Never A Dull Moment

No matter what we do or where we go there is always an adventure awaiting. Whether it’s trying not to hit boda-bodas in the city, trying to back out around a parked truck behind us with 5 Ugandan men helping us out, going shopping at the market in the dark because the power is out, or even chasing goats and chickens off of our front porch. They are so loud and obnoxious! It doesn’t matter where we are, there is always an adventure. This particular situation was quite the adventure alright..

We had just pulled up to the gate at Upendo, and no guards were around to open the gate for us. We had a long journey home from Jinja and shopping. It was so hot, and honestly we were ready to crash! There were cold groceries in the back of the car, and with how hot it was we were afraid the meat was going to spoil. So, Aly had a brilliant idea. She looks at me, after honking the horn for ten minutes, and says, “Hey Kaitlyn, maybe we could jump the wall!”. Um, ok. Yeah, sounds like loads of fun, Aly! So, she looks at me with the look of, “Ok, go ahead!”. At first I told her she could do the honor of jumping the wall, but then we both thought about what would happen on the other side. It was then that we decided that I would jump the wall seeing as how I am the gymnast and would probably have a better dismount. And so, jump the wall I did..and yes, in a skirt.......

Climbing the wall I thought to myself..

I am going to roll an ankle, and those of you who know my story know that is very possible..

But I jumped anyways, and I made it! It kind of reminded me of “jumps over the beam” back in my gym days..

After jumping the wall, Aly quickly handed me the cold groceries and the keys to the house. Half way to the house, I looked back to yell to her that our neighbors were not home. When I turned around, I saw a guard opening the door for her. He had run up the hill to buy something from a market. Of course, just my luck. Once I got to the door, I unlocked the lock, and prayed that there was power in the house. Thankfully it was on, and my hard work and awesome dismount wasn’t for nothing!

- Kaitlyn 

Feeling A Little More Like Home

Sundays have always been my most favorite day of the week. Waking up to a new morning, and family is rushing around getting ready for church. Church has always been a big part of my life. It is a time where we go to and spend time praising the Lord, starting the week off the right way. It is also a time of seeing friends and family. A time when all of you gather together in fellowship, and praising God for all He has done for us. 

The Lord has blessed me with a church here in Uganda that feels a lot like home. The people are so welcoming, and not only that, but they literately say, “You are welcome!” Every single one of them, and welcome is exactly what I feel. Agape Baptist Church has been a huge blessing in my life here in Uganda. The worship band sings songs from home, but will not only sing in English but also in Luganda. This morning the Youth led the service. It reminded me a lot of my old church back home. They sang “Here I Am To Worship” (a song from home) and “You Are Good” (another song from home). It brought tears to my eyes hearing the lyrics of the song, “You Are Good”. The part that says..

“People from every nation and tongue,

From generation to generation,

We worship You!

Hallelujah, hallelujah,

We worship You, for who You are!”

To think about how true that is. At home, it’s hard to remember that we aren’t the only ones gathering together for church on Sunday mornings. People from all over the world, gather together, family and friends, to praise God on Sunday mornings. And it was then that I started to feel a little more at home..

After every church service, Aly and I are invited to eat lunch at Reuben and Florence’s home. Reuben is the director of AMG in Uganda and Florence is his wife. Really, they are like our adopted family. They have been a huge blessing to Aly and I. Every time we go over there, we gather together at the dinner table (just like a family), and eat a Sunday afternoon lunch. Talking, laughing, fellowshipping, and praying together, it feels a little more like home. In fact, they are a lot like a couple back home that have been mentors to me throughout my life. Back home, I would go over to their house, have lunch, pray and fellowship with them as well. They have always been and always will be like second parents to me. Reuben and Florence have been another “Sarah and Morris” to me. Again, a little more like home. They have been like second parents to Aly and me. Looking after us, making sure we feel at home, and praying over us always. It’s little things like that, that make me feel a little more at home.

- Kaitlyn

Guys, I Don't Think I'm In Albany Anymore

Tomorrow hits three weeks of living here in Uganda. In these past three weeks I have been able to actually learn about the culture, work on interacting with people here, and pick out more than a few differences between the culture at home and the culture here in Uganda. I am here to tell you, there are a ton of differences!

