The month of July has really seemed to fly by and it would appear that I haven't done so well in keeping you updated on the happenings here in Northern Uganda.
After a spending a weekend in Kampala (during the time of the bombings) then a week of relaxation and surrounded by God's beauty in Jinja at a retreat center along the Nile (pic: view from where we stayed), I was eager to get home to Gulu.
Gulu definitly has a small town feel...even though there are many people who live here, I find myself being greeted through out the day as I move from teaching, to the market and back home. Time is not so important, and I enjoy stopping to chat with a friend I haven't seen in a few days or weeks and not feeling the need to rush. During my time in Jinja, God whispered many things to my heart...but the only thing he wanted from me was rest. As North Americans we all know that we are so busy...and my family and friends back home can testify that I am pretty busy at home...always having something to do. While it has been a challenge sometimes for me to just sit and read a book or paint in the quiet of the evenings, I have come to value my quiet time...to rest in His goodness.
Throughout the day there are many needs that come my way, they key for me has been to wait on God...not to do out of my strength but out of His. I fear I still have a long way to go, but I am ever being challenged just to wait on Him.
However, as for the activities I do throughout the week...I am continually amazed at the joy I receive from doing even the smallest of things. Teaching at the school has been going well, I have been able to learn many names and I feel so welcomed in my classrooms. We have recently begun to post my students art work up on their classroom walls...and the P7's have begun water painting. Why Wait has been going well...as a life skills program it incorporates role play, story telling, group work, discussions, artwork and other creative ways of learning that has been challenging, yet so rewarding for my students. The teaching staff are always a joy to work with and to be around. There is an insane amount of energy that they continue to reveal on a daily basis. Once a week we have staff devotions, and I have to admit it is one of the most happening places to be on a Wednesday afternoon. Today, I couln't help but get lost in God during our time of worship...and then during my prep I was blessed to be asked to serenade the rest of the teachers who were busy marking papers by playing the keyboard for about an hour and a half. I think I probably enjoyed it more then my team.
Our Bible study in the marketplace has just finished our second study on Rahab (Joshua), and have moved onto the book of Ruth. However, this time I have asked the women to begin taking turns leading worship, prayer and the study. Tomorrow will be our first day to hear from a lady named Grace. Although the ladies are slightly nervous about leading, this is part of how we are trying to disciple them in doing this long after we are gone. I am very excited to see and hear what God is going to do in the next few weeks.
D12.3 is pumping out dances faster then I can find music. We are eargerly awaiting the arrival of my brother who will hopefully have some time to spend pouring into them...and bringing something other than DC Talk. I did like the band....but after hearing the same four songs more than a hundred times....I can only take so much. Ha. Our bible study on Daniel continues to take place during our Saturday practice and more often then not it is my teens that remind me about praying before we leave. I am so encouraged by their love for God and for their friends. It only takes a few small stars to light up a dark sky...and so that is my prayer and heart for this team...that they will shine like the stars in the heaven to lead others to Jesus. Daniel 12:3.
After 5 months of waiting, trying and finally getting into the youth prison on a regular basis...I have to say it has some of the greatest kids hidden within it's walls. The past two weeks I have gone and played football (however, running in a skirt is not suggested...) and begun working on some art projects. We have been asked to create and paint murals on the walls of the recreation center, sleeping rooms and school room. However, I now need to find supplies....an overhead machine would work wonders...however, I have yet to see one in Gulu and power is always the challenging thing. Tomorrow I will beging water color painting with them...and teaching English. Only two of the 14 boys presently living there know English...so tonight I will be working on posters to display on the otherwise empty classroom walls. I am also hoping to pick up a good youth or childrens novel somewhere to read a few pages each time I go...something consistent for them to look forward too, of course a translator will be needed. The staff at the prison are also very supportive and would probably be fine with me moving into their staff quarters...it is encouraging to be so welcomed after trying these past months to get in.
I know there is probably so much I need to fill you in on...and yet the days seem to blend into the rest. But hopefully this will have done the job....thanks to all of you who have been reminding me to update...it is not an easy task to have the time to write something and to have the power on at the same time. However, once the team from Canada comes I will have a computer once again and will hopefully be more on top of it.
Psalm 139
Blessings,
Janessa
