December letter

Happy Holidays Everyone!
I know it has been a while since I update my blog, and I apologize. I thought that I would have more time on my hands for updating you all because school has been closed since December 2. Time has gone by surprisingly fast though this month as I’m sure it has for you as well.

Christmas was such a great day! God blessed us so much by allowing us to have Electricity for 4 straight days! I spent time with my host family and friends. Sang Christmas Carols. Ate yummy African Food. Watched Christmas movies. And Attended a wonderful Church service at New Life Baptist Church in Kyambogo where I attend when I’m not in the village. Pastor Peter read through the Nativity story, My friend Arthur led us in Singing Worship and Christmas songs, and My host brother Richmond preached the main part of the sermon. He is a very powerful speaker and I enjoy listening to him! I also was overjoyed to have the opportunity of skyping with my Family and getting to watch my Neices and nephews open their Christmas presents!!!! It was awesome!

 Me, Benjamin, Patience, Brenda, Stephanie and David on Christmas

Christmas Day with host family

The rest of this month was spent in the preparations for Doreen’s Introduction. An Introduction is for engaged couples and is a traditional gathering where the bride and grooms family and friends come together so the bride can “Introduce” her groom to her family. It is a fun time of fellowship, but also traditions must be followed throughout the event that lasts for about 7 hours or more. Here are some of the highlights:
Everyone dresses in traditional clothing. Most of the women wear a dress called a Gomesi while the men wear a Kanzu.

 Night, Sharon and I at Doreen's Introduction

Ronnie and Richmond

Tents are set up and decorated. One for guests, one for the groom’s family and one for the bride’s family. There is a set of furniture (2 chairs and 1 sofa) in the front of the tent for both the bride and the groom. Her parents or closest aunts / uncles sit on the ones in the bride’s tent. In the grooms tent, his parents or siblings sit on the chairs and 2 of his friends sit on the couch. The groom must be hidden among the people in his tent for the first half of the event while he waits to be introduced.

The bride’s family starts of by greeting the spokesmen and elders or the groups. This is done in many separate parts. Different groups of the bride’s close friends and family dance and walk out to kneel facing the groom’s tent. The spokesmen ask fun questions to them and then give a
small gift to each participant kneeling. The first group was the teenage girls. Then the young girls followed by the group of young boys.

Then a group of young adult girl cousins, then the bride’s Close female friends (there were 2 of us “Muzungus” in that group) and then her brothers and male cousins.

Last is the bride with her sisters, close girl cousins, and her maid of honor. They kneel in the middle of the 3 tents waiting for the groom to be announced.

 Doreen coming out to greet the elders

After the greeting is finished, the bride’s spokeswoman Sarah and 2 friends must dance while walking throughout the grooms tent to search for the man that they want their “Daughter” Doreen to marry. When Sarah finds Issac, the whole tent starts cheering and celebrating.

Sarah finding Isaac and introducing him to Doreen's family
He danced out with Sarah, and she brings him to stand in front of Doreen’s Family. They ask the family if this is the man that they will accept and welcome into their family, and then everyone in her tent erupts into cheering and laughing and dancing.

Doreen's Mom
Isaac is danced back to his tent where he is now allowed to sit on the couch and replace his friends. Isaac’s sister and 3 friends then bring a gift to Doreen to show that they are choosing her to become part of their family.

Isaac's sister welcoming Doreen into their family
She is brought to face Isaac’s family and they agree, cheer and dance to show their acceptance of her coming into their family. It is only after all of that, that she and Isaac are allowed to sit together on the couch.

Isaac and Doreen
After pictures are taken and other formalities are taken care of, Doreen goes back to kneel with Sarah and her maid of Honor. The groom and his family present the Bride’s Dowry. A Cow and 4 Roosters are presented. Baskets of food, butter, sugar, matches and oil. Suitcases are brought. The leg of a cow, Sodas, Bottled Water, and Fabric are presented to her family.

 Isaac's family bring the dowry

After that, Doreen and 2 of her brothers (Richmond and Ronnie) cut the cake together. Doreen then shares the cake with Isaac and the rest of the people are served bite size pieces of cake.

