break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Hello all. I cannot believe I am starting week four of my time here…and that it’s almost November. Crazy. crazy. crazy. School was good last week. I taught the students Bible and Language Arts, and will be starting full time on Monday! Lesson plans are ready to go, and I am almost ready to go! Haha…thankful for the weekend. Last week we talked about how God is omnipotent, and continued in our study of the ocean by reading a story about turtles. They were full of questions…some of which I did not have the answer to, but I was pleased with how exciting they were to learn! On Friday, fourth grade was in charge of chapel, and we talked about Psalm 1. The students performed a song and presented a few facts that fit our theme named “Be Like a Tree.” I closed with a very short rundown of Psalm 1…there are two ways of life: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. We should study God’s word to become like the righteous and stand firm against trials, just like a tree. It was short and sweet…to the point, but I am glad it’s over! Haha..public speaking in that sense is not my favorite thing!

I have been back to Nsambya Babies’ Home quite a few times with Terri. We have decided to go twice a week and she had bought crayons and some books to bring with us. One thing we have noticed is a lack of structure in the kids’ day, as well as a serious need for workers…food…toys. Terri has some family coming around Christmas that have started raising support for paint and some other things. We were at the store today, and I found the baby formula that they use. The price is about 30,000 Ugandan shillings for a tin, which comes out to be around $12-14. That in itself has to be costing them a lot. Terri has been coming up with some great ideas to help fundraise, which I will post about once they are finalized. We did talk to the sister who runs the home though, and were given permission to take pictures of the kids. We are going to make a prayer card, and are talking about making a calendar to sell for 2012 with pictures of the children…to raise awareness and financial support.

Please continue to pray for these kids, as well as the students that I am working with. This next week will be busy for sure!

do something beautiful for God.

On Wednesday evening I went with Terri (registrar at Heritage who I am living with while I am here) to Nsambya Babies' Home. I was not sure what to expect but was told it was the oldest orphanage in Kampala...opened in the 1960's I believe. Right now it is home to about 37 children. The home is run by Catholic sisters, and we asked how they were doing the sister we were talking to replied, "we are trying." I was not sure what that meant, but she took us on a tour. There was an intensive care room, where she explained that all the children are placed there first. At that point there were a couple of little ones, and then a young girl who had been there for several years. She was kept in the intensive care room because she has cerebral palsy....

In another building there was a long corridor with rooms for infants and a medical room. There was only one baby at that point and Terri picked him and carried him with us as we were guided to another room. We were standing and talking to the sister when I felt a little one squeezing my legs. I looked down to see a precious little girl giving me a hug. I followed her into the next room and there were so many children! It was one of the saddest things though because as I looked around the room, I saw an old mat, walls that needed cleaned and painted, and no toys. There was a tv on, but not with a kid's program.

The children played well together, but there were so many that seemed to have health problems or disabilities, and it was heartbreaking. There was a room for the girls to sleep and a room for the boys to sleep. It seemed like the children kind of took care of themselves...like they were short on staff and volunteers. For the couple hours we were there, we just held them and played with them. There was a "book" that was really just the front cover and the back cover. One of the boys made up a story on his own about the picture of the dog on the cover. Terri and I left feeling heavy and asking the question, "what do you do?" Now that we have seen it...how can we help? She went to the store yesterday and got some books and cd's...crayons for the children and I believe we are going back on Saturday. I want to go back once a week at the very least, probably on Saturdays because of school. I cannot stop thinking about those sweet children though...and where they live. Where they sleep. How do you bring change? Please be in prayer for those children and the people that are running it. It seems as though the hearts are there but the resources are not...we will see what happens.

"Social action without prayer and conversion to the Lord lacks power and the ability to produce long-lasting change in the socio-economic conditions of the poor. Likewise, prayer and evangelism without social action leads to piestic withdrawal from the realities of the human condition and an escape from social problems rather than a confrontation and challenge to change."
-Father John Bettuolucci in Finding Calcutta.

a little snippet from a great book...

"From time to time as she went about her work her heart fluttered, half with excitement, half with dread of the unknown, but whenever she remembered the thorn in her heart [seed of unconditional Love], she tingled from head to foot with the same mysterious sweetness. Love was for her too, even for her, crippled little Much-Afraid." (Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

It is amazing to think what God can do with his children...no matter how timid, or quiet or scared they may be. When that seed of love is planted in your heart, it makes the impossible possible. Getting back here would not have happened without God's provisions, and the support of those He has placed in my life. Today, I find comfort in the fact that in his arms and with Christ by our side, we are unconquerable....

It has been a quiet day of planning again at school. I am trying to take advantage of the free days to get a plan in mind and some materials ready for when the students return and when I start teaching. The convenience of Wal-mart is not here in Africa, so my mind is being stretched quite a bit! But I feel like I am making progress...slowly but surely....hoping that next week won't be a giant whirlwind. I think I am going to another babies' home tonight...depending on my schedule I would like to go back to one regularly during my time here. Loving Hearts Babies' Home (where I went on Monday) had a good number of little ones! They were all about three years old and under. The capacity of the home is 25 children, and I think they were pretty close to that! I asked what happened when they got older, and was told that they have never had to move a child elsewhere, all of them were adopted out, which is incredible. There was one baby that was about seven months old and I don't think even 10 pounds. Apparently, he was born premature and the malnourished on top of that. He is a happy little guy but so tiny...he has definitely been in my prayers, and I am hoping he can recover from his circumstances.

