Rachel's Posts

Hi, Rachel here. It’s hard to believe that our trip is almost over. The new building is pretty much done and sewing machines and computers should be in in the next few days. The healthcare is busy analyzing their data from the surveys. They get freakishly excited about data entry =) Today, Melissa, Irene (a teenager at STAO) and I went to town (literally and figuratively) buying supplies for the school at STAO. We got 12 dozen exercise books, pens, markers, 2 blackboards, posterboard, chalk and erasers. We’re also hoping to buy some curriculum books before we leave. As I’ve talked to kids of all ages, I’ve been struck by how much they want to learn. When I’ve asked kids what they like to do, more often than not, they’ll say “learn.” When I talk to the teenagers, they talk about school fees and how much they want the money to pay them. Uganda has public education which is “free” but not. In order to attend, students need money to pay for uniforms, books, and other supplies. It’s quite a struggle. Because the STAO school doesn’t charge fees, it is understaffed and lacks classrooms, desks, books, and other supplies. Hopefully our purchases will help STAO teach more effectively.

As Melissa, Irene and I were walking through town, a man yelled to Irene in the vernacular, “You know they’re just going to leave, don’t you?” She laughed as she translated this to us. It’s starting to hit us that we’re leaving and may never see these people again. But I’m realizing that our lives have been forever changed as a result of having met and grown to care about one another. Some of us will be paying school fees for certain individuals God has laid on our heart. Some of us are exchanging email addresses and prayer requests. Early in the trip, I got this image of God standing between me and a Ugandan boy introducing us saying, “Oh Rachel! I’m so glad you get to meet my friend here. I’ve been wanting you two to meet.” I feel like God is so happy that some of his friends in Seattle have met some of his friends in Uganda. We’re now in the process of collecting photos and stories so we can come home and introduce our new friends to all of you. Be excited =)

Thank you for all your prayers,

Rachel

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Hello all! This is Rachel. I think we’re starting to get used to life here in Uganda (sidenote-typing, at least on this computer, is a slow process because certain keys don’t type what they’re marked as…y and z are switched, comma=shift+bracket, quotations=shift+2. It’s like a treasure hunt  =)   another sidenote-I’m sitting in the internet cafe listening to “All Things Are Possible”)

Anzwaz, ahem…anyway, all three of our teams are settling into their routine. The Healthcare team decided to revamp the survey they’re using to assess the needs of the surrounding communities. They’re also continuing to take kids to the hospital and health clinic. Some of the kids they took on the first day are doing a lot better. Yesterday, Sandra, who is often bedridden, was actually jumping rope! And the little girl with the tear duct problem is looking a lot better as well.

The Income Generation team is still hard at work on the pigery, it should get finished today. This morning, the Education team taught small groups of young kids some phonics and read them some books.We also taught 10-11 yr olds some prepositions and verb conjugations. It looks like the education team will be teaching English lessons to both younger and older kids everyday from now on. The kids are eager to learn and pay attention better than most kids in the states.

I think we’re all falling in love with the people here, especially the kids. They are so so beautiful. Pray for these kids. Pray that God will guard their health, bless their studies, provide money for food and secondary school, give them jobs in the future, and draw them ever closer to Him. I wish you could see these kids worship at church. It makes me cry. (sidenote—i basically spend my days singing and clapping and dancing to song after song with the kids. They love “Deep, deep, whoa deep down down.”)  God has blessed these kids with amazing joy and resilience and with wonderful, caring people here at STAO. Pray for the STAO staff as well. They are doing life-changing work.

Thank you all! It is such a blessing to know that we have a team of incredible people back home supporting us.

Love,

Rachel

PS. In case you’re wondering, after over a week in close quarters, all eleven of us still like one another. We’re having a great time studying the book of Luke in the morning and jamming on guitar and djembe at night. We’re also getting good at doing laundry by hand, sifting rocks out of rice, and sleeping through5am mooing, bleating, and cockle doodle doos  =)

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