Before I left for Uganda I had a whole bunch of friendship bracelets given to me from various people to give out to children.

Back in December my friend Hannah and I decided we wanted to do something for Christmas for all the children we met in Kaihura last year on our trip to Uganda. So with our Leader’s Club kids at the YMCA we came up with the idea to send handwritten letters and friendship bracelets to them for Christmas. It was something small but meaningful. Our leader’s club kids wrote some of the sweetest letters of hope and encouragement to the children in Uganda and we all worked to make close to 100 bracelets to include in the letters.

One of my friends Nicole, also an advisor in Leader’s Club, posted a blog on her website about what we were doing. Who knew it would spark such interest among those that follow her blog. She had several people reach out to her from across the world asking if they could contribute and also make bracelets to send to the kids.

This is where the idea began. I wanted to have something that I could give to children I met while I am here. I obviously can’t afford to give them all money or food but thought it would be great to give them something that someone took time to make by hand to show how much we care about and love each and every one of them.

This past Tuesday while we were visiting New Hope Christian Academy in Apach I had the perfect opportunity to give out friendship bracelets. We were visiting the kids at their school and we had them get in a big circle and we (Lillian, Jason, Josh, and I) tied a bracelet on the wrist of each child. It made my day seeing some of their faces light up and I hope it made theirs too!

*Special thanks to EVERYONE who contributed bracelets … everyone from Nicole’s blog, the kids in Mr. D’s middle school classes, etc!*

So it’s been almost 2 weeks since I left for Uganda. It seems like it has flown by already! I figured I’d try to update yall on what we have been up to since we’ve been here.

We’ve been staying at Pastor Michael’s house since we got here. They have been the best hosts I could ever ask for … always so willing to answer any questions and helping us settle into life in Uganda. I keep on joking I feel like all we do is eat. And eat a lot, I can’t ever finish all my food and they keep telling me to eat more. But let’s be honest … you’ve got to ease into a diet of rice and beans!

All last week we were preparing to take the scholarship students back to school. We met with them at Agape Children’s Village and got their lists of school requirements and talked to them about the scholarship program and how they were adjusting in their schools. Lillian (Pastor Michael’s daughter, my roommate, and also the Scholarship Coordinator) went out and bought all the necessary school materials and we put them all in bags with the student’s names on them. We had a little assembly line going in the living room at the Okwakol’s house! Each of them received deodorant, toothbrush/toothpaste, a tub of Vaseline, toilet paper, 3 bars of bathing soap, several bars of washing soap, pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, shoe polish, socks, etc. They also each took a jerry can, some toilet paper, and a broom to be used at the school.

On Sunday we woke up early, finished up some last minute school supply packing and loaded all the bags into the van, loaded our suitcases into the van and headed to church. About halfway through church we had to leave to head to Agape to pick everyone up and take them to school. When we got there all the students began running to the bus with their belongings, their mattresses, etc. We had a quick lunch and in true Uganda fashion left about 4 hours later in a bus packed to absolute maximum capacity with just enough room for everyone to sit.

We drove for I don’t know how long and dropped some of the kids at Bishops where they go to school then continued driving down the bumpy bumpy dirt road until we reached Rena College where the rest of the students were being dropped off. It was pitch dark at this point so we unloaded the bus and helped everyone take their stuff to the dormitories. I don’t know what I was expecting but what I saw sure wasn’t it. It was a huge building split into two different sides. I think one for the older student’s one for the younger students. Each side was filled with three bunk-bunk beds. It just wasn’t homey or comfortable looking at all.

Saying goodbye was harder than I thought it would be. I hadn’t spent much time in Agape Children’s Village. Just the few days we went throughout the week preparing to take the kids to school. But as soon as you meet these kids and began talking to them and learning about them an automatic connection is there and you fall in love with them. So I definitely had tears in my eyes when we were leaving.

After we left the school we drove back to a hotel in Iganda where we (Lilly, Josh, Jason, and I) stayed the night. What an entertaining night! We got there about 10ish that night and had to each get single rooms so we could all be on the same floor. Jason was joking that it was like we were each staying in our own prison cells. We went down had some dinner and just hung out and talked for a while before heading to bed. The next morning (Monday) Pastor Michael, Mama Cossy, Hannington, Mama Florence, and her two daughters met us and we travelled around a little bit. We drove and dropped off various things in different places.

On Tuesday we drove to a village called Apach to visit New Hope Christian Academy. This is a new school that Pastor Michael is helping to start up. It is still in the very early stages, about 115 students meeting in 3 little mud hut classrooms. A brick school building is in the process of being built but is currently at a standstill because more funding is needed to complete the project. When we got there the kids were in their classrooms listening to their teachers. Of course once we arrived attention was lost and a bell was rung and some came out to see what we were doing. After a quick “tour”  of the school and meeting those that were in charge we got a chance to hang out with the children. We handed out friendship bracelets and took pictures of the kids. They absolutely love seeing pictures of themselves. We also provided lunch and water for the kids. On a normal day the children bring lunch from home and those that don’t have any food don’t eat.  

