100 Day Reality Challenge

DAY ONE!!

2011-01-02T23:59:00.002-08:00

Ok, One day down 99 to go... WOW. I had full intentions of starting yesterday, but honestly, it just wasn't going to happen. I couldn't give it my all so I decided to start today. I got to be honest, I wasn't very motivated today, lol. I got a good few pages written out in my journal, and wrote out some good goals of what I would like to attain over the next 100 days. Which I will share with you gradually. I saw another challenger on the 100 day web page, was challenging them selves with sit ups. I added that to my daily regime. I could definitely use some more core strength. So for the first 30 days, I will do 50 sit ups a day, and then for the next 20 I will up it to 75. And for the last 50 days, I will do 100. And maybe up it from there if i see fit. I gotta tell you after about sit up 20 today I was feeling a serious burn... yikes. Apparently I need this. I didn't think 50 would be all that hard. But then again I cant honestly remember the last time I did a SINGLE sit up, let alone 50. So overall I would really like to create some better habits in my life. Alter my thoughts to POSITIVE, CREATIVE, MOTIVATING, ENCOURAGING, and JOYOUS things. A lot is changing in my life. I have a feeling I know less the 25% of whats happening. You know, I look back on last year and would have never guess the events that would happen. I have no doubt that this year will be the same. HECK, my mom is in India!! Who'd of thought that was in the cards. I am SO SO SO happy for her and cant wait to see all the pictures and hear all the stories. Well tomorrow is a new day. I will start it off with my sit ups and some motivating mantras. HEARS TO THE NEXT 99!

Here's to 2011

2010-12-31T12:28:00.003-08:00

So I started by google-ing Ketut, the cute little medicine man from Eat, Love, Pray. I wanted to see what it is that he practices and teaches. I followed some links to some youtube videos. From link to link I was directed to some videos from Lilou Mace, and how her power of intentions, and practicing the laws of attraction, brought her to Boston and meeting Oprah. Further more, she talks about the 100 day challenge. I googled it further and found www.CoCreatingOurReality.com. I signed up right away, and will be starting my new year with an open heart, an open mind, and the intentions of a BRAND new year. Starting tomorrow I will be documenting my journey and experience with this adventure. Dedication the next 100 days to the universal laws and princials. "The Secret" if you will. I encourage you to join me, and or read along. Who knows what the future holds, I know it will be good, for you and for me!

Playing in God's saftey net!

2007-07-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

WOW WOW WOW!!! Ok, so I need to give you an update on lots of stuff that has been going on, but just a quick one. My road trip to Canmore was amazing, and God did some serious rooting out in my heart. Healing, and revelation, he plucked me out of the desert and dropped me right into the middle of a crazy amazing ocean of GOODNESS! God has been so faithful in what he told me about coming home. I had a prophecy over me, before leaving africa, that God was going to have people and things in place to guide me into the next step. That i needn't worry cause he's got his hand moving!! Well, its so true he has been clearly guiding me everyday, one step at a time! I felt led to another school (other than the professional photography program at NIC that i am accepted for), in Redding California, the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Some super rad chicks I met in Canmore, Laura and her sister Jaimee told me tons about it. Really the second they started talking about it, my spirit came alive, it was like twitching inside me...DING DING DING....!! I continued talking to them, and looked it up on the web, and just KNEW that I needed to apply. I got a call after returning home for a phone interview on July 11th, last wednesday. I had my phone interview, and yesterday morning Tracie called me from the Bethel!! I wasn't there when she called though, and so she left a message. I called her back, and left her a message, and so I thought I would just check my status online cause you can do that. And well when I logged in, the whole thing had changed into a STUDENT profile!!! YAY!! I was and am so stoked! So looks like I will be moving to Redding california this september, maybe late August to go to school!!

You check out more on the school here:
http://www.ibethel.org/schools/ministry/?page=128

Last night I had the opportunity to share at my friends Sarah's Church's campout at Camp Selah in Courtenay. It was really amazing, sharing what God has done in her life and mine, and our lives together! I shared like my WHOLE testimony up untill that day! It was really awesome. They prayed for me after too, about the whole school thing and more, I was so blessed, to be prayed for and just let my testimony be an encouragment to all of them. A woman recieved some seriously cool pictures for me too! More and more confirmation!
Let this be an encouragement to you, that God is so beyond our thinking. I never thought I would be going to this school! God is so beyond US! He will use anything to guide you, speak to you, love you. He can show you things through his spirit, WAY better than you could ever find it on your own. So please, draw close to God's spirit. Draw close to him in everything, and ask for more! Ask for the desires of your heart, cause he IS faithful to give them to you! Not always right away the way you think it will happen, but he will pour it out! In a greater measure than you would ever think!

IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER THINK OR IMAGINE!!!!!!

Ramblings

2007-07-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

God is transforming me. God is answering my cry's. God moving in my life. God is so much bigger than my circumstance. God has my trust. God is real. God is relevent. God is loving. God is unconditional. God forgives my sin. God pours his mercy on me. God affirms me. God is for me and not against me. God is lifting me up. God is shifting my world. God is opening my eyes. God is speaking to me always. God is right beside me, right inside me. God lives in me. God's spirit is guiding me. God's spirit never leaves me. God is stirring me up. God is lighting an unquentiable fire. God is taking me deeper. God is breaking shaky foundations. God is building my life upon him. God is the best. God knows everything about me. God knows where I am going. God knows my future. God forgets my past. God is my everything. God has my everything. God take my everything. God is all I need. God leaves no stone unturned. God see's every corner of my heart. God loves me for me. God is in love with me. God is growing revival in my spirit. God is giving me an undying hunger. God is faithful. God is good. God is good. God is good. God is good all the time. God is here. God is now. God is never going away.

Thank you God.

A point of no return.

2007-07-01T01:06:00.000-07:00

I've reached a point of no return.

Where I know I am going forward,

And theres a line upon which,

I will never go back.

Ive reached a point of no return.

Where my heart is chasing after more,

And the world is screaming less,

I will never go back.

Ive reached a point of no return.

Where I know I have to live different,

And there is no way to be the same,

I will never go back.

Ive reached a point of no return.

Where my Spirit is set on something higher,

And hell tries to drag it down,

I will never go back.

Ive reached a point of no return,

Where I am what I believe,

And there is nothing else that makes sense,

I will never go back.

Supernatural Revival

2007-06-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

The kingdom of heaven is near. The kingdom of heaven is here.

I have been on yet another amazing journey. Relizing that I am finally finished with my 9 month desert and moving into the promise land. When i came home from africa, God told me to get rid of 3/4 of my stuff and to clean my car. My car being cleaned, and my room almost done. God confirmed a trip for me and Randi to Canmore Alberta. I beautiful valley town nestled in the Rockies. There is Revival in the hills. Pouring into this place. We have a friend Ross here also that we were going to visit. We knew with out a doubt that we needed to be here. The first night at jamies house Holy Spirit came and smoked us all. Jamie is a beautiful worship leader, and after some sponatious worship, the holy spirit was moving through us all. God confirmed so many things to me through prophetic word. The second night, was the meeting night at Jackies house. People from calagary come out, people from all over Canmore, to just usher in the Holy Spirit and seek God. WOW. God rocked my world. Like right off the axle. I have had so so so many answers to prayers that i have been crying out for a long time. I've release things to him. He did a deep healing on my heart. It was a huge Holy Spirit playground.

But what i want to say is, its not about me. Gods spirit is alive and moving in huge ways. He's right there always, waiting. Waiting for his people to call on him and welcome him into there lives and "programs". God is abolishing religion. Destroying agenda's and programs made by humans. We need to get on our faces and beg for mercy after taking it into our own hands. Thinking that we can actually do something on our own, touch people on our own. God touches people. God changes hearts. God transforms hearts souls and minds. Holy Spirit is here to make it all real, to make it relevent, to take you to the next level. To give you all the power you need to continue in this life. Not just continue, not just survive, or get by, but to live for something bigger. Live for something other than yourself. Live for a cause, live to make change. Live to see miracles, signs and wonders. There is a huge move coming. A huge wave of revival. I can feel it. And it's not going to look like anything you think. God is moving beyond our human condition. Moving outside the box we as a church have locked him in. Imprisoning him in agenda's, prorams, ministries, schedules. He's breaking it down and taking it back to his agenda. Holy Spirit is going to start moving and shaking the broken foundations down. Destroying all that is ready to crumble. Everything that is not build on a solid foundation will fall. All that is built upon the rock is going to flourish, its going to grow and recieve power. Holy Spirit power is going to be ushered in. Empowering us beyond our confines. All for the glory of god. People are going to be healed, miraculous healing, deep healings. things that would normally take months will be completed in weeks. Devine impartations and downloads of wisdom and knowledge. Leaders are being built up. Strong hold are flaking away. Army's are in training, soldiers of the spirit. To tear away the strongholds of this world, and build the kingdom of heaven on earth.

I pray that Holy Spirit would fill you right now, that by the power of God you would be filled. I pray God would reveal to you, your role in the revival. Your roal in the revolution. I speak to the strongholds in your life and declare them GONE. Freedom reign in your body. Freedom reign in your spirit. You are ready to be all that you are called to be. STOP SETTLING. STOP CONFORMING, seek god and follow him with all you have. Nothing else is worth it.

GOD IS GOOD!!

2007-06-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, WOW!!
God is so amazing! I am loving being home. God has been pouring out his spirit on me, and growing me in ways I have been yearning and praying for, for a while! Coming out of the desert and into the promise land! Thank you lord!!
So just a little testimony for you!
I've come home to debt, because of travelling and spending. I prayed this morning on the way to the bank, that God would have me covered in paying all that i owe back to my mom. I went to the ACTS office, and they gave me a bonus!! THEN, i got to the bank and i have WAY more in my bank account than i thought. THEN i check the balance on my visa and it is SIGNIFICANLY less than i thought, like 3,000 dollars less than i thought!!! (My mom may have paid it, i havn't talked to her yet) But none the less, i was BLOWN away. On the way home i relized my tank was on empty, even emptier that it was last time i filled. I fill my tank and pay, and my gas was 10 dollars CHEAPER than when i filled last!! PRAISE GOD!!!
So yeah, god is encouraging my faith for sure! I'm going to break even!! Yahoo! I applied for a student loan today, but I am believing that I am going to be able to give that money right back to the government!! And, I believe that Randi and I's road trip is going to be provided for!
I attended a few sessions of a healing crusade with Randi. Mark Davey was speaking. Last night it was all about Language of Faith. Speaking what you know to be true from what the bible says, hooking up your believer with your speaker, not you feeler or your thinker with your speaker. The power of words! It was rad. I need to hear that again! I want to tell you more, but i gotta run now, so i will tell you more later!
You are all amazing and beautifully created individuals. Every one who reads this and even those who don't. Have renewed hope, cause the God of this world is sufficient, hes is able, he is so much more than you could think or ask for, and he is right inside you!!
I LOVE YOU, talk to you soon!

Happy to be home!

2007-06-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

SISTERS REUNITED!!