Richmond, Doreen and Ronnie cutting the cake
Then the Special guests and elders are taken inside the house to have dinner while the other guests eat outside from the buffet of food that has been prepared:
Matooke, Gnut Paste, Rice, Chicken, Beef, Greens, Fried potatoes, Boiled Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumkin, Cooked Cabbage and more!

Wow, I feel like I’ve just re-lived the whole day all over again! What an amazing way to officially welcome someone into your family. Two families coming together to accept, embrace and stand up in support of a couple who is planning to start a new chapter in their lives. I feel so Blessed to have been included in their celebration!

 Doreen, her cousin, Richmond, Sharon and cousin Sarah

 Richmond, Peter and Ronnie

Sarah and I at the Introduction
Thank you for taking the time to read this long post! I hope that you enjoyed getting a small glimpse into a Traditional African event!
I hope that you have a wonderful day! God Bless!!

Love, Alicia

Christmas Party and Graduates!

Here is Alicia's newest blog post she sent!

On Thursday we had our Christmas Party at school. Instead of Porridge, we served each of the 60+ kids a hot meal of Rice and Meat! Since Meat (Beef) is a rare thing for Village Kids to eat here, it is considered a very special food to have and for most of them it is their favorite. We took all of the benches outside and put them in a big circle and they all sat so nicely. The cook’s husband took a bowl of water and a cup around to each kid and helped them wash their hands. Pastor Robert led everyone in a prayer and then we passed out the food in their own little bag. It was so great to see how much they enjoyed their lunch! After they were finished eating, in traditional Ugandan Style, the kids each came over, knelt down and said "thank you". I've never had to say "You're Welcome" that many times in a row before.

Enjoying their lunch!

On the last day of school, some of the parents brought gifts for me. It was so sweet! I was given 10 ears of corn, a pumpkin, 2 pineapple, a bag of ground nuts, 4 yams, 8 sweet potatoes, 2 papayas and 2 sticks of sugar cane (each were 6 ½ feet tall). The parents are so nice and appreciative, and have started to really embrace me into their lives.
At school, 3 months ago they didn’t know my name, and I didn’t know theirs. They were shy and curious about who the new teacher was. And they didn’t understand when I tried to hug them…..
Yesterday we had our Christmas program to end the school year… They now call me Madam Alicia, and after doing the profiles, I am catching on to their names much faster. Even though they know I don’t speak luganda, they have started coming to me with questions, concerns, and when their friends are misbehaving. There is a certain level of trust starting, and yesterday, there were at least 5 kids who gave me hugs after the program was over!

Namuganga Joyce, Me and Naigaga Shabula

Madam Madena getting the Baby class ready to go sing for the parents..

The graduating kids waiting for their diplomas


The teachers and I were so proud of the kids yesterday. We had 27 kids graduate! The top and middle classes sang 2 songs and showed off their writing and drawing talents. Baby class did drawing, and recited the ABC’s and 123’s… then the Baby class surprised the parents by singing a song in English…. “This is the Day”! And the kids’ faces were beaming as their parents were clapping for their performances!
These may seem like small accomplishments to most people. But for these kids and this community, these are BIG steps in leading them to a brighter future…

The Parents

Muhamudu with his dad recieving his diploma and gift from Pastor Richmond Wandera

Kisakye Vaola showing off her writing abilities in English. her word was "tree"

I am so Blessed that God chose me to be part of this school!

I hope that You all have an amazing week. Thank you for praying for us and following me while I am on this Journey. I am blessed to have you all in my life!

Love, Alicia

Painting their hands to make a picture of a Christmas Tree. None of the kids had ever had their hand painted before and they were so Exited!

　Having fun painting!

Beautiful photos from the village

Alicia posted some pictures on facebook, and I'm putting them on here! Love it!

  *** Also: Stay tuned for a post about the Apples for Africa fundraiser! This weekend the Bodine girls are hunkering down to get all the orders done for all of you wonderful people! We're anxious to tell everyone the final count of caramel apples sold, how much money was made for the Suubi Childrens Center, and what the money is going to help with! Thanks again to all who ordered apples, and for every prayer warrior out there!

