Day 4: Karomajong Tribe

 We made it to breakfast by 8:30 just like every other day.  Most days however, we were being woken up at 5:00am by the call to prayer at the Muslim Mosque around the corner.  The chant would go on for a minute or two and then you could often hear chanting afterwards for a little while.  It was an eerie feeling that took me right back to those feelings of being in Northern Africa when we worked for Cafe 1040.
At 8:30, Mama Rebecca would have an amazing breakfast spread ready for us in the dining room. Toast, hardboiled or fried egg, popcorn and peanuts (she said she thought we would really like this ;), watermelon, pineapple, and bananas.  After a little while, we loaded the bus for Jinja to meet up with Damali. We were going to help her set up a bank account to deposit funds in so she would not have cash in her house.  Remember, at this point, Damali didn't know the final amount we had given, she had only accepted the equivalent of 40$ up until that morning.  She got in our bus after we picked her up from the center of town where she had taken a "Bota bota" (motorcycle) to meet us.  She was so excited telling us about how the medicine (Children's tylenol) we had given her was so amazing.  She talked again how she had prayed specifically about their fevers and hoping to be able to buy pain relievers for the babies after immunizations because she did not want fevers to spike, especially in Aaron and others who were HIV+ and had malaria. She was so excited as she told us again how God had not only answered her prayer with these surprise visitors, but with this medicine that far exceeded their own version of children's pain relievers.  She said it worked so quickly and lasted so long. She had never seen such powerful medicine she said. Wow.  All for a 3$ bottle of children's tylenol.
We got her to the bank and one of our team members and leader went in with her. It was quite an ordeal because of course she didn't have all the proper paperwork needed nor did she even know how to sign a signature.  To have an account there, it is all done by signature and identifying paperwork. You sign to withdraw each time and the signatures have to match.  Damali can write in print, but she doesn't know cursive.  So our team member Chris is in there trying to teach her how to write a signature (that she has never needed up until this point in life) and also hoping that she would remember the way she did it to be able to repeat it.  They also told her the amount they would be depositing, just over 1000$ US equivalent in Ugandan shillings.  She was shocked.  This is basically equal to 4 years of the average household income in uganda. They explained how she could just leave it in there and as needed, purchase needs they have for the home: running water hook up, refrigerator, stove, medicines, bars on windows, etc. What a privilege we got to be a part of God blessing Damali.
We then stopped off by Pillars of hope before heading to Masese. This is a ministry to street children.  They find kids on the streets of Jinja and try to provide them with a place to sleep, school fees, etc. They also try to teach skills like tailoring, glass work, working a loom, etc. We gave the kids headbands, watches and some jump ropes and soccer balls. They sang some sweet songs for us and then it was on to the Karomajong.

We then headed off to Masese, slum area, near Jinja to work with a local pastor of the Karomajong tribe.  This tribe is mostly women, widows and orphans, who live in some of the worst conditions.  They are very agriculturally based and live in homes made of mud, straw, sticks and sometimes trash or scraps of wood/metal.

 It was definitely some of the worst conditions we had seen thus far on the trip.  Once we arrived, the women were gathered in the middle of the community under some shade trees, rolling paper beads, making necklaces as a source of income.  Imagine with me, 30 women or so, congregated in a circle, babies nursing, children playing nearby with old tires, sticks, and trash.

 We introduced ourselves and did a short "sermon" if you will about the value God sees in them.  Half of our team got right to feet washing and toe nail painting, while the other half of us sat amongst them and learned how to make the paper bead necklaces and jumped rope and played soccer with the kids.  It was a powerful yet tough day.  I sat next to a lady named Esther who taught me how to make beads. Another lady brought me her 1 month old baby to hold.

