Monday...Complete!
Construction work all day today. Im exhausted, but it was tons of fun. Working together with a crew of several dozen easy-laughing Ugandans we dug out the start of the school foundations with pick and shovel, then mixed and poured cement by shovel and wheelbarrow. In terms of putting sweat equity into the new school building, there is plenty of Canadian sweat mixed into the Ugandan clay on that site! Blisteringly hot work. Well be sleeping well tonight and sore tomorrow!For me, a highlight was walking to and from home through the school ground. Today was the first day back at class after a school holiday. Hundreds of happy kids in their colorful uniforms. Mobbed by calls of -Uncle Mark!- and kids taking turns for piggyback rides and clown acts. Then children here are so beautiful and loving.
Some thoughts from my journal of yesterday:
… I realize that if the flight home was tomorrow, Ive already -got my money’s worth-. Ive never seen anything like this place, and I wouldnt trade seeing this first hand for anything. Papa and Mama (Piet and Pieta) are very patient and giving of their time, and their stories and example are amazing to watch.
… My heart is to full right now, I dont even know where to begin. Ive been very much struggling with the bewilderment of how this society can be so broken as to have so many abandoned children. And does the success of this place amidst poverty become a self-fulfilling prophecy, wherein the extended family that may have traditionally cared for orphans finds a way to get the kid here instead? And where does it end? When do the doors have to close when there just isnt more room? And what will really happen to these children when they graduate to the real world of Uganda? All these theoretical worries, but then in church today when new baby Dave was publicly blessed in prayer I realized that I was experiencing something more fundamentally right and good than almost anything else I have ever experienced. A little person, beautiful and created and full of promise and hope, who now has a name and a family when a few days ago he was quite literally trash.
… The brokenness and hopelessness of society here is almost overwhelming. I think of the story of saving one starfish at a time on a beach littered with millions of them, and also I see a strong current that is sweeping them back onto the beach as they are rescued. And yet this is such a hope filled place.
Tonight at the end of a long hard day we were treated to a delicious meal of rice, chicken and g-nut sause (Ugandan Peanut), prepared by our team cooks: Coleen, Janice and Caitlin. We have been treated amazingly well by these women. Continue to pray for team health as we begin another long full day tomorrow as we kick this trip into gear!
~HFL Team Leader
7 Comments:
Hi Daddy,
Your clowning acts with the kids totally reminds us of when you poured water all over yourself at the Tai'an orphanage just to make the kids laugh. Mom and kids are all doing great. We miss you lots and are enjoying everything you all wrote on the blog. Love, MJNEAB-M
Looks like back breaking work that's going there. I sure hope you,Ray, are helping the ladies with the cooking:) We don't want you crawling home. Bowness is in the semi finals on the 3rd(score 25 - 10).
Sure enjoying each of your entries. Makes me want to be apart of what is going on there. What a wonderful ministry! Can someone post a picture of Piet & Pieta?
Hi dad (Mark),
we beat the white team today 3:2 for the Owls.
I scored 2 goals and assisted for Simon's goal.
It was a great game. I hope you are having fun.
from: Aaron
Hi Janis
Hope you received our E-mail we sent to Dave yesterday. Everything is going well as Thomas and Noah are really enjoying their soccer and baseball. The weather has finally turned a corner here so we are outside as much as possible. It's actually green for a change. Everyone has been very helpful as time flies by and we all miss you. The boys are excited to hear about your time with the kids and the animals you see on the safari. Keep writing on the blogs as we all enjoy them. Have a great second week.
Luv B,T,N XXXOOO
Sounds like you guys are 'tasting' all that the experience has to offer. The changed hearts you are all experiencing carry with them a gift that can keep on giving.
Care, Love, Share, Hope and Pray.
We are all there with you in spirit.
God bless you all!
Steve Nikiforuk
Tonights scores:
Pittsburgh 4
Carolina 1
Detroit 2
Chicago 1
in OT
So Pittsburgh won the series
Detroit needs one more win
Yes, I know I was wrong. Detroit already sealed it. It's Detroit Pittsburgh in the final.
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