Nov/Dec 2014

Jambo to all my dear friends and family! 

It has been a while since my last update cause I was home for 6 months. By the way coming home was very hard for me. I felt like leaving my kids behind. I struggled a lot with fitting in the western culture again and I felt like as if I lost most of my Austrian friends just cause I've been away for so long. A lot had changed back home and all I wanted was to go back to Africa. On top of all my boyfriend and I broke up. Back than I thought I could never be happy again in Austria. But I just laid all my fears and struggles at the feet of Jesus. I prayed that he would take over from now. I knew he would be the only one who is able to give me that peace deep down in my heart that I needed so badly. To make this chapter short, God really turned things around. I knew that he wanted me to be home for this season. All I needed was to trust him and believe him that he would make work all things together for my good! When I look back I believe this time was such a time of growth. 

Coming back to Africa this time was very different. Even though I just came for a month I was able to do so much stuff and It feels like I have been here for 3 months or so. I'm so glad my friend Susanna from Switzerland joined me. We traveled first to Jinja, than to Soroti. Later we went to Kiruhura and now we are in Entebbe, ready to fly out. Travelling in Uganda is not fun at all but having good company makes it a lot easier.








The first week I was able to reunite with the pre-school on Hope Land base. When I left them last May I was so afraid that some of the kids would not make it to primary school but by Gods grace all of them are promoted to go! Thank u Jesus! Hanging out with those kids was so much fun! I brought them stamps and cars and just to see how much they loved these toys made me so happy.













 During the evenings I was helping the headteacher to finish up the CD's they have been recording. It was a dream the school had for a long time, to record gospel songs and bring them into the local radio. I always thought that is a great idea. The kids are amazing in singing and the community would be so blessed by local gospel songs. So I supported them during my time in Austria so that they could record one song after another. I was so happy that we could finish the first CD by the end of the term, so that parents could start buying them. By the end of this week I was helping them to get ready for graduation . But it turned out that the teachers needed much more help then the kids did. The last night before the graduation was crazy! There was so much work left. I was asked to put all the music from different CD's and DVD's on my computer to make a playlist. Sounds easy right?! But there is a problem with African CDs.. My computer was not able to read most of them. I don't even remeber what I did but it took me very long to finish up that work. The next day I figured out it was for nothing. When I brought my laptop to the guy who was resposible for the sound he figured out that my laptop would not connect with the sound system. So he brought another laptop. This one was just working with some of the CDs. So we ended up using 4 different laptops during the celebration. One laptop literally broke into two pieces and another one had a virus.. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. It was basicaly on me cause the sound guy had no clue about the program and which music was supposed to go with which dance and so on. So I guess you can imagine how stressful this graduation was for me! So now its getting funny. By the time we had just started the celebration the headteacher came over to me saying:' Can u please take pictures today cause the photographer is not coming cause of the rain.' I was totaly overchallenged. Jumping from the sound system to the stage back and forth.. that was just too much! But it turned out suprisingly well. Compared to last years graduation my pictures are a lot better! And luckily all the songs we needed worked out in time. Thank u Jesus! The parents enjoyed this day a lot. Many even came to me to thank me for the work I did during 1st term from January to May. I felt so honored and grateful for this conversations.








During this week in Jinja I was able to hang out with some of my dear friends. I missed them all a lot. We even celebrated Thanksgiving together. That was my first Thanksgiving ever - I loved it!








Our next destination was Soroti. There I was invited to help again with the Amun week. I'm so glad I was able to go back and see the kids and teens again. Most of them remebered me from last year. I felt that they trusted me more this time. That made the work so much more effective. For those of you who were reading my blog entry December 2013 may remeber this camp. It's basically a week for kids who used to be in the Amecet orphanage. All of them are HIV+ and live now with relatives. They come back every year in December for one week to get support. The main focus is to strengthen them in their relationship with Jesus and to encourage them in taking their HIV medications. Most of those kids have little self esteem cause the people around are underrating them cause of their sickness. So another topic was identitiy. We tried to show them that their identiy is not in their sickness. Their identity is in Christ. We encouraged them to listen only to what God is saying about them and to write that down. Most of them are not able to write or read cause their relatives are not able to pay school fees for them. So they came to me to help them writing down what God thinks about them. I was overwhelmed by the beautiful things they heard from their heavenly father. I felt so blessed that God was using me to meet with is young people. Like last year my main responsibility was to organise games every afternoon. To see these kids have fun was truly amazing. Those kids went through so much already during there short life. They all lost their parents and other relatives. They are all sick and most of them are not educated. They have nothing they could be happy about. But still, they can laugh. I belive that can just be Jesus inside of them! I have never wept and laughed so much in one week. There is so much pain in their storys but as well joy in there faces when they worship Jesus. I could see once again where real joy comes from. It does not come from health, money our a good family. It comes from knowing Jesus.