One little boy

Yesterday I got another blog update from Alicia. Needless to say, this was hard to read. I was humbled and brought crashing back to reality of how blessed I have been. I have an almost 5 year old boy, and reading this brought tears to my eyes. Lets be prayer warriors for this little guy, and continue to keep Alicia and Global Hands of Hope in your prayers!

Here is her blog she sent:

　

Blog November 14.....

   I want to tell you a story. But to understand this story, you need to understand a little bit of background from the village. Yes, there are some Christians here. There are also many many Muslims. But among the different religions, there is something in the village that many people not only SEEK out, but they also FEAR. The thing I am talking about is witchcraft. I used to watch its on shows or read about it and laugh at the idea that people could actually believe this. But it is no longer something that I see on the discovery channel or in National Geographic magazine. These are REAL people that I interact with on a daily basis. People just like you and me who go to work in the morning, laugh with friends, spend time with their families and go about their life as always.
  Some people don’t go visit a witch-doctor, but they still believe that those doctors have “Powers”. If someone in the village gets sick, they think someone has bewitched them. If someone dies, people believe a curse was put upon them. If they are unlucky with crops, money, health, etc. it is blamed on witchcraft. I know that for many of these situations, there are other alternative answers for what might have happened. But many of these people believe in it so much that you would not be able to change their minds.
  So now, I want you to imagine a little boy about 5 years old. A happy, fun and energetic little boy who has lived a healthy life. But, he is growing up in a village where many people believe in witchcraft. One of his older relatives is a witch-doctor and is looking for someone to pass on the “Powers” to. None of the men in the family want to be responsible for the “Powers”, so the man finally decides to pick someone. He chooses the little boy’s dad. Then a problem arises. The dad does NOT want to be chosen, so he runs away from the Village. The witch-doctor is unhappy and decides that someone should be punished for the man refusing to receive the “Powers”. His eyes fall upon the little 5 year old boy whose life was once normal until this day. Even though his dad eventually came back to the village, it was too late. A “curse” had been put on the boy and he has never been the same.
He is now about 9 years old. He is considered mentally handicapped. He walks around the village either in a t-shirt or completely naked. Some people mistreat him, make fun of him and sometimes hit him. His family does not know how to take care of him with his mental disability, but they allow him to eat and sleep at home. The kids in the village do not play with him because he is considered to be possessed. So, day by day goes by for this little boy with no friends, no love, no clothes, and hardly any food. All of this because people believe in witchcraft.
  This little boy is Beautiful! When he smiles there is still a twinkle in his eye. He might not understand what people say anymore, but maybe he does. I want to believe that behind the blank look on his face, that maybe he is still in there somewhere. He is a child of God and there is a purpose for his life! Please pray for us that we can figure out a way to help him out of this situation!


Some other news and a few pictures:

Pastor Robert and some kids watching a DVD Sermon from my church back Home... Thanks Pastor Jerry!

I Love this picture of Mawazi and Mugwanya running through the grass to school with a little cow! Lol Oh life in the village! Ha Ha Ha

Some of the kids showing me how high they can jump... I love my Job! :o)

  I recently went with Doreen again to the Slums of Katanga where she has started up a Women’s Bible Study. We are working on trying to get a mentor/pen-pal program started between her group in Katanga and the MOPS group that my Sister Crystal, helps with in Lincoln City, Oregon. The women are so excited to start sending and receiving letters and emails. These women have been through so many hardships. Some have had children or spouses pass away, live in complete poverty, Can’t feed their children or pay for school fees, and some are very sick themselves.
  They just had one of the women pass away last month, and I found out that another lady in the group has AIDS and is not doing very well. Her 20 year old son is now in charge at home, helping raise the other kids, taking care of the mom, and driving a boda-boda to make money for their family (a boda is a motorcycle taxi). Please pray for the Katanga women and the MOPS Ladies as they all prepare their minds and hearts to grow in new friendships, new emotions, new heartaches, more knowledge of a different culture, and most of all for them to Grow spiritually with their new sisters in Christ as they all seek to spread God’s Word and make this world a little smaller! We are all very excited!
  Well, I will write more soon. But for now it is time for me to go to bed. It’s another big day Tomorrow at school. We are taking photos and getting the student profiles in order for us to start our Sponsorship program! (see information below!) Some awesome things are starting to Happen here in this little village, and I’m so excited to see what God has Planned for us! If anyone would like information about sponsoring a child, please either email me on Facebook or email me at she_she55@yahoo.com We will have their profiles ready in the next week or two if people are interested, let me know and then when we are done, you can choose which child you would like to sponsor from the pictures and photos we will have available! The sponsorship information will be listed below.
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support! I really appreciate it! You guys are amazing! I Pray that you have a wonderful Day! May God Bless You this week!
Love in Christ,
Alicia