Another nearby lady asked me to take her baby, she could not care for it with the other children she cares for: 4 biological children and 3 orphans she has taken in from other family members or neighbors.  I can't describe to you the emotions involved in a conversation between me and a woman desperate for me to take her own child.  She wanted a better life for him.  She wanted him to have a chance at a future better than hers.  I was so affected inside.  Of course I told her that I couldn't and the government wouldn't even let me even if I could. She told me to get paperwork and come back and get him. Ugh. So heartbreaking. After that, I told her how special she was, how God had made her for a special purpose in the story he was writing, how she was fulfilling the call Jesus had put on us to care for orphans, how God had made her unique and special.  "Special?" she said. "oh no, not me...special." My friend on the team Ashley, also had a similar conversation where the lady said "Me? Oh no, not me, I am dirt".  I pray God used us in the smallest way to break through that.  These women turn to alcohol and prostitution to medicate their pain and disvalue, and to bring in a small income for their family.  These women have been left or widowed, living with HIV+ and other conditions.  This was the hardest place for me, and I left discouraged and sad. Children as young as 4 were holding babies in slings on their back with no clothes on.  One of the boys about Wheeler's age or Reese's was holding a 1 year old or so that had no underwear on (pictured below in the green sweatshirt).  He went to pop him up higher on his back because he was slipping, and when he bent over to raise him higher, I saw inside his bottom, caked mud and bugs.
My heart sunk. I would never let my naked child sit on trash and dirty ground with nothing protecting their private areas. Ugh. This was a tough day, but none the less, I was encouraged by the work of Pastor Andrew and Home again ministries that try to minister here to these women, to show them their value, and to help them bring income in a healthy way. We left there after we had bought beads from each woman and been incredibly welcomed and touched by this special community.

After we left there, we returned to Canaan's children's home where we stayed for 4 nights. I had connected (or been claimed by) two 12 year old girls, Joann and Evereen.

So they came running toward the bus as we arrived back.  They stayed at my side the remainder of the afternoon. I really enjoyed my time with them.  They are both orphaned and live at Canaans and in primary 6 school.  Joann asked me if I was going to come back to Uganda. I told her I wasn't sure, but if I didn't see her in Uganda again, I would see her in heaven if she had Jesus in her heart.  She looked at me puzzled.  I said "Do you know what heaven is?" "No" she smiled back. I got to sit there, in the wet grass, and tell her about a home God has prepared for her, where she will never be hungry or sad again. A place where we get to see Jesus with our eyes and worship him for the rest of time.  The smile on her face was so powerful to me. In the back of my mind I just kept thinking... heaven is something we look forward to, but we would not hope for it like they do.  I have a "big" house back home, with many rooms, with feasts of food that never runs out, with my parents close by and my husband that show me incredible love and acceptance.  But for Joann and Evereen, they don't have "parents" to love and hug and play with them all the time, they live in a room with 13 other girls, they used to know a time where they were not sure if they would get another meal (not at canaan's though, they are fed pretty well).  I thought how they would finally feel acceptance in a family where they belong, the love of a father, the freedom from sadness. It was a great conversation and I am so thankful to have had it with them. We played handgames, taught each other songs, they laid on my lap, and we walked hand in hand around Canaans that day. It was a special time with them.

Day 3: sangalo baby home

Day 3:Beautiful disasters make miracles
Sitting here in my top bunk, still coated in bug spray and sweat, in my ambien induced state ( so please read with a forgiving heart) exhausted from a long day, but yet pretty sure I just witnessed miracle after miracle. When we saw mess up, god saw miracle opportunity. We were supposed to spend the day with street children with pillars of hope but things got lost in translation and that fell through.

So we were going to switch our shopping excursion in Jinja to the first part of the day and then George from canaans said we could visit sangalo (joy) baby home. We were all delighted! I had prayed specifically that we would go to a baby home and on Monday that got cancelled. I went back to god in prayer about it monday and was disappointed. It was hard. I actually felt like we were supposed to go there. So I surrendered it, it's his trip and he's in control, now he blessed us with this! So we headed to Jinja to buy some souvenirs. We saw lots of kids begging, lots of women making necklaces outside their shops, etc.  We actually talked to two of the women making beads (last two pictures) and they are part of the karomajong tribe. They both are living with AIDS.  The one in the maroon dress has lost a child to aids and has two other children with AIDS. Her grandsons are HIV- praise God. She makes beads as income.  We also bought a few things from Rita (pregnant in blue dress) who paints to earn income. Her husband recently left and she has 6 children and one on the way in 1 month. Here she was standing selling her things at 8 months pregnant.  She had an amazing story and the joy of the Lord spilled from her lips.  
So next, we journeyed in the bus with Ebus our bus driver who continually saves our lives (you do not want heart conditions if u sit in the front seat) and we winded up muddy flooding roads to the baby home. At first there were only 4-5 babies out (the others were sleeping) as she began telling her testimony we were all floored. She was an orphan from a very remote extremely poverty stricken village. Her name is Damali (sounds like homily with a d).

