Uganda: Happy memories…and goodbyes
I sit in the airport…the month has gone by so fast. I cannot believe it is over already. A tear runs down my face as I think about all the little babies I left at Amani. What does their life hold? Will they ever experience a home with parents who love them? Will they grow up and love Jesus? Will they live a happy life? Those questions cannot be answered… it is in God’s hands, not mine.
This morning I spent like any other day. Making bottles, feeding babies, changing diapers, and stopping a fight or two. Today the hugs were a little longer. The one on one time more intentional. After lunch, we bathed and diapered the babies and put them to bed. I gave them each a hug, told them bye, and “I love you so much.” They responded with smiles, hugs, and “Wuv you doh much!” I peaked in the boys room, they were all in bed for naps. I went and whispered bye to them. They are older and some of them understood. “Why are you leaving auntie?” “Where are you going?” When will you come back?” “See you tomorrow!” The girls were already sleeping. I peaked in, but couldn’t get myself to say another goodbye. I went upstairs and packed the rest of my luggage. I was lucky to have Katelyn with me and we had flights leaving Uganda 30 minutes apart. We head downstairs. Gave the mamas hugs. And out the door we went…
Now that was enough of a sob story. Now for some of the happy moments.
Seeing 1 year old twins eat ice cream with sprinkles for the first time. The first bite was spit right back out. They never eat anything cold! After a few moments they were reaching for more and we couldn’t feed them fast enough.
Helping omusawo (nurse) at the orphanage take kiddos to the hospital for blood draws, X-rays, etc. Holding a 2 year old while they draw her blood to see how her HIV levels are this month. It seems so unfair that they have to live like this. But we love them up, give them a sweetie(one smartie) and tell them “well done, you did good job!”
Going on a safari with two of the volunteers. Seeing lions, hippos, elephants, giraffes, monkeys and so much more. And then waking up to hippos stomping around a couple feet from our tent.
Many good conversations with our fellow volunteers. Eating out, grabbing coffees on our lunch break, or making puppy chow popcorn by flashlight over the stove when we didn't have power for a few days.
Taking a boat ride on Lake Victoria and the Nile with some of the kids. It took over an hour for the younger ones to relax enough and enjoy it. Meanwhile the older ones were trying to reach out and touch the water and we had a full time job keeping them from tumbling in.
Taking a few of the kids to a restaurant down the road to share an orange fanta and play on the trampoline. Again, their first time on a trampoline and we had to show them how to jump on it. They thought the slide was better=)
Hearing the children scream mango mango while playing outside. They could hear every time a mango fell. The mamas would cut it up so everyone got a little piece. The children thought that was the best ever.
One day we walked into a shops that sold pottery. The lady said come back and take lessons for $5 each. All us volunteers went and made pottery one Saturday afternoon. We sat in a 8x8 room with a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling and learned to use the pottery wheel. It was a hilarious time and our teacher was so patient with us. We each got to take home the piece we made and the piece like it that the teacher made to show us how.
We took some of the kids with us to get a few groceries. There are cats that sit on the shelves and act like they own the place. The cat jumped down and started walking toward the big boys (4years) and they screamed and ran toward the front of the store. They were truly so scared. They had not seen one before. Meanwhile the little 1 year old walked up to it and started petting it. Like how did he know that that is what you do to cats? And he was not scared?
Singing with the mamas and children. Nothing makes them happier than to clap and sing. The mamas would sing in Swahili or Lugandan sometimes and it was so beautiful.
One of the boys who had not been here long had surgery so he was in the nurses room for a few days. It has a little bedroom for when kids are sick. Every morning he would sit in the door way and tell his little brother “I love you so much!” And his little brother would say “wuv you much” as he walked by. They were the ones who had not known any English a month before.
The oldest in the nursery was 3. She took her role as the oldest seriously. She would hold the bottle, slap the other kids if they were naughty, and say “you have bad manners!”
And so so so many more good memories…
