Mama Inger, Mama Inger come. There is this huge commotion going on down by the roadside. I’m going toward the children and they bring this huge thing to me… They are going to rap it in banana leaves and eat it…. My first words were…. WHAT!!! Would you eat something like this?? I chickened out, and they enjoyed it.

Life at Kasozy Village is good. The children are busy doing their exams at school, so many of them come for prayer. They are fasting, so that they can get better results. It is so encouraging to watch them coming for prayer when the other children are enjoying their breakfast, lunch and supper. It encourages me to fast as well – which is something I’m not to found of doing… =). The children are more comfortable having me around now, which is quite fun. Cuz they come wanting to converse and hang…. It’s awesome.

Discipline is still something that is part of our daily life here. Sometimes it’s not fun, but needed. They have also realized that they can sort some of the things themselves, which is good.

The workers are working on getting the fence up around the property where the housing is, and when that is done – it will be easier to control the coming of unwanted guests…. They come to shout – some with not so good intentions. So please pray for protection on the children and all the activities that is going on here at the center. We are in need of good guards. It is by God’s grace and mercy that nothing has been stolen from our property – His protection has been here and it is very visible and tangible.

The rain is still a problem in areas, we have had some heavy rain here as well. The crop are being washed away and people are loosing their livelihood. Last week 4 people died in Kampala, due to the rain. Haven’t heard much of the North these days – but the roads are still bad. They have to go on huge detours to get where they need to go – cuz the bridges are not fixed – and the roads are not there. That is challenging when you want to travel…. =)

Update from Uganda, various things!

The rain has ceased, and people are able to harvest some of what they planted before the heavy rain started. The roads up north are still not fixed, but they can cross other places so that they can get to their destinations. Uganda has been very affected, and people are still trying to get their lives back together.

The children at Kasosy village are doing well. The bales of clothes has almost all been given out to them. But it has taken a long time. Some of you know that shopping for clothes isn’t what I like to do so often – and when I do go shopping it’s done quickly. Well try to give out clothes to 140 children, when they all have to try the t-shirts, the shorts, the jeans …. Yup you can laugh, I didn’t by the end of 4 hours – and that was only giving it out to the girls…. Then the boys were the next day. It was worth all the hard work though, cuz the smiles on the children’s faces showed their gratitude.

Earlier this week when one of the caregivers, 3 sick children and I were on our way to the hospital in Jinja – someone called me. They asked me to go back to Kasosy Village, cuz there were people coming from the district to visit. The kids needed to be called back from school – so that the visitors could see them and greet them. So I got out of the bus, and went back. The kids helped clean up the place, it was very clean and well done. Then they took a bath and put on their new clothes. I heard that the visitors were coming from Gulu, we have 28 children from that region. My heart jumped, cuz last time there was a team from Gulu they didn’t have much good to say. The children were asked to go start worship and they all did. The visitors came, they were very impressed – and said that the reports they had heard about our place were wrong. The children were asked if they wanted to return to Gulu, if they didn’t that they should stand. ALL of them stood, non of them wants to return. That made a huge impression on the visitors and on us the staff. The officials from Gulu said we have good reports to give back to their relatives and caregivers in Gulu. Thank you for your work and what you are doing for our people. Can you come up to Gulu and do the same work there???

Wow God was so in all of that, it was amazing. The children were impeccable – I was so proud of them.

It does not end there. Some of you know that I’m in the process of trying to get a work permit. The most difficult paper would be a police rapport from Norway. Cuz you have to apply yourself and present it to the police. Well that is difficult when I’m on a different continent. =) I asked my parents to go to the police and ask on my behalf, and then ask the police to fax it to the Norwegian embassy here in Uganda. They went and got things done. But the police usually don’t send official documents on fax – yet it was done for me…. Praise the Lord. Then I went to the immigration. My folder was taken and processed….was talked to different offices that day – the process that was done in one day usually takes 1-2 weeks depending on how many files needs to be registered. FAVOR that is what all of this has been. My gratitude goes to My Lord and Savior.

The miracle of the bales

Kateh and I went to look for bales of clothes in Jinja, not knowing where to go or who to talk with. We walked along the street, and we prayed that Jesus would show us who to ask with. Kateh said let's go into that bookshop and ask if they know anything about bales of clothes. We talked with them; they said - let the white girl sit here in the shop with us - and one of us will go with you to require for it. I sat there, listening to music they were playing - which was Christian music. They offered me a coke, which I gladly took. Kateh and Mary came back after 1 hour. They had good information to give us, with prices and when they bales would possibly arrive.
We left the place, very encouraged.

Two days later we came back to Jinja, and the guy had a bale of t-shirts available. The seller needed the money, so we scram belled it together. Because the person that was supposed to give us the money wasn't able to come. Mary from the shop lent us what we didn't have. We got the bale and placed it in the bookshop. After paying we were left with no money.