The day we left Soroti was the day we started a long journey to Kiruhura (western Uganda). Judith, one of my best friends was getting married there. I was sharing a room with her during my last stay in Uganda. Judith is such a Jesus lover and a good example to me! I just loved worshiping and praying with her. She was always talking about getting married to this guy from Canada. But back then it seemed like to take ages until they are finaly getting married. But time went by so fast and now they are married. I have never been emotional during a wedding but this time I could not hold back my tears. This wedding was so beautiful. I was so happy for Judith that her big das was finaly there. I am so glad I was able to be part of it!
By the way, Kiruhura is gorgeous! I never thought western Uganda would be so different. It seemed like we're in a rainforst. It was so humid and hot. At one point it started to rain very hard. The ground was not soaking up the water so after like 10 minutes we wer all standing in a big puddle. Thank God we had a hot shower this evening!

After the wedding Susanna and I went back to Jinja. First we needed a day to catch up some sleep and do laundry. Then we used our last days to visit friends. The evening before we left we had a big Christmas party on the base. To my surprise one of my closest friends from DTS came to surprise me. I was so happy to see him and to catch up! We even gathered all the other people who where on the base and did DTS with us to have a little reunion party!



After we left Jinja we went to Lugazi. It's about an hour from Jinja towards the airport. Kate, one of my former DTS staff is living there with her brother Nixon, his wife Chasity and their son. I actually attended their wedding in 2012, I probably wrote about it in my blog. Its crazy how time flys. Back then they had just started their life together and now they have been married for 2 years and they are parents. So we stayed with them for one night. Was great to hear about their ministry and what else is going on in their lifes. They are such a great family!



Yesterday we traveled from Lugazi to Kampala. There we had lunch with a friend of Susanna. After that he drove us to Entebbe to show us the beach! It is so beautiful here! We decided to stay for 1,5 nights here so that we could rest a bit before we'll start our final journey back home.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me! I could feel Gods protection the whole time! Most of u know that I was sick for about 2 months before I came to Africa. I was so afraid that that my immune system would not cope with this stressful month but PRAISE GOD I had no major sicknes during this whole month! And thanks to everyone who supported my trip with money and goods. I can assure u, many people, and especially the pre school got blessed! I left Austria with 3 suitcases and I'm returning with one. I felt like Santa Claus! But seriously, I discovered a new level of how much more I get blessed by giving then by receiving! I have never spent more money in one month but I've never experienced more joy either.

Marry Christmas to all of u!
Love from Uganda,
Rafiki

last uptate

Dear friends & family,

This entry will be the last one until I will return to Uganda in November/December. I already mentioned that I wanna come back for the pre-school graduation and as well for Judith’s wedding at the end of this year. 

the children of top class

Around Easter I really struggled with the thought of going home soon. I just couldn't imagine not being any more with those kids I love so much. I prayed a lot and it took me a while to really get peace about this whole situation. During that time I was reading a christian book and the author described how it always helps him to read through the book of psalms when ever he doesn't have peace in his heart. I took this advice and started to read every time I was not feeling okay until I had this peace. It really helped. My attitude chanced completely, I started to see the whole situation from a different perspective. I began to be grateful instead of being upset. I could see what an amazing time I had during this period of teaching those children. I remembered all the wonderful moments and every child that smiled because of my effort.

