Hello all!

So I made it to Good Shepherds Fold last Friday! The drive to GSF is so very beautiful!  It’s really hard to express how beautiful Uganda is, especially near GSF, (haha maybe I don’t get out much but I think it is VERY beautiful…) so I will try to show you through LOTS and lots of pictures!

Drive up to GSF

Village

Sugar Cane Fields

But to verbally describe to you there’s green everywhere ---from the tall sugar cane fields to the tall grass covering the hills, to the brownish broccoli looking trees (they really look like broccoli that’s getting old), to the banana and mango trees surrounding the random scattered mud hut or brick buildings!

Right before you enter GSF site--GSF sign

the school on site

GSF campus

Admin block/clinic with chapel in background

chapel

Being at Good Shepherds fold, which is in the midst of villages, but not too far off from The Dairy (in Jinja), where I’ve had the best passion pineapple ice cream ever, I’ve been (and I am still am) learning so much. I’m humbled by the realization of how comfortable I’ve been before (which is even more humbling because GSF is pretty comfortable:).

GSF campus--water tower 

GSF houses

I’ve learned that gecko poop is as big as mouse poop, I’ve learned to silently kill grasshoppers that crawl up my skirt during communion, I’ve learned how wonderful my kitchen light is because it electrocutes half the bugs flying around—(sucks for them), I’ve learned how wonderful it is to have DOOM (bug spray) and a fly swatter (I’ve broken off three of the fingers from the fly swatter already)

my room

I’ve learned to not freak out when I hear the bats partying right above me (although it really sounds like it’s in my room or that they’ll break the paper-thin ceiling) I’ve also learned why Batman was scared of bats (I will not judge you Batman), I’ve learned how to do malaria tests, I’ve learned what a hyrax sounds like (they cry out a lot during the night and it sounds like a cross between a dying goat and a turkey with it’s head cut off ---look it up), I’ve learned that my feet will be continuously brown and dirty no matter how many times I wash it (or maybe I’m just not clean/washing it well), I’ve learned that these kiddos love the camera and want to see themselves all the time (they will say--“let me see Richard” “Let me see Tony”, etc, etc), I’ve learned to ignore the flies that swarm my face while I’m trying to read with my headlamp (yes, I have a headlamp…), and I’ve learned that people assume any Asian person is from China, hence being asked if I am from China all the time.

Baby Arthor

Pinto and Richard

Elijah, baby Letitica, and me

the Agape boys--tried to get them to all look up but it's hard getting group pictures

Baby John

Ivan

I am still learning and in the process of not fearing killing spiders with my bare hands because there is no tissue with me at the moment (okay… I can only do little ones), I’m learning that my job consists of being a Dr., pharmacist, and nurse at times, I’m learning tricks in taking quick cold showers (although China helped me with that one), I’m learning the importance of brushing the top of my head with my hand when I feel the slightest “something” because the majority of time it’s a bug, I’m learning a little bit of soccer, I’m learning (haven’t said I accomplished this yet) to not care when stepping barefoot on bugs (there’s a lot all over the floor—I really hope I don’t have to step on a centipede), I’m learning not to be so dependent on internet (because it’s really hard to get any signal here), I’m learning the works of the markets to get meat, veggies, fruits, and fish

Veggies/Fruit market

Fish Market

Meat Market

I’m learning the workings of mercy ministries (ministering to the elderly, moms, and babies), I’m learning that flu does not mean they have the flu all the time, I’m learning the gist of the schedule here, I'm learning my responsibilities as a nurse, and I’m learning to respond to “Auntie Kenny” because some of the toddlers call me that.

Elijah and Richard

Shakira 

Daudi and Joseph 

Betty and Lily 

Besides all that silliness, I’m learning how blessed I am that God placed me here first instead of the hospital (see previous post if you do not understand). I think God knew that I would need this month (or however long) here first so that I would be a little more settled a GSF before the other nurse, Danielle (from Kentucky), leaves. He knows me better than I know myself!

Nurse Danielle with the babies (Timothy and Joshua)

I’m also learning the importance of turning to God in all things and depending on Him. It’s funny, once I got here everything that seemed to come natural and easy to me before seemed hard and impossible and the things that I feared the most have become a reality. But God is showing me that I need to rely on Him--from the littlest things, like memorizing all the children’s names, to the bigger things, like treating and diagnosing the children and elderly (mercy ministries).  It’s humbling knowing how weak I am (probably already would’ve given up by now) but realizing that it is not by my strength that I can do anything at all but through His grace and strength that He can work through an inadequate me (& that things take time!). I’ve been resting on this truth:

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities, for when I am weak, then I am strong.“

Pray that I will be able to daily rely on Christ and that He will help me with wisdom & insight in how to diagnose & treat these children

Pray that I will trust in Him in all things and continue to do so

Pray for local friends and missionary friends

Pray that God will use me for His kingdom

GSF

Recounting His blessing through travel mercies and my first week here!

Hello! 
No worries if this post is too long! You can just look at the pictures or read the bold statements which pretty much summarizes everything! 

