(Still catching up on posts from the trip.  I wrote this after the looonnnnggest day that we had.)

This morning we painted nails – boys and girls! – and Donnie, Carol, and Jan taught classes at Adacar Primary.  They spent quite a bit of time in the classrooms, as well as meeting with the teachers and administrator, and I look forward to sharing their observations with you soon.

The rest of us toured the CarePoint land together and I. Could. Not. Stop. Weeping over the generosity of our Lord.  We walked the perimeter and prayed over the land, for God’s blessing and covering and that this would be a place where God is glorified, a place where generational curses are broken.  A place of new beginnings and hope and future for the kids and community of Adacar.  While we prayed, the cows mooed around us, the butterflies flitted about our ankles, and our nostrils filled with the mingling scents of mint and manure.  We asked about the large depressions that dotted the land and were told that they used to be trenches for fending off the Karamajong raiders.  And now we’ll level them out and turn the land into a playing field for children and a garden for crops.  What a mighty God we serve, a God who fights for His children and can turn a battleground into a place for healing by His name.  May His name blow on the wind through Adacar CarePoint, filling the hearts and minds of the children playing in that field!

God answered our prayers for safety and orderliness with our gift giving today.  We were all so concerned and afraid of causing problems for the children by handing out the gifts, but Joseph and David insisted and guaranteed that it would be handled well, and they delivered.  It was an exhausting afternoon, but we handed out all the care packages and shirts and dresses to all the kids who were there, and even many of the community.  We set aside all the gifts for the kids who weren’t there and the disciplers will pass them out as they come.  David translated to each child the contents of his or her package, and it was fun watching the girls and boys try everything on.  We learned a lot for next time and our heads are filled with thoughts.  We’re all so tired and slaphappy tonight that we can’t quit hysterically laughing.  I’m hoping for sleep tonight.

Every day we’ve faced things breaking, things not how they were “planned,” and we can’t quit laughing about it.  It’s become a fabulous joke, and I think a prerequisite for mission trips should be “sense of humor,” because gut-laughing with the team has been so cathartic, the perfect coping mechanism for difficult and new situations.  The more things break, the harder we laugh, the more we’re stripped, the funnier it seems.

Usually, when people give to an organization, they get a glossy pamphlet in the mail with photos of smiling children.  They have a picture to hang on the fridge.  But orphan care isn’t glossy.  Orphan care is messy.  The thing I love about HopeChest is that they invite us to step into the mess.  As Ethan put it, to step into the picture.  We’re messy, too.  So we combine our mess with their mess and we get messy together and look heavenward for God to clean our mess and turn it into something beautiful for His glory.  The glossy pamphlet isn’t real.  These kids are more than a picture.  Life can be brutal and fair won’t exist this side of heaven.  There are so many children.  So much need.  I will choose to get messy.  We all must choose to get messy together.  We are beyond the picture.

We’re back and I’m fighting jet lag and trying to catch up on the blog.  Still so much to write about the trip!  I’ll try to get more written tonight after E’s in bed, but I wanted to post this comment from Elotu Joseph right away.  He’s the director of HopeChest Uganda and just Facebooked me the following:

“It was a blessing to have you in Uganda and you people did great. You ministered with passion and you left a mark in the lives of people in Adacar. I had a meeting today in Adacar and Katakwi District headquarters and the leaders there conveyed their greetings to every individual who was on your team. Adacar community is in Love with you people.”

Yay!!  That makes my heart want to beat right out of my body.  We love Adacar so much and it’s thrilling to hear that they feel the same way about us!   Stay tuned.  I have at least 30 more blog posts rattling around inside my head.

(Now that I have a bit of a connection, I’ll try to catch up on blog posts from the last few days.)

Today we awoke to a rooster crowing and children making beautiful music at the nearby Catholic church. At the CarePoint the team spread out and began engaging with the children while they were on their half hour school mid morning break. Ansley discovered that Lucy, the little girl with the burn on her arm who we had met yesterday, was still in severe pain. She brought her to me and I suggested that we show the infection to my dad. Ansley carried Lucy to Dad, who said that it was gangrenous. He treated the wound with Mupiricin but said that it needed to be soaked in a mixture of bleach and water to start to kill the bacteria and remove the dead flesh. It was so sweet to see Ansley stay with Lucy all day long. Dad talked to David and figured out that bleach in Ateso is jik. We are working on procuring some now and also to train how to use and keep some on hand, because we saw several infections today. Children swarmed the team showing their boo-boos and needing band-aids and hugs. I explained to David that Lucy’s infection was the same kind that Bosco had and if left untreated, could result in a more serious life-threatening situation like his. David said, “Thank God that you came.” Thank God my dad came, because I would have never known what to do!! Lucy’s situation was overlooked because she is not in the HopeChest program, as she is very young. Praise God that Ansley brought her to my father, who recognized the seriousness of the wound. Not many 15-year-old girls can say that they saved the life of a child. I’ve loved watching Ansley look out for Lucy all day. We’re not leaving until we get Lucy help.