After our visit we sped off to catch the last ferry before it left. Just envision … being in a hurry, bumpy, pot-holey, one lane for cars going both ways, swampy, dirt roads right after a HUGE downpour. Praise God we made it just as the ferry was getting ready to leave. Props to Hannington our driver who navigates those dirt roads like a champion! We did almost leave Josh though … he was in the bathroom as the ferry was pulling away … he had to run but he made it J No worries Mama Keravouri I made sure everyone was aware he wasn’t on that ferry! So we crossed the Nile River on a ferry … not the kind of ferry I’m used to but it did the job just fine and we drove back to the Okwakol’s house … Oh only about 4 more hours away! I have to say though … as crazy as the drivers are here and as rough a ride it can be on Ugandan roads I thoroughly enjoyed travelling and getting to see parts of Uganda I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to see.

I can’t begin to tell you how blessed I am to be travelling with the guys I am with and to be staying with the Okwakols! They keep me laughing all day every day and I am so grateful to be back in Uganda!

Now were just working on getting all the scholarship students stories typed up (I just finished a couple hours ago) and getting all their school records and information put into binders for each child. And I just finished doing my laundry … which is just as hard as I remember it. Except this time I had a washing machine to do the washing part. I just had to wring, rinse, wring again and hang. And now it’s about to rain … WONDERFUL!

Love Love Love you all and can’t thank you enough for all the prayers!! Next week we are headed to actually stay at Agape Children’s Village for a couple weeks. I’m very excited … I’ve had a chance to meet some of the kids while visiting and can’t wait to spend more time with them getting to know them and loving on them!

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU J

I know this is long but if you want you can read more about what we’ve been doing and see more pictures on the Embrace Uganda blog. Some things should be posted there as well … www.embraceuganda.org

Some pictures so far:  

                                                  Josh and Isaac - Professional Bug Zappers

                                                     The girls love doing my hair :)

                                                                 Ready for school!

                                                         Our bus ride entertainment

Lilly making fresh mango Juice! 

Storytime with Uncle Coopa hahaha!

Packing school supply bags

Open Hands

I was introduced to this song by my friend Emily who I met on last year’s trip to Africa and have I been obsessed with it ever since. So much so that it became the name of my blog. If you’ve never heard it you should stop reading this and go listen to it on YouTube immediately! A lot of things have changed in my life this past year and my eyes have really opened to what it means to “live with open hands” and let God take complete control of my life.

Just wanted to throw this out there … little explanation on the meaning of my blog.

We (Jason, Josh, and myself) leave tomorrow morning for Uganda. I’m so excited and nervous at the same time. I can’t wait to be back in Uganda serving and loving on those kids! So excited to see the things that are going to happen this summer. Please pray for us. Love you all J

Matt Papa - "Open Hands"

To give unselfishly
To love the least of these
Jesus I'm learning how to live with open hands
All these treasures that I own
Will never satisfy my soul
Jesus I lay them at Your throne with open hands

And I lift my hands open wide
Let the whole world see
How You love, how You died, how You set me free
Free at last, I surrender all I am with open hands, with open hands

To finally let go of my plans
These earthly kingdoms built of sand
Jesus at Your cross I stand with open hands

And I lift my hands open wide
Let the whole world see
How You love, how You died, how You set me free
Free at last, I surrender all I am with open hands, with open hands

You took the nails, You bore the crown
You hung your head, Your love poured out
You took my place, You paid the price
So Jesus now I will give my life

As I lift my hands open wide
Let the whole world see
How You love, how You died, how You set me free
Free at last, I surrender all I am with open hands...
Jesus I lift my hands open wide
Let the whole world see
How You love, how You died, how You set me free
Free at last, I surrender all I am with open hands, with open hands
With open hands, with open hands, with open hands

Since I’m leaving for my trip in only 9 days I wanted to get a blog started that I can hopefully use to update yall with while I’m away. I want to share a little bit with everyone who is supporting me and praying for me and for this trip about why going back to Africa means so so so much to me. I’ve never been much of a writer; it is certainly not my forte! It’s also extremely difficult for me to put into words and explain how much this trip changed me and how much it means to me but it is something I have become very passionate about and I want to be able to share my experiences and my stories … so bear with me!

I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda last June (2010). I was part of a team through an organization called Embrace Uganda based out of Wake Forest, NC.