Just thought I should let you know, my home dates were vauge to alot of you cause I was keeping it a secret from my sister! My mom picked me up in Vancouver, and told my sister she was going to a meeting, the next day she (we) met her at the mall in Naniamo with her Dad cause she was picking out a Jr. Grad dress. While she was in a change room and just came and stood there. When she came out, she did a double take, screamed, and ran and jumped on me, crying and giving me the biggest hug ever...."MELANIE WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING HERE??!!" she screams. She had NO clue what so ever.... it was awesome. DANIELLE I LOVE YOU AND SO HAPPY TO BE HOME WITH YOU!! (I LOVE YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY...dont feel left out...haha)

Canadian Luxery

2007-06-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, is all I have to say. Canada is amazing. Truly amazing and I am so so so happy and blessed to be home. Hot showers, toasters, kettles, pillow top mattress's', movies, couches, WASHER AND DRYER, flushing toilets, and I can drink the water in the shower and while brushing my teeth...the list goes on. Its great to be back here on the Wet Coast. I am wearing two pairs of socks at the moment, and just had a hot shower. My mom told be I was coming home to hot weather, I guess I scared it away.
So far, I have been getting over jet lag. Resting in my home with a deep appreciation that I have never known for everything I have. When I close my eyes, I still see Africa. Rolling green hill, banana plantations, red earth, children in dirty tattered clothes, with water jugs on there heads and in their hands. I see myself walking through the plantations. I see the endless beauty of Africa constantly flashing in my mind. The faces of all the friends I have made. The stories of people, of survival, triumph, life, struggle, things I have never known and never will know. I am so thankful for all Africa has taught me. The land and its people give wisdom.
Africa taught me innumerable lessons. Lessons of endurance, perseverance, struggle, hope, faith, love, friendship, truth, and patience. Being stripped of my western comforts and my western excuses into a world that is just as you see it. Simplicity at its best. Days consist of basic survival. Food and water, God and faith. Time in Africa almost seizes to exist. Things happen and progress when they are ready, whenever that may be. No one knows how long it will take, and it doesn't matter. It's not a concern.
I have learned to take it take it one day at a time. To let God be God, and to trust in him for every moment. I have by no means mastered these things, but I am definitely a world more aware. For now, I am definitely still processing. But for the record, I of course feel different. Being home is definitely showing me areas of my heart that I didn't even realized had been touched and changed. Patterns of thinking and doing, transformed. I have nothing to complain about. I have too much stuff in my house. I need to get rid of allot. If anyone needs anything, maybe I have one. If so, consider it yours!

I'll keep posting on my home experiences and all that I am learning and have learned. Thanks for coming on the journey with me!

Love mel

HOME.....sweet home.

2007-06-03T22:53:00.001-07:00

Wow, is all i can say. I arrived home to Vancouver Island. It is so incredibly beautiful here. Way more beautiful than i left it. I cried being in my home again. We have such a beautiful home. Natasha cooked some delicious vegetable curry and muffins that smelled and tasted devine. My Aunt, Cousin and Grandmother came by to see me, as well as my beloved friend Randi. We just chilled and talked and it was good. So good.

I just want you all to know that i am home, i am really jetlagged, but that will be over soon. I need to sleep, but i will definately keep you posted on what's next. For now, just know that i am filled with an amazing peace of coming home that i have never known before.

I am blessed. So incredibly blessed.

Love Melanie

Home sick!

2007-05-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, I am still having SO much fun, but i miss you all at home alot! I am really excited to be on my way back soonish... Talk to you soon!

More wrap up!!

2007-05-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

Faith.

Adele and I at Pastor Johns.
Adele and Mel's last day together in Uganda.
Mel at KFC.
Pastor John.

Wrap up shots.

2007-05-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Adele at KFC.

Adele cutting hair.
Pastor Johns beautiful kids, douglas and Angel.
Angel, Mom and Faith! (It was her 11th Birthday)
Douglas.

East African Recap!

2007-05-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a long dang time since I updated my blog with some substantial writing. I'm sorry. Backpacking around has proven to be a time consuming experience. A great time consuming experience, none the less. Well i am at Backpackers hostel right now, and the server is down, so it’s a great opportunity to type a blog without having to pay for each minute of internet. Now as the server is down, I really can't recall what I talked about last. How about a recap of the last two months? Ok, not that much... Haha. But I'll roll off some highlights!
Adele did a nice blog about our camping trip to Kiwayu Island, a 6-7 hour sail from Lamu, off the coast of Kenya. It was a beautiful isolated island with baobab tree's and white-ish sand and beautiful water! However, there were HUGE flipping bugs that flew at my face, and tried to burrow down my shirt as we set up our tent under the baobab tree. YUCK! They were like massive scratchy flying cockroaches! You could imagine my enthusiasm about that situation... Now the real excitement was in the sailing too and from. I was a little nervous about sailing in these beautiful handmade dhow boats, even though I have never been nervous about being out on the water at home. Maybe it's because at Christmas I got seasick and that has never happened to me. Maybe because the wind is SO powerful! You get these bursts of wind that fill the sails with such strength, pulling it forward, and tipping the boat at extreme angles. Now I also have not done all that much sailing so, the angles themselves I was not quite comfortable with. I asked the captain and the owner of the boat if they ever tip, and they said no, rarely. Other things cause sinking ships. He didn't elaborate on the "other things" much to my relief. I really don't like talking about things that could cause my death with sailing mishaps, while I am actually sailing. Along the way to Kiwayu we passed a dhow that was on its way down with just the top of the sail emerged and throng fishermen were swimming around frantically. I asked if we should help them, but as they were really close to shore, there was no need. We continued sailing up the coast to our petite tropical island destination at great speed due to the incredible wind strength that day! Just as I began to relax after witnessing the sinking ship, CRACK, the mast breaks! Holy crap! I start praying instantaneously. The boat was tipping left and right as the sail was whipping around in the wind, with the broken piece of mast swaying like a pendulum. My heart was racing, Adele and Maya (an American girl on the trip with us) were sitting at the front of the boat, after realizing what had happened, they scrambled to the back of the boat. Clasping together, we prayed and watched as the crew sprang and swung around the stern like monkeys to get the sail under control. They wrapped the sail around the erect piece of mast and lowered it as fast as they could. Whew! That was a near death experience. Mike, the Australian owner of the boat, looks at me and says, "Now that is how a dhow sinks!" "Oh my Lord," I thought to myself, "Thank you for my life!" Luckily we had an outboard motor on the boat. They got that sucker spinning and we were on our way again! They tied down the sail and we moved on. The crew started untying the sail and MacGyver-ed a new shorter one. They succeeded in the operation, strung up the new sail, pulled the lines and shoo, the wind filled the sail and we were kicking along again. We all relaxed, Mike, cracked a beer, took a sip and CRACK!! OH MY LANTA, the mast broke again. "Sweet Jesus," I prayed, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE". They dropped the sail down real quick, thanks to the day’s previous practice, and we continued with only the motor. We made it to Kiwayu without any further complications. Our time there was totally relaxing. We wished we had the guitar but got along without. They found a new mast on the island, and we were set for the cruise back. I was trying not to be nervous, with our preceding experience in the back of my mind. We stopped for a snorkel on the tip of the island. It was beautiful; I LOVE snorkeling! Went for a small walk up the beach and found a cave in the rock walled shore which was FULL of shells, beautiful. I collected some favorites and we headed back to the boat for the last leg of our journey. It was smooth sailing until, SCRAPE, we found ourselves perched atop coral reef. The boat was practically on its side. We had to gently rock it to release off the reef. I tell you after that, I was about ready to dive off and start swimming. My heart did not want anymore sailing catastrophes. Apart from the sailing adventure and almost losing our tent on the way over to Lamu, it proved to be the Island I grew to love from my original 4 days there at Christmas.
Next on the highlight list, Tanga, Tanzania! I loved Tanzania. As soon as we started to head down the coast, I felt a peace in my spirit, and an excitement for the next, and last leg of our journey. When we arrived in Tanga, a small costal town in northern TZ, Rasta David picked us up from the bus stop. Rasta David is the friend of my beloved friend Sarah Switzer, from back home. Sarah was a HUGE inspiration in my coming to Africa in the first place, as she had come to do work in Tanzania twice. So she hooked me up with all her awesome friends she made on her earlier visits. Rasta David was awesome!! So much fun, and a true Rasta man, with a membership card! He showed us around Tanga, and took us on a bike trip to the Amboli Caves. That was DEFINATELY one of my highlights, such a nice change from sitting in a bus. We rented some bikes, and cycled about an hour to the cave. It was BEAUTIFUL. I was in awe of the beauty of the land. We cycled road side through town; past markets, and homes, till we branched off on a dirt road through a village. It was one of my favorite experiences. I didn't even like the caves themselves that much with all the spiritual garbage that lived in there. On the way back to town we stopped at a local drinking hut for some local coconut liquor, aka, fermented, disgusting, thick, crap. It was awesome to sit with the local's and choke back a 200 shilling (17 cents) glass of the stuff, definitely more for the experience than the joy of drinking it, for sure. As we only had like two nights there and one day. That night we met up with another one of Sarah's friends, AJ. He was a super nice guy. Came to pick us up and took us to a restaurant for chicken and chips, The Harbor Bar, or something. He was really funny, and hospitable. After meeting such nice people, I really wanted to stay longer, but we couldn't. Oh well, it just added to my fire to come back. We left at 5:30 am for the first bus to Dar Es Salaam, the next morning.
Our bus broke down on the way to Dar, so we got to enjoy a one hour roadside break. We missed two ferries on the way to Zanzibar. But finally made it there by like 7pm, I think. I was SO happy to make it. Zanzibar was the one place that if I could only go one place in East Africa, that was where I wanted to go. We had dinner on the sea front, where there are about 40 tables of different food vendors to choose from. Zanzibar Pizza proved to be our favorite. A fried pastry, filled with spiced ground beef, vegetables, cheese, mayo and an egg (1000tzsh=85cents). That was our supper every night; accompanied with a DELICOUS glass of fresh squeezed sugar cane juice, splashed with ginger and lime (250tzsh=21cents)! YUMMY! The first day on Zanzibar we went on a Spice Tour. It was a boring morning of looking at how spices grew, most of which I lived in for the last 6 months, some were interesting, but not a lot. There were some really cute kids that tied all these neat grass rings and necklaces on us. Who later proved to be evil kids because they stole 100,000tzsh=85$ from me. I was not impressed when I discovered I'd been pick pocketed as I was trying buy some of they're dumb spices at the end. Sorry about the bitterness. No actually feel sorry for the poor bloke I caught picking my pocket the next night as Adele and I were leaving a concert. I must say I was not being a good Christian. I tore a strip off the guy among other things that I can't write about. If you care to know, ask me upon my return. Our day snorkeling trip to Prisoner Island was another grand highlight. The island was ABSOLUTLEY gorgeous, THE most turquoise water I have EVER seen, WHITE sand, shells, palms, it was a slice of heaven! Before we arrived we spent two hours snorkeling over huge reefs. I saw tons of amazing colorful fish that I don't know the names of, and have never seen before. On the island, sat an old "prison" that is a 5 star resort now, and giant turtles! The turtles were amazing. Some were 150 years old, with scars on their backs from trees falling on them in storms. The huge ones were up to my waist!! They were like dinosaurs! We lounged on the beach, eating mangos and papaya, soaking up the sun. I loved it. There is nothing else in the world that I would have rather have been doing than that. I bought a bubuey while I was on Zanzibar. I felt a huge urgency to get one, and so I did; a full black burka. I was covered from head to toe with only my eyes, hands and feet showing. I wore it most of the time we were on the coast, and as we traveled back to Arusha. It was truly amazing how much respect I got the second I put the thing on. It was SO nice to not be a constant spectacle and target. Whenever Adele and I walked around while I was wearing it, all the hassling stopped! Praise God! It was interesting for sure, and I feel like I will be using it in the future. The only comments I received a few times, were "mzungu ninja" and "white woman in a burka!" The later was from a white guy who approached me, and couldn't hold back. He says "Are you Muslim?" "No." I reply. "Where are you from?" "Canada." "What? Why are you wearing that?" I showed him my face and he was astounded, "A white woman in a burka." He wanted to show me to his friends, and announced me as "And this is a white woman in a burka" Haha, pretty funny.
After loading our bags on the bus to Arusha, and missing it, we caught the next bus a half hour behind. It was a pretty harmless journey of 9 hours, I'm getting used to a lot of driving; day trips to Victoria will be no problem! Amina, Sarah’s good friend from Arusha, picked us from the bus stop. They were SO nice and SO accommodating. She was married a year ago to a really nice man Kitanga, and they have a BEAUTIFUL baby girl Nadya! She cooked us delicious food, and helped us in everyway she could. We were SO blessed by their family. Kitanga is a guide on the Serengeti, and so he hooked us up with a great deal on a two day safari. We went to Lake Manyara (Spelling?) and Ngorongoro Crater! It was an awesome two days. Saw four of the Big Five, Rhino, Elephant, Hippo and Lion. We didn't see a Leopard. I did see one, however, when I was at Murchison Falls. The parks I have been blessed to visit have been absolutely breathtaking, beautiful, and plentiful animals.
We finally took the 40 hour bus journey back to Mbarara; I plowed through an AMAZING new book I bought called "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey. It’s about a 23 year old man who is completely addicted to drugs and alcohol. It’s his journey through rehab. A gripping book, I could not put it down. So now I have taken Adele to the airport to fly to Amsterdam. Now starts the next leg of our journey!

