Hello everyone!Sorry I haven't updated my blog in a while! I promise I will try my hardest to get better at it!
I have been in Uganda for a little over five weeks now and have fallen in love with this place. As I prepare to leave for Rwanda tomorrow, I am so excited yet sad that I am leaving this place. I have made so many memories here and have become so comfortable. It will be difficult to get to know a new place again but I am so excited. I have a feeling that as I cross the border into Rwanda I might freak out a little bit. My dream to live in Rwanda is coming true and I am so excited for what God has planned for me in that country.
The past five weeks have been the greatest. I don't think I have ever been this happy and know that I am where God is calling me to be at this point in my life. I have had so many amazing opportunity's and after only 5 weeks, i know that I am forever changed. I can't wait to see what the next 5 months hold! Classes have ended which is a major relief. They were stressful towards the end, trying to fit a semester of classes into 5 weeks means a lot of homework! But i made it through and loved the classes. I can't wait to take the next two classes in Rwanda.
Instead of explaining everything that I have done the past month, I figured I would share just a few meaningful moments that I have had. For everything that I have done, my pictures on facebook are a great way to see! I think I have taken pictures of just about everything!
Instead of explaining everything that I have done the past month, I figured I would share just a few meaningful moments that I have had. For everything that I have done, my pictures on facebook are a great way to see! I think I have taken pictures of just about everything!
One of the greatest weekends I have had so far was towards the middle of my time here when I went to a rural village with my cornerstone assistant, Fred. Susan, Rob, and I were all greeted with ope
n arms and even huge hugs by all of the kids of the village. Fred's family was so welcoming, especially his sister Jane who is my age. Throughout the weekend she would constantly tell us that we helped her dream of having white friends come true. She was so excited and was so welcoming. Also, Fred's little sister Farida was the sweetest little girl. Along with Farida, we were occupied all weekend by all of the kids of the village and I couldn't have been happier. Fred wanted us to experience as much as possible in one weekend so we got to go to a rock quarry, kill and eat a chicken, watch a pig give birth to 14 piglets, milk a cow, explore the village, learn about the garden that they grow all of their food in, and many other things. It was an amazing weekend. I learned that time and money are not important here like it is in America. They are not focused on getting to places on time and it felt as if time and money didn't even exist. Instead, it is all about the community and spending time with friends and family. It has been so moving to see the importance that community instead of independence has on this culture. It is going to be so difficult coming back to the states where time and money mean everything! It has taught me to slow down and value the time that I have been given and to not worry about what is to come next but to just sit and take it all in.
n arms and even huge hugs by all of the kids of the village. Fred's family was so welcoming, especially his sister Jane who is my age. Throughout the weekend she would constantly tell us that we helped her dream of having white friends come true. She was so excited and was so welcoming. Also, Fred's little sister Farida was the sweetest little girl. Along with Farida, we were occupied all weekend by all of the kids of the village and I couldn't have been happier. Fred wanted us to experience as much as possible in one weekend so we got to go to a rock quarry, kill and eat a chicken, watch a pig give birth to 14 piglets, milk a cow, explore the village, learn about the garden that they grow all of their food in, and many other things. It was an amazing weekend. I learned that time and money are not important here like it is in America. They are not focused on getting to places on time and it felt as if time and money didn't even exist. Instead, it is all about the community and spending time with friends and family. It has been so moving to see the importance that community instead of independence has on this culture. It is going to be so difficult coming back to the states where time and money mean everything! It has taught me to slow down and value the time that I have been given and to not worry about what is to come next but to just sit and take it all in.Last week I had the chance to go to a home for street boys and help out. I had no idea what I was in for and didn't realize that this would be the greatest day for me in Uganda. A former student of Go-Ed has started this ministry here called Perfect Injustice Ministries which is a ministry for boys who are living on the streets of Kampala. Most have no family and those that do have been abused or their families could not support them so they have run away 
from home. The home houses boys ranging from ages 5-16. In the actual house their are about 15 boys who live here and then there are about 50 boys who sleep in a church that partners with the ministry. Now when I say church, I mean 4 posts with a tin roof and tin on two sides and two sides exposed, and a dirt ground. These boys sleep here every night with just a blanket on the ground. When the boys are living on the streets, they go to sleep at night with the fear of being kidnapped or raped, so sleeping in this church with a security guard allows them to go to sleep at night knowing they are safe. Throughout the week, there are programs for all of the boys and a meal each day for them all. When we arrived, we were embraced with hugs and all of the kids loved our cameras so we took plenty of pictures with them. We got to play soccer, dance and sing, and just hang out with all of the kids. One of my favorite moments was when 3 little boys that were sitting on our laps started singing all of the worship songs they knew, including "I have decided to follow Jesus" and "Trading my Sorrows." It was so amazing to watch these young boys worship God with all of their hearts.
