Post Script and Some Extra Pictures - Wed Feb 25 and Thur Feb 26

Today was another day of new experiences as I went to “buy” groceries for the week for this house of nearly 20 people!  We started at the open air market that literally went on forever.  The colors of the women’s fabrics were vibrant against the backdrop of red tomatoes, yellow bananas and green avocados.  Most Ugandans are farmers so this is huge to make enough to continue your crops and provide for your families. 

 Uganda, I will not miss the red dust in the air as I cannot breath with the layer of city smog from dirt roads, diesel engines,and  charcoal grills that are used in mostly every household.  My cough is obnoxious I know and I hate it but at least my voice is back so I can greet people and have conversations with those I have grown to love.   Speaking of conversations, Kyle, Patti and I really enjoyed having discussions with the young man Hadad who took care of us when we added international minutes to our cell phones.  We would routinely see him every couple days or so and he became our "friend" and we so appreciated his kindness.

Hadad - Our Cell Phone Friend!

 Lastly, on this little P.S., the two people I have been with as many of you know are Taylor Anne’s biological Grandmother “Memaw” Patti Walter and her Uncle Kyle Walter.  It’s nothing short of a miracle and a divine appointment planned by the God, that we would be of one mind to go 8000 miles away from our homes because of this girl we gratefully share together.  Patti and Kyle have been here for more than 20 days.  I know where Taylor Anne gets her determination and her strength.  Watching Patti with these kids has been amazing.  She’s gifted and strong and a joy to be with through heat, sweat, no water at times, no electricity, travelling for hours on dirt roads, she has encouraged my heart.  And Uncle Kyle, his love for the Ugandan people has been contagious for me to watch.  He so desires to share God’s love with the village of Buwooya and has a dream and a plan to help transform that village with his friend Moses to raise up Ugandan leaders.  It’s been with great joy that we have spent much time together and some of the Ugandan’s here have shared in our “story” of Taylor Anne and they too have been amazed at God’s plan for all of us.

 Thanks to Jimmy and John who so willingly sacrificed their families to go and serve.  One last prayer request is that we all get home safely with the pending snowstorms as we all fly back to Charlotte.  To God be the Glory.  P.S.S.  We all arrived home safe and sound.  I would say "The End" but I have a feeling that it's just "The Beginning."

Together Again!

Baptized by Ugandan Water and Submerged in Ugandan Love - Wed Feb 25

It's Wednesday morning.  We leave later today.  Our last night was marked by a campfire where each of the kids and adults who wanted to say something to us was given the opportunity.  It was a tearful night but sadness didn’t rule this party.  As a tradition when a volunteer is leaving, they are completely drenched with buckets of cold water.  Fortunately for us, there is no ice in most Ugandan homes!  The kids were dancing and screaming (and Patti, Kyle and I were also screaming).  The night ended with Ugandan smores by the campfire; just a slightly different version of ours!   The water may have been cold but the warm love that has been given and received here transcended cultural and language differences and for me was a reflection of God’s unconditional love for each of us.               

Baptized by Ugandan Water (very cold!)

                            

Uganda, Pearl of Africa, you are such a contradiction to me.  Your lush green landscapes with such a variety of fresh fruits make me think you are a rich land.  I cannot properly process your endless groupings of poverty-ridden districts.  Your overrun of orphans is disturbing to my soul but places like Rafiki and Sanyu Babies home and many others ministries here make me realize that God is the father to these fatherless and has placed it in the hearts of many to love and cherish these sweet precious ones.  Your people are in great need of basic infrastructure.  Things like water, electricity, shelter and food we believe are just basic rights as humans and yet most in your country struggle to have one or more of these basic necessities.  Your people are content, which shames me because of all my “things” that I sometimes forget are just “things” and are not essential.  Your children are strong, lovely and represent the next generation of great leaders for you and I am honored that I have witnessed some of the finest, smartest, kindest and bravest little ones who will be the catalytic for change in your country.  I am humbly reminded during this visit to your precious country, To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required.  Uganda, you have forever changed me and I look forward to the day I return to experience such richness again in a very poor land. 

Cocus with Soccer Ball!

Hadid, Cocus and Fasiya With Soccer Ball

Dearest friends, thanks for following along our daily experiences in Uganda.  Your notes have encouraged my heart.  Your prayers have sustained all of us and we thank God that in some way, this trip caused you to look to Him as you prayed for us.   I sat out under the moon last night and still can’t believe that I was privileged enough to take this journey and spend these days here in this country with these people.  Two nights from now I’ll be possibly sitting watching the moon from Waxhaw, NC and will know how to pray better and how to love my new friends in Uganda.    I will be back, Lord willing.