I have all my pictures to upload now, I will post them all after this blog, enjoy! There are almost 100!

Sse Sse Island

2007-05-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

The sunset upon our arrival!

Sse Sse Islands

2007-05-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Adele at sunset.

Mel and Adele chillin' in the tent.
The beach!
The beach!
Our trusty tent! (Thanks dad!)

Sse Islands, Lake Victoria Uganda

2007-05-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Sunset flight.

Beach strollin.
Calm.
Staying for a while.
This is the beach at our camp site.

Mombosa, Nairobi, Sse Sse

2007-05-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

I was playing with toilet paper and the kitty...ooops (mombosa)

Adele, our english friend Andrew and I (Nairobi)
Streets of Nairobi.
Streets of Nairobi.
Holy candy anyone? (sse sse islands)

Kiwayu!!

2007-05-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Sunset Kiwayu

Sunset Kiwayu!
Adele at our sunset dip!
Sunset dip with mel!
Adele and Mel sunset dipping!

Kiwayu!

2007-05-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

My cute adele.

Thats our tent and the beach....CLOSE!
Under the baobab tree!
Adele and I.
Adele smashing garlic!

Dhow trip to Kiwayu

2007-05-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Octopus for lunch!

On the Dhow
Short snorkel stop, thats the the reef.
Snorkel stop on the point of Kiwayu.
Our crew member Baji.

Tanga, Dhowing in Lamu!

2007-05-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

AJ, Sarahs friend, and I.

Adele and I on our dhow trip to Kiwayu.
Short beach stop en route to Kiwayu.
Fishing boats.
More net fishing in the Indian Ocean.

Zanzibar and Tanga!

2007-05-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

This was the view arriving to Zanzibar!

My new look!
My new look (this is not the one i bought, mine is better)
Adele and I at the Amboli caves!
Rasta David and I.

Spice Tour!!

2007-05-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Cocoa o' natural!

Some crazy red spice, used for color!
Sweet darling little girl on the tour.
Corkscrew palm.
Zanzibar streets.

Prisoner Island and Zanzibar!

2007-05-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

Pulling up to Paradise!

That is one BIG A** SHIP, en route to prisoner island!
This is the beach on the Spice Tour!
Spice Tour Beach!
Adele loves the beach!!

Prisoner Island

2007-05-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

Giant Turtle!

Melly and the giant turtle, look perspectivly how huge it is!
Turtle Footsie!
Gorgeous Prisoner Island!
Post card perfect! (I want to be a prisoner there)

Prisoner Island!

2007-05-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

Can you say PARADISE?!?!

More Paradise!
We hopped over to Prisoner Island on one of these boats.
This is a baby giant turtle, about 30 years old!
Adele with the same turtle!

ZANZIBAR!!

2007-05-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Zanzibar!

Zanzibar!
Prisoner Island, this is the toilet!
Prisoner Island and I, lovin life!
Prisoner Island Beach!!

2007-05-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Nadya, Amina's beautiful baby!! (Arusha)

Nadya!!
Nadya!!
My henna'd hand and I.
Zanzibar!

2007-05-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Masai woman.

Dancing with Masai the women.
Adele and I in the Safari truck!
THEY KEEP SELLING ME STUFF AND I KEEP BUYING!!
Beautiful Amina and her beautiful baby Nadya! (In Arusha)

Masai Village

2007-05-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Masai beaded necklace.

Masai beaded necklaces.
Masai sticks for the men, the diferent bead work is for different age groups.
People in the village.
Masai jumping dance.

Safari, Ngoro Ngoro Crater

2007-05-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

This is the view looking over the crater floor.

A Masai woman from the Masai village we visited.
Trying on some Masai fasions!
One of the cuties in the village.
Another of the stunning Masai women.

Zanzibar

2007-04-28T05:36:00.001-07:00

We arrived safe and sound to Zanzibar, but not with out the typical African HASSLE. I thought I would have a friend meet us in Dar Es Saalem to help us to get to the ferry to Zanzibar, cause my friend Sarah told me that everyone she has ever known, Tanzanian or Foreigner, who went to Dar got robbed. So I called my friend. He met us when we got off the bus, and guided us to the ferry etc. It was really nice. We didn't get robbed. But when we were trying to get our ferry tickets over to the island, i think he may have done more harm than good. SOME GUY was "helping us" aka, running us all over the swealtering country wth our 500pound back packs. So through the whole ordeal we missed two boats, and then i finally got so mad at the guy (21/2 hours later) i yelled curse words in his face and told him we were getting our own tickets. So i went up to the booth that i was originally going to book through, and booked them....NO PROBLEM.....GOSH... i was really frusterated. I have 5 minutes on internet now so this is gonig to be fast. We went on a spice tour, it was boring.....ate fruit, got robbed of 100,000 tz shillings, bought spices, went to the beach. Eat fresh seafood for like a dollar, buy really nice cheap scarves, time is ticking....

i miss you all terribly....love you, write me sometime....its nice to hear from home!

Mombosa, Kenya

2007-04-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

I wrote a really crappy quick blog on myspace, i tried to copy and paste it here, but it didn't work, so dang. If you want to read it, you can:

http://www.myspace.com/melanieorr

I am so hot right now, in a supossedly airconditioned cafe. Oh well. We had a great time in Lamu, i want to tell you all about it, but i cant, i am too hot and tired to type. So plese, read Adele's blog becuase she wrote a great long one, and then lost it, and so she is typing it all over, very eloquently.

http://theadele.blogspot.com

I love you all, and am missing home terribly. 7 months is a long time. But don't worry, i am having the time of my life also, see you soon, miss you more.

Love always and forever, Mel.

Sse Sse Islands

2007-04-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Oh wow, the sse sse islands were a fantastic start to the trip. I wasn' t sure whether we should go ahead with it as i hadn't really heard much about the islands. But none the less we left Mbarara at 9am on monday morning and travelled north to the islands in the north of Lake Victoria. A big bus, a small matatu and a 2 hour ferry later, at 9:30 pm we arrived at Hornbell Campsite. It waas dark as we set up our tent (thank you so much dad) but when we were finished we saw a glowing coming from between the trees. A while glowing. We had to investigate, and YES, it was a GORGEOUS white sandy beach. the whitest we'd both ever seen. So we spent four nights a three days soaking up the sun and chilling out. Fires at night, great new people. We met Dom and Andy to great chaps from England, Catherine a beautiful New Yorker who now lives with her boyfriend Alihandro (from Sisily) in Barcelona, and Steve the professional 39 year old traveller. Steve made the big bucks and is now travelling the world for 4 years. So the highlight was relaxation, i think i have finally made my transition from volunteer to tourist. It was a hard one, but good. I am ready to explore and live every day to its fullest, loving life and all the beautiful creation of God here in Africa.
Now we are at Backpackers hostel in Kampala, and we are going to go out dancing with our friend Dom and Andy. We have body guards so we feel safe going out dancicng at some posh clubs. They have some sick mustaches shaved (that i am sure you would love daniel) and iron maiden t shirts and aviators to boot. Should be good time.
Tomorrow we head to the bus for a 12 to 16 hour bus ride to Nairobi Kenya. We spend a couple days there enjoying th big city and getting over our sun burns and then head to the coast for some real indian ocean surf! We decided to start at a Tiwi beach, moving on to Diani, Malindi and south all the way down the coast to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania to Zanzibar!
Missing home, but surely enjoying the travels and new people!
Love mel.

Ps. Happy easter and don't forget my birthaday on April 15th or i'll be sad!

Last group

2007-04-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Dinner in rwanda!
Washing hands!
smiles!
self explanitory!

Pictures, of me...

2007-04-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Shmoop, this one is for you!!

Pictures....