She said even at the age of 9, she knew the Lord had put on her heart to care for orphan babies. So she got a job watching a special needs child who couldn't walk or crawl. That child died soon and she got another job helping with babies. It was where she felt most free. She said- "when you know what god has asked you to do and you don't do it, then you are burdened by fear, sadness, depression. Obeying always brings joy".

She decided to start her own home when the director of that one died. She had no money, I think a baby and husband at that time and no home. Through her church they found her a small 3 bedroom home, cement floors, no kitchen, toilets, running water.
 Can you imagine cooking dinner for 20 people(2 mamas, her and her husband and the rest babies) without a fridge, stove or microwave? Warming bottles with purchased water, washing cloth diaper after the next in your rainwater buckets? This is the life if sweet Damali and now she has 14 babies in the home. She takes in the orphan, the unwanted/abandoned , the malaria infested, the HIV+ babies, the ones so malnourished a 3 year old can't walk or lift his head. She nurses these back to health, takes them to the clinics, gets vaccinations, feeds them. A can or formula here costs 11$. She goes through 3-4 cans a day. Not to mention rice and beans for older toddlers and cooking those on a campfire since she has no stove/cooker. Now if multitasking all of this wasn't enough to make this woman a saint in my eyes. You should have heard sweet Damali speak. She was bursting with wisdom, joy, tenderness, laser focused purpose. She is districted as a baby home but working on her NGO status. She sends the mamas/helpers home frequently so they can be rested so that they aren't short with the kids, that's a smart mama right there. Not to mention the prayers she prays. She prays for rent before they get kicked out, someone shows up with it next morning. She said this morning it was time to take all the babies for immunizations. (Moms out there you know how our kids feel after shots)... She said she prayed this morning that she would be able to buy pain relievers for the kids fevers. You definitely don't want a child with malaria or HIV getting an additional fever. Then look at that. God 'wrecked' our plans with the street children and we just happened to show up to "plan b" with a bag full of toothbrushes, toothpaste, kids vitamins, and 3 bottles of kids Tylenol and 3 bottle sterilizing solution. Hello God.

Tears streamed from her face as we pulled them out of the bag. She said "this is exactly what I asked god for. Now I can take care of my babies". Amazing.
Then she showed us the very modest house. No gates or bars in windows so she is worried for kids safety. No sink. No closets. Nothing but cement floor that the roof leaks on.

As we heard more and more from Damali, she was so wise. She spoke over my life and just shook me to tears. It was really REALLY as if God put on her sweet black skin and dropped down to talk to me himself. These are the notes I wrote down from what she said to me....
'God is asking something big of you. Don't wait until god gives you the resources. Just act and god will provide. You'll never have joy if you are not answering gods call and being obedient. God knows every orphan is not for you. Just open your hands and ask and he has already planned who your children are. I can't take in every orphan either. I just have to take the ones god has called me to. If you are waiting a long time for these children then you know god is preparing the ones he has for you.  He is perfect!'

Another girl said what about if your husband doesn't feel the same about orphans as you. She told us how most men in Uganda either leave their wives or have multiple wives. So she prayed her husband would be in ministry, and love babies. Otherwise god would have to take the burden of caring for orphans off her heart. She said she prayed fervently and expectantly. He now is so engaged with the babies. He names them all and bathes them. He will tell her to rest instead and get up at night with them. Praise god for an engaged husband to this woman who has 14 babies! More than half are under 1 the rest all but 1 are under 3. It's amazing.
Well the chatter began around the group that we wanted to bless her financially. She probably had needs of a fridge, food, formula, rent money etc, everyone discreetly gave a little money to our trip leader. In the end it ended up being an extremely large thick wad. They didn't know what to do. They sent the team out and stayed in with 3 team members and prayed for her ministry, the needs there, health of babies, wisdom for Damali to know how to use it, protection from the evil one not to allow people to steal from her (she has no bank account so money is just in house). He put the money in her hand during prayer and they opened her eyes and she teared up and said no. She said it was too great, too much. She knew her boundaries and had such self discipline to know it was too much for her. Can you IMAGINE that coming from a woman who scrapes by? Who grew up in a village with no education or money for food oftentimes? With more talking through she agreed she only had immediate need for the equivalent of 40$: in the envelope was $1000US. That is 4 years worth of the average Ugandan family income. That would be like a group coming into your living room, offering you a million dollars to live out your dreams and saying no to it because the money was to much, it could offset the balance of her focus and love and dependence on Jesus, it could jeopardize the children's safety, it would take extreme self concern to discern spending it. So first thing tomorrow am we are opening Damali a bank account!! She does not know the final amount, she only saw the envelope size it was in. Now she will have funds to buy her fridge, her washer dryer, possibly even to get water pumped to her house.
God made damali's dream come true today. We got to see miracle after miracle. Three sets of twins that survived extreme malnutrition, a 10 month old with malaria, a 7 month old who is hiv+, all from an orphan redeemed to rescue other orphans, a woman so spiritually mature and wise, she ran her business with wisdom, knowledge and gentleness. That woman is gonna have a mighty big crown in heaven. She ended at one point saying "god commands us to take care of the orphan. So I look at each child and say, what would Jesus do to this one? To that one. Yes there is my answer. "

