Along with ministry and volunteering, also come the people you meet. I have had the privilege of meeting several different people along the way and have been honored,amused and fascinated in so many ways!
Grace-I met Grace one of the first days I arrived in Kampala. I instantly loved her and her sweetness was contagious. She had previously worked as a nanny for the Micklers when they had their youngest son, Robert, but now she has moved on. She is working for an organization called Food For The Hungry. She is the cook at a guest house that hosts many different foreign students from the States and Europe. She also is involved in the ministry I am working with called African Style.(If you did not read my previous update, it's a jewelery business with local village women) I had the great honor of going into the village last week with her and dropping of the beads for the village women for the jewelery! I met the ladies and although they did not speak very much English, they tried their best to communicate. Of course because I was the only Muzungu ( white person) in the village, the children swarmed around me and just stared. I just smiled at them and they thought it was hilarious!!! :)On the way back to the Mickler's house (it's about a 10 minute walk) I had the privilege of talking to Grace about her life story. I was curious to hear, because each person has their own trials and journeys and I wanted to know hers. She began to tell me that when she was around 7 years old, her parents got divorced. She had to live with only her mother, but only a year or two later,her mother passed away. Her only option was to live with her uncle. Aside from working during the day, in the evenings she would have to come home and take care of her uncle. He had had a terrible stroke that left him paralyzed and only able to use his left hand. But while talking to her, I saw this sparkle in her eye and felt this warmth. I felt so at peace to be next to her and just to be in her presence. She possessed such a strength and valor that I could only begin to imagine to contain. She went on to tell me that she worked as a house cleaner for several expats and soon met the Mickler family. I left that 10 minute conversation enlightened and humbled. She was so sincere.....
Lucy- I met Lucy today actually. She is also associated with African Style, but she makes paper bead jewelery. She is a pastor's wife and runs her own shop selling her items. When we entered into her store, she was very kind, soft spoken, but I could tell she was a strong woman! She went on to tell us about the land she owns and how the neighbors had cut down a big tree in their yard which had proceeded to fall on her matoke trees, killing them all. ( Matoke is a type of green banana). Her response was to tell them that she forgave them for doing that, but also that she had warned them. The neighbor offered to pay her back, but she said, " I will forgive you,God will provide for our family" As I looked at the barren yard and her strong, but weary face, I had so much empathy for her. Not that I could and can make things better for every person I meet, but I just felt pain for her. Downie and I also prayed for her as she has suffered from internal bleeding now for years. She is on some kind of medication, but she has run out. In buying her jewelery, we were able to give her sufficient funds to pay for that. I left there trying my best to think of something I could do for her....
Sam, Gemma and the KIC 20's to 30's- Yesterday afternoon, I went to a new church called Kampala International Church. After the service, I was invited out for lunch to an Italian Pizza place called Casa Roma. I met people my age from the UK, Holland, USA and Australia. It was so awesome to spend time with people my age, all from different parts of the world, all for different purposes-some are teachers, others work in development programs, others in the hospitals and others in rescue teams. I found myself amused as I sat and enjoyed very interesting conversations.
I continue to meet new people every week and love meeting them too!!
I must admit though, I had rare bouts this weekend of homesickness, but I'm sure that can be expected....:)
Much love from this young traveler in the midst of Africa to all who read....
We began the day by getting up early (or what we thought was 6:00am). Something, we forgot to do when arriving in Rwanda, was to change our watches. It was one hour behind. So instead of getting up at 6:00am RWANDAN time, we got up at 5:00am. We had met a lovely Irish couple the night before and we had invited them along to tour the city of Bature and the Genocide Memorial in Gikongoro. We got up at 5:00am (haha) and we're privileged enough to capture a picture of the sunrise. :) Amazing!!! The day was a full one, with 5 hours of travel (in local transportation-i.e. matatus and buses) both ways, but totally worth the trip.
