Thursday is my favorite day in the states, and Thursday is my favorite day here.

Yeah, so I'm not very good at this blog, so I can't figure out how to move the picture. This is Katarina. She is over a year old and was dropped off on Monday. She has about 5 teeth, so that shows you about how old she is. I think they're pretty worried about her.

Words cannot describe how wonderful and eye-opening today was. wow .. Thursdays were my favorite day of the week in the states: homeless breakfast, inner city program, and then leadership. Here it's babies' home and the Remand House, which is a juvenile center.

The babies home we went to today was called Nsambya. When we first got there we gave the workers a break and mopped and scrubbed the hallway, the rooms, and the sidewalks outside. We also did some general cleanliness like wiping down tables and cleaning windows. They have to scrub the floor everyday, so at least they get a break once a week. Our reward was playing with the kids. All they wanted was for one person to give them individual attention. The second we walked in, they all ran to us and started hugging us. I thought it was hard sharing my parent's love with just one other person. I can't imagine being in their situation. Despite their situation, they were so joyful, and it was so encouraging.

After lunch we went to the Remand Home, which is a juvenile center for anyone under the age of 18. They are there until their court date, and then the judge decides if they go back to the Remand Home or a more intense center where they are not treated very well. From the little I've heard of it, it wouldn't be legal in America because of the way the kids are treated. Watching them worship was absolutely AMAZING (for lack of a better word). The video at the bottom just gives a little glimpse of it. After Stef gave her testimony, we broke up into small groups and got to talk to them. God seems to really be moving in the hearts of these kids. One kid said that 2 weeks ago he had in his mind that when he got out, he was going to poison his boss for putting him there. He said that God changed his heart, and he now just wants to show him love and forgiveness. PRAISE THE LORD! He gets out tomorrow, so keep Robert in your prayers. (He's wearing the striped shirt in the pictures that I added). Once the boys get out, they actually have a chance at a new start, but that is not the case for the girls. They won't get schooling, so they just have to go off into a village and attempt to live... hoping someone shows them a little grace. Their uniforms made me want to cry. The boys' khaki shirts had holes ALL over them and were missing buttons. Some holes were in inappropriate places as well. Most of them didn't have shoes. Barely any of them have Bibles either. I wish EAC had the money to buy them some, but htey don't. Very unfortunate ..

We're going to a village tomorrow to bring mosquito nets, mattresses, and jerry cans (what they carry water in). Keep the team in your prayers.

Fun Facts:

- The Ugandans are ROWDDDYY! wow ... they will look for any excuse to get loud.

- Every woman that comes to the hospital to deliver a child has to get HIV tested whether she wants to or not. They really are doing a lot to stop the spread of HIV.

- You can't take pictures of the police or the army ... shhh..don't tell anyone about the picture I took.

This is me and Molly with the small group we got to talk with at the Remand Home.
We taught them how to play 4 square, and they LOOOOVED it!
So, that guy in the green is a policeman. The election here is in a year .. a whole year from now .. but the ballots are already in Uganda, so they have to guard them so no one steals them. How crazy is that?

Yes, my friends, that is two grown men holding hands.
Gift wanted nothing but to be held and loved on. She was so sweet.
This is Breanna doing what she does best. :) There's a video of her laughing at the bottom of the blog. Absolutely precious!
Another picture of precious Breanna.
Michael was dropped off last week. He is over a year old. Keep him in your prayers. He is very, very malnourished but seems to be doing better.

The video on the left is just a little glimpse of the Ugandans doing what they do best. Just a little warning, you may want to turn your volume down. The video on the right is of the kids at the Remand House worshipping. wow ..

PRAISE THE LORD!

-B