Hakuna Matata.

Hello! So I’ve been noticing this whole trip what a hassle it is to keep up with these dang malaria pills. Spilled them in the dirt. Lost them. Makyla found them. Spilled them in my backpack. Lost them. Found them. Wrestled them back from an African as he tried to throw them away. Spilled them in my purse. BUT I still have them in my possession and haven't missed a day! …A full day. 
 
Anyways, we got back from Nairobi about a week ago, and it was definitely a nice, weird break. Weird because it almost seemed like the U.S. at times. We ate quesadillas and insanely good milkshakes and not many people stared and gawked awkwardly at us because of our skin color. There was ice in our drinks and some of us got crazy ripped off at the touristy markets. The bus ride there was a story in and of itself…but after another 20 hour trip…we’re finally back home in Lira…and a few things are on my mind for this post.
 
One of which is Spanish soap operas. “Don’t Mess With an Angel” …you should check it out. Great entertainment. Partly just because we typically watch it after dinner (if there’s power) with the staff who works here, who we love and who are nearly moved to violence during particularly intense scenes. Largely because of Juan Miguel. My words can’t do it justice, so yea. Google.
 
Another thing I've been thinking about is just the way life is looked at here. Like it doesn’t really matter. Street kids getting chased away from the church or shooed away on the streets…people not getting their HIV meds because they don’t want to come back to get it if it won’t be ready for 3 days. The ladies at Alpha (where we stay) told us that there is a saying that in Africa, AIDS doesn’t exist at night…that men will have sex with someone and afterwards give them money and say “this is for your coffin”.  Last Friday, Darby, Mak, Ally and I saw a boy who was probably about 12 try to commit suicide. Praise God he didn’t succeed, but afterwards as he was laughing and acting ridiculous as we played with him…It was shocking how just that little bit of attention we gave him had such a drastic affect on his mood. 
 
Innocent, one of my favorite guys from Child Restoration Outreach, talked to me about all of the suffering in Africa…how he wished he could get the opportunity to speak to a big crowd in America. He told me how him and many of his friends often said “why did God have me born into this country”. I told him that I often thought that too, that I have no idea why I was chosen to be born in America, but that maybe it was because I would have the resources to help people like him who didn’t have very much. That maybe there was a reason I was given the heart I have for them and that maybe living in America gives me at least some of the things I need in order to help…even in the small way that I might be able to. He seemed to be sort of sad after I said that, but very understanding. He said “I think that you are right. I wish that more people would feel what you are feeling. Maybe they don’t know how far even 10,000 shillings would go. I could feed myself for over a month with that.” That’s about 5 dollars. I love talking to him, because not only does he speak decipherable English…but he has a lot to say and a lot of insight. We then decided that next time we meet, I’ll bring my camera and we’ll make a video of what he has to say. He also gave me an assignment haha…I’m instructed to write a song about suffering in Africa and perform it for him…then we will proceed to record in a studio here. Yep. Haha. Sooo I’m fairly certain I’ll be famous on this continent upon my return to the states. Whoop. 
 
Also…this Friday, our team is presenting something at our church for Good Friday…so somehow it was decided that the team is going to sing some few songs and I’m going to be drawing/painting a picture on stage. Ha. Ahhh. So that will definitely be an experience…that could go many different ways. Prayers for that would be awesome. Then on Easter Sunday, the team is doing the Lifehouse “Everything” skit for the church. And later, we’ll be having a slam poetry fest as a team in celebration of Easter, followed by my attempts to lead the team in the organization of a flash mob that will be executed in the Amsterdam airport on our way home 🙂  Lots to do ! 
 
Missing everybody at home…thinking about ya’ll and super thankful for all of the prayers!! Only 5 weeks left. Oh geeeez.