1,2,3,4. Memory Book Work Training Week5. Cool old guy.
ummm dare i say pictures...
1. Group Shot of Hope CBO Choir.
2. Harvest.
3. 3 Month old baby that came to the AIDS Station in Rubingo.
4. Hope CBO Choir.
5. Lookin Up.
Pictures...actually no pictures.
Side note...this is my 3rd or maybe even 4th attempt at uploading these pictures. And thats on different days, not counting the number of attempts i tried during each session. Ode to the joys of technology in Uganda. I am in a new internet cafe in Mbarara as i try this. I am hoping and praying that it goes through. Oh, well there we go, first try failed. I will try again. Haha.
But on another note. I just got back from Kampala and a very lovely off. I visited with my good friend Beth whom i met at church here in Mbarara, she works on a christian radio station. But she recently moved to Kampala cause she got a job speaking on an english speaking christian radio station, and aslo reading the english news on a Kampala station. She is so awesome and i am so happy for her and all the sweet stuff thats happening for her. She also has an amazing voice and is recording a song. This weekend i went to the studio with her. You know, i really love studio's. It was so fun to watche her sing her heart out, and there was a guitar there so i was stoked on getting to play that. And, you know what, the producer even let me record a song!! Haha, it was pretty ruff, but it was a one through take, and i really had fun. I was super nervous for some reason. But i really really liked it. My whole weekend was actually really enjoyable. Beth invited me to stay with her and her sister, and they were so good to me. It was so nice to just chill at a house, on a couch, with a bathroom and shower in the same building. I truely apreciated being able to stay there in a semi "home" environment. We got some nail polish and did eachothers fingers and toes. Talked and talked, and it was just SO good. Really I can't express how nice it was to just hang out with a good friend. We did some shopping, and went out for food, and just had an overall relaxing weekend. After the Christmas off, i was in NO mood to go on any long haul over land expeditions. I caught the bus back yesterday, and met another muzugu who is here with his girlfriend doing HIV awareness stuff, and we talked and talked. It made the trip go by fast. He got off before me, and a nice young girl sat beside me. The whole ride was relatively painless, untill the young girl puked all over herself, and the isle. So the last hour of the trip i got to breath in the lovely smell of her last meal all over the place. Ech!! Poor girl. So i am heading back to Nykigera, the other camp where the new water project is happening, to continue the documentation of the digging of the trenches for the new pipeline. Oh while i was in Kampala, i FINALLY, got to go to church, honestly that was SUCH a blessing. I had tears in my eyes just walking up to the building and hearing the worship music pouring out. It was almost all muzungu's at Kampala International Church, but it was such a lovely serivce. Totally real, and yeah, just such a blessing to my heart. I miss church like you wouldn't believe. I mean, i still have jesus, and my own heart of worship, and my guitar, but it's amazing when you get together with a group of worshipers. I love that. Doesn't even have to be big, its just great to be with others in faith. You know?
So my pictures still havn't loaded. I am going to go and try another cafe!
Bless you all, love you tons, see you soon. (sorta soon....maybe)
But on another note. I just got back from Kampala and a very lovely off. I visited with my good friend Beth whom i met at church here in Mbarara, she works on a christian radio station. But she recently moved to Kampala cause she got a job speaking on an english speaking christian radio station, and aslo reading the english news on a Kampala station. She is so awesome and i am so happy for her and all the sweet stuff thats happening for her. She also has an amazing voice and is recording a song. This weekend i went to the studio with her. You know, i really love studio's. It was so fun to watche her sing her heart out, and there was a guitar there so i was stoked on getting to play that. And, you know what, the producer even let me record a song!! Haha, it was pretty ruff, but it was a one through take, and i really had fun. I was super nervous for some reason. But i really really liked it. My whole weekend was actually really enjoyable. Beth invited me to stay with her and her sister, and they were so good to me. It was so nice to just chill at a house, on a couch, with a bathroom and shower in the same building. I truely apreciated being able to stay there in a semi "home" environment. We got some nail polish and did eachothers fingers and toes. Talked and talked, and it was just SO good. Really I can't express how nice it was to just hang out with a good friend. We did some shopping, and went out for food, and just had an overall relaxing weekend. After the Christmas off, i was in NO mood to go on any long haul over land expeditions. I caught the bus back yesterday, and met another muzugu who is here with his girlfriend doing HIV awareness stuff, and we talked and talked. It made the trip go by fast. He got off before me, and a nice young girl sat beside me. The whole ride was relatively painless, untill the young girl puked all over herself, and the isle. So the last hour of the trip i got to breath in the lovely smell of her last meal all over the place. Ech!! Poor girl. So i am heading back to Nykigera, the other camp where the new water project is happening, to continue the documentation of the digging of the trenches for the new pipeline. Oh while i was in Kampala, i FINALLY, got to go to church, honestly that was SUCH a blessing. I had tears in my eyes just walking up to the building and hearing the worship music pouring out. It was almost all muzungu's at Kampala International Church, but it was such a lovely serivce. Totally real, and yeah, just such a blessing to my heart. I miss church like you wouldn't believe. I mean, i still have jesus, and my own heart of worship, and my guitar, but it's amazing when you get together with a group of worshipers. I love that. Doesn't even have to be big, its just great to be with others in faith. You know?
