The beginning of the end

I finished my research, typed my thirty page report, spent a week back on the Sse Sse Islands presenting our projects, the program ended, everyone flew home, caleb and I traveled to the East with two of our friends (complete with getting stuck on a boat in the Nile River and riding in a seven passenger car with 16 people and a chicken), and now my dad and sister have come to Uganda. So that is about the last four weeks.

It was sad to see new friends leave and hard to hear about the excitement of returning to America... cheese, bagels, and efficiency... while Caleb and I are here for another month. But I don't want to leave yet, I don't feel ready and this will be a wonderful month.

Also, it is awesome to have my dad and sister here and to be taken care of a bit :) We (dad, Sarah, Caleb, and I) are going on a Safari to the northern part of Uganda.It feels like a vacation. Sarah and my dad are here for ten days and then Caleb and I are going to live at an orphanage for two weeks before we leave on June 9th.

We visited the orphanage yesterday... The director is 19 years old. An orphan himself he started this orphanage in 2007 and now has 40 kids living with him. There are more girls than boys because they are more often left on the streets. The kids sleep two or three to a bed and eat maize and beans. Sometimes they go without "but God provides". During school terms they take in 20 other children who have families but no food so they join this 'school'. 60 kids and two guys who have no training teach the classes. We were shown a single hallway that was divided in three were the different grades sit. Seemingly desperate but so joyful and hopeful. I can't wait to be there. I get to teach classes, hold babies, and help with book keeping. I want to bless them. It will be challenging I know. There are lots of plans for us (like cultivating land?!) but I know it will be a wonderful way to spend the end of our time in Uganda.

And in less than just a month I will be back in good ol America.