by jeannie | Apr 10, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
While we visited the location where the new school was being built, we kept greeting people who lived nearby. This woman walked up and talked with us and I got a shot of her with one of the men in our group of travelers, Ted. The way he greeted this woman is how he greets everyone and he was a blessing to all of us on this trip as we watched his interaction with the Ugandan people. Having been to Uganda before, he helped give context to what we were experiencing, but also let us experience Uganda in our own way too. The woman was incredibly warm, like most people that approached us. She has so little, but seems to have everything she needs to be thankful, to be smiling, and to be so gracious to strangers. Ted lives a life of faith. He steps into their culture more than most of us, eating what they eat while some of us ate the safer rice & curry or pizza, and always open to any experience, smiling with overflowing compassion and love for the sweet people there. On our second night in Uganda, knowing there were several days and nights left and being overwhelmed with what I saw, I felt a sadness that I was feeling a sense of void, being closed off or even an unwillingness to truly do “anything” God asked of me. Praying, I just asked for courage, and God gave me sleep. But in the morning, God gave me Ted. Without knowing, Ted invited me to sit across from him, and began sharing his life, his...
by jeannie | Apr 7, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
While in Uganda last month, we visited the new location for Restore Leadership Academy in Gulu. We approached this land and stumbled upon some beautiful children and women walking up and down the roadside and being there close to sunset caught some great images while there. We walked through what will be the school, the dorms, and talked about the plans and dreams for the place. Since 2004, Restore International has been part of rescuing, rehabilitating, and leading efforts there to bring justice to Uganda. When we visited the existing school, I spent only one afternoon there, but while there, made friends and was overwhelmed at how they greeted us, welcomed us, and wanted to be with us. The teachers, kids, and leaders of the school were all equally welcoming and loving. I am so excited for the kids to move into their new school and dorm as soon as next month, and that the next time I visit, they’ll be in the new location. While there, and as you drive away, you can’t help but wonder how you might respond if it was your life or your children that were displaced and changed by poverty & war. The goal is to bring opportunities to those that might never have any, and raise up a generation of leaders who might in turn lead their country into a restored Uganda. While at the existing school where the kids currently attend school and live, we sat under a tree with Sr. 6 Graduates. Watching Bob and John Niemeyer (Country Director) talking to those Seniors and inviting us into it with...
by jeannie | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Hello Friends! I’m home and so tired, but happy. Thank you so much for all the amazing notes of encouragement, prayers during my trip. I’m blessed by you. I know the emails were long, how busy you guys are, and so appreciate how you guys went through it with me. I couldn’t write much for the rest of the trip. It was usually either power outages, no electricity or no ability to stay awake! We did so much and I’ll post pics and stories soon online, but left my laptop in London. I guess I was a little groggy during my 18 hours of travel before my connection into Dallas. it’s ok, though, I always save photos in two places so I made it home with my photos. 🙂 pray for safe return of my laptop. I would so love NOT to have to buy another one. The trip continued to be one of friendships, new understandings of one another and how Jesus has changed us, and opportunities to speak into each others lives and be spoken into, as well. it was beautiful, even on the hardest days. We visited the new school location (can’t remember if I already told you about that) but it was great to stand and see the buildings with no roofs and know kids will move in within the next 12 weeks. We drove out to Paraa to a beautiful lodge there for one night of comfort and relaxation. it’s beautiful and sits on the Nile. If anyone remembers Moses, that’s kinda cool… and we drank coffee on giant patios and rode...
by jeannie | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Its so late and I miss you! I’ll try to be somewhat brief since it’s after midnight here. We are going nonstop, but loving every minute. I’m putting two days worth of events.It’s all been pretty wonderful to travel with this small group and visit and encourage and love on people here in Africa. We started our day at Invisible Children. He met with the leaders here in Gulu, and out of respect for all they’ve been through, we put our cameras up. They have always said it wasn’t about them. It still isn’t. It’s about the children of Africa and trying to stop a great injustice. All I can really say is they are amazing, beautiful hearts and they love Jesus. We got to speak into them, telling them we still believed in them and to stay the course. Then we put them in the middle and prayed for them. It was powerful. Pray for these people and their families. We then headed to Sister Rosemary’s where we learned about all their mission there. I took photos, and a great portrait os Sister Rosemary, which I’ll post at some point. – travels and power outages make it difficult to write/post. Sadly, due to the death of a teacher, we went to her funeral. It was quite heartbreaking to watch the kids grieve. Kids were bent over crying, and it was so raw and we were all crying with them and among them. They do the burial there and it’s much different than the US. They have men digging, and when it’s time for the burial, they lower the...
by jeannie | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
While I was gone, I updated some friends via email. When I got back, I realized so many of my good friends hadn’t been included on the list or I accidentally missed. Here’s a recap: DAY ONE This morning, we had breakfast, met some people of the home we were going to visit, and hung around for a bit just getting to know each other better. We had an amazing day. Went to the home where the girls were pulled out of prostitution. Average age was 14-15 at this particular home and many had been there 3-4 years. There were about 17 girls at this home. We heard their stories and got like a hundred hugs. They shared their stories and our hearts broke. They talked about how people thought they were nothing. One sweet girl drank poison b/c she wanted to die. Many of them chose prostitution or were forced by a parent or simply needed to eat. One girl had her dad die, and then her mom just left her alone. Many girls have no one but the home, the other girls and “Aunties” to care for them. A few girls were pretty new and it was a crazy time hearing from them literally being off the streets for just a few months, and seeing them struggle to talk, but thanking God for coming to the home. We met and exchanged emails with the two women, Helen and Jane, the “aunties” of the homes. These girls were so courageous. I was covered in hugs from girls with the saddest stories I’ve ever heard, prostituting at the same...
