Brooke's Adventure in Uganda: Thank God for TUESDAYS!

So, I just wanted to let you know that it's the first time I've been legitimately full from a meal. woooh! Praise the Lord! Sure, I was hungry an hour later, but at least I got to see what it feels like to be full.

This morning we went to a school called "Victory School" to do a program and to feed them porridge. It was in a little town named Benda. The porridge that the kids get is sometimes their only meal for the day. They were sooo thankful for something that most American kids would never even dream of eating, myself included. We had A LOT of fun doing the program with them too. There's a video at the bottom from this morning. Someone parked their boda boda behind our van so that when we left we would hit it. We barely tapped it, and they raised a huge hoorah. They didn't want any money .. just to cause trouble. Usually people would do it for money, and that is how they make their income.

After lunch we went to a secondary school to do a program. We usually stay about an hour because we have to catch them on lunch break, and that's the only bad part. After we are done, the kids give everyone a huge hug and laugh with us and tell us "thank you so much for coming!" The secondary school I went to is actually BHS. Their colors are also blue and white! How fun is that!

After that, we went to Kids in Need, which is a rehabilitation home for street boys. I LOOVED it there! The Ugandan guys have so much fun there .. kind of like at the Remand Home. There's a video at the bottom. I didn't capture the rowdiest of it either. The boys were so precious and were so thankful that we were there. The staff there always lets the neighborhood kids come and play when we are there, which is so fun. Roger told one of us his story. Both of his parents were killed in the war, so he went to live with his aunt and uncle. One night he decided to sleep at a friends (keep in mind, this is all out of his mouth, so facts could be missing, but maybe not), and when he got home, his uncle said that if he is man enough to sleep at a friends house, he needs to get out. So, he lived at the taxi station for awhile, and some of the taxi drivers told him about Kids in Need/Shalom, and he has been there ever since.

Fun Facts:

- The hygiene and sanitation here is waaaay different. Not washing your hair for 4 days is normal. People are actually shocked when I do wash my hair. Dishes that are "clean" here would never, ever be clean in America.

- Majority of the staff members here were and still are sponsored by Compassion International. The pictures you see of the little kids .. yeah, that was our leaders a few years ago.

Some of the kids at Kids in Need waving by to us. They usually chase our car out of the neighborhood.

This is Garfield. Please pray for him. He is about 8 years old, and he sneaks out at night to go to the clubs .. seriously. He also loves shiny things. He kept trying to take my rings off my hand. He also wanted me to give him my bracelets, watch, etc.

Watching the God's love skit.

At Victory this morning, the little kid put his hand in mine and just stared at it and rubbed it. It was the cutest thing. He never said anything to me .. just placed his hand in mine.

So .. most mannequins in America are really skinny, and that is "ideal." The mannequins here have big hips. Sure says a lot about the culture.

This was on the wall at one of the secondary schools.

This is at Benda, where Victory is located. This is part of the brewing process in Uganda.

This sewage was by the school too. It was probably the nastiest thing I have ever smelled.

I guess nose picking is universal. :)

Some of the precious kids at Victory.

So, I have a better picture of this, but downloading and arranging pictures is a pain on blogspot, so this one with the hand will have to do. It's Francis, one of our leaders, playing drums for the kids while a little girl "helps" him.

Isn't she beautiful? I think she is one of the kids that is waiting to be sponsored with Empower a Child. Speaking of, it's only $30 a day, and ALL of the money goes to the kids. It helps with school needs, medical needs, spiritual needs, and basic needs such as mosquito nets, blankets, etc.