Wednesday, November 12

We started Wednesday off early and headed to the town of Kangole.  We have 3 schools that are located all next to each other with students at them.

First stop—Kangole Girls Primary School.  At this school we have Pastor Philip’s twin daughters, Grace and Joy…I can’t tell them apart but on this day I remembered because they were wearing different outfits.  The girls are doing well in school.  The teachers like them because they are well behaved and well mannered.  They seemed quite concerned about a girl in Primary 5 class that is possessed by a demon.  They have been praying for the girl and trying to talk to her about Jesus and reading the bible to her.  But at night the girl moves around in the dorms and we could tell the twins were really concerned for the girl.

Deputy Headmaster

The one in the white shirt is Grace.

Second stop—Kangole Girls Secondary School.  Here we got the best reception from our student, Salome.  She walked in the door of the headmasters office and said “WHOA!!!” and came running for a hug.  She’s a sweet girl.  I asked her if she thought she was in trouble and she said "Yes but I couldn't think of anything I did wrong."  We were able to go outside and talk with her for some time also.  It was a nice time.

Third stop—Kangole Boys Primary School.  We have many boys in this school…I think 7-8 at this point.  It will likely be more next year in our efforts to consolidate our students into a smaller amount of schools.  All of these schools in Kangole are run by the Catholic church.  The headmasters are nuns as are some of the teachers.  In fact, many of the schools founded in Uganda were Catholic schools you definitely see that out in Karamoja.  The missionaries came in and set up churches and schools and hospitals in many of these towns.

Sister Betty, the headmaster.  I had met her before and she remembered.

I love this boy...Yeno Abraham.  Always smiling!

We then moved onto the town of Moroto.  The ride from Kangole to Moroto is so nice to look at.  There is a mountain called Mount Moroto.  I am always in awe of God’s majesty when driving through Karamoja region.  You go from desert to a giant mountain.  It’s so pretty.  And the sky and clouds…ohhh how I love it!  I take lots of pictures of it…

Bad part of having your fiance who likes to take pictures...I wasn't even
sleeping!  I just closed my eyes for a second.

Relatively dry river

Paybacks baby!  He really was asleep!

We stopped to visit Pastor Philip’s wife, Agnes, at her Samaritan’s Purse office but she wasn’t there.  So we met with her boss who was very nice and was sharing with us what they have been doing out in the area.  Agnes is part of a ministry team that goes into the villages and shares the gospel.  Unfortunately, their contract is up at the end of the year and not likely to be renewed which is very sad for Agnes and the family but also because the work they were doing will no longer go on.

Then we moved onto the office where Pastor Philip works.  He is an Assembly of God pastor and is over 8 churches in the area.  I don’t think I really know everything else that he does with the organization…

Fourth stop—Moroto Municipal Primary School.  Here we had two girls.  One was finished with her exam and had gone home.  The other girl was still in classes.  She has been struggling to learn and I believe she has a learning disability but I do not know what to do about it.  She breaks my heart.  She cries every time she sees me.  I had told her I would personally sponsor her for 2014 and if she got her grades up I would see about a sponsor for next year…unfortunately her grades are not good at all and I do not know what to do.  I got her a tutor this year and the tutor said this girl cannot learn…she’s about 14 I think.  So what am I to do???

Fifth stop—Moroto High School.  We have 3 boys here.  One was in his Senior 6 exams and we did not get to see him.  But the others were around and were happy and surprised to see us.  

Bad picture but at least you can see the boys.

Sixth stop—Child Jesus Primary School.  We had 4 students at this school but two had finished their exams and gone home.  The other two were still around.  They are both doing well in their classes and working very hard.

Sweet Maureen...looked so pretty in her dress.

Really to see how these children have changed over the course of a year is amazing.  They would hardly speak or shake my hand when I started and now they want hugs and have big smiles and talk to me when I ask questions.  They know I care about them and that I am coming back.  They know Pastor Philip and their sponsors care about them and we all want them to succeed.  What a difference a year makes…. 

Stay tuned…