2007-04-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Carla a sweet austrian girl we met in Rwnada. 19 and travelling by herself!
Adele...beutiful!
hah...
Cutsie pootsie
cutsie again!
Adele and I are chilling out at Canada House in Mbarara on the floor of our room. After some delicious Annie’s pasta (some of my fav, brought over with adele from my momsie), we are feeling quite satisfied.
We had a lovely relaxing time on Bushara Island on Lake Bunyoni for de-brief. It is a huge winding lake with beautiful landscaped hillsides and a million shades of green. I paddled around in the huge dug out canoes with Emily to the nursery tree demo sites as well as with Bryony to her swimming lessons. The canoes are one huge tree that they carve the middle out of. It was a killer work out on my arms I tell ya. Not quite like kayaking. It’s hard to believe it’s all over. It was a really really amazing 6 months though, I would never trade it for anything.
I was SO excited the day I went to pick up Adele from the air port. We (me and Ben our special hire driver) were waiting in the upstairs of the Entebbe airport where you can see all the planes come in and the passengers come out. I had to stretch my head around to see her come out of the plane. I wasn’t even sure if I did see her cause couldn’t remember what she looked like. Just kidding. So when I saw what I thought was her, due to the ultra stylish attire, I ran down like 6 flights of stairs to where I thought the arrivals were, but I couldn’t find it. Then they told me it was under construction, and so they came outside. So I ran out there and had to wait another 15-20 minutes till she finally came around the bend of the walk way. I made a sign as I was waiting that said “Adele Pizzy (yes spelt wrong) you are highly welcome” and I waved it in the air jumping up and down. Not really necessary as I was the only white person waiting for anyone. Haha. We hugged and I cried as I was filled with so much joy to have a friend from home to join in the adventure.
We gabbed and gabbed the whole way back to Canada House about anything and everything that came to my tired and her jet lagged mind. Good times. We even stopped at the drum village to grab her a sweet hand drum. Also a quick photo op at the equator.
After two chilling days for Adele to get over her jet leg, we just had a sweet journey down to Rwanda. Our main event was the Genocide Memorial Museum, which overwhelmed our hearts with emotions that can’t be expressed. It is a really touching experience that shows just how evil a human can be, just how sick and twisted Satan is, and how in the midst of such complete horror, God still moves. He moved Hutu’s, the antagonistic force, to care for and hide their fellow brother and sister Tutsi’s, even though majority of them joined with the Interhawe and their sadistic plans to completely wipe out the Tutsi race. It’s sad that the only reason they were divided into these races was, who had ten cows or more, the Hutu’s, and who had less, the Tutsi’s. When the Belgian’s came to the country they only added to the problem by setting up physical criteria to these “tribes”, like long noses, tall, and lighter skin. Over one million people killed in less than 100 hundred days, over two million internally displaced people, and countless orphans.
On the lighter side, we were going to go and see the Mountain Gorilla’s in the Virunga Volcanic ranges, but we decided that it was a waste of money. Money that could fund like two or three weeks of normal living here, plus we saw pictures from some of the other interns. They are intense animals, indescribably human.
We headed to the Hotel des Millnes Collins, aka, Hotel Rwanda, for a classic tourist picture by the sign, hopefully I’ll get it posted at some point. We were going to go swimming and sunbathe for a while, but it was kind of overcast by the time we got there, and plus we realized that it cost like 6 dollars. Then we thought we would enjoy some “happy hour” but quickly realized that the half price happy hour drinks were still more expensive than the local place down the street. At the local spot, Chez Venant, they also had delicious beef brochettes and spicy sausage. The staff doesn’t speak English, and when you think they are coming to check on you or your meal, they simply grab a toothpick and start to clean there teeth. Muah ha ha, awesome, it only added to the fun and laughter. Adele also go the chance to follow God’s calling and buy this really sweet old lady, who was SO skinny, a loaf of bread, the lady didn’t speak and English, but God miraculously provided two translators to tell her what she wanted, and even to pray for her.
So after two nights in St Famille, Roman Catholic hostel, we decided to leave a night early, as there wasn’t much else we wanted to do. It was a huge ordeal that we wanted to leave early and we ended up loosing 2,000 Rwandan Francs. Dang. We had our own room with a sink and a lock, very luxurious. One morning we busted out into a operatic slash RnB version of halleluiah. It was awesome but, we shortly got a tap on the door and a big ol’ finger over the lips and something in French. Ooops.
We had a pretty nice bus ride back, on Gaso. There were some “business men” on the bus that worked with “stones and gold” from Congo. They bought us roasted goat, and banana’s, and tried for water, but we already had some. We caught boda’s from the shell station where we were dropped, back to Canada house, some guy old drunkard grabbed my boob and threw his hand off and gave him the finger.
So tomorrow we are heading to the beautiful Sse Sse Islands, situated in Lake Victoria, Uganda, one of biggest lakes in the world. There are 84 islands and kayak’s available for rent for about two dollars an hour. We are going to camp right on the beach!! I am highly anticipating it, as you now how much I love the ocean and the water. It’s been a long six months in landlocked surroundings. After that who knows, but eventually the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, game parks, white sand, archipelago, sun, music, waves, snorkeling and all around genuine good times.
Please pray for safety in our travels. Realness, truth, and life in our speech. Pray that we would walk in the ways that were made for us, on this journey, and always. Listening to the spirit in all things. Pray we would learn from everything, gaining wisdom in all we do. Leaving us refreshed, refilled, inspired and ready for the next step.
I love you all so much, and I pray that these blogs would truly touch and inspire you in your own lives in some way. That my words would speak something to you, something meaningful and lasting, not just rambling. I pray that you would have a renewing in your spirits. That things you have forgotten about, dreams that are buried in your hearts would come to the surface. That you would be able to make steps in your own life towards your own dreams, you are never too old, it is never too late. I pray you would find joy and peace in every moment. That your eyes would be opened to the undeniable beauty that surrounds our every day lives. No matter what the circumstance. You are all worthy of your dreams. You are all meant for a great adventure. Take a hold of it, every day. Cherish this life you’ve been given. The breath that you breathe. Let the song that resonates in your heart pour out. Don’t be afraid to be someone different. Someone who enjoys there life and is thankful. I pray that today you would all see different. That something in your soul would shift, and from this moment you could make a commitment to your self to live differently. In anyway that is relevant to you. I will be here to support you. You can do it!
Love always, Melanie

PICS PICS PICS

2007-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Back packin!
Beautiful Adele!
Beautiful Adele!
Beautiful Adele!
Catching some shut eye...and flies.

More adventures in Rwanda.

2007-04-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Some pics of Adele from a little photo shoot we had in the memorial gardens in Rwanda.

Oh and this is me and her out for some dinner with a beautiful view of the city and the sunset.

2007-04-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

Names of the people buried in the mass burial grave sites in Rwanda at the Kigali Memorial Museum.
Funny statue dude in the reflections gardens at the kigali memorial.
Hills of Kigali.
Open mass burial site.
Reflection gardens.

Mel and Adele Adventures!

2007-04-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

Sleepy Adele from the Entebbe Airport en route to Canada House Mbarara.
Surfin the Eqautor!
Adele having a swinging good time!
Shopping in Mbarara, sweet used clothes for super cheap.
Adele thinks i am this funny.

Last batch of Bunyoni!

2007-04-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

Lake Bunyoni.
Lake Bunyoni Widows group.
Bunyoni Widows.
Bunyoni Widows.
Cute boy at Nutritional training on Lake Bunyoni.

(but really the first batch cause it's my last upload and the first you see....sorry)

More Bunyoni!

2007-04-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

I think it's amazing how this tree's center is burnt out, yet it still grows...
Swimming Lessons with Bryony on Lake Bunyoni!!
Swimming lessons!
Swimming!!
Swimming!

Lake Bunyoni...almost done...

2007-04-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

Piggy...this one gives birth to others to give away in a pig giving program.
That little island is Punishment Island on Lake Bunyoni, woman who got pregnant our of wedlock were dropped on that island, not knowing how to swim. Men who couldn't afford the bride proce could take them.
Smiles at swimming lessons.
Sorting rice.
Sorting rice (picking out small stones and stuff)

Lake Bunyoni...yes more photo's...

2007-04-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

Lake Bunyoni...yes it's beautiful...
Lake Bunyoni again.
I didn't mean to post this here, but i did by accident, so it's here now...
Lady's at the Nutritional workshop on Bunyoni.
Paddling in.

More pictures of Lake Bunyoni...

2007-04-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

These are all pictures of beautiful Lake Bunyoni!

More pictures from lake bunyoni...

2007-04-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

Student running to swimming lessons.
Cute mzee (old person)
Swimming it up!
Cute students at swimming lessons.
Flutter boarding it!

More pictures of Lake Bunyoni...

2007-04-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Dug out canoes.
Dug out canoes.
Dug out canoes.
Student running down to swimming lessons.
Students running down to swimming lessons.

More pictures from Bunyoni...

2007-04-01T06:20:00.000-07:00

Cute little darling at Nutritional workshop in Lake Bunyoni.
Cutie again...
Reach for the heavans.
Paddling on the lake.
Parking lot.

Pictures from Bunyoni

2007-04-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

Carrying bricks for a three stone stove at nutritional workshop in Lake Bunyoni.
Bryony and her students for swimming lessons.
Bushara Island Paddles for the Dug out canoes.
Bushara Island.
The boat to Bushara Island.

Kickin it in Kampala

2007-03-25T05:09:00.000-07:00

Well, work is officially over. It is very strage. Leaving everyone, and going on to something new and exciting. I am very torn, with ending all the crazy adventures i have just been through and moving on to the next. Adele will be here in 20 hours!!! Oh my. I am so so excited and blessed to have Adele come here to travel with me. It will be awesome i know it.

We spent our debrief time on bushara island on lake bunyoni, an dit was absolutley beautiful. I have all these pictures resized and ready for posting but i left my USB in Mbarara at Canada House. So i will post them in the next few days... would have been nice though cause the internet here, is almost as fast as at home. Almost. So, yeah, i didnt' get much sleep the last night on bushara, thinking of all i have been through, all i have seen, all i could go on too. I am really in a strange place, and i think it will take me a while to process. I think my culture shock coming back will be alot worse than coming here. I think i had a douse of it my last night on bushara. I keep having faces of people i have met flash in my mind. The baby with HIV that died, the young girl praise that died unexpectadely, all these people i have been working with who have HIV, the whole memory book team. I will never ever forget these people, I can't.
Anyways, I am in Kampala for the day, i went to the craft market today to buy some presents for all you wonderful people at home. And guess what, i am going for the big culture shock and am even going to the movie theatre in a few hours, to see the new Drew Barrymoore and Hugh Grant movie, Music and Lyrics!! Should be very strage, like the mall i am at right now. It's Garden City, a huge "mzungu"(white person) mall. I think the internet cafe i am in right now even has air conditioning!! PG!! (Praise God)

I went to Kampala Penecostal Church today, my first time seeing a white preacher since the international church i went to with Kristy. It was good, focused on the family, and children, they had all the children on stage to help lead worship, it was pretty cool. I stayed for a service and a half. They have 4 service at that church, with overflow rooms and balcony....CRAZY!! Did you know that Uganda is the youngest nation in the world, being that 50% of the population is below 15 years old!! It's also the 3rd fastest growing nation in the world. The average Ugandan Family has 6 1/2 children. And 4 1/2 times more money is spent on alcohol here than on education..... NUTS. Thats what I lernt today! It was really nice to be at a "normal" dare i say, church. But as i left, i was quickly reminded that i was in africa as i heard someone scream behind the front main lobby desk, i was alarmed, and there was a crowd. Some man was being beaten up. I peaked over the counter just in time to see the man kicked in the chest... It was really disturbing. I don't know why it happened, i didn't want to get involved so i kept moving.
Well, I am heading out to the Entebbe airport with Laura tommorow, to see her off, and to see Adele in! I am VERY excited!

Keep praying, and keep in touch.
Love Mellon

Pictures in the Paper!!

2007-03-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hey yall, PS...my photo's of the returnee's camp are in today's hamilton spectator...so please feel free and check them out at the following:

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/pdfs/20070317/D10.pdf

You all rock, and i miss you too much.
Mel

March 17th

2007-03-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is from today!! Yay!!