this is baby Aaron. Damali is afraid he won't make it. He is HIV+ and very sick. She has asked us to pray for him.

this is a sweet baby named Julia. She is a twin and when she was found she could not lift her head and her belly was very distended from malnutrition.

On our way out she encouraged us to step out and hear god, the immediately obey him, don't wait around. Do what we have been commanded to do and you will find your joy.

Whew, then we came back to canaans and danced to the drum with 70 kids and did crafts with them til dinner. And I'm spent: emotionally, physically (thank u ambien my shoulders and legs are numb), and spiritually as we poured over that house, those babies and that sweet saint in prayer.
It's these days that are the best. I'm emptied physically but exploding spiritually with all I have seen and the miracles God has done with title obedience. Praise Jesus and thank you for your prayers!

Ps the girls L. O. V. E. getting these headbands. Even the boys ;) can't wait to infuse some pictures in here! Here is a picture of some kids that were staring in at the baby home from across the street! We took them over some headbands and watches and they were thrilled!

pSS. It is Thursday now. We just dropped Damali off at the bank. We also stopped by pillars of hope, a ministry for street kids. There was probably 25 of them. We heard from the pastor there and then the kids sang songs for us, played soccer, gave out headbands and watches and left. Now we are in the bus on the way to karamajong tribe. This is a group of grandmothers and widows raising children and orphans of their tribe. Please pray we can speak value over these women who often turn to prostitution or brewing alcohol to provide income for food and education for her children. The pastor said the more value they can show these women that god finds in them, the harder it is for them to sell their body to prostitution. Hope to update you more later. We are all safe and filled to the brim...

Day 2 part 2: it's raining it's pouring

Pictures to come. Internet is spotty. This is from yesterday.

Day two part two: it's raining it's pouring.

After leaving Return ministries, we drove on our way to a remote community up a mountain a little bit. Wouldn't you know it as soon as we reached the place where the road went up and turned into dirt/mud, torrential downpour came on. It did not stop us. We were headed one and a half hours to a remote village that lives extremely simply and without much of anything food or materials wise, huts with straw roofs and no doors.
 So when we hydroplaned and slid our way to the top, we needed to turn our bus around before we got stuck In the mud going the wrong way down a huge hill. Our bus did a 30 point turn between a side of a mountain over the muddy road and to a gradual cliff on the other side. We were all praying and grabbing each others knees as others were out in the pouring rain directing. Wow. Praise God we made it. When we got there, there looked to be 20 kids standing outside of a house no bigger than my living room. The minute we hopped out of the bus in the cold Uganda rain and swarms of bugs, at least 150-175 mothers and children poured out of that building. I have no idea how they were all in there. It was absolute downpour as we hugged these kids.

At first it didn't look like we had many show up....

And there were more walking up the muddy roads....

then once we got out, they started pouring out of that tiny house!

lollipop distribution! 

despite the cold rain, they were so excited!

still more came...

nothing a banana leaf can't protect!

