Month One in Uganda

Moving in!!!!!

This past Tuesday I celebrated my first month of living in Uganda! It has been a time of transition, adjusting, learning to be flexible, and so much joy. As I've set up residence here, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for my support team that has allowed me to settle in so comfortably here. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Praises

• Driving - I was pretty nervous to drive when I first arrived. If you've never been to Uganda, look up some videos on driving here....it's a little different than what I'm used to! Thankfully, driving is going well. We started going to school two weeks ago, and I've been able to drive there with no incident. I still pray constantly as I'm traveling anywhere and thank the Lord when I've arrived safely! 😉

• Utilities - It may seem small, but my roommates and I were thrilled when we were able to pay our utilities  for August. It was not easy trying to get a hold of the people we needed to pay and the process was definitely not straightforward - but we're so thankful August worked out!

• School (Part 1) - We've had two amazing weeks of training and developing curriculum at The Amazima School - Primary. We've had the opportunity to get to know the Ugandan teachers and have started to feel like one staff. The highlight of every morning is beginning the day with worship where there are always so many rhythms clapped out, harmonizing voices, and dancing. I love it!

• School (Part 2) - This week Amazima was able to welcome a few children on campus per day for brief tutoring, a meal, and a check in with the medical team. Schools in Uganda are still closed for the time being, but it was a joy to see a few kids on campus throughout the week. This next week the Special Educational Needs team will get to welcome their kids back as well.

• Roommates - I'm so thankful Amazima placed Ana, Delaney, and me together in our house. They are both wonderful people and I've been so blessed by them in the month we've lived together. Both have lived overseas before. Ana has taught in China for the past four years and Delaney has lived here in Jinja working with a different organization. I'm thankful for such amazing roomies!

Roomies!!!!
(Delaney on the left and Ana on the right)

Prayer Requests

• Transition for Amazima - Amazima gathered its entire staff on Thursday to announce that Katie (Davis) Majors and her family would be moving to the United States for the foreseeable future. She founded the organization in 2008 and so many people throughout the surrounding villages have been loved on, encouraged, and blessed by "Mama Katie". She will continue to work at Amazima in the Tennessee office, but her presence will definitely be missed here in Uganda. Please pray for our ministry at this time of transition.

• 

  Delaney was gifted a
  chicken and turkey.
  We have pets!!!!!
  
  
  

  COVID Restrictions - Schools in Uganda have been closed for the past year and eight months. Students from the villages in which Amazima works do not have capabilities for online learning, so they have missed out on so much during this time. Please pray that COVID numbers would go down and restrictions would be lifted. Amazima has continued to serve the surrounding communities throughout the pandemic, but we're praying for even more opportunities to support vulnerable children within the community.

• Visa - Our team went through the same visa process that all foreign national Amazima staff has gone through in the past, but our paperwork was not accepted. Those of us who just arrived at the end of July spent part of our weekend looking at options and coming up with a plan for what to do next. It looks like we have a solution to the problem, but please pray there would be no more issues with processing our work permits. 

Getting typhoid
vaccinations!

• Health - Two people on our team have had some very uncomfortable digestive situations that have caused them to miss work and require medical attention. Please pray that the rest of our team would remain healthy and that the two who have been struggling would recover soon!
   

Thank you for continuing to pray, check in on, and support me. I am so thankful for you and am praying for you from my side of the world!

💜 Jaci