When you sponsor a child, you give that child 2 medical exams per year by a team of doctors. They also keep a first aid kit at the CarePoint and replenish it once a month. We left the first aid supplies that we came with there. Based on what we’re seeing, they could use a gallon of Neosporin and a whole ream of Band-Aids each month. Part of the HopeChest budget also goes to treating more serious conditions, like if one of the sponsored children needs serious medical intervention, like a trip to the hospital, an operation, testing, etc.

After the children ate their lunch of posho and beans, we told them Bible stories, taught them songs, and had a Bible quiz for candy. Then 2 choirs performed for us. They’ve prepared so well! What a joy to listen to kids sing about Jesus with love for Him radiating from their faces!

After that we showed them a trick with a button and string. Dad made over 200 of them to pass out and we had a slightly organized stampede for them. It was fun engaging with them, showing them how to make the button twirl, and watching the yard filled with children learning a new game. God showed me George, my sponsored boy, right when I was ready to give out a button string, and I slowly approached him and gave it to him. He let me hold his hands and show him how to do it! I even got to rub his back a little and later found him crying and he let me rub his back. Making progress? Not sure, but I’m cautiously optimistic that he’ll come around.

We headed back to the mission, had a much-needed debrief time, and talked with Elotu Joseph, director of HopeChest Uganda, who joined us for the day. He fielded many good questions. We are beginning to get a good understanding of the program, what’s working, what’s not working, and what needs they have. He is such an encouraging man and I’m grateful for his leadership. I presented him with 12 boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese, his favorite food from when he visited Colorado last September!

As shooting stars streaked above our heads, we ate another amazing meal, had a time of worship and deep, heartfelt prayer, planned for the next day, and headed in for the night.

What I’m about to share next had me laughing so hard I was crying, but if you’re not a fan of poop and pee stories, feel free to skip this paragraph! I think bathroom humor is part of the adventure of travel and it makes me laugh so hard! We pull into the gas station to use the bathroom and head back there. They have pit toilets that are basically holes with treads to put your feet. I start to go in and realize that someone has left a horse-sized dookie on one of the foot treads, and then tracked it out through the bathroom, where I’ve just walked in my flipflops! All the other women are waiting outside to use the bathroom and I explain the situation. We REALLY had to go. So we all go behind the bathroom and have our first squatting experience of the trip (As team leader, I get to prepare them for ALLLL situations!!) One of the ladies sees us all going and says, “So there’s no bathroom?” Haha, yep! Adventure! And last year I had just finished P90X, but have since given up the lunge and squat lifestyle… I had to go so long that my legs were shaking and I thought I was going to fall over. I was laughing so hard that I was CRYING. We all were. So there are gas station bathrooms, and then there are BEHIND the gas station bathrooms! One team member said that she will never again rush her dog when she’s trying to find the right spot in the yard!

When we arrived at Soroti, the entire town was without power and we enjoyed a delicious meal from Immaculet, Christine, and Jessica. I’ve missed Immaculet’s food since last year and told the team how amazing it was. She did not disappoint! We had our team devotional and headed to bed.

In the morning, we organized all the care packages and dresses and tee shirts, loaded up, and headed out! We visited the Usuk subcounty chief, Okure Joseph, greeted him and spent some time listening to the lovely things he had to say, and signed his guest book. He assured us that the CarePoint program is so good for education, for school attendance and enrollment, and education will bring about the sustainibility. He said that the CarePoint is so beneficial that Adacar Primary, where the CarePoint is located, is now drawing students from elsewhere. Many of these children only receive one meal a day, and the lunch program that we offer 6 days a week helps the students want to stay in school, helps with their concentration and health. He said that it was so good that we are staying with them right here in the Catholic mission in Usuk, so that we can learn their way of life. He said, “We know that you love us because you are here and staying here in Usuk for 5 days with us.” Everywhere we go, we explain that we represent a larger community from the Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, that we are representatives of a large community that loves them and is so happy and full of joy to be part of their lives! The subcounty chief is so supportive of the work being done and has many ideas and he will come to the mission for an exchange of ideas sometime this week. What a blessing to have his support!!!

After our courtesy visit with Okure Joseph, we visited the market where the Adacar community shops. We saw piles of nutritious silverfish, which we helped get for Bosco last year to aid with his leg healing. We also saw a group of people sewing garments with sewing machines under the tree in the middle. Sewing for Smiles ladies: I thought of you all and our wonderful sewing parties for Adacar for the last 6 months!!!! It was awesome to watch them have their sewing group! There was fabric for sale nearby, so a person could select fabric and have the tailors make it up into a garment.