Yesterday I left Rubingo for the last time. All my stuff packed and in the truck. It was a beautiful last day, the pineapple at chai time never tasted so sweet. I prayed the night before that God would help me to be not a total wreck when saying goodbye, as I was already feeling so emotional about leaving. I’m sure he helped me, because I did cry but I was able to speak, and communicate how much I love these people and how much they have genuinely touched my life. I am feeling torn, missing these people, and all the wonderful things I have experienced over the last 6 months, but also really excited about the next leg of the journey with Adele. I am in Canada House right now in Mbarara for the weekend, and will be heading to Kabale on Monday morning. It will be weird to be all together again, our Uganda team 2006-2007. We are all heading our separate ways, to our own new adventures. But I’m sure we will never forget our time together here serving with ACTS. It’s been the adventure of a lifetime that’s for sure.
My photo’s of the Ugandan returnee’s camp in kikigate will be printed in today’s Saturday issue of the Hamilton Spectator. I will go to the site and see if I can paste the page on here or provide a permanent link. I’m really excited about it. They may also be in the Toronto Star!! The story is still being pitched to them though. I will let you know for sure!
So Adele will be here in 8 days!!!!!! Holy crap, I am so excited. I honestly can’t stop thinking about it, and all the things that we can do and see. I am SO SO SO SO thankful that God provided a friend for me to travel with. It is a HUGE answer to pleading prayers! I know it will be an amazing unforgettable time. Please continue to pray for our journeys, our safety and all that good stuff. I’m sure we will continue to let you know where we are at and what the latest news is!
Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading and praying and supporting me, I could not do this with out you! I miss home TONS, Panago Chicken Club Pizza, WATCH OUT!!! Northgate Foursquare I miss you so much. My family, Danielle, Mom, Dad, Col buddy, Trev, Tash, Dennis, Sparky, Emma… I miss you all terribly. And I look forward to seeing you all again. I know that this last part of the journey for me will go the fastest, so watch out; I will be home before you know it!

TONS AND TONS OF LOVE EVERYONE!!! KEEP LIVING YOUR LIVES TO THE FULLEST. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, FORGET YOUR FEARS, RUN THE RACE THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU AND DON’T LOOK BACK. IF CRAZY OL MEL CAN DO IT, IMAGINE ALL THE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO!! I PRAY THAT ALL OF YOU WILL BE INSPIRED TO MAKE A CHANGE, TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT AND DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SOMEONE UNEXPECTING. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS. LOVE THE UNLOVABLE. GIVE YOURSELF, YOUR TIME, YOUR ENERGY, YOU’RE LOVE TO THOSE AROUND YOU. TO THOSE THAT NEED IT.

March 12th

2007-03-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Another old blog, cause i love you.

It’s my last night in Rubingo with Laura and Tanessa. Katie is gone to Nyakigera. It was a good day. I spent it organizing all my stuff, trying to figure out how I am going to fit it all into my two 50 pound bags. I never really realized how light 50 pounds is. It is light, especially when you have 3 seventy pound bags on the way here… yikes. Wish me luck on that one. Haha. So David Moore and Pippa are coming to camp tomorrow for a couple nights, Tanessa and Laura are leaving for Kikigate in the morning, and then I will be heading out on Saturday morning with David and Pippa to Mbarara. From there I will try and throw together some last minute typing and printing. Next I will be heading to Kabale en route to Bushara Isaland. I will have 2 days there to document all the happenings, and then there is de brief. On the morning of March 24th we are officially finished.
I am honestly in a very shocked state as I write this. It’s crazy how fast 6 months can fly by. It’s been such and adventure to be here in Africa. I summed it up quite nicely in my final report I had to write. It reads as follows:

“It is so hard to sum up all I have been through since arriving in Uganda. It has been life changing, heart transforming, soul moving and mind boggling. I have had some of my highest highs along with some of my lowest lows. I’ve been touched remarkably by so many Ugandan people and experiences. I’ve learned so many lessons on team work overseas, on myself, on God and most of which I am still processing. I will miss Uganda and its people in an overwhelming amount. I’m sure I will dream of Africa for a long time after I am gone. Maybe even waking up in Canada and wishing that I was waking up here in Rubingo. I can’t put words to my experience. I will never ever forget it as it will be engrained in my heart and my way of life forever. And, if God wishes, one day I will return, with my mom and sister.”

As I am still here in Uganda, and in the area of my posting and my job, I don’t feel like I can truly comprehend all I have learned and been through. Hindsight is 20/20 right?
It been one wild and crazy adventure and I will definitely be updating you on my after travels and as I am learning truly what I have gone through. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers back home. It means the world to me.

March 2nd

2007-03-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry, i wrote this blog a while ago in camp and your getting it now!!

Can you believe it; I have 20 days left of my posting here in Uganda! I knew the time would pass by at an accelerated rate, but I honestly did not expect it to be this rapid. I think it is especially due to the off time that we have at the end of every month. For that off time I am very grateful by the way. We are supposed to have “free” or off time on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, but it is not always the case. There is always work that can be done. Speaking of work, I think my photo count is around 10,000! That is so crazy to me. But it is amazing too because, for me, it’s 10,000 moments frozen in time. 10,000 images of God’s beauty, majesty, creation, glory, grace, peace, emotion and oh so many other things that my feeble mind fails to put word to. I honestly shock myself every time I upload my photos. When there is this striking image, I thank God for what he has shown me, for what he has enabled me to portray. I could not do this on my own. If I tried, by myself, I think you would get better images from a blind woman standing on her head under a pile of hay. I’ve finally been backing up all my pictures and video onto DVD’s. I should have done it earlier because now it is a huge job, although, I am almost finished. I have a few project areas that I still need to complete photo documentation for including; the Rubingo AIDS Station, potential sponsorship people, agriculture demos, and a few other small things.
I have been hanging out with Andrea Huncar, this amazingly talented and beautiful reporter for the CBC. It has been such a blessing to meet her. To be able to talk to her about her career, and how she got to where she is, and how she writes, and everything I can think to ask her. It’s amazing how much we have clicked since the moment we met. She is doing my dream job. Moving around East Africa, most recently Sudan, researching and writing stories about amazing things. She is the one who is writing the story about the refugee camp in Kikigate. I tell you, that afternoon I spent moving around with her in the camp; I just knew that I wanted to do that. To help people get their stories heard. So, I was fortunate enough to take the pictures, and now, (I know I mentioned this in my last blog, but I wanted to spend more time to elaborate and really let you know what’s going on) they maybe published in the Hamilton Spectator! I am so excited! God is so good, and please just pray for me in this situation. Maybe the right people will see them, and you never know!
Side note: I just got a text from my friend Evans, the man I prayed for at the bible study for deliverance and breaking of generational curses. He said he messed up bad, and to please pray for him. So please, I pray that you would hold him in your prayers, that Satan’s attack on his life would not succeed, and that it would be broken to dust. Pray strong warring angles around him, fighting the battle for him. Pray against anger and aggression. Pray for healing of hurts. Please, this man has a huge calling on his life, I beg you as fellow believers to fight the battle with this man. Fight it on your knees for him!
So it was crazy being in that camp. It has grown from 220 to over 1300 in 2 months. And it consists of people who left Uganda during the 60’s and 70’s in search of land and a better life. Most of them were living in Tanzania for over 20 years. And now the Tanzanian government is kicking them out in not a nice manner. They are tied and beaten and thrown in trucks and shipped back to their countries. Left with nothing but any few small things they can scrounge together before they are shipped out having to leaving behind their land, their animals, their homes, their everything. Now they are all grouped in a small settlement area behind the town of Kikigate. They are not welcome in the trading center; two men were recently beaten severely by the Kikigate locals. They have no medical services and no money to seek help elsewhere. Children are dying all the time, due to the lack of medical attention, lack of nutrition, and poor living conditions. Mary, our guide from the camp, took us to see where the children are buried. She said they have lost count on the number of deaths, and the grass is already growing over if not totally covering many of the graves. She showed us an old blind woman, who had three different stories as to why her back was covered in scars; one being she died, and was resurrected and woke up with the scars; two she had TB and they gave her the wrong medication and she woke up with the scars; and three they were from bed sores. There was a pastor in the camp who was taken out of TZ, and doesn’t know where his pregnant wife is. There was the little orphan boy who may have HIV, and if he tests positive his only living relative, a grandmother, won’t care for him. They all live in grass shelters that do practically nothing for the rainy season that we are just entering.
But despite all these circumstances, they are joyous; they get together almost every night to sing praise songs. They were selling what little they could scrounge up, working together to survive, finding food and firewood to cook with, they even set up a school in their multi purpose room that teaches nursery to P6. One of the most beautiful things was, we asked if we could have their children’s choir sing for us, and when they told the kids, they all lit up and ran to the open field to get arranged and practice quickly. I have the singing on video tape and it’s just beautiful. The sad thing was, is there was a storm coming. And we saw it coming, and knew we had to leave to get shelter for our equipment or it would ruin. They wished we could stay forever I am sure, but we left. It was not a nice feeling, knowing that we were leaving to a warm, dry house, with a hot meal. And they were staying. Having no choice, because this all they have now, there families sold their little bits of land to go to Tanzania, and now they are forced to find their way out of poverty.
So, I am tired now, its 10:46pm on March the 2nd, and I think I need to get some rest. Thank you to all of you that are still taking the time to check up on me. It’s been a turbo 6 months, but at times, it was very long too. But all in all, I know that there has been huge growth in my life and in my heart. Probably things that I will never really be able to define, but I will try for my next blog to put it in words for you.

Good night, and God Bless you all.
Love Melanie

Pictures

2007-03-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

1. Swinging good times

Ok...these are all pictures of my concieted self, i'm sorry.

The 4th one although is dedicated to the person i miss the most in the world, my beautiful sister, Poopsmith, ahem, i mean danielle. Also the very cute picture of the puppy is dedicated to you danielley smelly.

Pictures

2007-03-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

1,2. The memory book work teams with thier books decorated.

3,4,5. Me and my beautiful sponsor child Fortunate Burungi.

Pictures!!

2007-03-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

1,2. Candle Fun

3. Super cute puppy

4. Swinging good time

5. Rose our ugandan health worker and I

Recap and Candle Fun

2007-03-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

1. Fun on bus ride with Acamba!!

2,3,4,5. Candle light fun times in my tent at Rubingo.

Recap Pictures

2007-03-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

1. Christmas Day Dhow boating trip in Lamu.

2. Delicious fresh fish, fresh coconut curry lunch on the beach, ON christmas day.

3. Christmas Day on the beach, notice i am on the phone, currently talking to my family.

4. Chillin on the roof top on a lovely Lamu evening

5. Me in our room, after getting henna done, packing for and "exciting" journey home (to camp)

2007-03-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

1. Boarding the train in Nairobi to Mombosa, that was 4 hours delayed.

2. Boarding the death Matatu from Mombasa to Lamu for our christmas "holidays"

3. Awesome wrapping paper from Bryony and Emily's gift to me on Chritmas.

4. Group Shot in Lamu, from left to right: Me, Tanessa, Laura, Bryony, Emily

5. Group Shot in Lamu, from left to right: Laura, Bryony, Me, Baji, Tanessa, Katie, Emily, Elaine

Recap Photo's

2007-03-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

1. Me and Tanessa with our beautiful Super Suits (I gave mine to fortunate)

2. Classic "off" time, guarding bags and waiting for bus's (this one in kampala)

3. Tanessa and I on home visits.

4. Self Portrait in Rwanda.

5. Mel with Malaria...

Photo Recap

2007-03-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

I found a bunch of pictures from other people that i havn't posted, and seeings how it's the end i thought i would give you a short photo recap of my journey!

