Reaching the children of Gulu.

To Gulu, 

This past month has been full of adventure! I have wanted October to come for a while now. The reasons being,  My mom came to visit from Canada for two weeks, and school outreaches have started!! 

I won't discuss my mom's visit, even though it was extraordinary! The stories that I am about to tell you are life-changing. 

This month we went to a total of three schools. Two "high end" and one that was in refugee village for South Sudan. For the two, I call "high end" because most children have uniforms and clothes; their parents could pay for their school fees, no problem. The other school was heartbreaking. 

I thought I was over the culture shock until this village. The need was so overwhelming that even my  Ugandan friends were shocked.  The school we visited wasn't even a school- it was a storefront with a man-made alphabet banner. Other than the flag and a ripped mat, there were no chairs, no chalkboards, no desks - absolutely nothing.   We were welcomed by a teacher who is a volunteer, and the other teacher (also a volunteer) was ill. The children came running out to greet us- most only had a shirt or pants, with no shoes and very dirty. It was clear that this community had close to nothing. 

My team turned to me, and I had no words to share. So, we put on smiles and greeted each child, and started the program.  It was so hard to act happy and have a good time because of these kids looked so unhealthy.  As word got out, parents and more children had come. When we started, I think there were 20 children, when we ended I believe there was close to 40! 

We were well into a program, then a little boy saw one of my team members ( who is white) and got scared. This little one was crying, and we were doing our best to calm him down, his mother comes, and we thought she was going to cuddle him and tell him its okay. That's not what happened- this mother came up and slapped the baby so hard!! The teacher luckily was right beside her and push the mother away from the baby. A little boy - whom I found out was a friend of this family, grabbed the baby and went outside to calm the little one down. 
When things settled, I went over to check on the baby and the boy. I spoke the Acholi language to both boys, and the oldest responded in English. What a relief! I told them that we are friends, and I will never forget them. The baby was hesitant, so I hugged the older boy a few times for him to understand that I was friendly and would never hurt them.  Both boys understood, I gave them high fives and said: "did you know Jesus Loves you, and I love you." The look that I got back was life-changing! A glimmer of hope and love shined through their eyes and smiles. I asked if they wanted to go back to class and finish the program, they nodded and giggled.  Before they ran off, I gave them another hug and a high-five. 


While this was going on outside, my mom felt drawn to a little girl. This little girl was maybe three and did not look well at all. She was falling asleep sitting up, and the look in her eyes was so sad. The children ended up playing outside as we were leaving, and this girl leaned against the tire of our van. My mom bent down and rubbed her back and noticed that she was boiling hot, a possible fever. However, it was a hot day. My mom thought maybe if she can check the other kids by giving them high-fives and hugging them, she can determine if this girl was ill. Turns out- this little one had a horrible fever. She mentioned it to one of my friends, and in Acholi, my friend asked where the mother was. The little one went straight to her mama and pointed. My friend asked to pray for the girl he did. When he was finished, he turned to the mother and said: "Take her to the doctor now!".  My friend was able to put all the symptoms together and guessed Malaria. Malaria can be deadly if not treated- especially in children under 6 years. The mother explained that it was too far and refused. Again, he begged, and yet she said no. The leader then said, "She can be a prime minister one day, and you are not going to take care of her," the other mothers laughed, and they all disagreed with him. We are going back to that village in a few weeks, I am going to be so heartbroken if that little girl is not there. 

Another lesson that I have learned is; to let go of the things I cannot control. I cannot manage the abusement that happens here or the refusal of going to a doctor to save a life. I cannot raise enough money to pay for every child's school fees or even a meal a day.  But the Bible encourages me when I feel this way, Acts 3:6 says it well.

"But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”" (ESV)

I do not have much, I am a broke college kid volunteering in Uganda for a year. But I do have a love for Jesus, and I want to share with every child I meet.

Until next time,

with love.

Shelre.

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