Preachin' it up

Today I visited three of my girls at their school, Jinja Modern. I got there and one of the girls, Joyce, greeted me with a huge smile and a hug (on an added note, she has THE best smile I think I've ever seen). Then we found two of the other girls, Linda and Joy. Joy asked me if I was ready to teach and I had totally forgotten that she had warned me about that on Sunday, so low and behold I switched into the whole "be ready in season and out of season mindset" and was able to teach at their scripture union. It was kind of hard just because a lot of the kids there believe in some sketchy stuff, but I just taught out of 2 Peter where we are called to live holy, godly, and spotless lives and I encouraged the thirty some-odd kids there to really live their faith and questioned them if I were to ask their friends, family, and the strangers on the street if they were living godly lives, what would they tell me. I also touched on how just because you love Jesus doesn't mean that you'll be without trials in your life. I pray it will resonate with some of those kids. The leader invited me back so I guess that's a good sign.

A frequent occurence

Right now, it's about 2:30 in the morning and I thought I'd let you in on what happens to me more frequently then it probably should. Around this time probably five nights a week, I wake up to something itching my leg. I finally get up and of course low and behold a mosquito has feasted on my lower extremities. Now you might be asking a couple of questions right now like: Kelli, don't you sleep under the mosquito net and have a comforter over you? and I would have to answer that although I do sleep under a mosquito net sometimes I'm not as diligent at putting it down and spraying as I should be, and as for the comforter thing, well...it's Africa so there are times when it's just way too hot to do so. Needless to say, this deep and thought provoking post is post-treatment for those fantastic little bites on my legs. Now I'm covered in a fresh does of bug spray, anti-itch gel, and a sheet.

Things already better

Today I went to the condemned section of the prison with Bev. There are about 14 women there who have all be convicted of murder. I get there and all of them greet me with big hugs and smiles, it was just too cool! Once we were all settled in the room, the ladies all started to do worship, they had a drum and between that, them clapping, and their voices, it truly was a joyful noise. There's this one song here called "Things Already Better" and to have these women singing this song was just so cool! I loved getting to experience this today and I just pray I get to do it more in the future.

Kelli times 2!

While we were in Kenya we went to this Giraffe place where we were able to feed them and it was just too cool being up close to them, they're crazy looking! As I was getting ready to feed it, the guy working there said, "Kelly come here, Kelly", that's right her name was Kelly (she needs to correct the spelling, but it's ok). It just added another aspect of coolness to the experience.

Top of the marnin' to ya

So three days ago was my most favorite "secular" holiday: St. Patrick's Day. For those of you who aren't quite up on your Irish holidays and think merely it's just for people to have an excuse to get drunk, just know that wasn't how it originated. St. Patrick is who brought the Gospel to Ireland and so basically we're technically celebrating a missionary. This St. Patrick's day was my first one away from home, and I'll be honest, it was pretty hard. I feel bad for those who I was around because I was really sensitive especially since I was the ONLY person who truly enjoyed/celebrated/acknowledged that day. Back home, the whole day was filled with celebration, from my momma (aka the Leprechaun) shooting silly string everywhere and tying our shoes together to going to my grandma's and eating amazing food and just having fun with a house full of green-haired family members. It's such a fun day and no alcohol is involved. To redeem those who I was with, I actually got an awesome St. Patrick's day present (a really pretty necklace and bracelet) so that helped :).

On an added note. I've always known how blessed I was with my family, and not just my immediate family, but my grandmas, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, but I'm learning even more how blessed I really am. My family is awesome! They are all so much fun and I know I wouldn't be who I am today without them.

A jaunt to Kenya

As I have now completed school and now have to be a big girl now (or at least try to be) I was able to have a little change of scenery before I dive in to full-on ministry. I was able to go to Kenya for a few days and it was neat to experience places like Nairobi and see what other parts of Africa are like but Uganda definitely is my home. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I was just ready to be back. Of course one of the biggest things I missed were my kids here, especially Aryana (shocker, I know ;) ). Last night after driving for 14 hours on some of the worst roads EVER we made it back and I ran up to JB's to say hi to his kids. It's so nice to be home!

