Gulu- Other Images

 Sticker time

 Finally figured this out...Now if I can only do it with my three year old!

 Having a blast posing for the camera!

 This was the beginning.  The shower floor was full of paint, dirt and who knows what else tonight:)

 Precious!

Brett working hard!

Gulu in pictures- Riley's day

 She handed out sillybands

 Danced with the school kids

 Sat at their desks

 Pumped water from a new well

 Painted a wall (portion thereof:)

And watched Bambi with her new friends

Gulu in Pictures

 Our team, heading to Gulu.  Yes, that's our luggage on top of the van :)

 Baboons on the side of the road.  That's one not-so-cute baby!

 Riley finally coming to terms with the fact that she has to eat rice!

 We decided to put Riley in her stroller when we first got to Gulu.  I can't begin to describe the looks we received.  Laughter, shock, horror.....not to mention that the roads aren't quite made for strolling:)  Ended up folding the stroller and carrying her in the heat...just like every African mommy!

Arrival at our first village in Gulu.  I can't believe how much the city has changed since I was last here and the war has ended.  This little boy had never seen a white kid and wasn't quite sure what to do.  Decided to pick his nose:)  By the end of the day, he was laughing!

A few photos from Rahab's house

          Riley with some of the girls

 With Annette (Executive Director) and a rescued girl from another local home

Brett with "his girls"

Trying to comprehend....

I have no idea what time it is right now.  I just know it's dark outside and there's a mosquito inside my net!  Bit me enough to wake me up and now I can't find the little monster.  Such is the nightly routine.  I can't seem to sleep more than 3 hours at night....yet I'm not tired during the day.  Too much to soak in, I guess.  Today was one of those days that I'll just never forget.  There were many tears shed from every member of our team.

We started the day at Rahab's house, a home that houses up to 15 girls rescued from the streets.  These are girls as young as 6 years old who've been prostituting themselves to survive-- selling themselves daily for around 2000 shilling (less than $1).  We met 8 of the 15 girls and nothing can quite prepare you to look in their eyes, to listen to their stories.  They are beautiful, precious, young, alive and yet so wounded.  We learned that many run away after being rescued because they're just so used to that lifestyle and don't believe they deserve better!  

I spent a few hours training the workers at Rahab House as well as a few other local, similar non-profit agencies in post-abortion counseling, crisis counseling, and donor development.  They seemed to soak everything in and yet I sat there at times just in awe of the stories they were telling me...wondering who was really being trained.  I was encouraged to see men that were a part of this ministry.  Men who go into the streets and rescue these girls and show that that a real man doesn't abuse women.  I fought back tears as they told me about their personal challenges in working with this population, their heartbreak, and their unfailing love (talk about a modern day Hosea ministry!).  I learned that the abortion rates in Uganda as as high if not higher than the U.S. (even though we hear it's illegal); that women are silently suffering with the pain of losing their children yet culturally they can't talk about it--most abort in secret, often at 4+ months pregnant.  Oh, how I grieved as I learned how so many of our American ways are influencing this culture!  

The girls loved spending time with Brett & Riley.  They were fascinated with Riley and kept wanting to hold & play with her hair :)  They laughed when Brett took a picture with them and I wondered how many "good" men will have to come into their lives for them to believe that there are men who truly do care about them.

After Rahab's house we went to a local hospital and met a doctor working with young children...many who've been abused, abandoned, etc.  Some were cancer patients, others victims of the bombing last year, and then many other stories that I can't post online.  I don't think any of us were prepared for what we were going to see.  I started balling when I saw the very first little girl lying in a bed right after receiving her chemo treatment.  She was snuggled with her momma or auntie and although she looked absolutely miserable she had a beautiful smile on her face.  The tears just wouldn't stop flowing as we met child after child.  The pain on their faces seemed to subside as they tried their hardest to smile.  I wanted to pick each one up and hold them so tight...thanking the Lord for my healthy little girl.  Riley brought Puppy Brett and kept saying that they could give him a hug (don't freak out medical peeps--pretty sure none of them had anything super contagious or the doctor would never have allowed Riley on the floor).  One little boy could barely speak, make eye contact, etc.  As he sat in his wheel chair, Riley went up to him and touched his little hand.  He gave the biggest smile when he saw her and laughed out loud.  Once again, the tears!!!  She handed him a little lollipop and it seemed to make his day.  She then decided all the kids needed lollipops and they agreed!  It's amazing how they respond to her and she loves it.  As long as they don't snatch her too fast! :)

Tomorrow (actually a few hours from now) we head to Gulu to spend a few days with Mercy's Village and to escape the big city since elections are this Friday.  We're excited to spend time with the kids at the school, paint classrooms, etc. 

