Hello friends!
Apologies for the long overdue update. After 4 delayed flights and 1 delayed bus, I finally arrived in Gulu, Uganda on December 4th. The first couple of weeks I spent figuring out what my role will look like, as well as spending time with the 11 girls at the safe home. After the first couple of weeks, things slowed down as Christmas approached, but tomorrow we will resume work as usual.
My role with Zion is one that I am very excited about. One of my tasks will be obtaining a license for the children’s home. Things are a little funny here in that you have to already be operating before you can get permission to operate. So far it has required some meetings with child protection officers, as well as meetings with other children’s homes who have already been through the process. Over the next few months it means filling out a long application, attaching copies of important documents like our NGO status, establishing something like a board of directors composed of local officials, and getting letters of recommendation from local officials and a health inspector. Another task is helping Sarita manage the PEPFAR grant which is funding various things for the counseling center and the safe home (Sarita is the founder & director of Zion so you’ll hear me mention her often). I am excited about helping with the grant because it’s something I studied in school but have not had much experience putting into practice. My other main role is with the girls at the children’s home. I want to be a regular presence in their lives and will probably spend at least 3 afternoons a week with them. I want to be an example of God’s love for them as well as teaching them things that will be practical for them in the future (like English). In addition, the women employed in beading necklaces at the counseling center are currently attending a parenting class, but in the future I may have the opportunity to begin an English class with them.
Some highlights of the past month include:
Being reunited with the staff of Every Child Ministries, who I worked with last year. We went out to Tegot Village on Dec. 18th for Christmas with the sponsored children that I tutored last year. ECM distributed gifts (soap, cooking supplies, and food) to each child and their family. The moms of the sponsored kids got each staff member of ECM a chicken, and I also received a big casava root and some sim sim (sesame seeds). The children had just gotten their report cards so I was able to see some of the progress they have made since Melissa and I left…most of them are doing really well, and some of them are in the top 10 children out of 100+ in a class! I am excited to continue working part time with ECM by going with them to sponsorship club every Saturday.
Of course, being reunited with the girls at the children’s home. They have all just completed their first year in school and they all did really well! Melissa and I (among others) worked very hard to prepare them for school and it has paid off. When we left a year ago, they spoke mostly Swahili (in addition to their tribal languages from Congo) but now they have learned Acholi (the local language) and have also picked up quite a bit of English. Both of those will be very helpful to them in the future.
Christmas day - we started off the celebration at the girls home by making Christmas ornaments and playing “Pin Baby Jesus in the Manger,” which the girls loved. While we kept the girls busy inside, the guys (short term volunteers Christian & Matt) put together a new playground outside. We sang songs, read the Christmas story, and spent time in prayer. Then it was lunch time (cabbage, greens, rice, chicken, casava, beans, chapati, and of course a special treat of soda). After that the girls received their Christmas presents (a new dress, night clothes, as well as some small toys). Then they got to play on their new playground, which was a big hit. We left in the afternoon and later in the evening gathered at Tyson & Sarita’s house for a more American Christmas dinner.
Praises:
Health - I was worried that traveling might cause a relapse of Malaria, but it did not. I am thankful for every day that God protects me from illness.
Support - God has provided for me in so many ways I never imagined. To my supporters new & old - thank you so much. Your generosity is a blessing and I am thankful that you are willing to participate in the work that God is doing in Northern Uganda.
Prayer requests:
Languages - I am surprised how much Acholi stuck with me after being gone for a year, but I want to continue remembering as well as learning new things. I am also trying to learn Swahili as that is the first language for the girls at the safe home and the women at the center who are from Congo. Languages do not come easy for me so please pray for supernatural ability and a good memory!
Balance - Please pray with me as I seek how much time to devote to each role - administration, the girls home, and my part time role with ECM.
Politics - Please pray for Southern Sudan as their independence referendum is coming next week (it will determine whether Southern Sudan should separate from Sudan or not). Also Uganda will hold elections in February. Please pray specifically for peaceful proceedings in both nations and freedom from all types of violence.
I hope that you had a blessed Christmas and were filled with God’s peace and joy as 2010 came to a close. I wish all of you a happy new year! Thank you for your prayers and support.
With love,
Sarah