I made it to Uganda safely! Uganda is such a beautiful country! So green, so many hills, and so many beautiful people!

Panoramic of Uganda-my walk to AIM's guest house

Plane ride/travels went well!: I met a Muslim lady on the plane named Yasmine. She was going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. We had some good conversations (at least I thought we had some good convos). I pray that God used our time together to show her more of Christ and who He is.

Thanks for sending me off!

Got ALL my luggage. Was able to pull it off the carousel! YIPEE! Thanks for prayers--God seriously helped me! I think that's why I got a sprain! A reminder to truly rely on Him and not on myself!
Thankfully, when I had to put it through the X-ray again-- someone saw me struggling and helped me put it on the scanner (haha probably also because he was in a hurry and I was taking a long time struggling to put it through the scanner!).

Sprained ankle is better and didn't really swell up on the plane-- although my ACE wrap smelled and reeked of sweat! I think I will wash it :)

I got to Dubai with a 12 hour layover! I explored Dubai for a few hours. Got to see Bharj Khalifa (tallest building in the world), spice market, gold market, textile market, dancing fountains. and got to ride an abra (boat taxi). It was fun and I was tired! Rhonda's daughter's friend Karen was able to take me around! So blessed by my time with her!

Dubai

Spice market 

Gold Market

With Karen, my tour guide! 

Bharj Khalifa

Arrived in Uganda on Sunday:  Got my 3 month visa with no problem, met a couple of missionary families/2single missionaries & most of the central region AIM staff at the Matoke Inn where I am staying at right now (AIM's guest house for AIM missionaries & others), & heard how God has been working here and in the lives of the missionaries/staff/AIM!

AIM guest House --where I stayed at the first week--Matoke Inn

Matoke Inn--supposedly there are monkeys in the trees?!

Walk outside of Matoke Inn

I am seriously encouraged by all the missionary families that I've met this week ( they were stopping by @ Matoke Inn to rest before they leave for home leave/finished their assignment). I am seriously amazed by all the missionary families  & even more amazed with the ones who raise their children here! I was encouraged by a family who brought their 6 week baby here and 1 year old daughter on their 6 month assignment! AMAZING! I would be so scared but their trust in God was evident. They are hoping to go FT. 
SERIOUSLY, all of the missionaries' advice, tips, and life have been an encouragement and testimony to me!

some of the mkids playing chess

Also, during orientation (on Tuesday), I was able to hear how God's been working in the Central Region (Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, & Uganda) of Africa through the work of AIM. It was such an encouragement to me to hear about all the ministries there are to make disciples and to reach the unreached!!

Dwelling Places

Wednesday, I was able to visit Dwelling Places. Dwelling places is a Christian ministry that rescues children from the slums of Uganda by building relationships with these children & assessing their needs. The organization provides a transitional care home for these children in hopes to help with rehabilitation (hygiene, counseling, etc) and provide skills and training for these children. Their hope is to assess the needs of the children, find out their story, and hopefully reconcile (if safe) these children back to their families as soon as it is safe to do so. There are 20 boys and 5 girls now--9 of them who were just rescued from the slums! I met one of the girls who was just rescued and she was the sweetest little girl ever. Wish I had a picture with her! These children are soooo easy to love. 
I'm so glad that my nursing interview (see below) was postponed so that i could see this ministry! Such a blessing and encouragement to me. 

Bodas in action in Kampla! (also the public taxi is in the background)

I also rode my first boda (scooter like motorcycle thing) to Dwelling places! I thought that if it was anything like the scooter ride in China---I WOULDN'T survive. BUT this boda ride was the best ride ever and so much fun! So exhilarating! Maybe I will get a motorcycle license back in the states...haha jk...I was able to talk to one of my boda drivers about his life and faith (he said he is a christian).

Me & Rhona-AIM's orientation guide

Today, Thursday, I went into the busy city of Kampala (Uganda's capital) with Rhona (AIM staff). Loved spending time with her, talking to her, and being encouraged by her and her testimony. She taught me  how to travel into the city by boda & public taxi (basically a van filled with 14 or so people in it used as public transportation-think of a van that's a bus),  helped me get settled with some necessities for my stay here,  and took me to the important sites-like an ice cream shop (and the post office)! 

Taxi Park

part of the city of Kampala

Tomorrow, Friday, I will be off to Good Shepherd's Fold. I hope my time there for this month will be good (since I can't do nursing yet --see below Prayer Request). I hope to get to know the area, the missionaries, the locals, the children ,& serve in other ways! I am excited to see what God will do this month! He has His reasons for why I can't start using nursing right away and I'm excited to see why!

Prayer Request: SOOO I cannot be interviewed by the Ugandan nursing council this month due to some difficulties ( they only interview once a month). Because of this, I won't be able to work as a nurse right away (I think it pushes back my hospital internship and also working as a nurse at GSF). Please pray that next month I will be able to get an appointment, that it will go smoothly, and for God to use this one month without nursing well!


PS I found out that there's oyster sauce and soy sauce here! Just FYI for those who were wondering. haha. PPS sorry if there's typos/mistakes. 

waking up @ 330 every am pays off! UG sunrise