Email 2
Hiii my fellow English freinds!
Hmmm...I never seem to know where to start but i will jump right in.
Church on Sunday was crazy but i loved it, long which was hard but i was able to stay awake unlike Ali! Haha! The worship was another world and the amount of children was amazing, seriously hundreds and hundreds and they just kept coming! In the evening we went to the youth service which takes place. It was something that was new in the church and there only were about 20 of us there. There was a a part for drama, discussion and scripture. The discussion was on the stragest thing, i will not write on here but....it was a very honest and open discussion. I have learnt that Uganda is so honest.
Anyways...Monday was when it all really began. I sat down with some of the teachers and they asked me what i wanted to teach and all that jazz....i said, half a lesson of science the next day. So on Tuesday morning, i got up and went to school. I was planning to prepare that morning as my lesson was at 10. It was 8. My teacher stood up and greeted me, and announced to the class to get their science books out as i was teaching science. JOY! THe teacher said she was popping out, she gave me the text book and a peice of chalk and EVACUATED THE BUIDING!!! Seriously, i nearly had a heart attack as i looked up and 92 children starred at me with the biggest smiles, some shouting stickers and others saying teacher Mutzungu. I quickly prayed and found myself at hte end of the lesson feeling much better and relaxed, thanking God for getting me through that nightmare which turned out to be awesome. Then as i sat marking ALL the childrens books, i looked at the time. The teacher should have been with me 15 minutes ago. Another lesson had started!?!? A child walked up to me and asked if they should get their english books out. I decided that because the teacher was not here, i would start. Not knowing what they were being taught or their level of understanding. I took the chalk adn began to write exercises on the bored and started to have one to ones with them, trying to learn their names and find out a bit more about them. THey think i am hilarious as i keep saying CHOP CHOP when they are being slow. I then get CHOP CHOP chanted back at me and giggles. I love my class so much, already there are favourites though...oops! THere are some difficult children too and chlidren that are constantly disruptive and some that walk around provoking others for fights. I think i have got a hard class, but they are beginning to realise i will not tolerate bad behaviour and those who are good, i reward.
It is really sad though, the children get cained alot. I mean alot alot. It is just their culture but i do wonder how it Christians caining the children can chow Gods love!! Surely there is another way of punishing?
Anyway, the teacher didnt come back for another 2 hours, meaning my first experience of teaching was an obstacle course, but i think it did help me to get out my confort zone and get stuck in. Maybe that is what i needed but i do strongly believe i would of failed terribley and ran out the room crying if God hadn't of pulled me through and given me the things to say and do. You really do have to put your whole trust in God! Its a great thing though.
I think this week has been real tough with the team. We have had a few small disagreements which caused a tad bit of tension at the time. Things are fine now but it all began on Tuesday night. I was reading my bible in my room and i started to pray. I prayed that our team would become more unified as since we have got to Uganda, whenever i have asked us all to get together and pray, everyone said they were too tired or not in the mood. It was the same towards doing devotions etc. If i am honest, i began to feel anger building up inside about this. It got worse when every night everyone decided to play cards instead. I started to feel alone and i felt out of place if i am honest. I didn't know what to do. I think the team noticed it, which didn't help. I kept my anger inside for many days so on Tuesday night when i heard everyone laughing in the other room, I shut my bible, went in the other room and sat down next to everone ... as they played cards. Ali, Hannah, Aveline and an American couple were there and they asked me if i was okay. I just suddenly felt i couldnt keep it in anymore and asked them if i could share something. They all looked at me and i began saying how i wanted Jesus at the centre of this Gap year, the only purpose of me being here was God and i felt that i was confused why we hadn't spent time with God together. Still, people began to say how there is not enough time in the day, everyone is busy and there is some much to do and when we get home we are all tired. I said it is true but it is the most important thing. There was no more comments really so i went to bed.
In the evening of Wednesday, we then we sitting eating in the evening and Aveline said how she wanted to do something perhaps once a day because she had felt guilty etc about not having GOd at number 1. We all agreed that we would pray or do a devotions once a day. We sat and prayed there and then and it was great. I knew God was happy. We have prayed again once together but it is an improvement so please pray that i will carry on spending time with God personally and that as a team i wcan carry on encouraging meeting as a team with God as it is so difficult and i don't want to sound too pushy or cause tension. Grrrr....hard
Anyways.... this week has been awesome and i have been teaching two or three lessons a day and P.E. I have also been playing with all the street children and trying to help clean a few wounds etc (with gloves Dad) and i am enjoying going to the hostel where the orphans live etc. The children are so appreciative of company and God is persistantly teaching me things everyday!
I love Uganda and through the times i feel like crying i find myself laughing and i don't know why. I know i laugh alot anyway but serioulsy. I am being taught to rejoice in times of trouble.
Mum adn Dad email me or call me, my phone will be in use next week i think. WIll let you know.
How are things at home mum?
Please send me some Minstrels.....I am craving! Praying for everyone and Hayes Lane etc.
Love you
Will email either Wed or Sat and i will send pics....i promise!
Mwah
xxx