Love, Patty

11:30 pm Enteppe to Amsterdam Delta 9318 arriving 6:05 am (Amsterdam Time)

8:40 am Amsterdam to Detroit Delta 133 arriving 11:35 am (Detroit TIme)

1:50 pm Detroit to HOME!!! Delta 1330 arriving 3:40 PM!!!

Our gift to the Founders of Rafiki, Joseph and Sara

A Portrait of their Children painted by artist David Gage

The Day Before and Still Being Blessed - Tues - Feb 24

Happy Tuesday and Happy Birthday to my sister Penny. I had hoped to call her today from Uganda but I have NO voice left, just a whisper.  I feel great though and perhaps today I am called just to listen.  Last night’s birthday party for Esther was so sweet.  She was the happiest and so were all the other kids to enjoy a beautiful pink bowed chocolate cake with icing.  She loved her Mexican paper flower the most and has worn it until it looks a little wilted!!  The highlight of the night was a “dance” off between the boys and girls and these kids know how to move and dance!  So much laughter and fun and they even had a few of us adults moving and dancing!  Okay, we were moving but I wouldn’t call it dancing.  

 With Kyle and Moses back in the house the little of excitement has escalated!  They both are so gifted with children and there’s a special two year old that is attached to Kyle.  She calls him Kuncle Kyle.  It’s no wonder because she never knew her mother that died of AIDS and her dad was the poorest of poor and couldn’t even provide for her basic needs. Sometimes she picks up the fisher price phone and says, “Don’t cry daddy”…heart wrenching thinking about that.  She is exceptionally smart for a two year old and we wonder how much she remembers.    She has won all of our hearts with her deep penetrating eyes.

Kyle and Moses took Patti and I to lunch today because he had met a very unusual girl from Texas last September when he visited and he thought we would really enjoy the fellowship.  She is here running a ministry based out of Texas called Uniquely Woven.  Because these poor women cannot afford pre-natal care, nor post-natal; they provide a lot of support through education, mama kits (women here have to bring their own razor to cut the umbilical cord along with plastic gloves, etc for deliver—most cannot provide so they have their babies in the worse conditions) and Bible studies where they can build relationships with these moms.  The mortality rate here for infants is huge and so the education they provide in caring for themselves and their children is really making a difference in Uganda.  Now here’s the kicker.  This girl is 21!!!!!  Can you imagine that?  She is the lone American running this here in Uganda along with some Uganda natives that have come along beside her.  It’s her goal to raise up enough Ugandan’s to run this ministry and then go somewhere else in the world and start it again.  I am simply blown away when God puts it in the hearts of people to see what is POSSIBLE instead of what’s IMPOSSIBLE and then they are obedient to carry out this calling!  So convicting for me!

Well, the children will be home from school in just a minute and then the craziness begins.    They have been so curious over the “farm” animal pictures that I brought from my friend, Alden’s farm there in Fort Mill.  They had NEVER seen a LLAMA and had no idea what it was!!  But the favorite is Jesse the Sicilian Donkey.  These donkeys have a cross on their back and the legend is that they were the type that carried Jesus into Jerusalem (what we call Palm Sunday) and are forever marked with this cross (all Sicilian donkey’s have this cross) so the craft was making a donkey with the Jesus Stripe!

Abbey and her Sicilian Donkey

Acrum and his donkey (Acrum was new to Rafiki last week and has adjusted well!

Tonight is “going away party” and “water balloons.”  Pray for all of us, but especially the children as we are leaving.  I hope to send out one final update tomorrow (I don’t leave til tomorrow evening) and then I’ll turn over this blessing of a computer to Rafiki for their use (thanks Keith and Debbie Wright!). 

Sanyu Babies Home and Happy Birthday Esther - Mon Feb 23

Esther's Cake!

