Monday 25 March 2013

Week 11- Attitudes make great memories



Week 11 19/3/13 - 25/3/13
Firstly I have no week 10 as it was a pretty slow week which is an excuse which basically means I was to busy and lazy to right it, but nothing much really happened. So enjoy week 11...
Tuesday -18/3/13
Today we had our half day ministry, were we visited our slum family. I was standing around as usual whilst everyone conversed in Lugandan and then Richard said that I should talk to them as they know English.  So stepping out of my comfort zone I asked if we could do anything to help them; I really want to be able to do something because I feel like when you immerse yourself in their lives then do you really connect. So I was shown that (to my delight) she is rearing chickens to sell when they get older. In their complex of rooms which they rent out, they have converted one into a chicken room. In it there, there are about 100 or more 1 week old chickens running around, sleeping and being adorable. I patted them and just looked on in pure joy. Then I helped peel some sweet potatos which are about the size of mangos to rockmelons which they roast and then sell. It was realy cool and we used a knife to peel them, and once again I think the Ugandans think that white people can’t do anything so they laughed at me until they became surprised that I could quite successfully peel them.
On another note mother precious is due to have a baby in a week or two which is super exciting. I hope we get to go their soon and see the baby and bring things to help them. The babies name boy or girl will be Rio and it is just awesome so prayers everything goes perfectly well and a negative the baby will unfortunately be HIV+ so prayers for little Rio.
I have also been taught something from God that instead of being one of those lesson you realise latter on you learnt was smacked right in front of me. I was basically upset with everything, feeling like I haven’t been making progress and everything hasn’t been as exciting as I thought it might be. So here I am lying in bed trying to sulk and cry and have a pity party, but inside my heart I am just full of joy. Thanks holy spirit. So God had a little pep talk to me about how if I wanted to be an adult I had to adjust my attitude and actions. If I want to be an adult I can’t have a sulk when I feel sad and try and be depressed. I have to decide that when something goes wrong and I feel upset I need to decide to have a good attitude and be happy; I have to purposefully choose to overcome the problem and make the most of every opportunity. I mean I‘ve heard the same story as well and thought yeah yeah that’s all nice and well but what about this. But I am really starting to understand what it means to give everything to God and to make every circumstance the best it can. Example the slum family; usually it is pretty boring but because I made it the best it could be and I loved it and can’t wait to go back again. Then he gave me this analogy that I have this map in my head were I think I will overcome this here, learn this at a certain stage and have this experience at point x but God has his own map and I having surrendered to his will by being here, then I must defiantly be on track on his map. I am achieving the exact things I need to be but at the same time giving my full obedience in all circumstances and decisions I can in some things speed up the process and enhance my experience. I was reading my bible and I came across this verse in 1 Corinthians which basically said God will use all circumstances in a Christian’s life to benefit them. So I then decided that since there was no way I could be depressed I would choose to be positive even though I wanted to kill someone I actually felt a lot better making that initial choice to and ever since then I have had self control over my feelings and urges to throw a tantrum (mostly in my head) and have been inspired on how to make every opportunity the most flavoursome it can be.

Wednesday -19/3/13
Thursday -20/3/13
Today we had our full day ministry in which we visited living hope. It was really nice and we sat around as she crotched the things I am going to buy. I changed the order to be smaller but just as cool. I learnt to make one of the flowers and we also ate Japardi. It was really nice and simple.
Saturday -22/3/13
Today we had our sports day and I was on the first aid team in which I helped the runners in recovery and rub their legs. There was this girl who was brilliant and I learnt a lot from her. I just can’t get over the runners it’s like being at the Olympics. When these people take off they are nearly galloping or even flying, I feel exhausted just looking at them. There was this one girl who was a short and long distance runner who would win every race she did. I was talking to her and she said that she wanted herself or her kids to go to the Olympics. It was just brilliant and even though I get puffed just walking up and down the stairs I felt inspired and have started working out to try and become fitter inside and out. That’s all.
 Sunday -23/3/13
Sunday I had a lot of fun with my team. A lot of funny conversations were had which involved Mary suggesting Callie and myself should get married and then her quickly suggesting that she would be the flower girl. I was basically crying laughing because it was so out of character. That day went really fast and we also bought Japardi which is becoming a tradition for us, I think the best Japadi ( awkward moment when you ask a Ugandan the proper spelling of Japadi and find it is actually spelt and pronounced Chapati) is there from what I have had so far. I had a really good day and even had a good time in the children’s church with only one crying at my face but four absolutely in love with me... the odds are becoming better.
Monday -24/3/13
Today was the best day ever! You know how you have those mornings were you are sleeping on cloud 9 but you actually have to get up early and then the morning you can stay in bed you have the worst sleep. Well today I was sleeping on cloud 9 and was able to stay sleeping on cloud 9. I then also had a dream about how I could use the money I had on a gift card I was given. In Uganda it is hard to find somewhere to use a visa gift card and then I had an epiphany that I would use it to buy more phone credit on the internet and it miraculously worked. So I killed two birds with one stone as the $100 gift card was about to expire in 4 days. So I was so happy. I then Skyped with my family for about 2 hours and only used 170mb which is phenomenally good for me. It might sound lame but I am on mars’ moon’s (I actually bought the song ‘mars’ from ‘the planets’ today) with my success. I then had a beget brought for me in which I ate the whole thing. Then tonight Thomas cooked us a surprise dinner if traditional western food with burgers and coleslaw. Fantastic!!; and Peter Esset even came over. Random fact but I have just gotten a craving for IFS chips right now at 6:58am Australian time. Then Hannah’s package came, which contained two of my favourite movies ‘Pocahontas’ and ‘Corpse Bride’; so I was defiantly happy today. I have had a brilliant day and am now finally finishing my blogging for this week. Cheers from a happy Jack in Africa!!

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