When we arrived at Adacar I had the same RUUUUUSSSSHHH!!!!! of adrenaline and emotion. I’m addicted to loving these kids. They prepared a concert for us, and we greeted them and presented the poster that everyone made at our fundraiser Screen for Some Green.

As I walked away from the school toward the temporary kitchen, set up in the same location that it was last year, my eyes took in the new “skyline” to the right and I gasped as I realized that where there had been nothing, there was a kitchen! A kitchen, and separate from that, a large structure with a serving room, a storage area, and a meeting hall/dining hall/fellowship hall/large group room. And behind all that, the pit latrine! I started breathing hard and before I knew it I was in a full-scale ugly cry. I’m about to start up again right now just thinking about it. It’s here. It’s happening. Where there was nothing, we have a CarePoint for the children. It’s beautiful and represents the hard work of sponsors and donors back home and the hard work of David, Joseph, and their team here in Adacar. Tomorrow we’re going to get to watch them mix and stir concrete by hand and finish laying the floor. The walls look wonderful and the ceiling is beautiful exposed rafters. There’s a serving window where the children will receive their food. It’s truly a dream come true. A dream I’ve had for over a year and a half! Praise God!!! The school gave us a generous portion of land and we have a good-sized playing field as well.

We helped with the lunch, where we got to feed the whole school, all 600 kids! And um, yeah, we are SO WEAK compared to the Ugandan cooks! All of our automation and technology works for us, so physically, we just can’t keep up. The women here are amazing, and they were so sweet to allow us to “help” them.

After lunch, the kids performed more songs and also performed a drama with makeup and costumes and set and props!!! It was the story of the Karamojong cattle raiders coming and raiding their village, stealing their cattle and killing many people. They had capgun rifles made of wire that they had fashioned and they loved watching us jump every time they went off!

Speaking of the Karamojong, please feel free to click back on all of our “Uganda Trip 2010″ for some of the things we experienced and learned last year. We taught the kids several songs with hand motions, then one of the team members taught a lesson out of Daniel. I am so amazed at the Holy Spirit’s work through our team! I am so proud of them, have so much respect for each of them. They’ve gone with the flow, practiced flexibility, tried new things, and jumped in with both feet today. They’re blowing the socks off me with their creativity, humility, and dependance on the Lord. God really put together a wonderfully gifted and diverse group of people for this week. I am so grateful.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing soccer, games, singing, and just being silly. One girl kept asking us to hold her adorable 5 month old baby, who peed all over several of us. We’ve been christened. That baby was so cute, it’s totally worth it, and I’ll probably go back for more pee tomorrow.

We’re back at the mission now, and it’s perfect. They have prepared so many little touches of hospitality for us, and we even have a toilet with a seat and an overhead shower! I didn’t expect that, and it’s a nice little bonus. God is gracious and I’m so in love with Him and His work and His presence in Adacar-Usuk!

Oh, I forgot to mention that as we introduced ourselves, we said what child we sponsor and there were several touching moments of first hugs, first exchanged smiles. It was beautiful. And my boy George William still thinks I’m awful, pretty sure. Yup, that’s a tough one and I’m hoping that God softens his little heart to me someday…maybe this week.

Okay, we just had yet another amazing meal from Immaculet and Christine and Jessica and now I’m safely tucked away in my mosquito net on the top bunk listening to the storm outside. After all, it’s rainy season. There are 2 seasons here, rainy and dry.

As I tucked into my mosquito net tonight, I thought about how mosquito nets can be the difference between life and death here in Uganda. We are all on preventative medicines, but they only work for the short term. I believe you can be on them for something like a year and a half or so. So for people who live here permanently, one bite can mean malaria. Malaria is treatable, but not everyone can receive the treatment. And it’s cumulative, so if you catch it once and get treatment, you can recover well. Catch it again, a little worse. Catch it again, even harder. Tonight I spoke with Agnes, one of the disciplers at Adacar CarePoint (We have 2, Agnes and Stephen, and I remember them from last year after they had just been hired. They work so well with the kids and we’re so grateful for them!). She is fighting malaria and was on her way to receive injections after our day together. She’s had it several times, and she is not doing well. Please pray for her! Today the kids sang about God being Doctor and Healer and she could use some healing right now! She has a mosquito net that she uses, but all it takes is one bite. And I think about all the people who don’t even have the nets to cut the risk.

One of our team members, Dawn Sullivan, attends Legacy Christian Church, and they have given us enough money to provide mosquito nets to all of the kids in the program. I believe the nets are arriving tomorrow, and we are so excited to be able to provide them for our sponsored children. Thank you, Legacy! Thank You, Jesus!!!

Well, I always say that technology hates me, and the high-speed modem we bought is not working, so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to post this. Also, every time I try to call Ethiopian Airlines to confirm our return flights, it doesn’t work. Not life and death, only frustrating. I will shut the computer off for the night and let my roommates sleep. So thankful to have many more days here in this beautiful country.