i am definitely in africa

homestays:
i am now living in an awesome home for two weeks in mukono.
my home is very close to campus, only about a fifteen minute walk back to my room. And I get to walk with by brothers and sisters to school… unbeatable!
i love my family (but don’t worry parents, i love you more!).

i got dropped off, literally, in front of this house that had a small door and no windows. i walked into the darkness and there were children! (yay for brothers and sisters!) then my mom came home from the school and she had a bag of mushrooms. so we sat on the floor and picked off the bottoms that were mud-filled. we were to eat them in a sauce later… okay, lets do it!

it wasn’t until the evening that i saw the rest of the house, because i was a guest i think- they waited on me and treated me like royalty (even today i have to insist on helping and taking care of myself!). the rest of the house isn’t too much. they have two more rooms. behind the sitting room/ dining room there is a room with a tri-bunk bed and a table with cooking utensils on it. there is a side door that allows for light and leads to the outside where there is a shanty for cooking under. continuing through the rooms, after the children’s bedroom/kitchen/ storage, there is another room with more stuff and two beds. i sleep in the back and share a room with my mother.

i preferenced beforehand to be alone, with children, and rustic- of which i got all three!! there is no running water or electricity, and they cook their meals outside over a fire! awesome!!
its crazy, but i love it!
i just laugh so much
and smile constantly!

my ugandan family:

my mom is a worker at ucu and cleans the classrooms sometimes at night and sometimes in the early morning. she is very kind and has told me a lot about her family and how she has managed to provide for them throughout the years. praise god because without his strength and provisions, they may not have enough everyday.

my eldest sister is irene, she is 17 years old. i met her yesterday and she is very talkative. she is very sweet and we talked by lantern last night for a long time.

gerad is fifteen and left for boarding school (until december) on sunday- i felt so emotional that he was leaving for so long (but it seemed understood in the family so no one else showed sadness). he was quiet but had a great smile and i am sad that i won’t get to know him more.

jeremiah is “head cook” and is only thirteen. this guy rocks! he has been the cook for the family since he was ten and is so mature and responsible. he is going to teach me how to make everything… on top of cooking he also goes to school (from 6:30-6:30 everyday… crazy!).

now for sweet princess phionah (patience)… she is my sweetheart little sister, who is eight. she has a shaved head and missing front teeth, and a gorgeous smile. she tells me she loves me and lets me run errands with her. we made necklaces the first evening and she put “aim” beads on hers… love!

my teddy bear andy is my little brother, who is almost seven. adorable little guy who doesn’t speak very much english. but i tickle him and he loves it. we also love to make monkey faces and laugh together (phionah too). i can’t get enough of how cute this kids is, especially in his school uniform (with a little tie too)… 

there is also a girl named winnie who stays nearby and is kinda family. she is nineteen and will only be home for school on the weekends. she has an awesome heart for the hungry, poor, and injustice. she even has dreams for opening an NGO to help orphans… please pray for her as she continues to plan and trust god!

that’s the family…

now for a funny story. or two.

the first evening before we were going to bed, i asked if i could go to the toilet (which is kinda far outside). my mom looked at me and sincerely asked “do you mind the bucket?” taken aback, i was like, “sure that’s fine…” okay, whatever, just use the bucket!?!!?! laughing at how ridiculous it seemed she let me have space and i used the bucket… laughing the whole time… crazy!!  it was a i am def in africa moment!

a bug story.
the first night we were in the sitting room and little andy fell asleep and i saw cockroaches on the wall, then one walked across his face! are you serious…
then last night i was up talking to irene in my room and i saw something fly by. i was like oh, that’s a bat. my sister said, no that’s a cockroach. i was like okay then, whatever it won’t hurt me… continued talking… then this “cockroach” flew onto my bug tent… only it wasn’t a cockroach it was a baby bat! sick. sick. sick. i was freaked out and hid my face. my brave sister laughed and shooed it away. let’s just say that i was not as calm the rest of our conversation! but i was brave… yet soo grateful for my bug net!!

so despite the bugs, which i must say i am okay with for the most part – it’s so dark i can’t see them anyways!- i love my house.

i can’t believe i am so blessed to live like the majority of ugandans and “rough” it with sponge baths, pit toilets, cooking over a fire, and seeing by lanterns.

i laugh a lot and am grateful always.
especially when my little brother and sister curl up next to me on the couch and we cuddle… precious. unforgettable.