Saturday

Saturday

We were up and ready for 730 for the bishops and his crew to pick us up. He didn't show up till 12 lol. That's Uganda time for ya!

The ride to the Mbale took about 6 hours and we stopped in Jinja to use the bathroom. I was looking out for Katie Davis but didn't see her. We were hoping to randomly run into her lol ( www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com).  The ride there was nice. We got to see a lot of the country side. It's really beautiful and full of rolling hills covered in sugar cane and tea trees. I sat by my friend Elijah and got to learn a lot about what I was seeing. He told me about the tree that we always see in Africa pictures. They are super tall and he said that they produce really good wood. We road through the biggest forest in Uganda. He said there were many snakes, tigers, and panthers but we didn't see any. Our African friends sang a lot of the way there. I think heaven will have Africans singing. Their voices are so beautiful. I can listen to them sing all day.  Timmy learned how to speak Lugandan. He and his best friend that he met Abraham talked the entire way there. It's such a joy to watch Timmy here. He has come out of his shell and is a different person. He and Abraham have become very close. They call each other brothers and already have a handshake :)  We also crossed the Nile which was a moment for me. I laid my eyes on the same river that Moses traveled down as a baby. It was beautiful. As we got closer to Mbale, we were told that Bishop has prepared a meal for us at his new home near the orphanage. I was so excited to be able to see where they lived. It is a beautiful home and this wonderful family deserves it. It's gated with a wall around it for protection. As you walk n the gate there is a bright green yard and their home. It fit all of their children and they are also adding a place for people who will travel to help them. From his home we were able to watch an African sunset. Oh how gorgeous. 

His home is about ten minutes from the orphanage. The road to travel to the oRphanage is dirt and exactly what I pictured Africa to be. It's in the middle of no where and the only thing around is little round mud huts where people live.  When god spoke Uganda to me, these huts were exactly what i envisioned. Its unreal. Children ran up to the road as the bus passed screaming and laughing and smiling. Some of us threw footballs out the window for them to have. 

I was a little nervous about driving into the orphanage. The plan was to stay for a short time, greet everyone and leave because it was getting dark. As we got closer, I started to hear hundreds of little African voices singing and cheering. I turned to shay and said "is that them?"  He smiled and said yes and that began the crying that didn't end until we got back to the hotel.  to hear them before you see them is unbelievable. The sounds is nothing ive ever heard before. I thought about what I would see and what I might smell and touch but NEVER what I would hear. Friends, nothing prepares you for what I was driving upon. HUNDREDS of small children singing and waving and smiling and so excited to see us. Running along side the van with tree limbs waving in the air. Sounds of "hallelujah, amen!" Coming from the sweet smiles. It was absolutely the most joyful, intense, overwhelming experience I've ever had in my life. All I could do was cry. And not the pretty cry either Lol. 

As we stopped the bus I thought to myself how am I going to get off.  You can't be prepared for hundreds of children surrounding you. The number means nothing until you see it with you own eyes. When I got off the bus two little girls came running up to me and grabbed onto me and walked with me into the church. As we walked, children just wanted to touch me. They were shaking my hand, bowing in honor, smiling. All I could do was smile and cry. Who am I? Why am I being honored this way by children that don't even know me. I know I've used the word humble a lot but that's the only thing I known to describe it. It was really dark but of could still make out the faces of hundreds of children. They ushered me into the church and even more children awaited us. They were dancing and singing and worshipping. Hundreds of people packed into a building worshipping to the light of one light bulb! One light bulb!  Oh how convicting is that.  Hundreds of people, worshipping and crying and smiling and overcome with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Nothing mattered other than we were one worshipping our god and celebrating each other.  The worship leader Francis ( who is amazing) sang one or two songs and then we all sat down. Bishop got to the mike and started speaking. Of course they had to translate for us. He spoke in Lugandan first and then someone interpreted English.  We were all listening and he spoke something in Lugandan and the children started screaming and shouting louder than normal. When the person translated in English, bishop had told the children that they would all have enough food for the next few days. Oh my I was speechless and crying of course lol. They cheered for food. FOOD!  What can you possibly say to that. So many emotions and thoughts were going through me. I was looking at the the faces of who ive been helping, who ive been working for. God let me see it!  It's real! It's reality and not just a story! The need is real and oh so great!  I was overcome with emotion when I looked at these faces and realized that not one of them had parent.  NOT ONE!  Hundreds of kids without a mom to hug them, without a father to teach them. They are really all alone and they're three and four and five years old. Hannah's, CC's, and Caleb's age.  Ashley and Corey and timmy age and NO family but the family god has given them through the church. 

We worshipped for about thirty minutes and then left.  Needless to say we were all quiet for a while. No pictures, no explanation, no videos can prepare you for this. Shay pinched me and smiled and said " this is real life." It's surreal. It's real and while I'm at home in my comfortable bed there are children around the world that just want a home. Children that I can learn so much from. I want their joy, I want to love like they love, I want their passion and childlike wonder for Him!  

We will go to the orphanage again All day tomorrow. It will be different because I will actually be able to see their faces. I'm sure I will have a smililiar reaction. All I can can say is waybalay Jesus!!!!

 I'm also leaning some Lugandan and Swahili words

Waybalay means thank you in Lugandan

Jumba means hello and goodbye in Swahili

Timmy is also learning. Abraham taught him the whole bus ride here and wrote down some things for him. 

Jumba from Africa!