love to teach. There are a lot of things I love though, and in some ways, I feel like this trip to Africa has made things more confusing for me in that regard, and for a while it really discouraged me.

But then I realized that God has been here with me every moment. He wants me to take it one step at a time and make the smaller right decisions.... the ones that shape a persons character and not their career path or marital status. I feel comforted in knowing I am doing a good thing in Lugazi. I'm confident He's aware of my presence here. He's guided me and granted me His wisdom on so many different occasions. Maybe it's enough just to be here. Perhaps there are lessons to be learned that I had not intended for myself. How presumptuous of me to think that I knew what I'd take away from this experience. I'm fighting so hard to be in control of my life that I'm oblivious to His plan for me. Here, His love is everywhere. I'm grateful for these people, for their example to me and for their faith in God. I'm grateful to be ABLE to serve them.... I know I've already made a significant difference and carved the way for it to continue.

I just want to say thank you, for supporting me, for loving me despite my adventurous stupidity on occasion, and for believing in me.