I'll keep the updates coming...love to all.

love. love. love.

 

This is where I spent part of my afternoon with a couple members of the wonderful Hopson family (who hosted me last time I was in Uganda). Lots and lots of children...all about three years old and under. I will post more later, but I was just excited the picture was able to load!

Sunday...

Look to me continually for help, comfort and companionship. Because I am always by your side, the briefest glance can connect you with Me. When you look to Me for help, it flows freely from My Presence. This recognition of your need for Me, in small matters as well as large ones, keeps you spiritually alive. When you need comfort, I love to enfold you in My arms. My constant companionship is the summit of salvation blessings. No matter what losses you experience in your life, no one can take away this glorious gift” (from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young).

“I sought the Lord and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant” (Psalm 34:4-5).

What a comfort it is to know that God is with us always…when times are good and when times are difficult. Right now, I am feeling a little bit of both. I love teaching and being at school, but fear that I will be so caught up in working that I will forget where I am and where he has brought me…back to Africa. The image of being “enfolded” in his arms is also huge. I have met wonderful people and am making new friends here at Heritage…as well as catching up with old ones, but I still know that I am away from home and loved ones, which can become very discouraging if I let it. That is one thing I have been praying for…that I would not fall into discouragement, but fulfill the purposes God has for me while I am here. And I am without a doubt that teaching is one of them.

I have this week off of school, which will be so good for planning and trying to get ahead in work. But I also want to really experience this culture that is all around me. Tomorrow I have an opportunity to go work in a babies’ home, so please pray that the opportunity remains and I am able to go. I have already been told by Adam (and other people) that I am not allowed to bring one home. :) Not this time around anyway…I am looking forward to helping out where I can and just loving on the precious children. Also, because of certain circumstances that are quite sad, I do not think I will be going back to Mama Mary’s (the orphanage I worked at last time). Details are vague, but please be in prayer for her and all the children she has cared for.

I will try to keep the updates coming…I miss you all and hope you are doing well, all the way across the ocean. :)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).

rain. rain. go away.

Hello friends. It is definitely rainy season here and I got to walk to school in it today...kind of refreshing actually, minus the dirt. Wore the wrong shoes...and an umbrella would be helpful except I forgot it on my desk at IWU. Way to go Kirsten. Today is a professional development day at school...no students and next week we have off for midterm break. It will be nice to relax...catch up on some sleep...get ahead in planning. All that good stuff. :) Last night we had a fun encounter with a mouse and a giant spider....not a fan of either. The mouse is still on the loose but the spider is no more thanks to my housemate's killing skills. :) I am sure there will be many more to come...I will try to write more later but for now it's off to the meeting! Miss you all so much!

The beginning...

Well...I am starting to feel a little more settled in. There were some things I did not really think about...like what Iwas going to eat...how I was going to get around. I have not yet had my first taxi adventure but I have ridden a boda (motorcycle taxi) already, and walk EVERYWHERE. Good thing I live close to the school! Adjusting to a new culture is always hard, and this time doing it alone has proved to be even more of a challenge. But God holds true to his promises, ALWAYS, and I am already feeling better than I did when I first got here. Lots to think about in the classroom and being effective there, but also lots to think about as far as living here. crazy. crazy. crazy. But I am learning a lot. The teachers here have been so welcoming, and my supervising teacher is awesome. For that I am grateful.

I love my fourth graders and they are so well behaved. They call me Miss Kirsten which is a change from the States. :) They have fall break next week which will be so wonderful because it will give me lots of time to plan, and catch up with some friends from the last time I was here! We are starting a unit on oceans with Language Arts and Science and I am super excited...already got the ideas flowing. I would love to be able to post pictures because the classroom will eventually be all decked out like an ocean (school-wide competition...each grade has a different biome), but the internet here may not allow it.

I have been recruited to help choreograph for their winter musical..."A Christmas Carol" which is pretty exciting. Originally, I was supposed to be helping out, but now they are asking me to run a rehearsal once a week on my own...for one of the songs that will be performed. More planning! Dancing is definitely something I miss though and am excited to be able to share that with some of girls here at Heritage.

On October 28, fourth grade is in charge of running the chapel service, so I have been working with my supervising teacher on that. We are presenting Psalm 1, which the students have previously memorized. They will be giving information about a tree and growing fruit, and I have spent a good portion of the afternoon cutting out leaves to make a tree! My artistic skills are growing each day. :) They have a couple of songs to sing as well, and then guess who the closing speaker is...uhhh me. Ahhh! Only a short little bit to wrap things up, but it is for the K-6 service, so prayers will definitely be appreciated. I hope I can bring some truth for these little ones that they will remember. :)

That's all for now...I told myself I would not blog this time...but you all got me. Miss you all!