Today is my last day in Uganda. Tomorrow I will be leaving for a computer engineering conference in Austria to present my UW senior project. However, I will meet up with the team in London, and arrive home with everyone in Seattle on Monday. I am very sad, because I will really miss the STAO kids and staff, and our incredible team. The things I will miss the most:

Kids yelling our names as we arrive at STAO, who literally pull us out of the taxi van with their tiny arms, then do this crazy hug and jump thing that shakes your whole body, all while continuously screaming our names: “Jimmy! Jimmy!” or “Katie! Katie!” or “Dell! Dell!”

Hand washing clothes with Sam, Kate, and Jessica, and laughing insane amounts to the point of ab cramping. Oh, and wet laundry fights.

Holding five children’s hands… at the same time.

Holding a child until they stop crying.

Going for a run at 7:30am, and soaking in the green banana trees, the reddish brown dirt, the “a muzungu! a muzungu!” rhythmic chanting of our 2 year old quartet neighbors, and watching a line of small brown children lug bright yellow jerry cans full of water up a long rutted hill. This country is gorgeous, and I will be leaving part of myself here in Uganda.

Our team. I love them so much, and have been blessed ALL the time as we are together eating, debriefing, “devo-ing” (devotionals), and hanging out waiting for the single bathroom to open up :). God has blessed me with such amazing friends!

Today, a 10 year old boy who I don’t even know his name, was devastated that I was leaving tomorrow. I hadn’t even played with him very much, yet as I hugged and held him, he just cried. I can’t fathom the impact that we may have unknowingly and prayerfully have had upon these kids, or even the impact that these kids have had upon me.

Later today, we had Sunday (or Thursday?) school. Irene, the teacher, sang out commands and the 25 or so kids, who sang, danced, or recited bible verses in unison. Seriously, African kids are superkids compared to Americans! No joke :). Pastor Nelson came and taught the kids, “We are the world, we are the children”. Dale and Rachel joined a 12 year old girl named Doroka, and practiced a hilarious skit about trying to serve two masters. 19 year old Nicolaus busted out the “Ragga” tunes and we all learned some sweet Ugandan dance moves until we dripped with sweat and pulsed with satisfaction. It was a perfect end to my stay at STAO.

Thank you so much for your prayers, we are truly feeling them here. God has been so faithful in our travels, health, and hearts. We have witnessed miracles here - all 96 of the kids at STAO tested negative for HIV!! God is so powerful, and so gracious to show us how powerful He is. This was no coincidence - this was a miracle of the Lord! Whooo!!! Thanks for reading, and God bless,

Jamie

Jamie

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