Happy Monday to you.  My day is half over and the best is yet to come.  One of the girls, Esther is having a birthday today.  She is 8 years old and she is so excited that Auntie Patti One and Two are here.  We learned in a round about way this morning that it’s up to us to provide a cake or treat and we are sooo very happy to do that.  We didn’t want to overstep any rules by providing something only for some other child to be disappointed later but all the children get to have a special treat.  They don’t eat sweets very often so this will be a wild and crazy night.  We found the prettiest pink cake with a beautiful bow on it and had them write Happy Birthday Esther.  She’s at school right now but her face will light up when she sees the “big birthday box” on the table only to be revealed after dinner.  She asked us last night will you give me a gift and we talked to the office manager, Esther and Sarah and they thought it would be appropriate for us to give her a little something. She wants a stick of our strawberry gum!  Imagine that, an 8 year old child who considers a stick of gum a gift.  We also made her a Mexican flower with tissue paper and Auntie Patti One has a special scripture bookmark.  Can’t wait to celebrate her and have fun with the rest of the children.

Esther's in the Center with her Paper Flower!

This morning my heart bled once again as we went to Sanyu Babies Home to give them a few hours of volunteer service.  This orphanage is one of the oldest in Uganda and was started in 1929 by the Anglican church.  When you step into the door, you immediately see 14 little cribs lining the wall with 14 little cherubs sleeping; another room is for the tiniest of the tinies. There must have been 6 beds in there with cherubs that couldn’t weigh more than 10 pounds laying there sleeping.  There were other nurseries also to house up to four years old.   You truly felt like this was God’s special place for these littlest of society, mostly who have been abandoned by their mothers.  Many mornings and evenings, it’s not unusual to find a baby at the gate of the compound with a note that they know their baby will be loved and cared for.  We spent the first couple of hours folding clothes, mounds and mounds of little sleepers, little pants, little tops, sheets. The washing and folding goes around the clock.  The last hour I feebly attempted to feed three babies at once.  The high-chair seats eight babies!!  From there you wash, rediaper and redress babies so they can sleep clean.   The work is hard there and never ending.  These littles have to have 24 hour care and the task is daunting.   I can’t say I was unhappy to leave although I was grateful for the experience and the awareness.  It’s was all so overwhelming to see so very many babies who were abandoned.

One of the Oldest Orphanages in Uganda

View of Kampala from Sanyu's Babies Home

Hope your Monday is eye-opening and that you can see His Hand at Work around you.  I’ve seen Him in so many different ways these past 10 days. It’s going to take me a while to digest it all but praying that every image is seared in my heart. I’ll look forward to sharing with you for two more days after today before I start my journey home.  Love, Patty  PS - Esther is the one in the picture with the pink flower in the center of her dress.

THe Ugandan Culture - Sun Feb 22

Good afternoon on this beautiful African hot hot hot afternoon.  We had the privilege of worshiping again at a beautiful church with 1000 people.  God’s love translates very well in many languages and cultures.  Today I believe that Patti and I were the only white women there.  We had many stares from the little children.  We would simply smile and wave at them.  I wanted to share some phrases, words and customs that I have experienced.  Our ride home included a "traffic jam of cows!"

Traffic Jam!

Auntie Sarah, Cocus and Esther

·         Muzungu – white person, in Patti’s and mine case, “almost half-dead looking white women who are desperately wilted by the heat!” (Literally interpreted, it means someone who wonders around aimlessly! – I do feel that way here whenever we leave this compound, I have no idea where we are!)

·         

·         “Frienemies” – heard this one in church today – enemies that you want to become your friends or friends who are no longer your friends.

·         “To ask for someone’s hand in marriage” – the man must bring a cow to the women’s family.

·         “Squatty Potty” – I’ll just let you imagine what this is, but I have mastered it!

Squatty Potty - Best Leave it Closed!

·         “Bow and Arrow” – If you don’t have a wall around your property, you hire a “guard” to protect it. This is especially true in the village where you don’t see a lot of walls and of Kyle’s house in Buwooya.  The bow and arrow is the weapon of choice for a guard. (I really thought Moses was kidding with me on this one, until we purchased one in the city specifically for the guard!)

·         Biscuit – This is usually a cracker and probably one of the few treats the children get which is at church on Sundays.   I have seen Auntie Sarah make cookies on Saturday morning, but that is a rare occasion.

·         Table Manners – You wait until all are served. Everyone says a prayer of unison for thanksgiving over the food.  School age children and adults use a fork.  Preschoolers and babies use their hands but only after their hands are washed in a bowl of water, before and after.  There is NO talking during the meal and NO one is to ask for seconds.  Everyone takes their trash to the garbage (there is never food left on the plates – ALL is eaten) and the children rotate washing the dishes.

