"Remember me, Abby"

12/31/12

9 am

     This morning, Katie, Sara, Chelsea, Tiffany and I went to the baby home to hold some sweet little ones. I could stay there all day. We held the babies while the women worked and cleaned up the home. Kennedy (one of the African men that works here) was telling us their stories. Many are the product of rape, malnourishment, unfit mothers, or all of the above. Several have measles and are still being nursed back to health. Kennedy told us that the home mothers have to be ready all the time, because a baby could come to their doorstep at any time. Such a crazy concept.

     All of the people here are SUCH hard workers. Just this morning, all the children were pumping and hauling water, carrying potatoes, cleaning the porches, etc. They are on the go from the minute they wake up. Americans are SO lazy... AK

Chelsea and some sweet babies

I LOVE this picture!

MARIA!

Danmo can actually be sweet sometimes ;)

12/31/12

7 pm

     Today was the best day of my entire life. It was such a whirlwind. I'm definitely going to run out of room in this journal. After the baby home, we pumped some water for them (oh my GOSH so hard)! Sara and I went exploring around the property and were just constantly amazed. Then Eugene (the smartest 15 year old I know) took the twins and me on a tour of the village. On the walk down, he told us what all of the plants were: papaya (popo), banana trees, jackfruit (fenne), guava, mango trees, sweet potatoes, corn, and lots of herbal healing leaves. He is a walking dictionary. He took us into the village, which was so amazing. I really got to see what people live like. We even walked up to someone's house and sat by their fire pit to peel sweet potatoes. We also went and tried jackfruit at someone else's house. It was kind of like a really chewy banana. We took some pictures (of course), and an old woman named Jajja made us promise to bring the pictures back because she's sad when people take pictures and she can't see them. Some girls (especially Desire, who was eyeing me yesterday) came out to walk around with us. We were SO welcomed and loved. I do NOT want to leave. Christie said she wanted to slash our tires. I hope she does.

     When we returned from our "tour," there was a HUGE party going on. It's New Years Eve, so the village's holiday party was today. There was LOUD music playing, and the musical choices were hilarious Celine Dion, Dolly Parton, Ugandan rap, Ugandan gospel, cheesy Lifetime movie music... It was awesome (a word that approximately 0% of Ugandans know). The twins and I just plopped ourselves in the dirt by some kids, and they all just FLOCKED to us. Within seconds, there were at least 15 kids around us an on our laps. Conrad later told us that seeing "his girls" on the ground surrounded by kids in Africa happy as could be made him cry for the first time on the trip. He said "I knew those girls were in there somewhere." NONE of the kids spoke English, but they were all just so happy to be near us. They just stared and smiled. I could have sat there all day.

     We then had lunch, where Conrad and Aaron told an epic story about Tiffany's mom "accidentally" killing a duck and a rat. Our lunch table laughed until we cried. We are already a family. It feels so good to belly laugh and feel so comfortable with "strangers" in a foreign country. Somehow Conrad and I got to chatting about parties we'd been to, and I told him how much Dana and Liam's deaths affected me. Then I asked him about Holly, and he told me that she is the reason he is a Christian. I instantly started bawling. He said Holly was the only person who talked to him the first time he went to Tidal Creek, and she invited him to youth group at their house. "If she hadn't, there's no way I would have ever set foot in a church again." It is just so amazing to me that someone who has affected my life in such a huge way has also affected others. If nothing else, I hope that there is a Heaven so Holly can see how I am living my life because of her. I want to honor and emanate her every day. I am me because she was her... AK

Sara pumping water... it's HARD!

Just a cow. Chillin. Casual.

Jajja is on the right. The woman on the left was SO happy and adorable. I love her smile.

Easily one of the best moments of my life.

12/31/12

10:45 pm

     I got interrupted earlier with more awesomeness. Lunch was awesome. Then we had a meeting talking with George and Christie about their ministry and their needs, all of which are urgent. It was a blessing to see how engrossed in this ministry they are and how much they have sacrificed. Life here is difficult, but passionate godly people are what can really make a difference. I continue to pray for them and want to come back as soon as possible. Absolutely no part of me wants to leave tomorrow. I cry every time I think about it. This place is home and these people are family. 

     After lunch was easily one of the most surreal experiences of my life. ALL of the village had gathered at that time. There were hundreds and hundreds of children in their "Sunday best." Hundreds of dark faces with bright smiles. We sat and played with them on the hill for a while until we held a pseudo- VBS for them. We sang some children's worship songs and then the Bible team put on a hilarious skit. The kids were all laughing so loudly. I can't even pin down a high point of my day, but after we put on our show for them, all 300+ of them sang Jesus loves me to us. I'm tellin ya, there was not a dry eye in the house. Hundreds of African kids singing to you that they know Jesus loves them will bring any grown man to his knees. It was amazing. Afterwards, we had an enormous dance party, with a conga line and all. It was the best party and the best high I've ever experienced. Words could never describe the fullness in my heart.

     The "finale" of the big show was another traditional dance put on by the youth. My sister and brother, Norah and Eria, performed again. They are so talented. Norah's smile when she dances could light up the darkest room in the world. Today, she gave me a bracelet she made that says "remember me Abby." I had to try my hardest to hold back tears. It was the most thoughtful gift I've ever been given. I gave her a picture of me with scripture on the back of it and a picture of me and Blake because I thought my Ugandan sister should have a picture of my American sister. Later, Eria gave me his bracelet that says "super power." It's a song by a Ugandan artist named Eddy Kemo- I can't wait to listen.

Waves of mercy, waves of grace!

                           

It's a beautiful thing.