My past two days here in Uganda have been amazing! The projects are finally starting to begin and I have loved being able to be more involved and really beginning to help out here in Uganda. Yesterday, I woke up, showered outside with the cold buckets, and then went and observed the teachers at the local school. After observing a class for an hour and a half, I stood in the back absolutely stunned at these African students and how willing they were to learn and be educated by their teacher. I was disappointed in myself for taking for granted the amazing education I received growing up and the education I still have the opportunity to receive today. At the end of the lecture, the teacher asked Taylor and I to come up to the front of the class and teach a lesson. We stood there giggling for a second because we literally had NOTHING planned but after asking them questions about America and having a discussion it turned into a dance battle so that was obviously a success.
Later that day, I experienced something I will truly never forget.
A campaign we are running here is called “Proud To Be A Girl”. We visit schools all over Uganda and teach the girls about self-worth, confidence, believing, relationships, menstruation problems, and abstaining from having un-protected sex. Yesterday at a school we were attending, Camille (fellow team member) then demonstrated how to properly use condoms and the importance of safe sex. The girls were giggly but very receptive to our message. Following our campaign, we (8 of us) separated to all sides of the lawn and the girls were allowed the come up to us and ask us any questions they might have. The questions were UNBELIEVABLE! Not only were these girls so un-educated on what their bodies were going through, but they were going through trials no girl should ever have to face. One girl said her father would come home and try to have sex with her so she locks all of the doors and prays to God he never comes home. I had the chills so many times and expressed to these girls that no dreams are out of reach. All they have to do is believe in their Heavenly Father and in themselves! I found myself sharing my testimony so much and really felt like the spirit was speaking for me. These girls were stunned that I had never had sex and that I was saving it for someone I truly loved and only for him. Some of the girls are actually coming to church with us this Sunday (well, hopefully!) But it was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to go with this campaign again. Educating these girls has become one of my favorite experiences.
Today, I went with Karli, Whitney and Brianne to Mukono to work with a girl named Ashley Rogers. She is a “Mzungo” (white person) who actually lives in Uganda full-time. She works a lot with Public Health so spending time with her was amazing. I am going to be working with her a lot and loved my time with her. We went into a village and held an AIDS/HIV testing. In Uganda, in order to get all these people to come, you have to ride in the back of a truck and use a mega-phone to announce what you are doing and where and they all show up! It’s hilarious. So we held a clinic and handed out papers as they came, they got their blood test, and while they were waiting for their results members educated them on condoms. These people had never even heard of them/didn’t know how to use them! We sat with our papers and villagers came up to us and we had to ask their age, name, what village they were from, if they had ever used different kinds of protection (if so, what kind) and how many condoms they want. One guy asked for 50! God Bless!
That’s all for now! I had a great past two days and absolutely love to serve. It brings out a side of me that makes me feel amazing. I was on a high all day yesterday and today because making others lives better is a feeling everyone should strive to experience every single day. Regardless of where you are!
I have a great weekend ahead of me. Maren, Elise, Karli, Taylor and I have decided we need a break so we are heading off to Jinja for the weekend. We are taking our backpack with a change of clothes and crossing our fingers of finding a cheap hotel. And then on Saturday we have an appointment for bungee jumping and rafting the Nile River! ADVENTURES UP AHEAD.
Love you all and miss you to pieces.
Oh ya… I found my favorite restaurant! NOT. But close.