·         Shoes and Dress – The school age children all have their own pair of shoes that are stored inside.  There are a dozen or more sets of shoes outside, flipflops, crocs, whatever, mostly mis-matched.  The younger kids love to wear them when they play outside, but they don’t care about sizes or matches.  It’s quite a scene.  Everyone dresses up for Sunday, so everyone has beautiful dresses and shoes on for church out of respect.  The kids wear uniforms to school and they hand wash THEIR OWN EVERY afternoon when they get home from school.

·         Beverage/Food  - WATER – There are huge containers of purified water here.  Everyone drinks water or African tea – No milk (except for one of the babies), no soda for the children here.  Breakfast is bread and water.  Lunch is usually rice and beans.  Dinner is usually rice, beans, cabbage, maybe a meat, plantains.  The food here at RAFIKI is VERY GOOD.  All fresh, no preservatives.  We have lots of bananas and avocados here.  Auntie Monica is the best.

·         Our names -  Everyone has AUNTIE OR UNCLE before their name out of respect (and it does create a family atmosphere).   We are AUNTIE PATTI ONE, AUNTIE PATTY TWO, UNCLE KYLE.  The kids think it’s funny we have the same name.

·         Reduce the food on your plate – EAT IT UP!!!!!

Time to rest while everyone has quiet time.  The kids are so excited that we are doing another movie night tonight and Auntie Patti One brought popcorn, so she made “cone” holders out of construction paper and popcorn is a real treat for the kids.  They love and appreciate simple things which make me love them even more.  Tomorrow is a visit to “Sonya’s Baby Home” and Patti says I’m in for a huge treat to see this home specifically for taking in babies whose mothers have abandoned them or have died of AIDS (huge problem here).

Happy Saturday - Feb 21

Happy Saturday!!  I’ve already described one of the kids at Rafiki and there are actually 15 kids living here now.  A new boy arrived this week, Hadid.  His father just discovered that this 8 year old is not his biological son and no longer wants him.  Since this writing, I learned that his father dropped him off at a police station and told the police to tell the boy that he was going out of the country.  A few days later, the police stopped by Rafiki to drop off Hadid's things and the boy asked the police officer if his father was back from his trip. 

Hadid - He's very very bright and kind and enjoyed doing crafts!

It was heart wrenching and I pray for the workers at Rafiki, Esther and Florence who will have to one day soon tell Hadid the truth of his story.   At Rafiki there is always hope.  Their goal is to reunite the children with family even if it’s extended family.  They have to heavily weigh the safety and well being of each child which is why they work with the families to ensure safety and continued education.  In some cases they will continue to provide education costs (you pay to go to school in Uganda) for the child when they are reunited with some of their family.  The house is quite crowded and efficient!!   All the girls sleep in one room.  There’s a two sets of triple bunks for the grade school girls and three cribs in the middle for toddlers.  All the boys sleep in another room, two sets of triple bunks.  The littlests sleep in cribs with a worker who lives here.  There’s a boy’s bathroom and a girl’s bathroom, a living area that is open to the eating area.  There’s a small galley kitchen and a small office.Fausiya is probably the oldest girl here.   All of the kids got to go “home” for Christmas, except Fausiya.  Her mother doesn’t want her simply put.  Rafiki is her family. 

 

Fausiya and Cocous are the big brother and sister to these younger ones.  They help willingly with everything from cleaning, to peeling sweet potatoes, to consoling someone who is crying.

These white skinned ladies are a fascination to these kids, especially the new ones who may have never been exposed to white people.  They are constantly “petting” Patti and I rubbing all of our skin and our legs.  They touch spots and moles as if we might say “ouch.”  Our hair is another fascination with all the children.  Mostly all day long, someone is running their dirty fingers through my hair.  Patti and I have given up being clean!    It’s really not important for this time.  (We do bath every day and wash our hair too but within an hour of bathing, we both look at each other and make a promise to never posts some of these pictures!!!)