1. Kayaking in Comox during orientation.

2. Leaving from the Comox airport.

3. Confused in Heathrow.

4. AIDS Testing Day fun.

5. Conquering the NILE!! (After rafting the Nile)

Just so you know.

2007-03-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

When i upload a bunch of new pics they can't all fit on the same page, if you scroll to the bottom there is still more. You need to use the links on the right side of the screen, and sometime the archive. Sorry if you all know that... i just don't want you to miss out!

The end is near...

2007-03-03T04:55:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it; I have 20 days left of my posting here in Uganda! I knew the time would pass by at an accelerated rate, but I honestly did not expect it to be this rapid. I think it is especially due to the off time that we have at the end of every month. For that off time I am very grateful by the way. We are supposed to have “free” or off time on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, but it is not always the case. There is always work that can be done. Speaking of work, I think my photo count is around 10,000! That is so crazy to me. But it is amazing too because, for me, it’s 10,000 moments frozen in time. 10,000 images of God’s beauty, majesty, creation, glory, grace, peace, emotion and oh so many other things that my feeble mind fails to put word to. I honestly shock myself every time I upload my photos. When there is this striking image, I thank God for what he has shown me, for what he has enabled me to portray. I could not do this on my own. If I tried, by myself, I think you would get better images from a blind woman standing on her head under a pile of hay. I’ve finally been backing up all my pictures and video onto DVD’s. I should have done it earlier because now it is a huge job, although, I am almost finished. I have a few project areas that I still need to complete photo documentation for including; the Rubingo AIDS Station, potential sponsorship people, agriculture demos, and a few other small things.
I have been hanging out with Andrea Huncar, this amazingly talented and beautiful reporter for the CBC. It has been such a blessing to meet her. To be able to talk to her about her career, and how she got to where she is, and how she writes, and everything I can think to ask her. It’s amazing how much we have clicked since the moment we met. She is doing my dream job. Moving around East Africa, most recently Sudan, researching and writing stories about amazing things. She is the one who is writing the story about the refugee camp in Kikigate. I tell you, that afternoon I spent moving around with her in the camp; I just knew that I wanted to do that. To help people get their stories heard. So, I was fortunate enough to take the pictures, and now, (I know I mentioned this in my last blog, but I wanted to spend more time to elaborate and really let you know what’s going on) they maybe published in the Hamilton Spectator! I am so excited! God is so good, and please just pray for me in this situation. Maybe the right people will see them, and you never know!
Side note: I just got a text from my friend Evans, the man I prayed for at the bible study for deliverance and breaking of generational curses. He said he messed up bad, and to please pray for him. So please, I pray that you would hold him in your prayers, that Satan’s attack on his life would not succeed, and that it would be broken to dust. Pray strong warring angles around him, fighting the battle for him. Pray against anger and aggression. Pray for healing of hurts. Please, this man has a huge calling on his life, I beg you as fellow believers to fight the battle with this man. Fight it on your knees for him!
So it was crazy being in that camp. It has grown from 220 to over 1300 in 2 months. And it consists of people who left Uganda during the 60’s and 70’s in search of land and a better life. Most of them were living in Tanzania for over 20 years. And now the Tanzanian government is kicking them out in not a nice manner. They are tied and beaten and thrown in trucks and shipped back to their countries. Left with nothing but any few small things they can scrounge together before they are shipped out having to leaving behind their land, their animals, their homes, their everything. Now they are all grouped in a small settlement area behind the town of Kikigate. They are not welcome in the trading center; two men were recently beaten severely by the Kikigate locals. They have no medical services and no money to seek help elsewhere. Children are dying all the time, due to the lack of medical attention, lack of nutrition, and poor living conditions. Mary, our guide from the camp, took us to see where the children are buried. She said they have lost count on the number of deaths, and the grass is already growing over if not totally covering many of the graves. She showed us an old blind woman, who had three different stories as to why her back was covered in scars; one being she died, and was resurrected and woke up with the scars; two she had TB and they gave her the wrong medication and she woke up with the scars; and three they were from bed sores. There was a pastor in the camp who was taken out of TZ, and doesn’t know where his pregnant wife is. There was the little orphan boy who may have HIV, and if he tests positive his only living relative, a grandmother, won’t care for him. They all live in grass shelters that do practically nothing for the rainy season that we are just entering.
But despite all these circumstances, they are joyous; they get together almost every night to sing praise songs. They were selling what little they could scrounge up, working together to survive, finding food and firewood to cook with, they even set up a school in their multi purpose room that teaches nursery to P6. One of the most beautiful things was, we asked if we could have their children’s choir sing for us, and when they told the kids, they all lit up and ran to the open field to get arranged and practice quickly. I have the singing on video tape and it’s just beautiful. The sad thing was, is there was a storm coming. And we saw it coming, and knew we had to leave to get shelter for our equipment or it would ruin. They wished we could stay forever I am sure, but we left. It was not a nice feeling, knowing that we were leaving to a warm, dry house, with a hot meal. And they were staying. Having no choice, because this all they have now, there families sold their little bits of land to go to Tanzania, and now they are forced to find their way out of poverty.
So, I am tired now, its 10:46pm on March the 2nd, and I think I need to get some rest. Thank you to all of you that are still taking the time to check up on me. It’s been a turbo 6 months, but at times, it was very long too. But all in all, I know that there has been huge growth in my life and in my heart. Probably things that I will never really be able to define, but I will try for my next blog to put it in words for you.

Good night, and God Bless you all.
Love Melanie

Pictures

2007-03-03T04:39:00.000-08:00

On the boat cruise up the nile to Murchison Falls.
Two of the widows in the the new widow's garden group in Kikigate.
This is where they construct the Bio-Sand Filters in Kikigate, for clean water!!
I am sitting on the edge of a place i could die, the entie Nile flows into a 4 meter wide crevas and shoots through this small canyon to form Murchison Falls.
A widow from the Kikigate widows group.

Pictures

2007-03-03T04:30:00.000-08:00

Wonderful Kids from the near by school in Kikigate peak through the gate to the compound.
Young boy leans against old Bio-Sand Filters in front of the Kikigate house.
Stella the leader of the Kikigate Widows group and I.
Thats me at Murchison Falls a WAY in the distance.
Me with the Nile in the back groud after our boat cruise to the Falls.

More Pictures

2007-03-03T04:22:00.000-08:00

John, Me, Elaine and Karlin after helping clean out the water catchment in kikigate.
Cute Cute Girls at a Bio-Sand Filtration System Drop off in Kikigate.
Some more cuties from Kikigate that i gave suckers and balloons.
Tanessa, Laura, Me, Ryan, Emily and Bryony at Murchison Falls (You can see them by Bryony's backside...haha)
Looking into an empty Bio-Sand Filter.

Hey yall, I had like 2 minutes to throw together some more pictures before i came to town today, so i am going to throw up a random selection of some recent shots. And i have abig blog i wrote out yesterday. I'm heading back to Rubingo tomorow afternoon, and will be there for two weeks, then to Bushara Island. I've got three days there of work, then our two day debrief, and then i head to Entebbe to meet my beloved friend ADELE!!!!!!!!!!
Love, mel.

Refugee Camp Pictures

2007-03-02T04:12:00.000-08:00

Wonderful kids choir from the camp that sang for us before we left, i have video of it, if only i could get it uploaded!

This is the father of a child who died two days earlier. He is now loosing his mind.

Refugee Camp Pictures

2007-03-02T04:04:00.000-08:00

Mary and camp kids!
Mother and baby.
Mother and Baby.
Family by their house.
Woman sifting through millet.

2007-03-02T03:56:00.000-08:00

The make shift homes that make up the camp.
Man weaves baskets for small income.

Small girl living in the camp.

This man tried to get me to buy his six pence, in hopes that it was worth something huge, like a ticket out of there.

The awesome kids that followed us everywhere through out the camp.

Kikigate Refugee Camp

2007-03-02T03:43:00.000-08:00

Blind Woman who does not know why she is covered in scars.

Fungus that attacks many camp kids.

This little boy we think has AIDS, but is unable to test. He has a constant wound on his left ear.

Same boy, he is an orphan, with only his grandmother, and she says she will not take care of him if he test postive. Thus leaving him alone.

Mary's son Elijah holding a toy he made of sticks, sandals and a plastic bottle.

Kikigate Refugee Camp Pictures

2007-03-02T03:34:00.000-08:00

Mary's Home.

Refugee Camp Kids.

Mary tell us their story.

Family eating.

Mary and on lookers.

Kikigate Refugee Camp

2007-03-02T03:19:00.000-08:00

Girl running toward the camp.

Mary our guide.

The school room/church/Mary's home.

Mary.

Refugee camp resident.

I dont have alot of time so this is going to be a quick blurb. Wow. I just spent three days in Kikigate, one of the ACTS camp areas. Mainly focused on bio-sand water filtration systems, and widows gardens. We have a friend of one of the volunteers visiting Andrea Huncar. She is a reporter for CBC. We found out about a refugee camp that is practically meters away from where we stay. And so she is doing a story on it. She doesn't do photography, so i came along for the pictures. This camp has grown from 220 to 1500 in two months. Many Ugandan citizens have run away to Tanzania to seek more land and a better life, they found land and spent numerous years there, some upto 20. But the Tanzania governemet does not like them "squatting" in there land, and so they have run them out of the country. Now they are left with nothing, and living in mere conditions on barren land. Grass huts are their shelter as we enter the rainy season. So, me and Andrea spent an amazing afteernoon with the people of this refugee camp. They took us around, showing us thier school room/church/meeting area. Showed us the many sick people from the unclean living conditions. They have children dying almost everyday because of lack of nutrition and germs. A very motivated woman named Mary walked us around the camp and translated the situation to us. It was amazing. Like 300 children and even adults followed and crowed around us every where we went.

So Andrea is filling her story this week, and trying for a spread, like a photo essay. Meaning, my photos would be published in the Hamilton Spectator! So please pray. That would be crazy!!

Safari Pics

2007-03-02T03:14:00.000-08:00

Where I am.

Where you are.

Safari Pics

2007-03-02T03:11:00.000-08:00

Safari Pics

2007-03-02T03:07:00.000-08:00

Safari Pics

2007-03-02T02:58:00.000-08:00

Oh, that First picture is of a LEPORD, which is a really hard thing to SPOT, so thats why

its not that great, BUT i still saw it, and not you can too!!

Safari Pictures

2007-03-02T02:55:00.000-08:00

Safari Pics

2007-03-02T02:49:00.000-08:00

Safari Pictures!!

2007-03-02T02:44:00.000-08:00

I went on my first Safari last weekend, and it was our last off. I cannot believe how fast time has passed. I am not sure how much time i have here at internet today, but i have lots of exciting news.

Firstly i am going to post all my safari pictures, that are all pretty self explanatory.

2007-02-18T05:18:00.000-08:00

Widow's Light

Pictures

2007-02-18T05:09:00.000-08:00

1,2. Ana.
3,4,5. Training for weaving better baskets for the widows in Rubingo area.

