Hey Everyone!
So every so often we have we like to call a 'fun night' at base. We have fun nights to try and raise funds for the base. SSo in preparation for this said"fun night" and then a group of us all of the sudden got an extreme amount of energy and had this crazy idea to call my leader, ( Masiu) and tell him that we wanted to perform a dance tonight. he laughed ( not reassuring). but whilst laughing he agreed. So we all got really excited to do such dance. this excitement lasted until we entered the room where the fun night was.( where essentially the entire base was) Once we saw all the people, that changed. We all looked at each other shared a similar glance ( as in pure fright) and then mouthed the words "no way" We were all hoping that Masiu wouldn't inform everyone of our dance... we were on edge for so long. Then we saw Masiu stand up total to the MC ( person in charge) our hearts were racing. After amazing dances occurred, the best one being right before us ( of course), they announced that there was a special surprise.... awesome,great lead up. We walked up on stage and Naomi, kept saying over and over and over ( i might add) that she hated me. ( great start ) So they started our music and it was us 3 muzungus standing there in front of everyone while we waited for our music. Then we started dancing. After our many attempts at shaking our hips and looking good while doing it, the music stopped ( Praise God) Funny thing was, I had just taught tee( one of the girls on Year For God with me) the dance an hour prior and Naomi had only done it once. It was enjoyable. We succeeded though and got a decent amount of claps afterwards. Job well done, I'd say. I told Naomi that she must repent for saying she hated me, because i could tell she had fun. she wouldn't do it. I'll pray for her.
Earlier this week on Monday, I got some very upsetting news. I got the news that one of my friends from my youth group, had past away in a rock climbing accident. I didn't want to believe it, and I don't think it fully set in until I started receiving the emails from everyone telling me what had happened. I found all of this out while I was in town. I sat in front of the computer screen covering my mouth in an attempt to muffle my sobs. Tears were streaming down my face. I had NO ONE to comfort me or give me a hug, for I came into town by myself. Luckily, I have a friend who works at the cafe I was in. I went up to her and she saw me crying and asked what was wrong, I told her. Harder to tell someone what had happened than it was read it, for it was just another reminder of what had happened. I really wanted nothing more than to be back at base in the comfort of my friends. I texted my two best friends ( Judith and Franco) telling them what had occurred and to be praying for me. Franco then called me and said that he was in town and asked where I was, I told him, and he did was any good friend would do: no talking, just hugging. All I could have asked for. I felt anger and rage that first night towards God. "why would you take yet another person from my life?" "especially Kevin, why him?" It didn't seem fair at all. After a very long night of crying, and praying, I felt free. Not free in the sense of no pain, but just free. The next day brought many tears especially during intercession, but that was followed by the amazing Skype dates that I had with friends back home. I couldn't have have asked for anything better, it was just what was needed. I am now living my days in highs and lows. I will have highs in which i feel happy and content( not with what happened just in general) and then I will have lows, where I cannot mange to stop crying no matter what happens. loving everyone back home, who are going through this as well, love all of you.