That morning when we left Kamuli, where the orphanage is, I brought my foreign currency - why well, who knew we needed money... GOD.
I realized it was there, so we went to the exchange place and ....... we had money. God is so funny. The money had been given to me by a friend, cuz she was not returning to Kenya anymore and had some shillings.....
We were able to get some food, find a place to stay - cuz we needed to be in Jinja early the next morning.

It has been one blessing after another, God is so good - and takes good care of us.

132 children, what to do?

Living at an orphanage that now has 132 children, it’s quite something. There are so many things happening, quite fascinating watching what is going on. Then needing to bring some correction and helping them understand that they can’t hit their brother or sister. Cultural differences, tribal issues….so much to learn.

Some people have wondered about how long the children can stay at the orphanage! This is their home, and they are always welcome. The day they descide to move after they are 18, then they can. It's their home.

It hit me the other day that the kids here are orphans, the tears flooded. They don’t have parents, this is true – but I’ve never thought of how they lost their parents. Reading their stories made me cry even more. Most of their parents died in HIV/AIDS. Many of the kids from the north lost their parents when the rebels came into their village and set the huts on fire, or beheaded them, killed them on the spot, in crossfire….it hit me hard. I started thinking about my family….what a blessing it is to have one.

Two nights ago, we got a visitor coming with a child. The child, an 8 years old boy – don’t speak any other language than what his tribe does. At the orphanage, we don’t have anyone that comes from his tribe. He is all by himself, lost his mother in AIDS 3 weeks ago, his father died 7 years ago, coming into a home where nobody speaks his language…….imagine. He cried lots, which is understandable. The next day, we found out that there are similarities with another tribe’s language….which makes life easier for him. He is now playing with the smallest children, and seems to get along with life at the orphanage.

Flooding in Uganda!

The thunder is rumbling, the lightning flashes in the sky – and the rain comes and goes. It’s quite fascinating, yet there is another side to all of this.
The situation here in Uganda is quite severe. The Northern part is pretty much disconnected from the Southern part. As you can c in this picture from the newspaper, taken on the 18th of September – the bridge is non existent. 300 000 people have been affected, and some have been killed. “Experts say the rising waters may hit as yet unaffected areas in the coming days, such as Uganda’s central regions.” (quoting from The New Vision) People are filling bags with sand, and dirt so that they can build up some flood fencing here in Kampala….

A friend of mine in Rackoko, in the Northern district Pader said: “Please pray 4 the end of flood, it has made things difficult”.

Quoting from the newspaper The New Vision. “With camps for the displaced fast swelling in countries across the center of the world’s poorest continent, experts say the threat of disease is mounting quickly”. They are afraid of diarrhea and cholera outbreaks.

My plea to you is, pray for the people that are affected by the floods, not only here in Uganda – but also the other countries that has been severely affected. Sudan, Kenya, Niger are some of them.

First days in Uganda

After a long trip I came to Uganda. Some friends of mine came to the airport and picked me up which was a huge blessing. Wasn’t up for any public transport that day…lol

The next day Kateh, one of my Ugandan friends and I took public transport up to the Children’s home in Busota. This is the place I stayed b4 going back to Norway in April. The children didn’t know I was coming, which was part of the surprise. Kateh and I came from the bush way, so they wouldn’t be able to c me right away. But they were doing some dancing at the end of one of the houses, so they saw me. It took them a split second to see us – and they came running like a huge wave toward me. What a welcome. They screamed “Mama Inger” and almost pushed me over wanting to hug me all at the same time. It was awesome. Some of them came over several times, just to make sure that it was for real.

Christine one of the caretakers, didn’t know what to do – she told the children not to joke with her, saying Mama Inger is back. When she saw me, she came running leaving her shoes behind – knelt by my feet and said: “God is so good, you are back.”

Maria, one of the girls at the home is quite the evangelist and prophet. She is talking about God to her friends, preaching the Good News. When they are having worship her countenance is changing. She has some white spots on her face, but they go away and are gone for hours after worship is over. Maria is also a listener and she hears God talking to her. The other kids have understood that, and are coming to her to ask different things. She tells them: God hasn’t spoken to me today, if He hasn’t. And if God has, she tells them.
One of the boys came up to her and said: “Since God is talking to you, tell me what we are going to ear for Christmas? “ She looked at him and said: “God has not sent you to me to ask me that, this is you asking.” A bold one she is, about 7-8 years old.
I’m looking forward to spend more time with the children… There are more stories to tell….

The big family!

This is my family; mom and dad - one sister and two brothers. They are all married - my sister has 4 children, my oldest brother has 3 and my youngest brother has 1 child.
We have been together this weekend, to celebrate my nephew Kristoffer's confirmation. It was a big dag and many guests - and lots of food.
The next time we'll be together is when we all go to Madagascar which will be next summer.

And now the journey continues - my family will go back to their work, school and pre-school - while I'll head back to Africa!! Yuppie!