Even though the ball is broken, Nanteza still has awesome enthusiasm when playing Soccer... She is one of the best players at school... Especially when the ball is in one piece :o)

******Child Sponsor Information:*******
$10 per month and $35 start up for their uniform, books, school supplies and shoes.
Or a one-time donation of $155 to cover the whole school year.
We will send you a photo and profile of your child.
You will receive updated reports and a letter from your sponsor child every 3-4 months.
Please consider praying about this opportunity that you have to help educate, befriend and Bless a little child all the way over here in the little village of Bukeka, Uganda.

The last two weeks...

Hi Everyone!
   Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. A big Thank you goes out to my amazing Sisters and Mom who keep my blog up to date for me even when I don’t have the ability to get online to write. I would be lost without them!
   As I write this, I am sitting in the dark. Once again, the power has gone out. I’m getting used to it because it is on a schedule of one day on then one day off… But every time we have power and I know it is about to go off, I still find myself praying that it will stay on. So, lets just hope that my laptop battery stays good!


   Well, a lot has happened in the past couple weeks. Some good and some bad. I will start off with the good stuff!
  

  Two weekends ago, I was at my host Mum’s house. Her daughter Doreen is getting married in January, and the families are starting to go through the traditional steps before the wedding. This meeting meant that the women cooked a BIG meal for the men in Issac’s Family and the men in Doreen’s Family. While the food was being prepared, the men all sat in the Sitting room discussing “The Bride Price”… The Dowry the Isaac will give… How many cows, sugar, rice, fabric, vegetables, etc. We were not told what they settled on, but we DO know that the meeting went really well and both sides were in agreement. Yay :o) In December, is their “Introduction”. The families and some friends get all dressed up in traditional clothing, and get together like an engagement party, but before eating or celebrating, the groom and his family have to give the dowry and other gifts to the Bride’s Side. Then the Bride’s family has to officially give the blessing saying that it is ok for the man to marry their daughter. It is far different from what I’m used to, but it is fun to be able to experience all of this!

   I went with my host sister Doreen to the ministry that she is starting with a group of ladies in the Slums of Katanga. There are 5,000 people and only about 6 outhouses in the whole slum. The shacks are so close together with small walkways in between them. The walkways are thinner than a hallway back in the States. There is no pavement, and because of the rain, the walkways are being washed away and turning into gutters… The ladies in Doreen’s Bible study are anxious to learn about God, the Bible and have started getting the desire to learn English.

   We are meeting with a lady this week who we are hoping can take care of the cow that will be purchased from the money donated by a friend in the U.S.
We are hoping that she will agree with the terms, and that we can keep the cow at her small farm and transfer the milk to the school every day from there. Please pray that she will say yes! If she does, then we will start contacting the person we know who we can buy the cow from. It is all very exciting! (This is not the real cow, but you get the picture, right??)


