Alrighty people. I can’t really remember what’s been said and what hasn’t. So you may have to suffer through some of this. I have soooo much on my mind.

Well, at the end of this week, luxury is gone. It’s time for the real deal. We’re traveling 4 hours to the Promise Land, another rescue unit. It’s on an island and from what I hear it’s even more poverty stricken than where we are (hard to believe…) and that there are kids EVERYWHERE. We’re going to help with the boot camp they put on there. It lasts two weeks and it’s a little hard to explain, probably because I don’t really fully get what it is or what we’re doing there. Basically young adults come and are trained for 2 weeks and then sent out to be missionaries and serve in various ways for like a month. We were informed today we’ll probably be teaching classes to help out, thing is, we don’t know what to teach. Like we’re doing drama and puppets and music….I think….so we may have to get a little creative if no one has time to teach us what to teach….hahah. I totally believe that God will prepare us and if it falls on our shoulders to teach those things He’ll make sure these teams go out equipped with what they need. We’ll just try to be vessels of His goodness and trust Him to provide. But yeah, we’re going to have to cut back a lot. We’re going to cut back all of stuff to the bare bare bare necessities now. We’re each taking a backpack for the 2 weeks. We have to pack a tent in one of those (probably mine cause mine is the biggest…). So we’ll be sleeping in a tent and rainy season has begun…and when it rains here it gets very cold. And now we’ll be having to fetch our own water and no electricity. So you can be praying that we would keep good attitudes, learn a lot and keep each other lifted up and not get worn out staying in one tent with little space. Also, we’ll be gone on Christmas. At first I was really really not happy about that but I talked it over with God and was reminded that it was my choice in how to handle it so I think we’re all ok with that now. We’re planning a post Christmas Ugandan adventure so we’ll have that to look forward to. :)

i just found this out:

marlee & me-music class

mckenzie & me-puppets and drama (mckenzie is in charge but i'm supposed to be helping out)

marlee & sometimes me- Miss Piggy (go around and find which team is the neatest and the dirtiest and the dirtiest has to clean the latrines....)

me-in charge of over-seeing them all writing home...not really teaching, just watching them. haha.

Ok, so I’ve told you some about Isaac…but there’s another Isaac. Big Isaac we call him. He’s called that because he’s real stout, fit, muscular. He’s 38 and is one of the funniest people. He makes me laugh all the time. The thing is he doesn’t think he’s funny. He’s extremely humble. He told Peter, one of the leaders here, that he knew he wasn’t as gifted academically but that he was a good worker and was willing to serve God in that way. Then the other day we told him he would make a really good king because of how he stands and such and he responded “I don’t want to be a king in this world. I just want to be a servant of God.” I love this guy. Now to fully understand how funny he is you would have to see him walk and hear him talk. He’s really mumbly. Like you can’t really understand him unless you listen really closely. We’re getting better at figuring out what he’s talking about but it’s still really funny. And everywhere he goes he like marches, wish purpose and direction, straight to where his next job is. Such a hard worker. His favorite job is the cows. He loves those cows, especially the milking of them. He takes great care in those cows…it’s like his favorite subject. Here’s a little example of a conversation we had with him today:
Marlee: Isaac, would you ever like to visit america?
Isaac: Well, right now I need to fix my tent and milk the cows…
*every one looks at each other confused*
Marlee: No, not now, like in the future. Would you like to visit.
Isaac: I’m busy this week.
Linus: Let me try to explain me try to explain what they want.
Isaac: Yes.
…
Linus: Do you have visions of going to America?
Isaac: I have visions, but they are for me and God. I can not tell you them.
Marlee: But will you ever come to America? Ever. When you’re not busy?
Isaac: One time. One day. One year.
Later
Isaac: how much do cows cost in america?
TJ: I don’t know.
Isaac: Is there enough grass to feed them?
TJ: Yeah. We have grass in America…
Isaac: Do you have cows? If I visit you will there be cows?
TJ: Nope. I don’t have any cows.

Isaac: hmmmm….. Sigh. Well how much does it cost to take care of a cow every month in America. Like food, water….TJ: Dude Isaac. I don’t have cows. I have no idea….
Isaac: hmm. Ok.
*Isaac rises and marches away to wash his dishes.*
It’s so hard to properly describe him. Just know everyone should love him. He constantly keeps us laughing and loves to laugh right along with us. And loves to try to teach us how to milk those darn cows.

Alright, last story for this blog. The other day we went to town and on our way into the internet café we noticed a really cute little girl begging outside. After I finished on the computer I ventured out to find her. There was a small group of street kids standing around and I played with them for a little while. They multiply rather rapidly when they think they might get something and before long there were like 7 and so I went back to the café because it was a bit overwhelming. Later the three of us went out to wait for Camille and the group came back. This time there were even more. It breaks my heart. You want to give them something but you know you can’t give them all enough to actually help them and most of them are forced by their parents to do what they’re doing so the locals don’t like you to support them. It’s so hard though to walk by. They sit there crossed legged with their hands out and cupped and they look at you. Most of them seem to be sick and have skin problems, runny eyes and noses and a cough. All of their clothes are the wrong sizes and torn and dirty. Any attention they get lightens up their faces. One of them was toting a rather young baby with her. I asked if I could hold her. I wanted so bad to take that kid with me and I had to pray over her and trust she was in God’s hands. God is constantly teaching me 1) how blessed I am and 2) how to trust him and let him take those things. It’s so easy for me to get bogged down wanting to hold and comfort every child and God keeps telling me, “Give them to me TJ. I love them and can comfort them in ways you can’t even begin to. Pray for them, love them, hold them, tell them I love them, and have faith in me.” And so that’s what I try to do. It breaks my heart but I truly believe God is going to move in Uganda. He’s going to take this next generation where the last one couldn’t have dreamed or imagined. I know there is so much hope in what seems like a hopeless situation. Please please pray for these people. Some times you can just look into people’s eyes and see the weariness, the hopelessness. Also, pray for us that we would continue to look to God for the answers. That we would grow discouraged. It’s funny how when I think about that, six months doesn’t seem nearly long enough.

wow. sorry this is so long. hope you enjoy it brings some smiles to your faces, informs you how to better pray, and touches your heart with what we're seeing here.
Well, this is it till after Christmas more than likely so MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!! We love you guys. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support