Iga Aaron

I started to realize what blessing I got from heaven. I was able to afford coming all the way to Africa to live that dream I had. God used me, even though I am not someone who had studied for years or had lots of experiences in teaching. But God did not just use me, he blessed me in so many ways. I never thought that I would become so close to so many people here on Hope Land. I am sure some of this friendships will last for a long time. Besides that I could really see how my time in Africa helped me strengthen my relationship with God. There were so many times where I struggled, but God was always there. I could feel how he encouraged me and how he was my eye in the storm. I learned to trust God at a new level and to praise him even in the middle of the storm.

Judith & the Syemi family

Rachel

Peace & Judith

So what was going on the last weeks?

The week before Easter the 1st term at the pre-school ended abrupt. This term was supposed to end the week after Easter so I planned to say bye to them on this very last day of 1st term and then go to Soroti until I go home. But for some reasons (up to now I don't know them) the term ended on Thursday before Easter. I figured out on Thursday. After the children had already left. Even some of the children didn't know so they came to school the week after... well I guess that's Africa! So for those reasons I came back from Soroti earlier to see the children of Hope Land pre school and say bye before I leave.

After the 1st term in preschool ended Ben & I went to Soroti. Unfortunately I got sick before we went and I got sick again when we were already in Soroti. So we didn't actually have much time there. But I was able to visit the children I taught last year.  Now they aren't in pre-school anymore, they have made it to Primary school. They were so happy to see me again, some couldn't believe I really came. That day was so special! I was so proud of them, they all did so well in school! Besides that I also went to the pre school. It was so good to see the teachers and spend time together. I also did some activities with the children there, some even remembered my name, I was so amazed! I was never their teacher they only saw me during break time but still, they know who I was. One child (David) was asking me if I could fold for him air planes and boats as I always did it with my class last year. It's incredible how children remember small things! I also spent some time in AMECET, the children's home I was working last year. I was surprised by how many children I knew were still there. It was good to see them but also to meet some new ones. A girl which was still there is Sabina. Now she is 5 months. She came to AMECET when she was a new born baby. I was there when Sabina arrived. She was very sick. A nurse from AMECET was sitting next to her bed day and night fighting for her life. Now she has fully recovered and is even beyond her age in her development. She is very active and always smiling. I was so happy to see her again and she made me laugh a lot. I thank Jesus for saving her life and for putting such a joy in her. Right now there are also taking care of a boy named Max and he is in the end stadium of AIDS. I could not believe my eyes when I saw him. He was so skinny and even though he is 12 years he is not able to stand or talk any more. By the time we came to Soroti he was at least able to eat but by the time we left they had to feed him through a tube in his nose. The reason why they still feed him even though he is not able to do it on his own is because of the AIDS medication. If he doesn't get his tablets he would go through a lot of pain. So I am just praying that God would take him soon so he doesn’t have to suffer any more!
The last child I want to mention is Alice. I wrote about her in my 3rd blog entry. She was my favourite child back than and it was so hard for me when she left to go back to her family. By that time she was around 9 months. During my time in Soroti a police officer brought her back to AMECET because her mother neglected her. She was very sick and afraid when she came. It broke my heart. Over the days she got well again and also started to smile. I tried to spend as much time with her as possible but the day I had to say bye again came to quick. I still think about her a lot and it's my prayer that AMECET will find someone who will really take care of that precious girl!

David 

Sabina 

Alice

So this week is my last week here in Uganda. Now we are back in Jinja busy saying good bye. Tuesday night a couple from the base invited us over for dinner. We had such a lovely time. We talked about the high and low points and about what God was doing in our lives during the time in Uganda. At the end they prayed for us. On Wednesday morning people had the opportunity to speak words of thanksgiving to us during devotion. They also prayed for us. After that, Ben & I were invited to spend some time with the leadership of the base for evaluation. They also thanked us and prayed for us especially for Gods guidance and wisdom concerning our relationship and our future as individuals. Wednesday lunch the pre-school teachers prepared a special meal for us to thank us and to say goodbye. Wednesday afternoon during the staff meeting people were bringing cake and tea to show me how much they appreciated my work. They asked me to share about my time in the pre-school and they also prayed for me. What a day! I felt so blessed! Today I was saying bye to my kids. Some of them didn't really get me when I said I'm leaving on Saturday. They where asking if I would be back on Monday then. I told them that I would come back for graduation so I hope that will motivate them to study hard.