Pictures

2007-02-18T05:04:00.000-08:00

1,2. Alice my wonderful seamstress in Rubingo.
3. Her trusty sewing machine.
4. Her tailoring students.
5. Phiona.

Digging Trenches

2007-02-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

Thought i give you guys some shots of the trenches being dug in Nyakigera.

Standing in awe.

2007-02-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

Well, nothing ever goes as it seems. And I think that it’s a good thing, for me anyways. It keeps me on my toes, always guessing and definitely not comfortable. So, I have been trying to get to Nyakigera for the last couple days, but things keep coming up. Like the head office of ACTS in Canada wanted me to type up an article for the up coming newsletter, as well as send over some pictures. So I got busy doing that, and fussing with the internet, as I told you in the previous blog, and trying to get them sent. So today I figured I could get over there. But no, God had another plan. I was told to wait. I was going to try and get public transport, but it really didn’t feel like a good plan. And so I clean up at Canada House, charged my phone and made some lunch. Just as I was sitting down to eat, my phone rang and it was Coleb, a worker from the Nyakigera camp. He told me he knew someone with a motorcycle that could come and pick me up, so I was to wait as he would be there “any time”. I was relieved at that, because I was feeling sketched out and discouraged at the thought of finding a matatu that was going in the right direction and then a boda boda, for the like 6,000 shillings I had left. So I ate my lunch and awaited my ride. But he never came, I later received a text from Apollo, the head honcho, at Nyakigera camp, and he said he’s coming into town tomorrow so I should just wait until then. So I decided to go into town and try again at sending some pictures to Canada, checking my email, and updated my blog. Well I only checked my email, as blogger wouldn’t open and then the power went out, and I was feeling really sick again. I went to the clinic, as I felt like I was going to throw up or pass out, and got my 3rd or 4th was it, malaria test. It was negative. But I started taking some antibiotics because I’ve got the good old frequent bathroom blessing. Well on the way into town I had noticed as I boda’d by the University Baptist Church, that they were having a prayer/bible study meeting from 5:30 to 6:30. So I decided to stop by there. It was really nice, a circle of chairs outside on a patio looking over a big valley and rolling hills. (I love Ugandan landscapes) They were going through Psalm 119, and reflecting on each verse. It was nice. But at the end, we had prayer requests, and we went around and voiced our requests. I requested for more break through, and continuing on this path of breakthrough that I am on, and more intimacy with God, like clearer two way communication. There was another guy there, Evans, and he started talking about how he’s very up in down in his faith, when he’s up he’s up and when he’s down he’s down. Then he started talking about how he has this anger issue, and he’s had it for a long time etc. Then I got the “nudge”. “You have to pray for him.” I was like, ok, no problem, I can say a prayer in the circle for him. But as we were praying for each other “Pray for him after” and so I waiting after and it didn’t seem like the right timing, so I took my chair inside and “Don’t you leave without praying for him” So I went back out and he was talking to Dr. Pepper (the American doctor who helped me when I had malaria, he’s also a pastor, go figure), and some other guy. So I nonchalantly walked up and just kind of stood there and the opportunity presented it self, he asked me my name and “ask about the anger”. So I just got bold and asked him. I was a little worried, I mean you approach some dude who is talking about this flash anger problem and well, you just don’t know how he’s going to react. Well he was really calm, and just started talking about how he’s had it for like as long as he can remember, and it’s really bad. So I told him that I felt I should pray for him, and he was cool with it. So I asked it Dr. Pepper and the other guy could join us. So I prayed against the spirit of anger and aggression and broke generational curses in the name of Jesus, and the others prayed for him too. After I asked him how he felt and he was still wishy washy and convinced that he was stuck with this problem, and the others gave him some advice. We were walking up towards the road, as Dr. Pepper and his friend were leaving. I knew I needed to pray for him again. So I told him about how before I came to Africa this amazing woman prophesied over me about a power in the laying on of hands and the breaking of generational curses that was coming upon me. He had told me that his grandfather had the same problem and even killed a man. So I knew, that this was God’s plan and god’s timing. I told him that I would like to pray for him again if he was willing, and he was. He had a lot of explanations that Satan had lied to him about, why he was that way etc. But I just kept talking him through it. And so we got to praying and I don’t know how long I prayed for, but God was pouring through me. I prayed for the loosing of spirits, breaking of curses, and all this crazy stuff, I can’t remember any of it. After, he felt so free. He said he knew it was God cause when I was praying it was like I was reading his script or something. Also that one time he was a missionary in England and he walked into a church service, and I guy came up to him and said “When you walked in here, God told me this and this and this.” And when I was praying I prayed about those things!! Wow, god is so good. He even encouraged me, next time God tells you something, or asks you to step out, for my sake, just do it! It’s totally insane how God works, all these little things leading up, and I meet some guy in Africa (he is a Ugandan) that I need to pray for, for the breaking of generational curses. Wow, it was truly amazing to see the freedom restored in his face afterwards!!

Praise God!

Funny Signs

2007-02-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

God it GOOOD.

2007-02-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

**I'm doing a series of pictures of interesting and funny signs**

I am happy to say or maybe sad to say, I haven’t quite decided, that this is the first time in my life where when I have a shower actual muddy water comes off of me. I ring out my hair and it’s like chocolate milk. Haha, it is kind of gross, but not the worst I could have to deal with. When it doesn’t rain, seeing how most of the roads are dirt or have dirt surrounding them or huge massive dirt pot holes, it gets very dusty. And then when it does rain its one huge muddy slip and slide. Could be a bad thing if you are wearing new shoes, but who would do that? So I am typing you from Canada House, I spent yesterday typing up a small update article for the next ACTS newsletter and choosing pictures to go along with it, of the Memory Book Work (MBW) Training Week. Then I tried for indefinable amount of time to get them attached to an email and sent to Canada. Oh the luxuries of internet in Uganda. I am not to sure whether it’s a blessing or a curse, I suppose it depends on the day.
So I have been on Ugandan soil for about 121 days, minus the off day trips to Rwanda and Kenya. So let’s just say I have been on East African soil for 121 days, or four months. Wow, it’s really weird to think of that. A lot has happened in these four months. I have taken about 8,000 pictures, 60GB of video, facilitated a week long training session for MBW, documented numerous project areas of ACTS, traveled to Kigali, Rwanda and all across Kenya to Lamu, and developed an innumerable amount of memories. I think I went through some of the lowest times of my life, and some of the highest highs. I have cried a lot. I have laughed a lot. I have seen some of the craziest things, some of the saddest things, and some of the most joyous. The craziest things I’d say, are the roads. The traffic, the people, the bikes, the motorcycles and the terrible condition they are mostly in. It’s a little unnerving when you are following a huge semi-truck on the highway and they are wobbling all over the road, and the tires are spinning like they are held on with twist ties. And then there are pot holes that 7 year old children could hide in. Oh, and a truck is automatically a bus, they pile like 50 people into the back of them, or on top of the load that is already HUGE. It’s a scary place on the main highways. The saddest thing I saw, to me, was a three month old baby with HIV/AIDS. It was smaller than a newborn with a sunken face and skin stretched over its tiny bones. I can’t help but think the poor child was born into such a horrible circumstance and has almost no chance of living with a fatal disease that was attacking it so strongly already. There are so many medical cases that people just can’t afford to get help for, people dying of preventable diseases and deformities all the time. I met a girl when I was first here who had broken her femur and because there was no medical help lived with it for over a year! It healed horrible crooked, and she was unable to walk. I met her at the HOURS clinic luckily, so she was able to have surgery and get it fixed over a year later! I have never seen so much joy in people in all my life, amongst all the pain, suffering and poverty. The people here have seriously got it together with God. I wish they I could grasp the spiritual truths with such childlike faith, trust and devotion. It’s like there is no doubt. They are just able to hear the truth, receive it and live it out. God, I want some of that. It’s the North American curse I’ve got. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful and thankful for the circumstances that I grew up in. My mother and father worked very hard in their own ways to give me a more than comfortable life. But somewhere along the way, I got the idea that because everything is so available, so accessible in the world, that I can do it on my own. I don’t need anyone else to help me. Man is that ever a hard habit to break.
So anyway, I had some time so I thought I would type up a blog. Just some random thoughts and experiences for you! If you would like to hear about anything else, please leave me a message and I would be more than happy to write about it for you! I need some more suggestions. When I am living in this world over here, especially after 4 months, things start to feel normal and natural, and so I wouldn’t think to tell you about them. You know? So please bring on the request!I am happy to say or maybe sad to say, I haven’t quite decided, that this is the first time in my life where when I have a shower actual muddy water comes off of me. I ring out my hair and it’s like chocolate milk. Haha, it is kind of gross, but not the worst I could have to deal with. When it doesn’t rain, seeing how most of the roads are dirt or have dirt surrounding them or huge massive dirt pot holes, it gets very dusty. And then when it does rain its one huge muddy slip and slide. Could be a bad thing if you are wearing new shoes, but who would do that? So I am typing you from Canada House, I spent yesterday typing up a small update article for the next ACTS newsletter and choosing pictures to go along with it, of the Memory Book Work (MBW) Training Week. Then I tried for indefinable amount of time to get them attached to an email and sent to Canada. Oh the luxuries of internet in Uganda. I am not to sure whether it’s a blessing or a curse, I suppose it depends on the day.
So I have been on Ugandan soil for about 121 days, minus the off day trips to Rwanda and Kenya. So let’s just say I have been on East African soil for 121 days, or four months. Wow, it’s really weird to think of that. A lot has happened in these four months. I have taken about 8,000 pictures, 60GB of video, facilitated a week long training session for MBW, documented numerous project areas of ACTS, traveled to Kigali, Rwanda and all across Kenya to Lamu, and developed an innumerable amount of memories. I think I went through some of the lowest times of my life, and some of the highest highs. I have cried a lot. I have laughed a lot. I have seen some of the craziest things, some of the saddest things, and some of the most joyous. The craziest things I’d say, are the roads. The traffic, the people, the bikes, the motorcycles and the terrible condition they are mostly in. It’s a little unnerving when you are following a huge semi-truck on the highway and they are wobbling all over the road, and the tires are spinning like they are held on with twist ties. And then there are pot holes that 7 year old children could hide in. Oh, and a truck is automatically a bus, they pile like 50 people into the back of them, or on top of the load that is already HUGE. It’s a scary place on the main highways. The saddest thing I saw, to me, was a three month old baby with HIV/AIDS. It was smaller than a newborn with a sunken face and skin stretched over its tiny bones. I can’t help but think the poor child was born into such a horrible circumstance and has almost no chance of living with a fatal disease that was attacking it so strongly already. There are so many medical cases that people just can’t afford to get help for, people dying of preventable diseases and deformities all the time. I met a girl when I was first here who had broken her femur and because there was no medical help lived with it for over a year! It healed horrible crooked, and she was unable to walk. I met her at the HOURS clinic luckily, so she was able to have surgery and get it fixed over a year later! I have never seen so much joy in people in all my life, amongst all the pain, suffering and poverty. The people here have seriously got it together with God. I wish they I could grasp the spiritual truths with such childlike faith, trust and devotion. It’s like there is no doubt. They are just able to hear the truth, receive it and live it out. God, I want some of that. It’s the North American curse I’ve got. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful and thankful for the circumstances that I grew up in. My mother and father worked very hard in their own ways to give me a more than comfortable life. But somewhere along the way, I got the idea that because everything is so available, so accessible in the world, that I can do it on my own. I don’t need anyone else to help me. Man is that ever a hard habit to break.
So anyway, I had some time so I thought I would type up a blog. Just some random thoughts and experiences for you! If you would like to hear about anything else, please leave me a message and I would be more than happy to write about it for you! I need some more suggestions. When I am living in this world over here, especially after 4 months, things start to feel normal and natural, and so I wouldn’t think to tell you about them. You know? So please bring on the request!