 This was probably the worst of the worst health wise I've seen. You could see their hair had turned grey from malnutrition, most kids bellies were distended what looked like in the 7th month of pregnancy on a 4 year old, ring worm that was all over the head and neck and had made thick scabs. I saw the worst umbilical hernia I have ever seen, hands deformed from burns, a girl with a torn dress exposing her bumpy spine and rib cage. Please do not let this sound like just words, these were children, no less loved by God that mine. There were bugs swarming our necks, arms and face as we passed out lollipops. Even the moms were pushing through the crowd of children wanting one. There were moms asking us to take their babies, "please take my baby" as they handed the babies to us. I cannot imagine the desperation that would take. Today was a lot to handle emotionally. My heart was bursting and shutting down at the same time. Overwhelming love, sadness and a deep desire to do for these who had nothing. Literally. Most likely AIDS infested mothers breast feeding any hungry child and possibly passing on aids to them as a choice over starvation. This is hard. I sit here right now with my praise music blasting in my ears and tears running in a flood down my face and neck. Heartbroken by the poverty and situations, yes. But also humbled by a great God who wants us to know him as father, to depend on him regardless.
We brought out feminine pads for the ladies and their eyes lit up like they just got a new wardrobe. I cannot imagine having no products, over a hole in the ground as a toilet, and washing your bloodstained clothes in the same water you draw water from for your family. Leaving there was overwhelming, it was like leaving knowing a lot of those children would not see another year of life.
In our bus, Irene (a double orphan) one of the girls that lives at return, rode with us.

She sat next to Allison up front. She was the most tender hearted 10 year old. She fell asleep in Allison's lap for about 45 min of the trip, when she woke up she looked up at Alison and said, I'm thirsty. We handed her a water then she smiled. A few minutes later she softly spoke, I'm cold, I passed her up my cardigan from my pack and she put it on, even over her head. Then re-snuggled in Allison's lap. I just got to thinking, Irene has no mommy to snuggle on, she has no one to respond to her quiet needs in the night. For that hour, she felt the love of a mommy. One that would do anything to meet her needs. The verse came to life, when Jesus said, when I was cold you clothed me, when I was thirsty you gave me water, and it was as if we did it directly to Jesus. What a beautiful thing and honor it is to live out the scripture.
We also gave gum to Joel and Irene In our car. They were so excited. Joel asked if he could have some more, and how could I resist him wearing John's polo shirt and a bright red Chick-fil-a hat. I have him the rest of the pack and he put it all in his mouth and chewed what looked like a big league chew the rest of the way with those white teeth shining against his ebony skin,
Now we started our 3 hour drive to Jinja. We got away late due to rain and slow roads and our driver was nervous about driving us in the dark. He said a bus full of white people is quite a target. This was a true statement, I don't know how truthful he was being that there was a one strip of land with forest on both sides and people would hide and run out in front of your car and mug you. So regardless if it was true or not, the blondes were instructed to duck and you better believe I did! :)
As we arrived at Canaan 70 kids escorted our bus in, banging on it and squealing with excitement. We had to literally push children to get out of the bus door. They latched on to us like leeches! We could hardly walk amongst the white eyes and teeth shining up at us in the darkness of night. What a beautiful thing.
The last little fun info I forgot to update you on yesterday was the electrifying shower experience! Apparently there's a reason our home inspectors check religiously our wiring near water. As you would turn on the water at Adonai hotel and pick up the handheld you get a jolt about 8x more than a car door shock, then if the cord to the handheld hit you in the back, back of arm, or leg while you wash, it gives you another jolt. Apparently there was low voltage running to the handsprayer constantly too because when I turned my freezing water off, my right arm was tingling for 10 minutes or so. Quite a shower experience! I'll take the cricket I had in my dark shower tonight over getting electrocuted while wet any day!
Lots to come on day 3. Ministering to street children and then returning to play with the kids here at canaans. Prayer is much appreciated. I've never been floored as much as in this place with the power and need for prayer.

Day 2 part 1: return ministries

Day two: home visits with return

in front of our hotel, Adonai

our team

Today seems like too much to sum up. I feel like in Uganda I have experienced more of a range of emotions in one day than I do on average in a week or two in the US.

To start off our day, two of our team members were detained outside the embassy for taking a picture of the us embassy. 45 minutes later they were released. Way to start the day. ;)
Once we got to return, Pastor Samuel passed out the clothes we had brought to the kids there. They bowed as they received their gift and went quickly to change. It was so fun seeing them in the clothes and how excited they were!

Pastor Samuel- Return Ministries                                                excited about his clothes!

The Chick-fi-ladies with Joel in his CFA hat and winshape dry fit shirt!

wearing our Brazilian Winshape camps shirt! 