my co teachers, Irene & Imelda

Although I'm sad to leave on Saturday I'm just so happy and grateful for so many things. Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. I was able to buy a Printer for the school and I even had enough money to buy other stuff that was needed. God is good! Please continue to pray for me, this time especially for the journey! Recently some one missed his flight because of the traffic. So we are planning to leave early but still, pray that everything will go well. 4 friends of mine are joining us for the first 5 hours of our journey – they will come all the way to the airport, how sweet! Our plane will leave Uganda at 3:45pm. We will arrive in Vienna at around 8:00pm the next day. In between we will have a 17 hour layover in Dubai... thank God, our airline pays for hotel rooms!

Alright I think that’s it... see u soon!

Love from Africa,

Rafiki

pre-school / Dar es Salaam

Jambo!

I know I'm starting almost every blog entry with that phrase 'Time is flying!'. But time IS flying! I can't believe that the 1st term of pre school will be over in just 2 weeks. We are already in the middle of our exams. But more about that later.

The last 2 months I have been working with Top Class at Hope Land pre-school. My children are all between 5 and 6 years, or at least they should be around that age. Apparently its not very common in Uganda to have a birth certificate so we don't really know the real age of most of the kids. But anyways, they did a great job! The focus of the last weeks was to teach the children how to read. We did about an hour or two every day where we practiced to read short words. It was sometimes hard for those little ones to concentrate for such a long time but most of them were so eager to learn. At the beginning my co teachers were teaching those reading lessons because I was just responsible for the bible time in the morning and for health and social development. But just because I didn't like how they taught the children I tried to do those lessons for one week and since the children improved a lot during this time the teachers wanted me to teach reading for the rest of the term. I can't tell you how I loved those lessons. It was so amazing to see how the children could read more and more words each day.

Besides reading we focused also on art. We made little books out of paper so the kids could draw in them. Its just ridiculous that you can't find exercise books without lines for drawing here in Uganda. But anyway, every day after the bible time we give them time to draw what we talked about. So its not just art it's as well helping them to remember all the important things I teach them about God and his wonderful creation.

Most of the children that come to Hope Land pre-school are sponsored by people from the west. So some are just coming from very poor family and others are orphans who live with relatives or other people who 'take care' of them. But the money that comes from the sponsors just covers the school fees (100.000 Ugandan Schillings per term, that is about 30€). But there is so much more in life than education. For most of those children, there is nobody who is really taking care of them in the sense of providing enough food, providing clothes and shoes or just loving them and taking time for them. I can see it every day that those children suffer. Some come dirty to school, some without shoes, many come starving and almost all of them come with a hungry heart for love. So it didn't take me long to figure out what the children need even more than someone who can teach them how to read or write - someone who really cares about them. It means so much to them when I just hug them and ask them how their night was. I know there are some children who don't get food from home so I always share my food for break time with them so that they get some extra bread and tea. Its so cute but heartbreaking as well how much gratefulness they show me for this little food. Some of the children have never seen plasters. So one time one of the boys hurt his leg while climbing a tree during break time. When he came crying to me I gave him a plaster. As soon as it was stick on his leg he stopped crying. He was fascinated. Now every time when someone gets hurt they come to me for the 'brown thing'. It just takes a second and they smile again. Then they have to show everyone what they got from me. It just shows me how little things can make them happy. I guess I will buy a bunch of plasters for them before I go home.

