English Class

bethany and i have been teaching an english class at our church every friday.

our students range from teenage boys to elderly women. some days we have 25, other days 2 may show up for class. one morning while biking to class, we passed the majority of our church members walking down the road in the opposite direction. we stopped to find out they were all heading to a funeral. so many things are unpredictable. even this past friday, one girl had a seizure in the middle of class.

despite the inconsistency, surprises, and our lack of experience, we manage to have a good time. everyone is eager to learn and participates with a great sense of humor. the older women are especially amused with each other when practicing phrases like, "I want milk." this week we taught the song "if you're happy and you know it." we often catch them practicing their english and they are enthusiastic to show it off. as we were greeting in church today, one of the ladies said, "melissa, i am happy and i know it." brought a smile to my face.

i am thankful for the opportunity to grow relationships, see familiar faces in my church community, and laugh with friends.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

happy december! the christmas spirit has officially arrived in south sudan. we put up our christmas tree, strung popcorn, and cut out paper snowflakes to decorate the team house.

warm wishes from mundri!

Be Our Guest

our sudanese friends are often showing us hospitality, inviting us to their homes, gifting their harvest, and giving out of the fullness of their heart. with thanksgiving approaching, we wanted to give them a chance to be our guest, to say thanks, and to share our traditions with them just as they have for us.

we started early with preparations... caleb had the unpleasant task of killing the chicken. but don't let his face fool you into thinking he felt any sympathy for our soon to be dinner.

he was rather proud.

everyone cooked their favorite thanksgiving dishes: green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and even apple pie! the morning was busy with plucking feathers, peeling potatoes, cleaning counters, and decorating table tops. oh, and we officially kicked off the season with some christmas music, giving us an extra pep in our step. i even wore my happy holidays shirt for added spirit. this is my rolled out of bed look. ok, maybe its my everyday look.

once our guests arrived, we played UNO, jumped rope, and some took a turn on the swing.

the boys played a serious game of basketball.

we ate, and ate some more. we taught our moru friends the song, "i've got so much to be thankful for." then we all made thanksgiving hands and shared with everyone what we were thankful for.

all around...a great thanksgiving with friends! oh yeah, our group photo. i think the bunny ears are a nice touch.

Okari

sitting in church this morning, i was reminded of how much i love this community. though i understand only a word or two from the sermon, i try my best to follow along with my bible. i mumble through the hymns, sometimes picking up on the last word of each line. for a moment, i am tempted to feel out of place, but quickly become aware of my unpretentious surroundings. the mud walls and thatch roof echo songs of praise and the people of okari smile and greet me as if i was their long-time friend returning home. 

  

 

my favorite part is the end of the service. we follow one another outside and form a sort of greeting circle, shaking hands, saying hello. then we all huddle to sing as the drums beat in the background. 

thankful today for worship and fellowship with believers, no matter the language.

First Day, Hooray!

 

monday was the first day of school! liana and gaby arrived bubbling with excitement and eager to start the day. gaby even came dressed in his finest :)   

liana and i baked a peachy pumpkin crisp in celebration of the first day, or halloween, or maybe just because. we’ve had an abundance of pumpkins here, and it almost feels like the fall season...minus the cool weather. 

later liana and gaby carved pumpkins. 

some of us went to scott’s house for his “celebrate the harvest” party. we ate pumpkin cookies and pumpkin bread, taught his friends some random songs like “father abraham,” and laughed.

Reunited

and it feels so good! my heart leapt for joy when the tiny figures below cleared into view. what a rush of excitement and emotion to see my teammates again. so happy to be back and catch up. feeling welcomed, loved, and peaceful. 

Rest In Uganda

i arrived in uganda this morning. what a beautiful country! the cool, wet weather welcomed me as i arrived in entebbe. sitting on the porch, i see lush green mountains in the distance, and it brings peace to my soul. my ears tune to the songs of birds, though briefly interrupted by children laughing and playing in the streets. music and drums play in the background. as i sip on black tea and warm lentil soup, i take it all in. 

"open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see that the Lord is good. blessed are those who trust in Him." psalm 34:8


thankful for a place to rest, for a shower after days of travel, and for beautiful uganda. tomorrow i go to apply for my sudan visa. please pray that everything goes smoothly, and i am still able to leave on tuesday as planned.