My first Ugandan Pedi

As a nice little end to a pretty sweet day, Bev had a fantastic idea for us to go and get a pedicure. This was my fifth pedicure that I've gotten in my life and the first one I've gotten in Uganda. It really wasn't nearly as sketchy as I had anticipated it being and they seem to have things fairly sterile so here's hoping I don't get any gnarly foot fungus. Needless to say, my feet haven't looked this pretty since before I left six months ago.

I'm legit!

Today was our SOM graduation where we went to this restaurant overlooking the lake. It was awesome just hanging out, eating amazing fish and chips, and shedding a couple of tears.

An adventure day

Today in order to truly start my new school-free life with a bang, I went on an adventure with Ryan and Judy to check out the big part of Lake Victoria. It was unreal just how big it was! I seriously kept accidentally referring to it as the ocean. Anyways we were able to check out a lot of cool views of the Lake from on top of some hills and then even down by the water, it was awesome! If you have Facebook, I posted the pictures on there. We began our adventure with picking up coffee milkshakes from Ozzies (an Australian run kind of diner in Jinja) and then driving through areas where there was actually not a road and in the end we got some great views of the area and we even saw some monkeys, I have to say it was quite a successful adventure.

It never gets old

Ryan got a set of Sesame Street DVD's for the kids and today I broke one out to watch with Aryanna, even though she's not even two yet, she was loving it as you can see. The episodes we were watching were from about 12 years before I was even born, but it still is the best kid's show around.

**If you come across dvd's of Sesame street, Barney, or Reading Rainbow and you want to send some our way, we wouldn't stop ya ;)

A perfect day

So not only did I finish school today, but it was just an all around awesome day. After school, I ended up getting in touch with some more of my artsy side and while I was watching Gilmore Girls, painted a few pieces for my new apartment, nothing fancy, but they'll do the trick. After that, we had service where it was one of those where at the end you felt like you were lying on the floor being kicked and stomped on, but in a good way. Then I was able to hang out with some of my girls for a little bit and answered some questions and laid down the law. We also had an afterglow which I used to be leery of, but it wasn't nearly as weird as I was expecting and it was just an awesome night of prayer and it was too cool because I was just sitting there and some of our local staff came up and prayed for me (all at different times), it's just so cool to have that pedestal that I feel sometimes I'm placed on be knocked down and for us to truly be a body, it was awesome. To top the night off, Ryan, Judy, and I played scrabble and...I WON!!! I've never won before in my life, I couldn't believe it! It was truly a great day!

I'm done, da da done

Well, after 5 1/2 months of waking up before any person ever should, outlining every chapter (minus Psalms) of the Bible, being broken, humbled, and purely brought to the state of being in awe of how amazing our God is, I'm now officially done with the School of Ministry. Today was our last test and class. I have to say it was bitter sweet and I may or may not have shed a few tears. I mean, to think of all that has happened in this time and all that God has taught me, it's just crazy to think that it's over and now it's time to really apply it. I'm so thankful that I was able to have the opportunity to come here and go to school because it definitely was the perfect dynamic for me to not only learn the material but grow closer to some of my co-laborers as well as learn more about the culture.

Along with finishing SOM, I came to the realization that I have NEVER stopped going to school since I was a wee girl in Kindergarten and now I'm really done. I honestly don't know what to do with myself and I haven't even been done for 24 hours, I know it will come and I'll be crazy busy with teaching in schools, doing business stuff, and whatever new things God will bring me to, but it's I guess the whole unknown that's kind of crazy.

6 Months!

Wow! Today marks 6 months that I've officially been in Uganda. That's just crazy to think about, now as I'm wrapping up school of ministry (only four more days left!) and moving into a new apartment, I honestly feel like I'm jumping into a new chapter of my life here, it's exciting yet SOOO intimidating. Today was one of those days too that kind of give me a reality check with just so many little things going wrong that it just made for one of the most difficult days here ministry wise that I've experienced so far. I look forward though to what other things God has for me here as He continues to amaze me with how He uses me, to quote the Psalm, "who am I that you are mindful of me?"

On an additional note, I will be writing more and sending my newsletter out soon (if you want to be on my mailing list just let me know) as soon as I'm done with school, these final couple of weeks have just been doozies.