Every one of my 34 children has its own sad story. But one boy really captured my heard. His name is Marvin Ssenyonga. He lives in a tiny village very close to Hope Land, about 5 minutes to walk from the pre-school. In his village he is well known as the son of the crazy mom. The crazy mom actually is his grandmother and she is mentally ill. He lives as well with his grandfather. Apparently he is a soldier and is working 12 hours a day. Nobody knows his father and his mother died some years back because a venomous snake bit her. So it seems like that Marvin is just living on his own. Every morning as soon as the sun is rising he is coming to school. On his own. Without shoes or school books. When ever we gave him school books his grandmother was using them to make fire. Before I knew his story it was so hard working with him. It was so difficult for him to be attentive and to do what I told him to do. He would always beat other children and steal their stuff... I just didn't know what to do with him. All the other teachers were complaining about him and telling him that he is stupid. It was hard not to do the same. But all Marvin needed to chance was love. One day I just started to give him attention. I listened to him and tried to sit next to him when we did activities in the circle. I just smiled at him and told him that he would be a clever boy. From that day on Marvin and me became friends. Because I showed him love he gave it back a 100 times. Whenever a child is sitting in my space now he comes and cases it. When someone has taken my pen he is the one running from child to child to find it. When I tell him now to keep quiet and participate he is trying his best. I could not believe it. He has improved so much. He is even able to read some letters now and he learned how to copy from the blackboard. He always tries to be the first who finishes the work. My co-teachers where both asking me what I did to him. When I told them that I just started to be nice to him they could not believe it. Even the teachers he had last year saw the big change in him. Some weeks back I began to invite Marvin to stay longer after class to do homework together. I thought giving him new books all the time would not be the best thing to do. It turned out to be a very good idea to do homework together. Since he didn't have to do work on his own any more he managed to do homework without any mistakes. And it seems like Marvin loves this time we have together, just us two. Almost every day he is trying to get the other children out of class before school even ends just because he wants to sit with me alone and do homework.

At the beginning of this entry I mentioned that we are in the middle of our exams right now. Isn't it weird that 5 and 6 year olds have to do exams? But I have to tell you even in baby class where kids are between 2.5 and 4 years they have to do exams. It is just ridiculous! I haven't done that amount of exams in a week in primary or secondary school. And they have to do it after each term (there are 3 terms in a school year). Last week we had exams every day for 2 hours. Each day we had another subject. I really don't know how they all managed to concentrate for such a long time. Most of the children did great! There were just a few who struggled seriously. I tried to help them as much as possible so that they would pass the exam in the end. Because my co-teachers have been sick since last week I was marking pretty much all the exams. I can't tell you how exhausted I was at the end of the week!

My boyfriend Ben, who is still busy with working on the webpage, visits me and my children whenever he gets free time. He is a great help and the children just love him. I'm always so grateful to have him in my class because then I'm not the only white person in the school anymore. When Ben's father, Peter, came to visit us in Uganda, about two weeks ago, he joined us as well for one day. The children where so excited to have 'Father Ben' around and when Peter gave them some presents they just ran around in class because they were so happy. For children in Africa it's just so special to see white people and when they even get gifts – that's almost to much! Even Peters visit is now some weeks back they still ask me how 'Teacher Peter' is doing and if he is coming again to visit them.

this are some colour pencils my kids got from Bens father

When Ben's father came to visit us we traveled to Dar es Salaam (a big town at the coast of Tanzania) for some days. Some of Ben's relatives from Canada are Missionaries there. Ben's cousin and her husband are working in a christian school there since September last year. It was very nice to get to know them and to hear what God is doing there. Because Dar es Salaam is very hot (about 40 degrees during day time) we went to the beach almost every day. It was amazing to see the Indian ocean and to get refreshed during that hot time. While we were there I missed my class so much! It was so good to come back to them after all and to get away from that horrible heat on the same side.

After the 1st term in pre-school will be over, Ben and me will travel to Soroti. I loved my time there last year so I can't wait to see all my friends and especially the children I was teaching back then again. The base leaders of YWAM Soroti asked Ben to help them with their webpage as well so that's the reason why Ben will join me this time. But besides that he is very curious to see the very place I miss so much.

After our trip to Soroti the time to go home will be almost there. We are going to reach Vienna, Austria, on the 1st of June at around 5pm. I am very exited to see all of you again soon. But I know it will be so hard to leave Africa. Therefore I'm planing to come for a short visit in December, just to see my class graduate and to be at my friends wedding. If you are interested to see 'my world' just for some weeks please contact me for more infos. I would be more than happy to have some of you joining me. It would be a life changing experience for you! 