To my esteemed readers.

2007-02-05T04:48:00.000-08:00

Firstly, I am not too sure who or how many people are actually reading this blog. It would be cool to know, so if you feel inclined (which I hope you do) please drop a comment about what you think! Secondly, I FINALLY got to go to church today! I am writing this blog from Canada House (where all us crazy muzungu folk stay when we are in town) in Ruharo, just outside Mbarara. The power has been off for two days, so my everything went dead. Haha. It’s on now though, so just incase you care, I am writing to you with full power from my laptop. Last week was busy we had just come back from the off (I was in Kampala…I think I wrote about that…) and so I went to Nyakigera for two nights, took some more pictures of the digging of the trenches for the new water system. Then we had a party for all our “Fakazii” a.k.a. Widow’s. (That’s the Runyankore word) It was in Rubingo and was truly amazing. There were about two hundred widows there that ACTS has been serving, we fed them all and they each did dance and song presentations for us in there own groups from there different villages. You should have seen the pot of matooke, it was above my knee and as round a huge tree that you could never fit your arms around. I love the singing and dancing. I have taken as much video of it as possible. I will truly miss it. Actually I have been thinking of a lot of things that I will miss lately. Time is a strange thing over here. Most of the time it drags on through out the days, but then before you know it, 4½ months have passed! Now I really want to try and express to you the struggle that I was going through. I feel like it’s really important that you know, that I am not really anyone special, and it doesn’t take some super human to come across the world to help those in the third world.
Ok, so please be gentle on me, because I feel very vulnerable bearing my heart to whomever is out there reading this. There were a number of factors that I feel contributed to my struggle, I am still not sure of all of them, and maybe I am not meant to fully understand, and I am in no way wanting to blame other people for my “hard done by syndrome” that my stupid earthly flesh is always trying to impose on me. Except maybe I could blame Satan, somehow. So I was REALLY REALLY excited to come over here. I mean, I have had Africa in my heart for sometime, and a huge passion for photography, and god, and missions. So when all these things came together (my dreams) I was on cloud nine. There was still some doubt in me though because I have a semi fleeting personality, and have new great and grand ideas by the day, if not minute. But none the less I was superbly excited about this possible new adventure. Now, when I arrived in Africa, it was just like I dreamed. Ton’s of people, red dirt roads, dusty and or muddy depending on the weather, green rolling hills, banana trees and pineapples. It is one big photo-op. Now, if any of my team members are reading this, please don’t take any of the following personally, I could have very well been misjudging, and or not seeing things clearly. Regardless, its how I felt and I want to express that. So, firstly, I really struggled to get along with my team (not everyone), I have no idea why. I have honestly never had this hard of a time getting along with anyone. It started at Orientation in Canada too, I had not said good bye to all my friends and family and so I did not spend as much time with the team as suggested. I was still trying to tie up all these loose ends and see friends, and so that was detrimental to the “bonding” of our team. So honestly, I was getting discouraged from there. I had all this excitement about the trip and the group that I was going over with, and then it was like… no fun and games it’s character development time. Well, it wasn’t NO fun and games, I mean it wasn’t full on war between me and some group members but I’m sure both parties would agree there was something. So to make a long story short; go to another country with people you have problems getting along with and you get… blah. Then, I was confused about my posting. There were all these uncertainties, and I had to do it on my own and felt that the other interns had it easier because they were following in the footsteps of past interns and growing on that. Where as I had to make things up myself, as well as get used to being in a completely different culture, with no English church, no fellowship, and no flushing toilet, and super bland food. I was experiencing culture shock, and as I felt like I couldn’t relate to my team, or they couldn’t relate to me, I withdrew. As they told us in Canada, a classic response to culture shock. Through this, I think God was really teaching me to stop relying on other people, the church, books and basically things of this world to define my faith. Without me fully realizing, I had developed a comfy little network of earthly crutches to form my faith. BIG mistake. As we all know, earthly things fade, crumble, break, deteriorate, break, die, and basically don’t get us anywhere. So, I started to feel isolated, rejected, useless, meaningless, lost, doubtful, and depressed. This big dream I had was turning into a small nightmare. Now, through this all, I never wanted to come home, it wasn’t that bad. I still had an assurance deep within me that I am here for a reason, and I wasn’t planning on letting Satan win any big battles. He’d already won some small ones, but I knew that in the future there would be some serious taking back of what he stole (like now). So, if you are feeling alone in a foreign country, not getting along with the only people you have to sort of help you through stuff, you are getting depressed and can’t bother to talk to God anymore, getting overwhelmed with the constant poverty and need all around you, and refuse to go to the one who can help you through… well, lets just say that I can guarantee you that I never ever want to be there again. So on New Years I finally had a breakdown at like 2:30 in the morning on the UN compound in Kampala. I was waiting for a Taxi that I had called to pick me up and take me to the Hostel that I was staying at, because I had to get on a bus to get back to Mbarara at 8 in the morning. Well I had just finally had it. I was so fed up with myself, with being depressed and constantly agitated, and unmotivated, and so concerned with trying to make things work somehow. I just started crying and crying and crying, all alone, for like an hour and a half while I waited for the taxi. My sister ended up calling me, and I was crying so she was worried and then my mom grabbed the phone from her and is like “What is wrong? Tell me what’s wrong?” So I finally spilled the two months of mayhem that I had stored within me. It was good to finally get it out to someone who would maybe understand, and even if not, she’s my mom, so I knew she would at least care and help me through it, the best she could over a cell phone on opposite sides of the earth. My mom is amazing; she talked to me for the next couple days, and seriously walked me through it. Mpora, mpora (Slowly, slowly) I started to come alive again. It sucks going through the fire when you forgot your flame retardant suit. But when you come out on the other side with only a few burns and scratches and a new out look, I’d say it’s worth it. Be careful when you pray for a renewing of the mind, because it may involve slightly loosing it for a while. I am in a new place now. I have come through this battle with a few scars, but all in all, I’d say I won the best prize. I have been forced to rely on God for absolutely everything, and know that I can not expect anything from anyone but God. People are all the same, we are sinners. They will hurt you, curse you, spit on you, write you off, kick you when your down and use you for all your worth then leave you for the dogs. But God will never ever do that. I know there are nice people out there, but it’s just a fact that we all fall short of the glory of God. We all stumble, we all get angry, and we all wish we could give up sometimes, but we all have a hope too. We have a power beyond all measure, more courage than we could ever need, more strength, wisdom and love. We have the hook up with the number one dude in the universe to know. He can get you in anywhere. So I chose to go with God. I had a picture today in church during worship, and it was me, during my struggles, and I was walking along this path that was dimly lit, and falling away. Every brick that I thought was solid to take a step on would crumble beneath my feet, or would turn to quick sand or lava or just shatter to nothing. I was stumbling along trying to get a strong stance on anything, there was nothing to grab onto, no one to catch me from my fall, just some crappy path. Then he showed me his path. It was like diamond, so strong that nothing could break it. Shining like gold, it was perfectly illuminated and he was right there beside me. Never leaving, always holding my hand and guiding me to my calling. I’ve seen clearly now both sides of the spectrum.
SIDE NOTE: There have been dogs barking menacingly through out the whole typing of this message, its brutal; they are going flippin nuts right now. That’s one of the things I don’t like about town, is the nightly dog brawls that happen.
Ok, so God is amazing, and I am finally getting to know him in a way that I have yearned for, for so long. I am not ok with just Sunday, or even once a day. I want all or nothing. If the word is true, then we can live in constant communion with him. I am ready for the real thing. No more earthly schemes. It’s all about the true and living God. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite new quotes:

“We do have a choice. We don’t have to choose God.
But I’ll tell you this: There is no high like the most high”

Pictures

2007-02-05T04:41:00.000-08:00

1. Child with child.
2. Kids carrying kids.
3. Awesome lady that knew me and my name, but i couldn't remember her.
4. Practicing my skillzzz.
5. Glory.

Pictures

2007-02-05T04:31:00.000-08:00

1. Friends.
2. Funny Baby.
3,4. Games
5. Hands.

Wow

2007-02-03T05:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, I obviously just had the most amazing blessing and got like 30 pictures uploaded. I hope you enjoy. All the top ones are kinda old as i have been trying to upload them for months...haha. Well work is going great, taking TONS of pictures. The new water system in Nyakigera is coming together. Memory book work is in the sustainablitly stages. And i have some plans coming together for after uganda!! I just spent an hour and a half uploading all these shots, so i am going to go! I'll try and type another blog at home and post it soon! Missing you all lots. And thanks for the prayers!

Love mel.

Pictures

2007-02-03T05:13:00.000-08:00

1. Flower at sunset.

2. Sunset.

3. Paul Tanessa and Nate watching the goat massacre movie.

4,5. WATER!

Pictures

2007-02-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

1. Under the tree (by Rubingo Primary).

2. Open hand.

3. Planting seeds (Nursery Tree Demo).

4. Being kids.

5. Preparing to kill. (the poor goat...happy birthday Paul)

Pictures

2007-02-03T05:01:00.000-08:00

1. Hands.

2. Woman waiting to be tested for HIV/AIDS.

3. Me and cute girl.

4. Me and simon (8 years old and HIV positive)

5. Me on the Hill behind Rubingo camp, at Rubingo Primary School (where MBW training was held)

NOTE** Alot of these last pictures are old cause i have been trying to upload them for so LONG.

pics pics pics

2007-02-03T04:56:00.000-08:00

1. Footware.

2. Fortunate (Orphan due to AIDS, tested positive, 15 years, needs sponsorship)

3. Front door.

4. Girl.

5. Girl in Field.

Sometimes you win em' and sometime you win em'

2007-02-03T04:51:00.000-08:00

1. Widows presenting songs at the widows party.

2. Widows dancing at the party.

3. Three kids at a nursery tree demonstration.

4. Nate after blowing up some goat lungs (ask me later) and check out www.underthereadingtree.org

5. Food offering (Reverand Elly's daughter Anna, i think she maybe a worship leader cause she has a serious set of lungs)

Lets hear it for clean water!!

2007-02-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

1,2,3,4,5. Clean water for tens of thousands of people!!!!!

Pictures

2007-02-03T04:38:00.000-08:00

1. Tanessa and Little baby at Mr. Jims Party.

2. Thinking (some of the construction crew working on the pipeline of the new water project in Nyakigera)

3. Wathing (the speeches at the party)

4,5. WATER from the pipes in Nyakigera!! Going to provide clean drinking water for over 20,000 people.