What a beautiful day I had yesterday. We’ve been spending our last few days here focused on spending time with STAO kids, wrapping up a few purchases, and just enjoying each other’s company.

Yesterday, Danielle and I headed into Jinja to purchase sewing machines that will be shared by some of the widows in Mafubira to help them generate income. A whole room in the new building will house the new machines, and we’re excited about women having access to a new source of income, other than digging in the fields all day—a very tough job for women with small children, many of whom are also HIV positive. Anyhow, we had a blast buying 4 new machines, and a huge assortment of fabrics, ribbons, threads, measuring tapes, and scissors for the women to start with.

After a rainy motor-boda ride back to STAO, we came in to join….

dancing.

If you know me, you know I’m a pretty huge fan of various types of dance. Though prior to yesterday, I’d mostly only admired Ugandan dancing from afar. So coming in to find muzungu Jamie and 3 of the older STAO kids dancing like crazy–I had to join in. As Jamie described, it was a blast–especially when we convinced about half the team to join us. 5 muzungus, a plethera of kids, and ugandan dance beats all underneath a tin roof as a thunderstorm erupted all around us….probably one of my favorite moments of the trip thus far. We tired out eventually, but the storm stayed throughout the evening as we went back to the house for a great night of fellowship, frolicking in the rain,  and practical joking (ask sam….).

This morning, studying Luke 22, we shared communion together as a team and said goodbye to Jamie. I am so thrilled that this team has grown to love each other immensely–and to love the kids at STAO, the staff, and grow with God as well. It’s been an amazing journey that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of.

Please keep us in prayer as it seems leaving will be tough and emotional for all, for travel safety, and that our last days would continue to be wonderful despite the sadness of leaving.

with peace,

kate

PS–PARENTS: flight itinerary is earlier in the blog, but expect us back into Seattle and out of customs, etc around 7:30-8pm Monday night. We’ll be tired and dirty but happy to see you all!