Before I end this blog entry I want to thank all of you for prayers! I managed to get another visa so now I don't need to think about that any more! Thanks to God! Even though I got a cold twice it has not been too bad, I could recover quickly, so thanks as well for praying for my health!

Much love from Uganda,
Rafiki

P.S.: Most of the pictures have been taken by Peter Falk (Ben's father). Thanks a lot!

Updates from Jinja

Dear family & friends!

Time is running so fast! It's my 5^th blog entry already. I hope you are all fine!? I'm having some ups and downs here but I believe that all things will work together for my good.

After a week of checking out some other children ministries around Jinja in December I flew home for two weeks and surprised my family. They had no idea that I would come. I can't tell you guys how nervous I was. I started planing the whole thing about 3 months ago when I discovered that the pre-school would be closed for about 2 months. I thought I would have enough time to go home so I looked for a cheep flight. During that time I found out that a teachers course would take place in January starting on the 6th. So I wanted to be back for that. And because my friend Noemi went home on the 21th of December I decided to fly with her. Because I was late for booking I found only flights, which were more expensive than I thought I could pay. But I remembered how hard it was for me and my family to be separated the year before on Christmas. Beside that I knew how challenging it was for my parents and my brother to let me go not even knowing when they will see me again. So I surprised them having me home much earlier than they expected. I prayed for about 3 days until I really got peace about going home. And when I told God that I would not know if I could afford the more expensive flight I just felt as if he would say that this problem should not be mine but his. After I confirmed my flight I got some unexpected money from friends and found out that I have to pay less for staying on the base. I really experienced Gods provision in that whole situation of going home! Its amazing how God cares for the small things. He really sees our heart and answers our prayers! So I had two wonderful weeks in Austria. Even though it was too cold I enjoyed every single day. I felt like Christmas has never been so nice before. I really appreciated being with my family this time because I knew how it was like the year before. And the food was so so good! I ate so much during that two weeks. I felt sick all the time because I ate way to much haha.. I really had to get as much good food as possible during that time ;-)

On our way home we had a 13 hour layover in Dubai. I can't tell u how cold it was on the airport!

Alright, now I'm back in Jinja. I really enjoy the good weather! Especially after the two weeks of coldness. And I enjoy knowing that I will stay at the same place at least for the next 3 months. The last months have just been to stressful because of traveling.

The first three weeks back in Jinja I attended a teachers course called 'Education for Transformation'. It was all about getting to know in what way God created children and how he wants them to grow in their real identity. The course was led by a German lady. She has been in Africa for the last 20 years and started a lot of projects to enable teachers to teach in a biblical way. This lady is such a hero to me. She came to Uganda when there was no electricity or running water at all. She told me that there were snakes everywhere and that a phone call for just 3 minutes cost her 100$. I could not believe her stories and the main thing I could not believe was that she followed the call of God even though she had to face all that. My circumstances are like being on holiday compared to those she faced 20 years ago. And what she accomplished the last 20 years is even more amazing than that. A lot of teachers got trained by her and are now able to teach others. She started schools in 3 different countries of Africa to set role models so that other schools can follow that example. I don't know how many of you are aware of how horrible the schools in Uganda are (or Africa in general) and how important it is to have some competent teachers. Having good influence on 3 to 6 year old can chance their lives completely. Those children are the future presidents, police officers and mothers of Uganda. I believe that teachers can destroy a lot when they don't value a child. I feel so sorry for all the kids who get beaten up day by day. And I know that those who don't get physical abused get mental abused. Many teachers tell their children that they are stupid and just a waste of time. It is true that there are also bad teachers in the West but they are at least trained and know about a child's development and how they can destroy their self worth in those important years. Some times I just have to cry when I think about that unfairness.
If you want to know more about 'Education 4 Transformation' check out the web page: www.edu4trans.org

During the last week of the teachers course we had a 'Charism School' here on the base. The organizers from that conference told us that the teacher, Damian Stain, is well known in Africa for his gift of healing and that we would receive about 1000 people. I was very curious for that event. It turned out to be different than expected. We just had about 500 people and about 90% were Catholics. But even though we had less people then expected our base was pretty crowded. A lot of people who came from far away could not afford sleeping in a guest house so they slept on the floors of our classrooms. Some didn't even have the money for the offered food during those three days. That showed me their deep hunger for Christ. If I would not have the money to attend a conference I would just not go. But they came even though it meant a lot of sacrifice for them. Because I was sick at the beginning of that week I was still weak. So I wasn't attending all sessions. But the ones I went to I really enjoyed. Damian Stain talked a lot about how to live a pure life for God and how to walk in the anointing. During the practical applications I could feel Gods presence and I saw a lot of healing. But the thing that meant the most for me was seeing so many Catholics having passion for God.