Today is Saturday and we have enjoyed a more laid back day with the children.  They have nap time/quiet time from 1-4 and it was helpful for both of us to take an afternoon nap.  I hear all the chatter downstairs and look forward to these very dark faces lighting up with white teeth and white eyes when we walk into the room because they so willingly accept love from strangers.  How will I leave them in four days.  Fausiya has already said, she will cry.  I hope not.  I pray that our visit isn’t too hard on the kids when we leave; there will be others that will come and love on them and we know we are leaving them with a lot of love from the staff.    Thanks for your prayers, Patti and I are healthy today and minus snotty noses, the kids are too.  We look forward to Kyle and Moses return from the village of Buwooya on Tuesday.  We will all spend the last two days together here at Rafiki.  Love, Patty

To The Market - Fri Feb 20th

So I learned today where in the world I actually am at this hour. I'm in the northeast side of Kampala or just on the outskirts of the city in a small town called Namugongo.  We were taken to the Craft Market today and it was really such a beautiful drive through Kampala. Beautiful because the city is surrounded by rolling hills that remind me of where I grew up in Taylor Mill, Kentucky.  The greenery is thick and lucious (we are right near the equator!) but your eyes are drawn to extreme poverty everywhere. You do have many office buildings and such around a normal city but where there might be a nice office building, but around the corner are groupings of poverty. I did see a KFC today but mostly just local establishments in the area (didn't see McDonalds or ChickFillet!)

I think the most noticeable thing I see is POLICE GUARDS with AK-47s everywhere!!!!  You are searched going into churches, grocery stores, any shopping area.   Purses, bags are searched and they have body scanners constantly on the look out for bombs.  They are very concerned about ISIS in Nigeria here.  Some of the locals say that the local police take their job too seriously (i.e., Patti and I were pulled out of the van and told we were going to be searched at a parking area for lunch and Godfrey our "protector" and "friend" was shaking his head like "really" these two white women who look half dead because of the extreme heat!   The guard kept talking and I really couldn't understand him as we were standing outside the van! and I think he got frustrated with me and just said "forget it...get back in the van and go!!"

KFC - Home Sweet Home!

Lunch at Cafe Java - We look a little rough but we can do this!

Movie Night with the Kids!

We enjoyed our time out at the market and thankful that Godfrey was there to negotiate appropriate prices for us.   We also enjoyed a nice late lunch at Cafe Java but unfortunately that food hasn't been agreeing with me tonight so I've taken a little 2 hour siesta and now feel up to returning downstairs for the movie night with the kids.  (appreciate some prayers for continuing to feel well).

THe Special People of Rafiki - Thurs Feb 19

Cocus!

Cocus!

Godfrey our Friend!

It's been an extremely hot day but nothing can melt away the precious moments spent with these kids and staff.  Maybe it's because I'm now on the other side knowing that in 6 short days I'll be leaving, so I savor every moment with them.  Patti and I spent the entire day working here - would you let me describe some of the precious little ones and staff that are unforgettable and a few of the duties.  We hang wash to dry.

I am so drawn to Cocus; I'm not suppose to have favorites and I love on them on but Cocus is just my favorite.  He's about 8 years old (one of the older boys here) and he has an enormous hump on his back and another smaller one on his chest, due to tuberculosis that settled in his spine and that will affect his growth and only get worse as he heads to adulthood.  His parents decided that they didn't want him a couple of years ago.  He was already very sickly as a baby and now the disease was too much for them so he's here at Rafiki blessing everyone who meets him.    I learned that Cocus father died of HIV and his mother possibly is HIV positive and a prostitute.  He had tuberculosis and it settled in his spine.   His little brother Edwin arrived here a month ago of severe neglect also.  He's loving and kind and smart and loves basketball and by the way, him and I won a water balloon contest and he's trying very hard to beat me at Uno.  He would be considered a cast-away in society, no good, useless but I have to believe that God has favorites too (sorry you theologians) and Cocus is one of those.  Cocus is precious in His sight.   Cocus is a picture of all of us and God's unconditional love for us.   Makes my morning when he comes for a hug...I walk him to school, hand and hand and then he's back doing chores, working hard here and then we have fun, games, crafts and EVERY NIGHT ends with everyone giving each other a goodnight hug.  Sort of reminds me of the Walton's show "Good-Night John Boy"...except it's done through hugs and we tell the kids they are loved. Then we hang wash to dry :)

Let me say in earlier emails that I have referred to Moses as the one who drives us.  Moses is so much more than that as you have read earlier, he started a school in his village.  Moses is a brother in the Lord, wise beyond his 25 years and now having him as a friend is a great privilege.  Both Moses and his brother Godfrey are fathers to these children.  They discipline, They love, They play basketball, They tease the kids.  Their roles are huge.  Godfrey is a great dancer and has entertained us with his skills!  Godfrey also has sacrificed his FAN for these two hot white women!  It was truly a life saver.  Godfrey took Patti and I to the craft market and laughed when the policeman with his AK-47 wanted to search us!  We looked half dead because of the heat and I don't think we fit the description of terrorists (but glad they take that serious around here!).

