Day 5

Today was an incredible day but very moving and very difficult. We went back to Buloba to spend time with our sweet friends there. We started the morning with some heavy hearts, because we knew that today was our last day in Buloba and we would have to say goodbye to our friends there. On the way there, it began to rain almost as if the clouds knew we were sad, but we also knew that today would be a joyful day, because it was a day that the Lord had made. And we arrived to 200 smiling children and teachers to help serve porridge in the rain. Uganda is an absolutely beautiful country, but when it rains....the beauty around you will take your breath away. The beauty was only matched by the pure joy of the children and teachers surrounding us with the love of Jesus on every sweet face. After snack, we played games with the children. We played with beach balls and bubbles, and we just danced and sang. During the play time, Ginny and Pat gathered all of the teachers to pray over them and encourage them. It was a beautiful sight, especially from a teachers' eyes. It was a blessing to be able to love the teachers and show them appreciation along with the kids. I was able to spend some time talking to the principal about the school system and their resources. It was an incredible opportunity to hear all that these teachers' do with what is available to them.

After morning break, we split into our classrooms again to teach. Today, Kathleen and I taught a science lesson in primary two. We had so much fun teaching the students the parts of an insect. We changed the lyrics to head, shoulders, knees, and toes, and danced around and sang with our sweet kids. It is such an amazing experience to do what I love so much in a country that the Father has placed so heavily on my heart. We finished our lessons and went outside to play with the kids before lunch. We had a blast learning different games with the teachers and the children. We left to have another amazing meal at Pastor Eva's house with a plan to return to the church in the afternoon.

We returned to the church to participate in an outreach program with some of the members of the church. We went to every class to say goodbye to all of our precious children, and they sang to us in every class. They sang, "Goodbye teacher, goodbye teacher, goodbye teacher, may God bless you." We hugged them, waved goodbye, and began walking to houses in the community. We went with the church members to houses sharing the good news. We read Matthew 22: 37-40 with each family. "And Jesus replied, 'You will love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the great and first commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these commandment depend all the laws and the prophets.'" We prayed with family and gave them a mosquito net from the church. It was an amazing experience to be welcomed so openly into these neighbors home. I am overwhelmed by the Father and his love  and grace for each person we have met and for each of us as he reveals himself in new ways every day. Mukama Akuwe Omukisa (May God Bless You).

-Laci Fralish