A Particularly Beautiful Floating Prisim

I've been tinkering with the idea of opening an Etsy shop for awhile now to raise money for Loving One by One.

But the main issue is none of my paintings are good enough to sell, I'm not a very good seamstress, and artistic ability in general is not my strongest suite

But I once made this cute little book for my mom, not really thinking much of it.

 

And slowly people started reading it and getting inspired themselves and asking me for one.

What do you think? Would you pay for a completely personalized book of inspiration made with love, care, and a huge dose of inspiration? Especially if the money was going to the country that makes my heart beat faster, Uganda?

Uganda 2011 Entry 6

Things to remember when coming back to the states:

-waving at people on the side of the road will now get me funny looks

-nobody knows what Jongu means

-cutting people off in traffic is now considered dangerous

-going to the ghetto does not mean I will automatically have 20 kids swarm me

-speed limits are no longer just "general guidelines"

-air conditioning is a necessity

-parents don't generally let children flip off the back steps into the yard

Despite having a bit of culture shock and a lot of jet lag...it's good to be home. Even if I did leave part of my heart across the sea and in a little country called Uganda. 

Uganda 2011 Entry 5

Well now...where to begin. 

There have been several team members that have fallen ill including myself. Amy and Anna are worse off than me however, so please, if you think of it...pray for recovery and health for the whole team, especially Anna and Amy. They are real troopers. 

Now for an addition of things Hannah learned this week. 

I learned:

-a song from Mama Grace can cheer even my worst moods

-what Amoxicillin, Flagyl, and Bactrim do (working the pharmacy without a degree...whew!)

-that a two year old saying your name for the first time is cause for a celebration

-that Jesus is my everything (ok so re-learned)

-that praying for someone forms a connection not easily broken

-how to clean up a Mercury spill (google you are so good to us)

-just how big cockroaches can get

 

 Now on to getting better so I can join the team tomorrow!

Uganda 2011 Entry 4

Hello!

Updates from here out will probably be short and sweet. The team arrived yesterday and I have to say, being around so many familiar faces has really been good. I loved hugging the same people on the same soil that I did last year. 

 

Leaving the children's home however was terrible. I knew I was going to see the kids in two days and I still almost burst into tears. Mama Sherry said leave it to me and Kristal to cry, but they really feel like my nieces and nephews. 

Speaking of nieces, thank you for those who prayed for Betty. She is a girl from the school who was hit by a boda boda (motorcycle) the other night. She's doing very well all things considered and was smiling very big when we went to see her.

The team jumped right in today with our first medical clinic in Jjokolera. I was working in the pharmacy so I didn't get to interact with many people, but Jesus revealed to me a wonderful truth: this is a family affair. Today I got to work along side my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, Papas and Mamas in Christ. It was wonderful. 

I love you all so much, but I have to say, I'm really starting to fall into a groove here. It's getting harder and harder thinking about coming home. Oh Uganda, how you always manage to steal my heart!

Uganda 2011 Entry 3

A slow day today. Currently sitting on my bed with Bena Banana. She's singing some song and playing with connect the links. Kristal and I got our hair braided today. I feel very African. All the kids are incredibly pleased. 

The rest of the team starts arriving Wednesday and we move to Maria's place on Friday so we are entering the last few days living here at the home. It's bitter sweet. I love these children, but something in me is craving to be back in a place where my own culture is more present. 

Last year when we came, although we were in Africa, I'm beginning to realize we weren't incredibly immersed in the culture where we were living. Of course during the day we would be out in the city, but at night I was surrounded by comforts of home. I have loved living in a truly Ugandan home, although the western influences are still here, but I'm looking forward to having some comforts like running hot water and food that is more westernized. 

I was feeling slightly homesick today, especially since we haven't been very busy, so I picked up Anne of Green Gables to read. It's amazing how a book can take away such feelings. It transported me back to when I was little and watching the movie with my mom. It was like being home without having to move. 

So I guess what I'm trying to say: I love this home, I love these children, I will be extremely sad when I leave, but I'm looking forward to Maria's place and the next chapter of my trip. 

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

- L.M. Montgomery

Uganda 2011 Entry 2

Friends and adventurers. 

I have so many things to share and I wish I could go into so much more detail than I'm about to go into. Things are as lovely and wonderful as ever. This week we've been working hard on getting things ready for the team and also working on getting the school moved over to the new location. It's been a fun change having such a small group of us. Right now it's only Mama Sherry, our driver Henry, Jaja Ruth (Jaja means grandma), Auntie Kristal, Mama Sarah (from the home) and me. 

It's been lovely driving about and talking with all these women. They have such beautiful stories to tell. Jaja is a teacher and has been such a huge help with setting up the school, Mama Sherry is as courageous as ever, facing problems with a smile, and Mama Sarah, Auntie Kristal and I...well lets just say the laughing really doesn't stop, from pineapple hunting to eating chapatis that are still too hot. 