Two weeks ago the preschool started after two months of holiday. The week before I was involved in setting up the classrooms and making materials. Because the base couldn't raise the money yet for building the new classrooms for the primary school the children are placed in an old building near the preschool for now. So yes, we started the primary school even though we haven't got the building yet. That's Africa! I was supposed to teach those children in Primary school but then the head teacher changed her mind. Unfortunately we just have 10 children in Primary school so far. But we got more children in the preschool than expected. So they needed more help there and I'm teaching Top Class (5-6 year olds) again. At the beginning I was just having one co teacher but later I got a second one. That makes working with our 34 children much easier. I love all of my new kids and I enjoy every day. Even though the work is hard some times. Especially because I have to prepare my lessons every day in the afternoon. After 5 hours with the children I would rather go to bed than making materials because it's just so exhausting. But here the children don't have nice books for studying or fancy learning materials for discovering and exploring. Everything they learn from has to be made by the teachers out of paper. So we always draw a lot of pictures and make flashcards or little games. Every day I'm teaching one lesson out of the Biblical Curriculum in the morning and after break I'm teaching health care. The Bible time in the morning helps to show the children their real identity. Many of them face a lot of rejection in their life and just to hear that they are precious in Gods eyes and that he loves them so much means a lot to them. The other two teachers are teaching mathematics and language. I'm always trying to help them with methods we use in the West to teach more efficient. Most times the teachers wonder about my way of teaching just because it's new to them, but because the children learn a lot easier with the western way the two teachers mostly try to adopt the methods... Luckily!

During class time

Richard

Marvin, Bweswiri and Robert

Having fun with Joshua

During break time

Kellen

Morning circle

When I get free time during all that work I'm very glad to spend my time with so many good friends I have here on Hope Land.

Children from the base and me

Ben and me

Jenna from Canada

My roommate Judith

About for weeks ago I received 5 packages. 4 of them were full of stuff for the school. Thank you so much Sonja Pfaffel & Katrin Plessl, my dear friends from home! The other teachers were just so happy and helped me with putting everything into order. The children love all the toys and the boys always fight for the cars. Using nice pencils makes the work for teachers easier. The 5th package was from a friend I did DTS with last year. Thank you a lot Lindsay Brinkman for all the goodies! It brought back so many memories.

First time, trying Austrian toys

Trying to figure out what that thing is...

First time using the water color.

Last week I got my 5th package from my mom. Thank you so much for sending food all the time. It is so nice to eat some Austrian chocolate after working 9 hours.

Thanks as well to everyone who contributed some money. You may have thought it was not much but it helped me a lot!

Prayer requests:
VISA: I still have to work on my visa. They didn't give me my work permit yet I just got another visitor visa for 3 months. I don't know if that's good or bad but what I know is that I need to extend. Hopefully they will do that without problems.
MONEY: I am trying to buy a computer and a printer for the school. It would make the work much easier and as well more efficient. I have never seen a school in the West without a computer or printer, and now I know why. The head teacher told me that she is praying for a computer and a printer for several years. I don't know how much it will cost but just pray with me that I will find a place where they sell cheep computers. If you want to contribute I thank you already. I've already bought a laminating machine. It really helps to make the work easier and the teachers just love it.
STENGTH & PROTECTION: right now I'm working about 45 hours a week and I have been stick already so please pray that God will protect me from falling sick again and that I will not get tired from all the work.

Thanks to everyone who is praying! I know that prayer has power and I believe that God is not just listening but answering.

Blessings from Jinja,
Rafiki