So my pictures still havn't loaded. I am going to go and try another cafe!
Bless you all, love you tons, see you soon. (sorta soon....maybe)
More pictures!
1. Dancing in worship at MBW training
2. David Moore our ACTS director
3. My first gift of fruit
4. Girl and baby on the road
5. FEET dancing!!
Pictures!!
1. One of the many clients that come to our AIDS Staition for medical help.
2. Kids in church last sunday at the HOPE CBO Choir presentation (all HIV/AIDS positive)
3. Where the cell phone reception is in camp; railing on the office porch.
4. Church Drums
5. Crazy "soldier" guy at a fuel efficient stove demonstration.
Blogggggg
I am at Canada House. Just got back from a Malaria test as I was not feeling well starting yesterday with a bad headache and super tired. The test came back; NADA, nothing, negative… PRAISE GOD. I would not want to go through that again! EVER. So now I will just wait it out. I am going to be better. I believe it. I honestly think it was a wimpy attack from satan because I have been making so much progress. Memory Book Work training is over. And it went SO SO SO well. Thank you all for your prayers. The instructors were so enthusiastic, all the trainee’s were present for all 5 days and totally involved. Raising their hands, answering questions and they were so eager to learn. It was beautiful. These women and children and men who spend most of their days digging in the earth and planting their fields, struggling to make just a little money for food, and hopefully for school fee’s. So in the least, their children could graduate. There were all these survivors, in one room, HIV positive and united with one another. They would open with worship songs, dancing and lifting their hands to God. I was almost in tears everyday, at this wondrous sight. Rejoicing and celebrating together. They were so happy to be there, and to learn, to plan for their children’s futures, to pour out their hearts and souls into this book so that their children can hopefully learn from this, and NOT get HIV, and have the courage to go on when their parents are gone. These men, women and children are truly soldiers. They have got it in them to fight till the end. I can’t even imagine going through the smallest portion of what they have been through. I can’t even express how happy I am about this week. God has been SO SO SO faithful in every detail. I have been going through so many transformations.