from home. The home houses boys ranging from ages 5-16. In the actual house their are about 15 boys who live here and then there are about 50 boys who sleep in a church that partners with the ministry. Now when I say church, I mean 4 posts with a tin roof and tin on two sides and two sides exposed, and a dirt ground. These boys sleep here every night with just a blanket on the ground. When the boys are living on the streets, they go to sleep at night with the fear of being kidnapped or raped, so sleeping in this church with a security guard allows them to go to sleep at night knowing they are safe. Throughout the week, there are programs for all of the boys and a meal each day for them all. When we arrived, we were embraced with hugs and all of the kids loved our cameras so we took plenty of pictures with them. We got to play soccer, dance and sing, and just hang out with all of the kids. One of my favorite moments was when 3 little boys that were sitting on our laps started singing all of the worship songs they knew, including "I have decided to follow Jesus" and "Trading my Sorrows." It was so amazing to watch these young boys worship God with all of their hearts. While I was listening to these songs, One boy reached out his hand and gave me a necklace. I was taken
by surprise because I did not even see him sitting there. I took the necklace and went to sit by this boy to thank him for my necklace. Because most of the kids could not speak English, I assumed that this boy couldn't speak English either so I continued to record the other kids singing the worship songs. He then looked at me and asked "Can you record me singing a song?" I was shocked because I had been sitting by him for a while now and he spoke English the whole time. So i recorded him singing a song and my heart broke. To summarize the lyrics he basically sang "I have no home, I have no dad, I have no mom, I have no brothers or sisters, I have no school, I have no one. How did I get this way and am so alone?" When he finished the song I didn't know what to say. After gathering myself quickly, I began to talk to this boy and learned his story. His name is Joseph and he is 13 years old. He has been living at the home for two years now and has no one. His mom and dad died when he was young so he has had to live on his own for most of his life on the streets. He found the home and has found a church down the road where he has started to sing in the choir and is helping to lead worship on Sundays. I had a long conversation with Joseph about how he has been given many gifts and even though he has had a rough past he is in a great place now and has his whole future in front of him to do good. It was so amazing to be able to just sit and talk to Joseph while so many kids were playing around us. It was as if no one was around as he told me his story. I continue to think to myself, what if I had ignored him and continued playing with the younger children? I could have missed the opportunity to talk to this boy and because of his story and the 45 minutes with him I will never be the same. How many times do we ignore those around us and miss the opportunities that God has set before us? I ask that you keep Joseph in your prayers along with the 50 other boys that are at this home, and also to pray for all of those missed opportunities and remember to keep your eyes open for what God has planned, because on so many occasions our eyes are shut and we miss those small opportunities that can change your life.
by surprise because I did not even see him sitting there. I took the necklace and went to sit by this boy to thank him for my necklace. Because most of the kids could not speak English, I assumed that this boy couldn't speak English either so I continued to record the other kids singing the worship songs. He then looked at me and asked "Can you record me singing a song?" I was shocked because I had been sitting by him for a while now and he spoke English the whole time. So i recorded him singing a song and my heart broke. To summarize the lyrics he basically sang "I have no home, I have no dad, I have no mom, I have no brothers or sisters, I have no school, I have no one. How did I get this way and am so alone?" When he finished the song I didn't know what to say. After gathering myself quickly, I began to talk to this boy and learned his story. His name is Joseph and he is 13 years old. He has been living at the home for two years now and has no one. His mom and dad died when he was young so he has had to live on his own for most of his life on the streets. He found the home and has found a church down the road where he has started to sing in the choir and is helping to lead worship on Sundays. I had a long conversation with Joseph about how he has been given many gifts and even though he has had a rough past he is in a great place now and has his whole future in front of him to do good. It was so amazing to be able to just sit and talk to Joseph while so many kids were playing around us. It was as if no one was around as he told me his story. I continue to think to myself, what if I had ignored him and continued playing with the younger children? I could have missed the opportunity to talk to this boy and because of his story and the 45 minutes with him I will never be the same. How many times do we ignore those around us and miss the opportunities that God has set before us? I ask that you keep Joseph in your prayers along with the 50 other boys that are at this home, and also to pray for all of those missed opportunities and remember to keep your eyes open for what God has planned, because on so many occasions our eyes are shut and we miss those small opportunities that can change your life. Like I stated earlier, I have done so many things since I got here 5 weeks ago and can't believe I am already moving again! I found out a few days ago that when I finish classes in Rwanda I will be working at a large Anglican Church in Kigali. I don't know all of the details yet because the pastor wants to meet with me when I get there and see what I am personally interested in. A few options for me are doing reconciliation work, writing Sunday school curriculum and teaching it, and some other things but I am not sure yet! I will keep everyone posted! I am so excited. This is exactly what I wanted to do and I know God is going to do some amazing things through this internship!
Well I am off to Rwanda but stay tuned for stories of the Safari! I'd say a week of a safari and moving to Rwanda makes for one great week! Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I continue on this journey!
Also, best wishes at Madhouse this weekend! I am so sad that I am missing it but can't wait to see pictures! I know it will be great! And Happy Birthday to two great friends, Ally and Mitchell! Hope ya'll have had 2 great birthdays!!
Safari here I come :)
Love you all!! 
-Emily
-Emily
Oh yeah... I forgot to mention... I went bungee jumping over the Nile River and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!
