Uganda Day 3 - Hope House and the slums

This day started out as a day of rest after 2 days of hard work building the house for A Perfect Injustice.  After breakfast, Brianna and I went down and helped at the baby home.  On this morning, we woke babies up, changed their bedding, fed the babies and got them dressed for the day.  This was the day that one particular baby just really bonded with Brianna.  We tried not to have favorites but sometimes it just can't be helped.

Isn't he just precious?  I am not going to share his name for privacy reasons but since being home Brianna has had dreams where we bring this precious boy home.   Hmmm....

After the baby home, the team went and exchanged money and then went shopping at the African Village.  This is where we found most of the treasures that we brought home.  Shopping in Uganda, it is customary to barter for the items you wish to buy.  We tried this and did have some success but let me tell you I do not like to barter at all.  I just didn't feel right doing it.  After shopping we went and had pizza downtown.  The pizza was amazing and the trip to get to the place was just as exciting.  Traffic was so busy that they decided everyone would get out of the taxis and walk the rest of the way.  The problem, we were on the opposite side of the street and we had to get 22 of us across the street.  Pedestrians have no right a ways in Uganda so it was crazy.  I am thankful that David gave me a push or I would probably still be frozen in the street!  After we finished eating, we went out and shared the rest of our pizza with the street children.  We would look them in the eye and hand them the pizza and tell them in Ugandan that Jesus loves them.

After lunch, the ladies went to visit a women's ministry of A Perfect Injustice, The Hope House.  The Hope House takes former prostitutes from the slums and teaches them the skill of making jewelry to support their families.  They are also learning English and computer skills.  Most importantly, they are learning that they matter to God and that they have hope.  The ladies were so excited to have us come visit them.  We all introduced ourselves and told a little about ourselves and then the ladies did the same.  I just sat in tears listening to them talk.  It was during this time, it really hit me how much we (or at least I) take our faith for granted.  These ladies have so little and at one time sold their bodies for a $1 a day just to provide for their families and yet they were so thankful for what they had.  Thankful that God had rescued them and was providing for them.  I walked away feeling so thankful that I was born in the country that I was and have not had the struggles these ladies have had and yet I was also envious of them...envious of their complete reliance on Christ.  Sometimes, I think we have life too easy here and we don't rely completely on Christ for what we have.

The ladies of Hope House

 The jewelry that they make...it is beautiful!!  We brought home several pieces!

After the Hope House, we went to the feeding program in the slums.  If my heart wasn't broken enough already on this day, it was after this.  No words can describe the slums of Kampala.  At the feeding program, we met children who have no home and live on the streets.  Children of all ages living on the streets with no food, no bed, no protection...heartbreaking.  A group of us started playing ring around the rosies with some of the little kids.  They loved it and I loved seeing the smiles and listening to the giggles.  A lot of the kids wanted to hold your hand or be held.  They are no different than any other child, they just want to be noticed and to be loved even if only for a short time.  Before the feeding time, we walked and walked to an area where some of the team could play "football" soccer with the boys from the program.  Those that didn't play soccer had fun with face paint.  Some even slept next to us because they knew they were safe and would not be harmed.  Imagine, not knowing when you would be able to sleep because you fear for your safety...heartbreaking.

 Sarah with a precious one!

 The kids love to have their picture taken!

 All these kids without homes...

 David getting the boys ready for soccer

 The soccer field

Josh and some of the boys

 Brianna doing face paint

Taylor, Alei and Brianna

After the soccer game, we walked back to the feeding program.  Jesse, from our team, shared a devotion with the boys and the boys were given prizes for listening by the leaders.  Pastor Dwight prayed and then the boys in the program got rice and beans and we handed out candy and gum.

Pastor Dwight praying..the beams of the building forming a cross on his back

 The rice and beans for the boys

The only children that get the food are the ones in the feeding program.  However, so many children came and gathered and were begging for food.  We handed out candy and granola bars to as many as we could until we were asked to stop by the leadership.  The reason we had to stop because the kids would think they were safe and they weren't.  They still live in the slums and danger is everywhere...heartbreaking.  As we were leaving, the boy that won a prize of bread earlier reached into the van and placed bread in the laps of Brianna and I.  We told him that this was his but he shook his head he wanted us to have it.  This is all his has and he shared it with us...heartbreaking.

We ended our day loving on babies at the baby home.  This was probably one of the hardest days that we had emotionally and yet looking back it was my favorite day.  I was left heartbroken and maybe sometimes that is just what we need.