We had some new volunteers come to camp. They are all older in age, and it has really been a blessing. To have some people who have been here before, and are full of a lifetime of wisdom. I have really clicked with one lady whom I will call sally for now. She is just awesome, a beautiful woman who is following the call of God on her life. Some really cool stuff has happened with her and I. Now firstly, I must tell you about an interesting thing that happened before I left Canada. I have the blessing of having this amazing family as my friends. They are truly wonderful people, a huge blessing to everyone they know, I am sure. They are the McCullough’s! Doug and Mary, the mom and dad, have been worth momentous amounts in my walk of faith. They held a home group, up at a mountain I was working at in the Kamloops area, and it was that and they’re prayers that pulled me through some pivotal points in my journey. They have been so supportive of me in everything. Even though we hardly talk these days (maybe cause I am in Africa), my heart will always hold a huge place for them. So when I was starting my adventure to Africa, I wanted them to know of the amazing things that God was doing in my life. So I tried to update them all along the way. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet up with them one time in Vancouver, when they came to visit their son (also very dear to me) Josh. We went out for lunch and Mary and I got to talking about God, and the things he was placing in my heart about Africa. God was definitely there, we could feel his spirit moving, and things were just pouring out of me to Mary and her to me. She started to hear God speaking to her and showing her things about my journey. I was crying, and there was speaking in tounges; all in Swiss Chalet!! It was amazing. One thing that stuck out in my mind that she said, was about the laying on of hands and breaking of generational curses. It was really awesome all this stuff she was prophesying and speaking over me. I’ll never forget it. Ok, now back to Africa. Sally and I had had some really good talks, and prayers. It was truly divine that she has come here, and we are here together. She shared lots with me about her life, and I shared with her too. We cried and prayed etc. Now I won’t give you tons of details for confidentialities sake, but one night when I had gone back to my tent after a good talk with Debbie, God brought to my mind that time with Mary at Swiss Chalet. It’s funny how our minds put things together, because I could definitely see that God could use me in a way like Mary had said, as long as I was willing, but I envisioned Africans and their families. But God is so much bigger, and crazier, and intricate in his planning, and I it came to me, then in my tent, that I needed to pray for Sally, lay hands on her and break the generational curses on her and her family’s life. So I think I forgot the day right after, but I did tell her, and we planned to go to the church up the road, a one room brick building with holes, wooden shutters and benches, and a tin roof. So I had brought a book I have here, Prayers That Heal The Heart, but we didn’t really use it. It was an amazing time that happened, God moved and broke some serious stuff in Sally and my life and hearts. It’s funny how God works. We will see when she arrives home, I am having faith for complete transformation in her and her families hearts and life. If you feel called to, please pray for them. God will know who your talking about.
Ok so it’s actually Monday the 22nd right now, and I am back at Rubingo. I’m in the office uploading the 500 pictures I took on the weekend and like 4 hours of video. And it’s raining. It just started and it smells wonderful. The smell of fresh rain is so so so comforting. I’m listening to Shawn McDonald, Ripen, and it’s good. Agnes, one of the new volunteers who is here now, made some KRAFT DINNER TODAY!! Oh my, you would not believe how amazing it tasted to me. It was even the supposed to be microwave stuff and she just made it regular! Bless her heart, it was a wonderful surprise. So I am heading over to the other camp, Nyakigera, until Friday, to document the digging and placement of the pipeline of the new water project. Then I am heading to Bushara Island on Lake Bunyoni, to document the opening of a new conference building that is opening. It’s the off this Friday too, but I will be working at Bushara. I hear its beautiful there though, so I am not too worried. If you know me, you know I LOVE islands, so I am sure it will be awesome to be there and near water. Oh and another prayer answered report! There is another volunteer here, Terry who has been moved by the Memory Book Work (MBW) and is going to donate some money towards the purchase of some more Memory Books for families!!! So awesome!! Ok well I gotta go through all the pictures I just uploaded and find some good ones to post for you guys, so I will leave you with this.
Missing everyone tons! Bless you!