I recently went to a proper "football" game! man oh man was it awesome! I got all "dolled" up in my attire. which consisted of my Uganda jersey ( which I had bought in September, but never wore until now), a yellow tank top and my yellow ray ban! yea I looked so legit! I also got my face painted, I am pretty sure it looks 100 times better on a white face ( pr that is what I tell myself). I took great pride in yes being a muzungu but also being a huuuuuuuge fan of Soccer, which made it all the more fun. I made the stadium more international :) BUT the game was very fun. The game was Uganda vs. Senegal. It was a WQC game, which is a World Qualifying Cup Game, which apparently is big deal here. oh well. I just fully enjoyed cheering as if it was my high school home team and getting so into the game. I am told that it is refreshing to have someone, yes white, but also having them know what is going on an cheering on the team. It means a lot. I loved hearing that. I was a very long day though, leaving base at 10, arriving in Kampala at 12 and returning to base around 10 at night. wow oh wow, But it was an amazing day :)
As I was teaching my VTS girls (aka my daughters) back in Jinja, one of them said "Madam Tess, you are getting so small!" Of course I took that as a compliment and wanted to give extra credit... I later found out that by saying this is the equivalent of us (muzungus) saying "Wow, you are getting so fat!" this is because being small in their culture is not seen as good. The bigger you are the more attractive you are. Diets for sure don't exist out here. haha. none the less, if I am getting even the smallest bit smaller, ill take it....even if they mean it in a mean way :)
This past Thursday, I went to the prison with only two other members on our team because Masiu, our leader, is preparing for his family to go to Canada. So that left us with no driver... so Masiu hired one of the guys around base to drive us, so we went to prison...half an hour late. I was the preacher of the day... so nervous. 1. because public speaking scares the beejeezus out of me and 2. because i was preaching in front of one person whom I have never preached in front of before. But none the less, I went up in front of the women's side and preached. Later on the ride home, Becky one of the members of my team told me "Tess, let me just say you did amazing!" and then another agreed saying "Yea, I have heard someone preach on that before, but never have I heard it put like you put it. Thank you" I felt so empowered. I felt empowered because I KNEW that it wasn't me preaching but God preaching through me!!
I took a visit to Soroti, Uganda, which is about a 5 hour bus ride from Jinja. I wanted to see where my two friends Becca and Tee were working. They are working at a Childrens home at the YWAM Soroti base, it is called Amecet. What this Childrens home is primarily for is for HIV positive babies and kids with the occasional few that have been orphaned. I now see why they didn't come back to Jinja. I have only been here for a day but I have already fallen in love with the kids. They are all just friendly even to a complete outsider who is just staying for the weekend. My heart is being taken on a ride of its life right now. Today, I got to watch as they fed a 4 month premature, 3 1/2 week old , 2 pound baby. Wow! As I watched Tee fill a syringe with milk and then feed him through the tiny green tube attached to his nose I was literally in awe of how much of a miracle this baby is. She slowly slowly slowly pushed the milk through and you could see by the response of Jesse(the baby) that he was receiving it. It was an experience that i will never forget. So blessed. I am currently in the internet room on my computer right now, and little toddlers who are just learning to walk come and find me and say "auntie auntie" with their arms held up to be held. Such a dream. Really makes you want a baby... don't worry though i'm in no rush. :) I have been so blessed being a visitor for once. I get to see Becca and Tee's hearts for the kids and how they have made them their family. It is a different side to them I didn't see in Jinja, I love it. Tonight we are having Spaghetti!! woot! kind of really excited for this, especially since the best meal at base in Jinja would be irish and rice.... umm yea I'll take the Spaghetti :) Really excited. Oh! also today in the market Tee and I split the cost of fabric and each got a skirt made....really excited to see how that turns out....fingers crossed!! I do miss Jinja....a lot and all the people there but it is good to get a breath of fresh air and take a break once in a while.
{the photo is of me and Tee and two of the adorable kids here in Soroti}
Sorry for this blog being so late, but I have actually been quite busy with my now 4 ministries!! These ministries are: 1. The VTS, for whom I teach the Cherish program(Abstinence and finding your true value in Christ), I teach them math, and am now helping with the baking program. 2. I am working with Discovery Centre, I joined their school ministry team. I absolutely adore the little kids we minister to each time. They love having visitors and it seems like they true do receive what is spoken to them. 3. Evangelism Team - Going to Prison. and 4. I am going to start going to this Street Kids home in which I will home school some of the little boys who have just been taken off the streets, so I will be teaching them and then playing soccer with them on Sundays! It is going to be fun...hopefully :)
Wish I could tell you everything that I do out here, but you'll just have to wait and see what is yet to come in the next blog....that makes me blog seem like a TV series... "stay tuned for next weeks episode!".... but yea that is basically it haha
until next time!
~Tess
p.s. I have less than 4 weeks left in Uganda! How crazy is that??? I don't want to leave but I also really really want to.... hmmm problematic.
p.p.s. This is my shout out to....the one... the only.... Cameron Bannister Weber!!
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