Get the heart racing...

This past Sunday through Wednesday we took a little break from Smile and traveled to Jinja for a few days of relaxation and fun on the Nile. Monday, Michelle and I bungee jumped above the Nile. They have different types of bungee jumping including stunts and water touch where you “touch” the Nile River or in my case get fully submerged before  being flung back up again. Since it was our first jump ever they wouldn’t let us do any tricks or let me do a back flip off the edge.  I was really excited about it and not really nervous until the cord was attached to me…then I was scared to death especially when my toes were hanging off the edge. They tell you not to look down and just look at the beautiful scenery and jump into the scenery.

Monday was also Laura’s birthday so we went into Jinja  to a place called Ozzie’s which has American food.  We ordered her a cinnamon roll and put candles on it since she doesn’t like cake.

Tuesday, Michelle and I bungee jumped again. This time I was still a little nervous but I actually kept my eyes open for this jump and enjoyed it a lot more! After jumping we boarded the bus to go white water rafting. We practiced flipping and getting into the boat in still water before we went down the river just in case we tipped.  We went down some class V rapids (that is the biggest rapids you can raft down) and had not tipped once….then the last rapid came and it was a 4.5 and we tipped. I later found out that Stacy and Michelle had told the guide that it was ok to tip us on our lunch break after Laura and I had told him to do everything he could not to tip us. Not sure if he tried to flip us or not but I am trying not to hold it against them (sarcastically). It was just a little scary for me at first but once the rapids and big waves passed we just floated down the Nile River.

Flipping

Waves crashing over us but not flipping! We are strong women :)

sunset on the Nile..view from where we stayed

Wednesday we said good bye to Laura and Michelle.  This is the time when all of us would have left if some of us had not asked for an extension. It is crazy how fast time has gone!! I can’t believe in 3 weeks I will be home already. Thursday and Friday were spent at Smile. Thursday I had to buy some supplies for baby Sam so I walked alone to smile. Everyday when I walk to smile I see these yellow flowers that remind me of home. I picked one and just thought about the girls who had just left and how my time here was short yet I would love to just see my family for even an hour.

Then Amonde (one of the smile kids) was walking down the road. He grabbed the flower out of my hand and held onto my hand and we walked to Smile. Amonde had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and actually is in the clinic a lot because he has a wound on his leg. He usually fears me and the clinic but it was great for him to grab my hand. It was almost as if God was saying “Kim, you are only here for 3 more weeks so make the best of it.” It is really weird because most of the time it does not seem like I am in Africa, thousands of miles away from home. It almost seems as if I am just in a different state with no ability to drive to see my family. Africa really does feel like home most of the time. The kids were pretty crazy on Thursday though. I don’t know if it was because they had not seen us in awhile or just because they wanted to beat  each other up.  Friday they seemed to be a little bit calmer. Eric is doing a lot better!! He actually roams away from me but always knows where to find me if he needs me. I also was holding him and he said ‘hi’ a few times. I think this is the first English word I have heard him say. Later he pointed at me and said ‘mama’.  It was one of the sweetest things. He also was wearing a pink shirt on Friday so I told him how handsome he was in pink J I am just amazed every week at how much progress he makes and how God shows his faithfulness.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Eric and I

He is so happy! I just love his smile!

Last team photo :(

Its is suppose to say Iowa

NW

This little guy is missing his Michelle

Prayer requests:

Pray that I can enjoy the last few weeks at Smile and with my team. I have begun to stress about all the things I have to do when I get back including stuff for nursing and for campus ministry, and I don’t want it to take away from enjoying the last few weeks here.

Pray for my sister Alli as she is at Rocky Mountain High ( a youth conference).

Pray that God can continue to use us the last few weeks we are here.

Pray God would give us wisdom. Sometimes people hint to us about things they need or want so pray God would give us wisdom on how to help these people whether it be financially or through encouraging words.