Making Mandaz

I asked our security guard to teach us how to make Mandaz (African donuts). We had made so many that I thought it would be fun to give them out to our neighbors and tell them Jesus loves them in their language...

Rose Nakasi

Rose’s mother died, and her father remarried. Her step-mother beat her and didn’t care for her. Rose’s father brought her to Hope Children’s Home so that she could be taken care of properly. This young lady seems to bubble over with joy and giggles most of the time. If you make eye contact with her, you will be sure to receive a smile back.

"Ordinary" life in Uganda

Is it possible that living in Africa can seem normal or ordinary? It struck me the other day as I was driving down the road that there is very little that surprises me here now. After 6 months of living in Uganda, the only thing that really surprises me is the fact that the surroundings don’t seem at all strange any more. Sure, it still irks me when people dump their garbage bags in my drive way. It still bugs me a little bit when grown men shout “Muzungu!” (which means “white person”) at me as loud as they can for no apparent reason other than to distract me from the pot holes and ruts I’m trying to drive through. It is incredibly inconvenient when the power goes off just as I place the chicken into the stove (the chicken I’ve been saving all week for just the right day). I still have to laugh when I see a queen sized wood bed frame going down the road on the back of a motorcycle or swerve to miss the cow standing in the middle of the highway.

Before we came here, I was concerned that driving would be very difficult. Now, I can drive down any street holding a cup of hot coffee in one hand while carrying on an in depth conversation. It is truly amazing to me how we as people can adjust to new surroundings and situations. The problem with this, though, is that we can get desensitized to the surroundings, too. For instance, as we go out to visit with the kids at Hope, it’s easy to take for granted their warm smiles, their incredible sense of humor, and the big bear hugs. During the last team visit in January, I was really reminded of what an incredible privelage it is to work here with these kids. Seeing people from the states brought into the culture and environment I’ve grown “used” to was very refreshing and renewed my perspective on the work that we are doing.

If it’s possible for Africa to become “normal”, despite all the differences between this culture and our culture back home, how much easier is it to take for granted all the blessings that we have back in the “civilized” world. Perhaps there are things in your life that have become too normal or bland and you are in need of some refreshing. I suspect that if you were to bring one of our kids from Uganda to live with you for 1 week, you would be amazed to see how many incredible things there are in your world that you consider normal (like flushing toilets, microwave ovens, and the supermarkets you shop in, just to name a few). Take a step back and look at your life. Be thankful for the simple things. Be thankful for the ones that you love and the ones that love you. Be thankful that you have running water and power! Look at all the amazing “normal” things that you see around you every day.

Below is a short video clip of our very "un-ordinary", talented kids at Hope practicing for a wedding performance. Enjoy!

Justine Namirembe 11

Justine’s mother and father are separated. Her mother is a born-again Christian, but her father doesn’t care for the family. Justine has 6 siblings and they are very poor – her mother has a difficult time trying to provide for all of them. Justine is a quiet, gentle thoughtful young lady. I treasure her shy smile that she gives me, when I look at her and smile.

Brenda Namaganda 12

Brenda doesn’t know anything about her mother or her father, and isn’t sure if she has any siblings. She was abandoned on the streets, where she was found eating dirty things, and didn’t have a place to sleep or bathe. Brenda found herself a home at Hope, and is grateful to be surrounded by people who really love her.

When God shows up!

We went to a church in Wakiso village today. God showed up! The Holy Spirit brought joy and laughter to the pastor and when praying for the sick many walked away totally free of pain and sickness. One woman was very discouraged and after getting prayer she came up to me and said, "I feel good and I am not discouraged any more"! God is so good!

It also brought me great joy today to watch our son Wesley carry around a newly hatched chick (just one day old). I wish you could have seen his face, he was in heaven.

Love never Fails!

Now that we have reached the half way mark in our year here to serve Show Mercy International I have been doing a lot of reflecting. I have so many emotions and thoughts about our time spent here so far. The most predominate thought that keeps coming to my mind is how different the children are out at Hope Children’s Home now compared to what they were like when we first arrived.

I can remember when we first arrived how many little eyes would just blankly look at us from afar with intense wondering hearts; who are these people?, can I trust them?, will they love me?, what are they like? I spent much of my time (and still do) just sitting with various groups of children talking and getting to know their personalities and of course learning numerous tongue twisting Luganda words and making them laugh as I attempted to pronouns them, all the while trying to teach them to love one another. In this process I would wonder if I could possibly be making a difference in their little hearts.

Now after five months, as we drive through the gate at Hope Children’s Home, many children run to the car to greet us. Many smiles are given and I can hardly get out of the car because they want to be the first one to hug me and smell the perfume I am wearing. As I make my way to the home (with one child still hanging on my waist from the hug they are still giving me), I have more children running up to me to give me a long, healthy hug. Now, they are telling me that they love me so, so much several times a day and are saying “we need more Aunt Heather’s there is not enough of you for all of us”.

The most recent “sign” to me that yes we are making a difference and yes they are being loved, was while we were out at Hope Children’s Home the other day. I was walking past our car and I found these words written on the window of our car "We love you Heather". My heart...was so touched. Love never fails!

~Heather

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