The kids are as beautiful as ever. Everyday I recieved sweet notes, hugs, and occasionally kisses (if they aren't too grown up for them). I've loved playing Auntie and running around with them whenever I can. 

Some wonderful highlights:

Michelle laughing while we play peekabo

singing Carol to sleep

playing Old Maid and Slap Jack

Mama Grace dancing to my i-pod

Sharon saying goodnight 5 times each night

Uganda 2011 Entry 1

So lovely. Mama Sarah has internet access that's almost as good as home so I'll be able to update you!

The first few days have been wonderful. Kristal and Mama Sarah met Mama Sherry, Ruth, and I at the airport and we spent the day running errands (buying food, exchanging money ect) and also got delicious Ugandan pizza. No laughing. It's amazing. 

I got to see all my kiddos from last year that night. They have grown up so much. I'm having so much fun getting to know them on a more personal leverl. Last year we were always in a big group. Now I have time to talk to them one on one. We write letters back and forth and draw pictures. It's beautiful. These kids love like nobody I have ever met in my life. They are some of my favorite people in the world. 

I've also enjoyed getting to know Mama Sarah better. She is the administrator for Mama Sherry and she's so funny. We have so much fun ridding around in the van with her and laughing. 

Other than that, it's been lots of running errands with Mama Sherry and seeing the new property and building for the school. 

I love this land.

Week 6

1) This fantastic coffeehouse in St. Louis. All non-profit that goes towards clean water in Uganda. Coffee and Uganda mixed in one non-profit. Yes please!

2) The Fremont House now has a blog! Excitement!

What do you think my first post should be about?

3) This new Invisible Children movie trailer. I was there the night of the bombings they talk about.

For those of you that don't know, Invisible Children is the organization that started my passion for Africa and specifically Uganda. They hold a special place in my heart. Please check them out!

4) This exciting giveaway through a new favorite blog Coffee and a Cardigan. 

So cute right!?

5) TOMS bracelet! I know! Free with a "personal note" from Blake Mycoskie. 

See...this is why I love this company.

Whew! That's a lot of love. I covered all my bases, coffee, Africa, TOMS....such a good Monday.

30 day music challenge:

Day 15 – A song that describes you

This is hard cause thanks to Maci's annual "Hannah's Songs" CD, I always have a song that describes me. But one of my favorites is...

Dream - Priscilla Ahn

Where you invest your love, you invest your life

photo props we heart it

I like the feeling of being lost. Sometimes I'll drive for hours purposefully trying to get lost. Because if I'm lost then it really is only just me. I'm truly alone.

Extra points if you're outside of cell service.

It times like that I remember that Jesus isn't a safe God.

I think getting lost in Uganda sounds like an adventure.

Or maybe just in my own kitchen.

photo props we heart it

Sometimes I agree with the hippie:

"i wish i was brave enough to leave

sell everything, pack my bag and buy a ticket to the edges

never know when i'm coming back

or if i ever will"

Music to get lost to.

Awake My Soul - Mumford & Sons

Therapy

Suggestion: Click this to enjoy the music that was playing in my head while writing this post. It really make it a good deal more interesting.

There is something therapeutic about writing. Seems to be really convenient that I'm majoring in it right? Ha. Ok well maybe if I actually wrote on a regular basis this would work. It's funny cause Maci (a bff for sure) just started a blog....about us...and C.H.E.M. (standing for Cadie, Hannah, Emily, and Maci. Yeah....we're weird. We know.)

I have too many random thought bumping around in my head to write about just one thing.

Boys....and how they always seem to be bouncing around in my head no matter how many other things try to cram them out. And how I always seem to fall for the wrong ones despite my efforts not to. Again, writing is therapeutic. Write a song about said boys and you feel better.

Uganda. Holy crap there is so much to say. Probably cause there are fifty different emotions going on in my brain about it. I'm scared out of my mind to go. Take "scared" out of the previous sentence and the sentence still holds true. I don't know anyone, I think I have a heart to serve and yet every day I'm reminded about the times I don't listen to God or I chicken out of doing something. Chickening out is really not an option there. Yeah....

Music is frustrating to me. I try to find the right words to tell how I'm feeling. I can hear it in my head but I can never get the words to come out right one paper except once in a.....cliche to say blue moon so I shall say once in a green sunset. Yeah.....sure...we'll go with it.

And screwing up that open mic night didn't help.

What about friends. And how I have the best friends pretty much in the world and yet I take for granted how amazingly fantastic they are.

Or possibly how I'm really sad I stopped writing here. Writing is therapeutic....did I already say that? Yeah...I pretty much meant it.