Melanie
We had some new volunteers come to camp. They are all older in age, and it has really been a blessing. To have some people who have been here before, and are full of a lifetime of wisdom. I have really clicked with one lady whom I will call sally for now. She is just awesome, a beautiful woman who is following the call of God on her life. Some really cool stuff has happened with her and I. Now firstly, I must tell you about an interesting thing that happened before I left Canada. I have the blessing of having this amazing family as my friends. They are truly wonderful people, a huge blessing to everyone they know, I am sure. They are the McCullough’s! Doug and Mary, the mom and dad, have been worth momentous amounts in my walk of faith. They held a home group, up at a mountain I was working at in the Kamloops area, and it was that and they’re prayers that pulled me through some pivotal points in my journey. They have been so supportive of me in everything. Even though we hardly talk these days (maybe cause I am in Africa), my heart will always hold a huge place for them. So when I was starting my adventure to Africa, I wanted them to know of the amazing things that God was doing in my life. So I tried to update them all along the way. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet up with them one time in Vancouver, when they came to visit their son (also very dear to me) Josh. We went out for lunch and Mary and I got to talking about God, and the things he was placing in my heart about Africa. God was definitely there, we could feel his spirit moving, and things were just pouring out of me to Mary and her to me. She started to hear God speaking to her and showing her things about my journey. I was crying, and there was speaking in tounges; all in Swiss Chalet!! It was amazing. One thing that stuck out in my mind that she said, was about the laying on of hands and breaking of generational curses. It was really awesome all this stuff she was prophesying and speaking over me. I’ll never forget it. Ok, now back to Africa. Sally and I had had some really good talks, and prayers. It was truly divine that she has come here, and we are here together. She shared lots with me about her life, and I shared with her too. We cried and prayed etc. Now I won’t give you tons of details for confidentialities sake, but one night when I had gone back to my tent after a good talk with Debbie, God brought to my mind that time with Mary at Swiss Chalet. It’s funny how our minds put things together, because I could definitely see that God could use me in a way like Mary had said, as long as I was willing, but I envisioned Africans and their families. But God is so much bigger, and crazier, and intricate in his planning, and I it came to me, then in my tent, that I needed to pray for Sally, lay hands on her and break the generational curses on her and her family’s life. So I think I forgot the day right after, but I did tell her, and we planned to go to the church up the road, a one room brick building with holes, wooden shutters and benches, and a tin roof. So I had brought a book I have here, Prayers That Heal The Heart, but we didn’t really use it. It was an amazing time that happened, God moved and broke some serious stuff in Sally and my life and hearts. It’s funny how God works. We will see when she arrives home, I am having faith for complete transformation in her and her families hearts and life. If you feel called to, please pray for them. God will know who your talking about.
Ok so it’s actually Monday the 22nd right now, and I am back at Rubingo. I’m in the office uploading the 500 pictures I took on the weekend and like 4 hours of video. And it’s raining. It just started and it smells wonderful. The smell of fresh rain is so so so comforting. I’m listening to Shawn McDonald, Ripen, and it’s good. Agnes, one of the new volunteers who is here now, made some KRAFT DINNER TODAY!! Oh my, you would not believe how amazing it tasted to me. It was even the supposed to be microwave stuff and she just made it regular! Bless her heart, it was a wonderful surprise. So I am heading over to the other camp, Nyakigera, until Friday, to document the digging and placement of the pipeline of the new water project. Then I am heading to Bushara Island on Lake Bunyoni, to document the opening of a new conference building that is opening. It’s the off this Friday too, but I will be working at Bushara. I hear its beautiful there though, so I am not too worried. If you know me, you know I LOVE islands, so I am sure it will be awesome to be there and near water. Oh and another prayer answered report! There is another volunteer here, Terry who has been moved by the Memory Book Work (MBW) and is going to donate some money towards the purchase of some more Memory Books for families!!! So awesome!! Ok well I gotta go through all the pictures I just uploaded and find some good ones to post for you guys, so I will leave you with this.
Missing everyone tons! Bless you!
Melanie
Holiday pictures!!
1. Diagram on the back of the door of the bathroom at the boarder of uganda/kenya
2. Tight Alley's in Lamu
3. Train from Nairobi to Mombasa in Kenya
4. Wet Camel's on Shella Beach on Lamu (right before a monsoon pour down that i had to run for shelter of my camera)
Holiday pictures!!
1. Me and a giraffe at the Giraffe center in Nairobi, Kenya.
2,3. Mosque
4. Muslim Women Lamu
5. On the train
POWER IS OUT....Gotta go...
Wait....now it's on....haha we were on power saver!
Holiday pictures!!
1,2. Local Boy from Lamu swimming in the ocean (indian that is)
3. Manda Beach (where we spent christmas day, at a more isolated spot though)
4. One of the many mangy cats on Lamu.
5. Me! (no braids)
Holiday pictures!!
1. Another dhow
2. Donkey ride down the beach in lamu as there are no cars on the island (guess who felt like the real ass)
3. Donkeys
4.Exciting Coach ticket, notice the fine print
5.Beautiful girl and her monkey
Holiday pictures!!
These are all dhow boats that fill the oceans around lamu. Those were our dhow captians for our deep sea fishing trip on christmas day.
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