Uganda Bound in 11 days!!!

Deep in the remote area of Uganda, in a small village called Buwooya, stands a rickety building by our standards that is home of the Buwooya School that houses over 200 children.  No desks, no pencil or paper, no smart boards, no electricity and yet these precious children are being taught about respect and leadership.  My heart skips a beat to know that on Saturday December 12^th, Taylor Anne, her grandfather John Walter and I will begin our 24 hour journey to Entebbe Uganda.  We will join Tay’s Uncle Kyle and his friend Ryan Donald who will be there a week ahead of us.  The five of us will first assist at the Rafiki Orphanage and then journey deep into Uganda to reach our destination of Buwooya.   The living is primitive and yet the richness of the culture and the contentment of the Ugandans penetrates your soul and changes your view forever.  I am so delighted to return and even though we are going to minister to others; we know that ultimately it will be all of us who will be so blessed to be a part of God’s work there in this beautifully landscaped country that is riddled with orphans, disease and lack of resources.

From mid-September until now, many of you have given resources to take care of ALL of the monies needed to support the travel and living expenses for Taylor Anne and myself.  I called it a “giant” because from my vantage point, raising nearly $6000 in two months was an impossible task.  Our great God handles “giants” in extraordinary ways. I was reminded of this in “Jesus Calling” on November 19^th “Leave outcomes up to Me.  Follow Me wherever I lead without worrying about how it will all turn out.  Think of your life as an adventure with Me as Your Guide and Companion.”    Thank you to all who responded to God’s leading in your life to support this effort.  Our God continues to slay giants.  We just need to call upon Him!

Would you commit to praying for us during these last 11 days we remain at home?

·        Tay has exams next week (Dec 7-10) at Appalachian State. Pray she finishes this semester well.   We had a minor ER visit this past weekend trying to figure out a sharp pain in her abdomen.  After an ultrasound to rule out gall bladder issues, she got the all-clear to go on the trip (pain is unresolved but manageable and will need further review when we return).  By the way, some of you who are friends with Tay have seen her gofundme account. She is trying separately to raise her own money for expenses outside of travel and living to cover some supplies that she wants to take and some of her expenses such as shots needed. https://www.gofundme.com/TaylorAnne

Kyle, John, Tay and Patty - Ugandan Team

·        John Walter has a business he owns and operates. Pray for his wife Patti (Tay’s wonderful grandmother) as she oversees the business and that all will go well without John (and Kyle) in the country.

·        Pray for our families Jimmy and Tyler. It’s not easy to let your loved ones travel 24 hours away especially at the holidays and especially with the world situation in a somewhat difficult place.  Tay and I know we are to go and do so without any fear or reservation. 

·        Pray mostly that God will prepare every step of the way for us.  That we would be an encouragement to all we meet and be able in some way to impact their lives.  Our work will mostly be spent with children.  We have lots of crafts planned with the village children and the orphans at Rafiki.  We will also be distributing “readers” to the elderly in the village and we have an abundance of flip-flops to distribute. You can understand that the people have no resource for “readers” and many children and adults are barefooted.  Kyle and Ryan have raised money to bring Bibles and we will all be blessed during the distribution and conversations around these gifts to the village people.

Thank you for your encouragement in so many different ways.  That’s the beauty of friendships.  Each of us has different gifts to extend to one another.  I hope you will “journey” with me through this great adventure.  I’ll be blogging each day of the sights, sounds, people and places that we encounter and hopefully posting along the way as resource permits.  This adventure is about to get started!! We are so EXCITED to see what lies ahead of us!!!!   “Let them know that it is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it.”  Psalm 109:27

Uganda Again!

Precious Ugandan Woman Reading with her Readers

Another great adventure lies before us!  After our trip last February, so many of you, my friends,
supported our effort to gather Readers for Readers.  We were able to send many readers to Uganda when Kyle (our team leader and Tays' biological uncle) returned in May and several dozen went to the Charlotte Men's Shelter in June.  During June, Kyle made a decision to return to Uganda in early December along with his dad John Walter.  After much prayer and consideration, we decided it would be an opportune time for Taylor Anne and myself to join John and Kyle and return to Uganda to continue the work that has begun especially in the village of Buwooya.   Taylor Anne's heart is for the orphans and now she will get to experience first hand the beautiful people and children of Uganda.  To travel and experience these times with her biological grandfather and uncle is nothing short of a miracle from God's hand.    I've spent a lot of time this summer praying at a certain tree in the woods behind our home.  I affectionately call it "my Ugandan tree" for there I continue to have the privilege to pray over the precious friends and children we met.  Although the destination is Entebbe Uganda in December, the destination is not the only goal; it includes the process of walking each day before that time and watching how the details of this trip come together.  Documenting each step helps me to see how God cares about the details of our lives and has so much to teach us about trusting Him, EACH DAY and not just our arrival in Entebbe.  If you are a praying person, would you pray for us right now, that God would prepare our hearts and we would have wisdom regarding tickets, flights, scheduling and costs.  This is a difficult trip physically so we need to prepare for what lies ahead.  If you would like to help in any way, here's a link to our fund raising efforts and some items we would like to take: http://www.agcnc.org/missiontrips.html

Ugandan Tree

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).