Mama Monica (the cook) and the babies watching the videos!

We LOVED Mama Monica. We did NOT speak her language

 

 but love translates into any language!

We are coming up to the busiest time here. the kids just got home from school and we start helping with homework, snack time and then have a craft time for them. Our job is to keep them somewhat occupied between now and dinner around 6:30. It's really really roudy here in the afternoon. Typical kids glad to be out of school. I can't tell you enough how much they have enjoyed the video capability of the little camera and this computer. It's the highlight of the day to make videos and then play them back. In fact, the cook who lives here is Monica. She's probably my age or younger, speaks NO english and we love her and she came tapping on my shoulder while the babies were napping and one of the other children interpeted that she wanted to make a video (this lady is VERY SHY)....so the child played the drums and she did a little african dance and she was so proud of herself. We will play it tonight for the kids and her. I don't think she's ever seen herself on video.  (SEE VIDEO BELOW!!!)  She has about 5 children in another village far away and this job helps support her kids. Other relatives take care of her children while she lives here. She loves Patti and me and I think because we are around her age and I think she's use to have younger workers here. I've been washing all the dishes for her at night with one of the other kids. She stays in the kitchen ALL DAY. You can imagine, now with 15 kids and at least 7 adults, she fixes the most wonderful meals. No meat usually. Just all fresh vegetables such as for lunch we had collard greens, cooked pumpkin, fresh avocado, sweet potatoes. The food sits covered all day long on the counter and will be put out again tonight for dinner!!!! so far so good....I've eatten EVERYTHING including mango, jack fruit, pineapple (anything that can be pealed!).....

We have worked hard today. The heat has returned with a vengance and Patti and I have done loads and loads of wash and hanging to dry and folding to dry. We are so glad though to help the workers and they are too.

BIbles in Buwooya - Wed Feb 18

Trying my bow and arrow skills!  Moses was brave to stay there!

When Kyle and Moses got up, the Guard Man did too.  We were able to get a firsthand lesson on how to use a bow and arrow.  Kyle and Moses also planted a new Palm Tree in the front yard and I like to think of it as a new beginning, a new ministry for this village and in the months and years to come, I will love seeing how this little tree grows.

Kyle showing his ability to hit the mark

The Palm Tree that Kyle and Moses Planted

The Guardsman and the Glasses

Before Kyle came to Uganda, some of his friends gave a donation for him to purchase Bibles in the Ugandan language and also in English.  It was Kyle and Moses goal to distribute these Bibles in the village of Buwooya.  Although Kyle can certainly articulate his goals and dreams in this village, simply stated, he feels led to start a church plant but that begins very slowly with raising up Ugandan leaders such as Moses and others and just getting to know his neighbors and building relationships in this community.  I was privileged enough to be there on that first day they distributed Bibles.  The first person that Kyle had Moses talked to was the Guard Man living at the Big House.  He was an elderly gentleman and Kyle's first concern was that the man may not know how to read and it wouldn't be of help to leave a book that he could not read.  When Moses asked him in his native language about his ability to read, the man said he could read but that in recent years his eyesight had gone bad and he could not see words on a page.  Knowing first hand the frustration of everything being blurry on the written page, I asked the man to try on my woman's drugstore readers.  When he put the glasses on, he could immediately read the passage in the Bible and he seemed so grateful for this small gift.  Somewhere in the remote village of Buwooya is an elderly man wearing women's glasses and they never looked so good and I never felt happier to give something so small away that would help him see.   I've added the video of the guardsman reading from the Bible at the very end of the group of pictures that follows.

From there, we went next door and Kyle and Moses were able to give Bibles to their neighbors.  These women were truly so grateful for the gift of the Bible.  Their enthusiasm and thankfulness was like nothing I had seen before.  Do you know how many Bibles I have in my house that are not being used?  The way they treated this special gift was convicting to my soul.  Once again, it was a day that I will not forget and pray I'll remember the impact.  Kyle and Moses took Patti and me back to Rafiki that afternoon.  We were anxious to return to help with the kids and Kyle and Moses returned to Buwooya for the next five days visiting, talking and meeting people.  This special village is where I will return, Lord willing, one day.  I loved this village and the people.  Life was much simpler than in the city.  There are several bunk beds in the Big House.  Some of you are coming with me!

The neighbors next door.  She was SO EXCITED to receive a Bible!