In the first blog post I posted, I listed a few differences as far as house work. Some of those are hand-washing dishes, clothes, towels, bed sheets and hanging them up to dry. Also, cooking, filtering water, no power almost through out each day, meat spoiling, no air conditioning, and tucking in and sleeping under mosquito nets night after night. I have finally started adjusting to these things. I have finally got somewhat used to no washing machine, dryer, dish washer, air conditioning, electricity or clean water. I have finally have started to somewhat get used to taking cold showers in the morning. Crazy, right?! The other day, Aly and I spent most of the morning and afternoon washing clothes and cleaning. I was standing in the bathroom rinsing out my clothes after washing, and thinking to myself, “I wonder what my friends back at home are doing..” I thought about how they are probably eating Mexican food, Chic-fil-a, or maybe just laying on the couch studying, watching tv or spending time with their families or friends. My arms were tired from washing and my back was killing me from bending over to wash. I started to really think about the differences between the two cultures..

During the past two years of the two week trips here in Uganda, I have never really had the chance to pick out and process differences within the city. All that has really ever stood out to me was the poverty, the dirt roads, no stop lights, and people flooding the streets. However, that is not all the differences within the city of Kampala and the city of Albany. Transportation back home are cars, trucks, and a few motorcycles here and there. Here, boda-bodas (motorcycles) are a way of transportation. Men line up on the side of the street, boda-bodas side by side, waiting to carry people from place to place. Sometimes it seems like there are more of those than cars. People drive however they want, and sometimes you just might get pulled over by the traffic police telling you to give a lift to whomever (yes, that really happened). The steering wheel is on the right side of the car, and you are to drive on the left side of the road. However, more than anything, people walk from place to place. You’ll see women carry their babies wrapped around their backs instead of in a carrier or in a stroller. Women breast feed in public, and always wear dresses or skirts. Men and women walk around balancing things on their heads to have extra hands to carry other things. People walk bare-foot. Kids roam the streets wherever they please. Men or boys pee on the side of the road. People take naps on the side of the road. Stopping on the side of the road at a street market, I have to constantly be aware of my surroundings. Oh, and my favorite, the “ice-cream truck” here is a boy on a bike with a little speaker playing the “ice-cream truck music”..

So, these past three weeks have been quite interesting. My body has been trying to adjust to the differences. It has been difficult trying to interact and keep up with their accents. However, I am finally starting to feel adjusted. I love embracing the different culture. I love going to a church that sings in English but also in Luganda. I love building relationships with other believers, and being a light to those who aren’t. Yeah, people look at us crazy because Aly and I are two young white girls driving around in the Mzungu mobile alone, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. :)

- Kaitlyn

Looking Forward

2013 was a year full of fun, love, and everlasting memories. A year of growing in Christ. New relationships were made. Old relationships continued to grow. Every year, I look back and ask myself, “What did God teach me this year?” or “How did God use me this year?”. Looking back on this year, the Lord definitely taught me a lot, and He used me in ways I never expected Him to..

The first thing that God really taught me is how powerful prayer is. Or how powerful God is. For two years, I spent time consistently praying about an internship with AMG. I spent two years praying God would send me to Uganda for 6 months. I remember at the beginning of this year, I started a prayer journal. It has been one of the best things I have ever decided to do. Looking back in that prayer journal, I was consistently praying for Aly. We had not ever met before, but I knew about her. I knew that praying for her would be just as important as praying for myself. I knew that she was wanting to be in Uganda just as bad as I wanted to be. After spending two years praying about being in Uganda, and praying that Aly would be in Uganda in God’s timing..here we are. We are here. And to be honest, I had never really prayed that long and hard about something since my mom’s cancer, and to be reminded of how powerful prayer is has been life changing all over again.

“...The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

James 5:16

He also taught me that all it takes is a step in faith. In every situation, bad or good, through tears and hurt, or smiles and laughter, just trust that He will do whatever it is He has promised. I am so thankful for past heartaches, hurt and pain. I am so thankful for all the wonderful and incredible times. It was because of those times and those lessons God has prepared me for Uganda and many more things in life that are to come. He has taught me that stepping out in faith, regardless of knowing or understanding why, will take you farther than you could ever imagine. 

“For we walk by faith, and not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

James 1:6

Lastly, after looking back at all the relationships I have made and relationships that have grown this past year, God has taught me the importance of those relationships good or bad. He has taught me that it is important to love unconditionally as He loves us. To forgive always, and look past the flesh of someone and look at them as God does. God has placed certain people in my life for a reason, whether it be to teach me a lesson or to build me up. I have learned that in all I do or say, it should reflect God’s love for us.

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:18

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

1 John 4:16

Now, what does 2014 have in store for me? What does God have in store for me in this new year? To think about spending half of this year in Uganda is so exciting! I can’t wait to see how God works in the lives here in Uganda and in my life as well. Looking forward to this year that will be filled with spiritual growth, maturing, and finding out more of what God’s call on my life is! 

- Kaitlyn