Ever since high school I always said one day I would go to Africa and work with orphaned children. Most people I told thought I lost my mind and would ask me why there of all places, why not somewhere safer and with less disease. I didn’t care. I was going to Africa whether everyone liked it or not. So fast forward to my senior year at Meredith College. I was sitting in Dr. Tippett’s CORE 404 class listening to a presentation about a group of people who travelled to Uganda and stayed at an orphanage. I was literally in tears in the back of the class as they talked about their trip and told the stories of the children they met. This was my chance, this was God laying it out in front of me … for a few weeks prior I had been looking into African mission trips but hadn’t found quite the right one. I immediately went home and as soon as my dad got home from work I asked him what he thought about me going to Africa. Parents on board: CHECK! Next step: Convince my best friend Hannah to come with me. Easy, don’t tell her any of the details about the length of the airplane ride, spiders, latrines, etc. of course she would say yes J

The two weeks that I spent in Uganda (even if you think 2 weeks sounds short) have made such an impact on my life and have changed me in so many ways. We worked and stayed right alongside the orphans in a village called Kaihura. Many mission trips allow volunteers to come in during the day, visit with the children, carry out tasks, and then leave for the night. During my time in Uganda I really got to experience the day to day lives of these children by being with them every single second of every single day, going through daily routines with them instead of just observing from a distance. It was so incredible to see these beautiful children and how happy they are, the faith they have, and the openness of their hearts, regardless of their personal circumstances. They have been left orphaned because one or both of their parents have died from AIDS or other illnesses, were abandoned and left to fend for themselves, or were so badly abused they may not have survived without coming to the orphanage. Each of the children I met has a story, most that break my heart and bring me to tears; however, despite what these children have gone through already in their young lives they are still the most loving and giving people I have ever met in my life.

One of the most rewarding parts of my trip was being able to just love on these children and put a smile on their beautiful faces. Something I really came away with was that regardless of any communication barrier, fear of a different race, or any other circumstances that may hold a person back; everyone deserves to be loved and cared for and to feel a sense of worth. This is something I was able to provide for these children. It was the small gestures that meant the most to them. Something as simple as asking a child’s name and remembering it when you greeted them meant the world to them. They just want somebody to know their name, get to know them, and love them. Simply hugging or holding a child and telling them that they are loved could make their day. That is something we take for granted, these children don’t have somebody to tell them “I love you” every day or to hold them when they are upset and need a shoulder to cry on or are feeling sick.

We don’t need to speak each other’s language, have the same color skin, or share the same values or opinions to understand the feelings being shared here. It doesn’t matter a person’s background or current situation; they still deserve the same love and respect as the next person.

From the first day we arrived at the orphanage, and we trekked the mile uphill to the Dorcas Vocational School where we would be living with the girls for the next two weeks, there was one girl in particular named Joyce who I immediately felt a connection with (one of my favorite sayings from the 2 weeks but so true “It’s a God thing”). She was one of the 10 girls in the room Hannah and I were staying in. She didn’t speak any English but wanted so badly to communicate with us and be near us all the time. It must have been on our 2^nd night there during praise and worship, Joyce began feeling really sick. She was just lying in her bed moaning and trying to throw up. Everyone kept telling us she was fine and they just sort of ignored her. But I couldn’t just sit there and listen to this poor little girl moan anymore … I got up and was rubbing her back, trying to comfort her and let her know I was there. We got her some medicine for her stomach but she continued to be in pain all night. The next night during praise and worship she took me by the hand and we walked outside … she hugged me and we both broke down crying. We sat down and cried together for nearly 15 minutes. We were each praying but of course we couldn’t understand each other’s words, regardless, it was clearly a special moment we shared with each other. I asked her if we could find Pastor Patrick after praise and worship was over so he could translate for us and I could hear her story. When we went back inside Pastor Patrick happened to be talking to the group … he asked if there was anyone who felt to come forward and share their testimony. Joyce hesitated but eventually got up and began sharing her story (Again, it was a God thing!) I found out that night how Joyce had come to live at the orphanage. Her mother passed away and her father left her one day to fend for herself and did not return. After travelling hours by foot in search of her father, Joyce wound up on a bus and was brought to the orphanage. She is only 11 years old.

Like I said, each of the children I met has a story and all they want is for someone to love them and know who they are. I began building relationships with so many of these kids, not just Joyce, and I think about each and every one of them every day. I absolutely cannot wait until I get to see their faces again and hug them and love them.

Those children absolutely stole a piece of my heart in the short time I got to spend with them. And in so many ways they taught me so much more than I could ever hope to teach them. I know my time in Uganda was 100% orchestrated by God. The people I met, both Africans and my American team members (specifically the “London Crew” … you know who you are!) led me to renew my faith in God and really taught me what it means to love the Lord with all my heart. I cannot wait to be back in Uganda spending time with these kids and showing them the love that not only I have for them but the love of their Father in Heaven!

Thank you Thank you Thank you to ALL of you that are helping support me this summer. Again, hopefully I will be able to use this blog to keep yall updated on things happening in Uganda while I’m away. If not check out the Embrace Uganda website (www.embraceuganda.org) and things may get posted there!

LOVE