Wow! I don't even know where to begin! It's been a week since I left for Uganda, and there's already so much to tell, but I don't have to words to tell it all! We've visited a couple primary schools and secondary schools as well as a babies home, children's hospital, and this Sunday we finally get to go out to the village! Each of the places we go, we have an opportunity to minister to the kids in different ways. Most of the time we put on a little worship service with a lesson. However, at the babies home, we just help take care of the kids and clean.

The volleyball and futbol girls in our cool uniforms!

At one of the high schools we went to this week, we actually got to spend the whole day there. We had the opportunity to have a debate with them, and honestly, we were all scared to death of the idea of debating. But as we got closer to the day of the debate, God calmed my spirit. I was reading in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 and was comforted by Paul's words,"And so it was with me brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God." God just spoke to my heart in that time. It wasn't about preparing the best debate possible any more, it was about preparing to let the Spirit speak. In the end, the debate turned out wonderfully; it was interesting and was a great learning experience for both our team and the students there. We also had the opportunity to play volleyball and futbol (soccer) with the students there. Once again, God blew away my fears and anxieties and turned it into a wonderful experience!

I think the thing I've noticed the most about being here is the contrast you see everywhere. You can see really nice homes next to run down shacks and people in sharp, clean dress clothes next to others in clothes so covered in the red dirt here that they wouldn't be allowed anywhere back home. But I think the contrast that has struck me most has been the children. Despite the fact that they have undoubtedly faced a multitude of hard times and issues, they are so full of joy! It's contagious! This week has brought a whole new light upon Nehemiah 8:10b, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The joy that I've found in Christ this week truly has been my strength; it's amazing!

One of the sweet girls at a school we visited.

It's been an awesome experience so far, and I feel like I'm learning so much. God is moving here, and I just have this feeling of being where I belong. I know this is where God wants me to be right now, and that's really all I can ask for - to be where He wants me and in His presence.


Blessings!