yesterday started as one of those days that absolutely HAS to get better....no power in my house, no power in illona and andrew's house, the van in the shop for $650 of repairs, a rental car fee, the chicken needing to be cooked for the picnic had leaked in the trunk of the rental car creating a major stink and a horde of flies....meaning we had to pull out and scrub the carpeting, andrew kept getting lost on the way to peter's house (peter is a documentary film director) and all before 10 am!
but, as always....the worst day can turn into the BEST DAY EVER in a matter of moments. we arrived at the safe house to be greeted by hugs and smiles from 30 kids, all anxiously awaiting a picnic, though no one knew what a picnic is! we realized there were many new faces. it seemed that some of the kids who leave the house during hte day to look for food and money on the streets had decided to stay at the house for the picnic. what a blessing!
we prayed and sang and praised and decided to make our way to the vacant lot where the picnic was to be held. it suddenly dawned on me that 2 boys were holding my hands...helping me through the village (i was the main attraction for the day)....2 boys who 2 weeks earlier were skeptical of me were now my friends. thank you Jesus.
we had chicken and watermelon and bread and cookies and coke.....a feast...and they had enough food for last night's supper. all ate and some napped with full tummies. we'd brought soccer balls so most of the boys decided to play soccer. we "girls" played some sort of keep-a-way...thought they told me the rules in luganda and i didn't ever understand why i was always the one in the middle and everyone thought it was funny. peter said i couldn't throw a ball very well...easy for him to say, he didn't play! he did manage to take a full series of pics with me tripping, getting dizzy and making strange faces, thanks peter :(
the girls asked if i would buy sugar cane for a treat....sure...how much could it be for 30? can't be much....ok $2.51 is a real bargain, though i'm thinking it is not a treat approved by the american dental association. then the girls wanted to play beauty shop....i gave them each a burt's bees lip gloss and then they brushed (and brushed and brushed) my hair. they like that it is fine and soft and they never tire of playing with it. (the little kids pet me like a dog) the girls wanted to cut my hair, but fortunately we didn't have any scissors..thank you Jesus! we returned to the safe house and said our goodbyes and promised next week there will be popcorn and ????, who knows. patrick said i should teach the english class next week, but peter thinks my slang is not 'proper' enough....well, i've ranted about that already this week, so won't revisit my wrath against folks who trash talk american english.
oh, btw, foghorn left home....he stayed here less than 24 hours. he is living at my neighbor's and continues to cock-a-doodle-doo all day and night. apparently he did not approve of the bread and water i fed him...apparently he had not heard the words "free range" before...apparently he wanted cake (seriously, a big DON'T WE ALL?)
tomorrow we will work on our video of the street kids....can't wait! the finished product will be a way to create awareness for the children who have been disappointed by families and by society. these stories are stories of survival...homelessness, abuse, hunger, danger.....but also, and this is SO IMPORTANT... of HOPE....in this case Raising Up Hope Uganda...the man, ssenyonja patrick, who started rescuing street children at 17 and who now, at age 22, cares for and loves 150 kids. just watching patrick with the kids is a lesson in love and sacrifice and faith. y'all need to come and meet him....he carries the cross every day of his life. thank you Jesus.
kathy
but, as always....the worst day can turn into the BEST DAY EVER in a matter of moments. we arrived at the safe house to be greeted by hugs and smiles from 30 kids, all anxiously awaiting a picnic, though no one knew what a picnic is! we realized there were many new faces. it seemed that some of the kids who leave the house during hte day to look for food and money on the streets had decided to stay at the house for the picnic. what a blessing! 
we prayed and sang and praised and decided to make our way to the vacant lot where the picnic was to be held. it suddenly dawned on me that 2 boys were holding my hands...helping me through the village (i was the main attraction for the day)....2 boys who 2 weeks earlier were skeptical of me were now my friends. thank you Jesus.
we had chicken and watermelon and bread and cookies and coke.....a feast...and they had enough food for last night's supper. all ate and some napped with full tummies. we'd brought soccer balls so most of the boys decided to play soccer. we "girls" played some sort of keep-a-way...thought they told me the rules in luganda and i didn't ever understand why i was always the one in the middle and everyone thought it was funny. peter said i couldn't throw a ball very well...easy for him to say, he didn't play! he did manage to take a full series of pics with me tripping, getting dizzy and making strange faces, thanks peter :(
the girls asked if i would buy sugar cane for a treat....sure...how much could it be for 30? can't be much....ok $2.51 is a real bargain, though i'm thinking it is not a treat approved by the american dental association. then the girls wanted to play beauty shop....i gave them each a burt's bees lip gloss and then they brushed (and brushed and brushed) my hair. they like that it is fine and soft and they never tire of playing with it. (the little kids pet me like a dog) the girls wanted to cut my hair, but fortunately we didn't have any scissors..thank you Jesus! we returned to the safe house and said our goodbyes and promised next week there will be popcorn and ????, who knows. patrick said i should teach the english class next week, but peter thinks my slang is not 'proper' enough....well, i've ranted about that already this week, so won't revisit my wrath against folks who trash talk american english.
tomorrow we will work on our video of the street kids....can't wait! the finished product will be a way to create awareness for the children who have been disappointed by families and by society. these stories are stories of survival...homelessness, abuse, hunger, danger.....but also, and this is SO IMPORTANT... of HOPE....in this case Raising Up Hope Uganda...the man, ssenyonja patrick, who started rescuing street children at 17 and who now, at age 22, cares for and loves 150 kids. just watching patrick with the kids is a lesson in love and sacrifice and faith. y'all need to come and meet him....he carries the cross every day of his life. thank you Jesus.
kathy
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