Worth it Moments :)

Life here in Lugazi is definitely a new experience - it's definitely not how we are used to living and it's not a piece of cake.  But every day we each have a little moment where it makes this experience all worth the hardships we are facing.

So here are this week's worth it moments that make this trip all worth it. :)

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Giving chap stick to Sister Grace and her crying the next Sunday because she was so grateful for the random handout. I love Sister Grace so much. –Whitney

Making kids laugh is the best part of it all -Elaine

 

Seeing everyone smile. – Ashlyn
Nile River

Walking down the street and seeing people light up when you smile and wave at them.  
-Lexi

Being invited over to Monday’s house for dinner and having their family tell Nate and I how much they appreciated all we have done for them.  It was a really neat experience to see that your efforts have not gone to waste. – Liz
African Sunrise

While I was on a People with Disabilities project outing to get a prosthetic hand for Daphine.  Whenever I was standing up, she would sit down and pat a part of the seat, motioning me to sit down next to her.  She is so sweet :) – Jessica

Jessica and Daphine

While we were at Seya all the little kids kept saying see you tomorrow Christine! See you tomorrow!  Kiliester (keelee ester) is seven years old, same age as my little sister that I miss so much right now.  He brought me passion fruit and mango from the forest and yanked sugar cane from the fields and ate it with me.  I sat around a pit of fruit waste with 15 kids, ate great food, and chucked my rinds and sugar cane peel in the pit with them.  I even graced them with some dancing which elicited some laughing.  When we had finished and all the cement had been mixed by the construction men, we went and finished the cement foundation of the school that they will soon be able to use!  TIA.
-Kristen
African Sunset from our front yard

One highlight of doing the business classes is that we see real interest in our students to learn.  They approach us with personal questions and desire personal help and we’ve been able to help them in different areas in their business.  It’s just cool to see that they really want to learn and make changes and improve.  Some individuals have been taught specific to their business how to market or keep records and the improvement in their business is amazing.  It’s totally worth it! – Rebecca

 
Working with our partner, Moses, on the Persons with Disabilities project to construct a chair for a disabled child in our town has led to some amusing experiences. I was using a hammer and Moses could tell I was nervous so he told me to “knock with confidence”. I found it really funny and kind. –Julia

Julia and Moses

I am new to this whole African experience, I arrived here last Thursday. It has been interesting adjusting to a new... well world. So I like the thought of writing a “Worth it moment” to focus on the amazing little moments we have here. I just love the fact that when I leave my front of our house, all the little kids up the street know my name. And hearing about 15 little kids saying “byeeee Chels” in the morning is a really great way to start my morning.    Another moment that will forever be ingrained in my mind is we get Saturday and Sunday off every week, so a few girls and I went to this awesome resort on the other side of the Nile. We were just hanging out by the pool and I looked behind me and there were monkeys everywhere!! They eventually got close enough that I could give them peanuts out of my hand. One of monkeys invited himself to my cheesecake and just strolled away with it. What an awesome African experience! I mean come on, hanging out with wild, cute monkeys by the pool next to the Nile. Love it! –Chelsea
Nile river Sunset

Last week I accompanied one of the Musana Jewelry artisans to get her HIV treatment in a neighboring city. She has not been able to receive all of the treatment that she needs because of the expense, but with our focus on increasing social services for our women artisans since arriving, Musana was able to support her to make this trip (and consistent future care). When the HIV specialist briefly left the room, she turned to me and said “God sent you to Lugazi. You were sent to save my life.” I think this statement goes to anyone that has played a part in supporting the Musana Jewelry initiative. – Melissa
Nile Sunset

It was exciting to witness the women of Musana warmly welcome a reproductive health class this week and initiate another health program, this time for the larger community. We were worried that they would not be friendly towards a family planning session, so it was very rewarding to see it become a success, even enough of one that the women want to work with the same women’s health organization in the future. It’s good to know that you are on the right track! – Meredith

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And here is a joke provided by Lane:

Question: What did the African latrine say to the other African latrine when they learned about gravity?
Answer: See, pee falls! (Sipi Falls) 

Sipi Falls