Saying goodbye :-(

Last night we went to the sewing ladies to say goodbye. Today was our last day in Mbale and they were at a women's conference. So we said goodbye last night. It was awful. I’m not ready to leave. These people have become like family to me in such a short time and I’m not ready to leave them. God is doing amazing things in Namatala and I wish I could stay longer and be a part of it longer. Medina kept telling me she loves me, and I know she means it. She is so sweet and loving. I will miss her. The kids were there playing and wanting pictures and loving on us. I could have kissed Esther’s face off. She is such a sweet girl. Sandra was playing for the first half of the night but she didn’t feel good (still. Please pray for my baby girl) so she sat down. I went to sit with her and hold her (she likes to snuggle) and Flower, Esther, Fortunate, Jacob and Isaac came with me. We had fun. We found out what each others favorite colors are and talked about nothing for a while. The whole time I was getting to hold Sandra :-). Then the kids went to play some more and I stayed with Sandra and Flower stayed with me. We got to talk for a good while before having to say goodbye. I got to talk to Paul for a while which was cool. I didn’t really get to know him until the end of the week but he is a pretty cool guy. We will be friends. :-) haha. When it came time to say goodbye it was very sad. Medina continued to tell me she loves me, along with all the other mamas. They mean it too. They are so sincere. When Grace hugged me and said goodbye she cried a lot. I cried a lot too. Then she squeezed me tight and asked me to pray that she will still be here when I come back. I told her she will but that wouldn’t satisfy her. She wanted me to pray for her. So I told her I would and then she asked me to take care of her boys and I told her she would be here when I got back. It was so sad. Grace is HIV positive. I know that the lord is with her and keeping her well. Please, if you have a minute pray for her and for mama Sarah and all the other moms that have HIV/aids. Grace has twin boys, Jacob and Isaac. They are beautiful boys and they are doing very well in school. They love the Lord so much. Mama Sarah has 4 kids I believe. Liz, Harriet, Joyce, and Justine. They are all so beautiful. Sweet sweet girls. Her husband died and she found out he had aids. She was tested and was HIV positive. She tested her girls and only Harriet was HIV positive. These women need our prayers. Mama Sarah and Grace are good mothers trying to raise their children for the Lord living with an awful disease. After that I was a mess. I hugged as many people as I could and then it was time to tell Flower goodbye. We hugged over and over and cried and she asked me to stay and I said I would if I could but my mom wants me back. I kissed her beautiful cheeks a few times and then had to walk away and try to stop crying. Paul walked me half way out then Flower came and took my hand and walked me the rest of the way out. We hugged and cried all over again and then I had to go. I wish I could see her beautiful face one more time before I go. But I know I would just cry all over again. She is like a sister to me now. I’ll miss her and Esther and Mama Flower. Mama Flower holds a special place in my heart. On the day we got here we were walking somewhere and she took my hand and pulled me in and we walked arm in arm all the way. I knew then that she would be a very good friend. She is. She has raised 4 wonderful beautiful children, been through so much and still has the sweetest heart. I wish you could meet her. You would love her. It’s impossible not to.
Today we went to say goodbye to the kids during their break at school. I can’t tell you how many kids I hugged and kissed today. Sweet Esther asked me to tell her sponsor, Emili, that’s she loves her. Deborah asked to tell her sponsor that she wants a bible. A bible. Of all the things to ask for. :-) you can just see Jesus in their faces. Jacob stood with me a while and held onto me and wanted his picture taken (of course) and Fortunate held my hand and wouldn’t share. Haha so sweet. She is still a little shy when I kiss her or hug her but I think by the end of the trip next year that will be over. Of course my beautiful Sandra stayed by my side almost the whole time. I love her. I can’t wait to come next year and see what she is like when she isn’t sick! I hope that girl gets well soon. Pray for her please. Pray for wisdom for the doctors. When it was time to go I grabbed Esther and Sandra and hugged and kissed them both until I couldn’t anymore. Then they went back to class. I’ll miss them all so much. As Joyce was going back to class I stopped her and hugged her and told her I would take care of papa Ted and she promised to take care of Flower for me. Sweet girl. I plan on keeping my promise and I know she does too.
Once all the kids were back in class we took Vicky to the doctor. She has been fainting and complaining of headaches. The doctor apparently wasn’t much help. He came to the conclusion that she has a sinus infection and a heart problem without ever looking at her ears, nose, throat, or listening to her heart. They did lab work to make sure it wasn’t malaria or typhoid. It wasn’t. And then he wrote prescriptions for a sinus infection. I wish he would have taken time and really figured it out. Faizo was there when we got there. He has some type of worm on his face. The doctor gave him pills for that and an anti fungal cream. Hopefully that clears up soon. He is such a cute boy.
We ate lunch at the chat and chino today. Glenn, Morris an Aidah’s son, has an Internet cafe. It was pretty good! That was interesting and fun.
Then we went to Namatala. My little girl from the first day found me! Haha she fell asleep on my shoulder and my once gray shirt is now brown. She was so dirty and sweaty and when she laid her head on my shoulder it got all over my shirt. :-) I’m never washing that shirt. Lol! Then Sarah took us to find Tacko. We were very surprised to learn that Regina, the sick woman I wrote about, is Tacko’s mom. I got pictures of him in front of his hut, next to his mom, with me, by himself, and a picture of his feet. They are filthy. He doesn’t have shoes, and his toe nails look, well, I’m not sure if he still has them. Becky said she would consider adding him! If she does I want to be his sponsor. Haha man there are too many kids I want to sponsor! But I feel a real connection to Tacko, and he likes me. He ran straight to me today when we found him. I felt special.
Overall we ended the trip in a great way. I just wish we had more time here in Namatala. I love these people. I’m not ready to leave them. I’m not ready to be back in a place where most people choose not to believe that people really do live like this. We take what we have for granted. We have so much. So much! I wish all of you could be here and see this and understand just how blessed we really are. I told mama flower the other day that we are all just borrowing from God. If you are like me God has loaned you a lot and you don’t even realize it. Sure it’s not a breeze but at least we don’t honestly wonder when our next meal will be or if we will be around another year for our kids. I know tomorrow isn’t guaranteed for any of is but it’s not the same. Use what God has loaned you wisely and give to those that don’t have anything. It’s not yours to begin with. These kids could change their country when they grow up. You never know what a difference you are making by giving away what belongs to God already.
I’m not sure when or if I will be able to get on again until I get home. We are going to a game park, then Kampala, then Entebbe, then London, then home. I’ll post again as soon as I can!