Good night,

Talitha

The first 48 hours.....

It's pretty much impossible to summarize what we've experienced in the last 48 hours.  It feels like we've been here for over a week--in a really good way though:)  Day 1 included a trip to Jinja (where the source of the Nile is) eating lunch, soaking in the African sun, and getting to know our wonderful team members. God definitely put this team together for us!  I'm sure Brett's just wishing he'd thrown in a little more testosterone :)

We then headed to Kiwogo Village to spend time with a little church.  After an insane drive up a dirt mountain with giant pot holes and random turns in-between trees (no street signs in sight!) we were welcomed by the singing voices of one of the sweetest churches I've ever seen.  We had an incredible time getting to know them, and especially their heart for the orphan & surrounding communities.  They asked me to speak & I’m always amazed at how God uses our simple message to touch their lives.  Such a humbling experience.  They gave us precious homemade gifts and sugar cane….and we learned that the pastor and his wife and their 3 little children walk more than 2 hours one-way to get to church.  They do this four times a week!   I made sure Riley heard that their 3 year old walks for two hours!  She begs us to pick her up after about 10 minutes.

Today, we spent most of the day at the local pregnancy center.  Every time I am there I’m more humbled and blessed by the work they do.  They showed us birthing kits that they give each pregnant woman.  The kits include gloves, birthing pads, clamps and a razor blade!  Each woman has to take the kit to the hospital or the doctor won’t deliver her baby.  We learned today that much of the infant mortality is due to the fact that women can’t afford these kits so they deliver at home-with no medically trained person present.  And the kit costs $4!  That was just the beginning of the day.  It’s hard to absorb some of what you hear about the culture. Abuse, rape, disease…and yet, our team left so envious of the deep sense of peace & joy that they possess.  They soaked in everything we had to share and we learned so much from them. What an example of being faithful with the little they’ve been given.  They’re making such a huge difference in this city!

This evening we drove to a “local” orphanage.  It was about 20 minutes away but due to Kampala traffic, took over 2 hours!  I thought we were about to lose Brett (still not used to the toxic fumes in the air) and hitting pot holes is super fun when you’ve got really full bladders in the car:  But the most amazing thing is that more than 200 children sat and waited over an hour for us to get there!  They stayed in their seats for an entire Reality Check presentation and were so excited to hear we’re coming back next week.  I looked around at one moment and saw everyone on our team with a little orphan in their arms.  What an incredible picture of Matthew 25:40.  As we sat there, loving on “the least of these” I couldn’t help but imagine that this is exactly what the Lord is calling us to do.  I sat in the middle of the younger kids and within about five minutes three little ones snuggled up to me and fell asleep.  I wish time had stopped at that moment.  So precious.

This Valentine’s Day, my heart is so overwhelmed with love for my God, my sweet family, and the beautiful people of this Country.

Here are a few of my favorite memories today:

•           Handing the pregnancy center workers a stack of baby food, explaining that the tub of orange liquid was carrots.  They died laughing when they learned that we feed our babies mush!
•           Holding Riley on my lap as she sang “how great is our God” as loud as she could while Becki led us in worship.
•           Hearing “you are most welcome” from everyone we meet and good-bye hugs from every little kid.
•          Hearing Riley say “Muzungo (white person)” and telling us who is a Muzungu and who is not.
•          Watching everyone pick Riley up, and seeing their fascination with a little Muzungo.  And then her laugh in return.  She absolutely loves it here and truly has been an angel and such comic relief for our team!
•           Late night talks with various families from a church in Alabama, staying at our guesthouse, that are adopting orphans. What incredible stories!!!
•           Hearing that Veronica (pregnancy center director) named one of their clients babies Talitha.  The mommy hadn’t named her baby in a few days so they decided she should name her after me! 

Tomorrow we spend time at Rahab's House.  A home that rescues young prostitutes from the streets.  We then head to Gulu (Northern Uganda).  Thank you all for your sweet prayers & friendship.  We love you.

Greetings from Kampala

Just a quick note to let you know we made it!  Long, but amazingly easy day of travel.  We were laughing tonight at the fact that we seem to travel better to Uganda than across the Country :-)  I felt like I was at home as soon as we walked out of the airport....Brett's super excited to be here and enjoyed witnessing the Uganda nightlife as we drove down the streets.  Riley's already made friends with the driver, Lo-Ben, and Lewiston the house manager :)  She said she loves this house and wants Boston (our dog) to come here. Good night everyone.  Thanks again for all the prayers!  Will check back in soon.