Smiles at Smile

During the week I am having so much fun at Smile and pretty exhausted by the end of the day so I try to write on the weekends. However, when I sit down to write I don’t know what to write. .. not because there isn’t anything to write about but because there is so much to write about…Do I write about how many times I got puked on this week or how or how Eric made my day? Do I give all the details about our hike up Tororo Rock? Do I tell all the miraculous things God does every day and how I am reminded of his faithfulness?  Well I will try to remember everything and cover everything even if it is briefly. Last Sunday was a day of cultural differences. To make long story short we thought we were going to one pastor’s church and ended up at another one and there was a lot of miscommunication. In the end it was all good and it was a good learning experience for all of us but at the time it was very frustrating. It was probably the first time and only time so far that I thought “When am I leaving this country?” They prepared us in training at Northwestern that this day would come but I never thought it would.  At 4am on Monday, Bri and Amanda left for home. At the beginning of the week there was a lot of confusion about mine and Meghann’s role in the clinic now that Bri was gone and Grace wasn’t back yet. By Friday things were better and we were able to work more as a team of nurses. Monday we went with Pastor Andrew to Busia which is about a 45 minute drive from Tororo and very close to Kenya.  Wednesday we climbed Tororo Rock. We took about 15 kids and some of the adults from Smile along with us. The natives have commented in the past at how we Americans walk so fast and they like to enjoy their walks so we thought this would be the same for climbing the rock. However, it was not. They practically sprinted up some of it. We all made it though! When we got to the top we could see all of Tororo. The view was awesome!  I also am thankful that we did not see a single snake. This was probably my biggest fear for the climb. I knew I would eventually make it to the top but I knew I would freak out if I saw a snake.

Sunday we also walked around the Rock a little and saw some monkeys! It reminded me of my little sister Alli J    

Thursday we left Smile a little early and went with Pastor Amos to a women’s prison. There were 16 women in the prison serving time from as small as stealing up to murder. The women were very nice and I really saw God work. We did not have a lot of things planned before going but God spoke through us to the women and I know the words coming out of my mouth were not my own but God’s. One day this week I was kind of frustrated and I walked out of the clinic and Eric was there with the biggest smile on his face. He came running to me. It totally made my day. Then I was thinking about how him running to me made me so happy and how much happier God is when we run to him. He embraces our hug and just holds us in his arms after we have strayed away from him. Another awesome thing about God is we are never too big to sit in his lap J Sometimes when the kids are filled with pee, puke, or poop it is really hard to want to hug and hold them because they smell. But God loves on us even when we are covered from head to toe in filth from our sin. God still deeply loves us through all the junk and WANTS to hold us. This has given me more motivation to hold the kids when they are covered in poop and smell so horrible. Last night we watched Madagascar 2 with the kids at Smile. Eric was sitting on my lap but then started to whine because the girl in front of him kept moving so he could not see the movie anymore. I took him out so he would not distract the other kids.  As we were walking back, it was lightening out in the distance. He ooh’d and aww’d at the sky and was pointing to things and grunting (since he doesn’t really talk) with a smile on his face. I walked slowly while holding him and shared with him that God had made all of these things. I told him how big and wonderful God was and that God made him too. He is only 3 and probably does not understand English too much, but I just pray he can at least see the love of God. I really wish I could take him home and teach him more about God and how to be a man one day.  I have seen a lot of improvement in him this week as far as venturing out to play with others and hitting kids less when they are sitting on my lap. He also has been very smiley and has become a little bit of a tease at times. The little things he does reminds me daily of God’s love.  does not understand English too much, but I just pray he can at least see the love of God. I really wish I could take him home and teach him more about God and how to be a man one day.  I have seen a lot of improvement in him this week as far as venturing out to play with others and hitting kids less when they are sitting on my lap. He also has been very smiley and has become a little bit of a tease at times. The little things he does reminds me daily of God’s love.

Eric-Doesn't he just make you want to smile too?

These two girls were just too cute that I had to put them on my blog :)

Here I am in my goma before the invitation practicing carrying gifts

Prayer requests:

 Safe Travels to Jinja and for Michelle and Laura back to the United States

Continue to see God work at Smile

Wisdom on who to help financially

For my sister and all the other high school students who are traveling to Rocky Mountain High. Pray God can give them wisdom about their futures.