Today we walked a few miles around a nearby community Return works with and delivered gift bags to 13 single mothers or grandmothers and their children. Each house we delivered toothbrushes, feminine pads, vitamins, medicines, and clothes for each child in the home. The community was I guess what you would guess of semi-rural Africa, no running water or electricity. It was a community of dirt streets, half naked children running around amongst chickens, dogs, and women trying to make a living selling roots or other vegetables. A creek ran through the community. It broke my heart as I saw a little three year old boy down near the edge filling up his jugs in the creek as human fecal matter winded it's way through the water.

giving out toothpaste/vitamins etc. Samuel explaining how to use it all

this little boy peeked out as we prayed over his home and mama.

I probably had two of the most powerful moments of the trip so far today. First, as we would walk in each home we would give these gifts. These homes were made out of hand laid brick, wood slats nailed together, or sheets of corrugated metal bolted together. They were about a 10x10 or so with a shower door curtain and dirt floor. At each home we prayed for the family. As pastor Samuel told us the story of one woman in particular, the spirit burdened my heart to pray for them. Her husband was into witchcraft. After she accepted Christ he decided to leave her. I literally felt the power of God go out of me as I covered their home in prayer and the protection of the holy spirit over their home, hearts and children. It was indescribable. Another woman had 4 children, her husband died of aids and she sold fried cassava root outside her small home to bring income to feed the children. Another grandmother, 75 or more, was taking care of 5 children.
After the 8th or 9th home we walked through, a sweet teenage girl found me in the streets and we started walking arm in arm. Her name was Helen and she had great English. After a 'get to know you' chit chat, I asked her if she knew Jesus and she said yes, that he was her hope. Her dad died of what she called "the sickness" in 2009 and her mom left her and her 3 other siblings shortly after. Helen was 11 at that time and was the caretaker for her family. She went to this community where her aunt lives and she took them in. She told me that her aunt had three children that were younger than her. So her aunt and grandfather pooled resources to pay school fees so that hopefully Helen could in turn get an education and job so she could provide for her siblings in the future. She told me about the responsibility that lies on her shoulders to take care of them because there is not enough money for her siblings to attend school. I asked her what she wanted to do after school and in her most beautiful English with a lugandan accent she said " I have big dreams. I want to be a meteorologist and a social worker to help families. And I also want to be a defender of the orphan". Chills took over my sweaty body as I walked arm in arm with this sweet orphan who has the world on her shoulders, yet is hearing and obeying the command of God on her life to care for the fatherless. Tears came to my eyes as I told her what a special girl she was, how God was writing a beautiful story for her, how she was a special instrument he was going to used in mighty ways, and about the joy, work ethic, and dreams God has blessed her with. It would take me pages to type out the other amazing points in our conversation. However after she walked with me miles from her home, just to spend more time together, we got back to the church and I prayed over her, gave her our family picture, and left. She has made and imprint on my heart and I am writing this all down so I will not forget to pray that Helen will be an instrument of change in Uganda. Please remember her in your prayers as well.
After we got back to pastor Samuels house I had my first true squashy potty experience. So glad I only packed skirts for the week!
Then we ate lunch with sweet Samuel and Sarah as I heard from Samuel about their ministry needs and hopes for a school, land, and agriculture land to let the community to have sustainable resources. His vision is incredible and God has poured wisdom in that man amazingly. He is a father to two of his own, but the only father to many. He has full NGO (their version of 501c3) status, a board of 7 Ugandan pastors, lawyers and businessmen. All he lacks are funds. They only have money to feed the kids in the community two days a week. Feeding 159 kids twice a week costs about 110$,175$ if they provide meat and veggies. Please consider partnering with him. I definitely will be. They also need children sponsored if you go on the website you can do that there. This is orphan prevention. The sponsor money provides food, school and medical for the mother and kids so the mother doesn't have to leave or turn to prostituting. He asked me if we were still interested in adoption, there were several, hundreds he even said, children he knew in need of it. That tugged at this mamas heart strings and I'm not quite convinced I will not be living in Uganda this summer finishing up court proceedings. ;) I'm under the Lord's direction and lots more prayers to come on that.
We also gave out headbands to the kids that live under Samuels care, we shaved heads with the electric shavers we brought and put headbands on those newly shaven heads. We made balloon animals with them and enjoyed playing with the kids at samuel's home!

this little guy wearing an Auburn shirt I brought and a gators hat Alison brought :)

Sharon and Israel- Pastor samuel's son

Alison and Irene

putting the headbands on

Deborah who helps take care of the kids there and Pearl- Samuel's precious daughter

the girls in their new headbands!

Irene

oh sweet Pearl in her CFA hat!