   And now for some hard stuff:
   Last week on Wednesday, we received the sad news that the father of one of our students passed away. Annette is 5 years old and is in one of our baby Classes. Her dad died in a town 30 minutes from the Village from a sudden problem with his intestines. It was very unexpected. Africa does not have the abilities to preserve a body like we do back home. Here, a body must be buried that day or the next day. Annette’s family had to come up with the money to transport his body home that day so the funeral could be on Thursday. I immediately called my Mom to ask people to pray for the family. Within about an hour after we heard the news, we had a donation of money to help pay for some of the funeral costs, and to help with some school fees for the kids. Teacher Madena and I walked from the school to the other side of the village to Annette’s House. I tried to prepare myself on the way there, but nothing could have prepared me for that experience.
   The men were all sitting outside the small house, and were very grateful to know that people were praying for their family. Then we took our shoes off and went into the house. The Father was laid out on a mattress on the floor in the sitting room covered in a blanket so only his face was visible. His wife, and other women in the family were surrounding him on the floor screaming and crying. Her mother has lost her husband, she does not know how to survive since her husband was the only one with a job. Where will they live, what will they eat, and how will they continue to have the kids go to school without being able to pay the school fees? These questions had been racing in my mind on the walk over, but all of that was forgotten when Madena pointed to where little Annette was, and what I saw broke my heart… a 5 year old little girl kneeling on the concrete floor next to her dad’s body screaming and sobbing her little heart out… not only has she lost her father, but her whole world has been turned upside down. Madena and I were crying because all we could do to comfort her was to hold her tight and and pray that God would send them comfort. Please pray for Annette’s Family as they work through the grieving process and come to terms with their dad no longer being here.

And now for some prayers requests!

* Annette’s Family!
* This week is when we give the kids their 3^rd term Exams. Yes, even preschoolers here are given a test every sememster to see their progress. Each teacher gave me an example test, and I wrote them out on my computer and we printed them off this weekend. I think they turned out really good. Now I just pray that the kids will do well on them!
* Please pray for Teacher Jennifer. 2 weeks ago, someone came to their house and stole her husband’s bicycle. It was his main transportation to work. Then a week later, someone broke into their house while they were sleeping. Thankfully he ran away when they woke up, but she is still pretty shaken up about it
* Continued safety traveling to and from the school.

   Thank you for your continued prayers for me and for Global Hands of Hope. I can feel your prayers and I appreciate them so much! You are all wonderful and I pray that you have a great Day! May God Bless You this week!
Love,
Alicia  

We will leave you with this thought:
 

Apples for Africa!!

Now, doesn't this just make your mouth water?? Our Caramel Apple Fundraiser is on RIGHT NOW! Our sister Crystal (Ooh La La Confections) makes THE BEST caramel apples...I'm not kidding. I've spent many a holiday gorging myself with these wonderful treats! And starting right now, you can place your order for the week of Thanksgiving. Wouldn't it be great to show up at your holiday party with a tray of these beauties? And all the proceeds will be going to Global Hands of Hope and Suubi Childrens Center!

Here is the info that Crystal wrote on her facebook page:

  Hello family and friends! As most of you know, my sister Alicia is over in Uganda working as a volunteer with Global Hands of Hope. She is a teacher at the Suubi Childrens Center in the village of Bukeka. The school opened just over a year ago and there are many needs. We have an amazing opportunity to love on this village through supporting Alicia, the volunteers and pastors that are working hard to create a safe and loving environment for the parents and children of Bukeka.
  Apples for Africa is one way you can show your support! You can order 1 or 12, its up to you! All the money we make from this fundraiser will be given to the Suubi Childrens Center. For every dollar you give, 16 bricks can be purchaced for the new school.
  I spoke to Alicia the other day and she already feels so blessed by the support you have shown her and the organization. God is working not only in Uganda, but He is moving in our hearts as well! IT IS AWESOME!!!! But I know we can do more! Please consider purchasing some caramel apples for the holidays! You know you like them!!!! Please email me at lilchef21@yahoo.com with your order today! Here are the types of Caramel apples available:

Apple Pie (caramel, white chocolate, cinnamon and sugar)
Peanut (caramel and peanuts with a chocolate drizzle)
Snowball (caramel, white chocolate and coconut)
Cookies and Cream (caramel, white chocolate, and Oreo cookie)
The Turtle (caramel, pecans and chocolate drizzle)
The Monster (caramel, choice of nuts, milk and white chocolate)
Chocolate Dream (caramel, dark choc, milk and white choc drizzle)

Individual apples $4.50
per dozen $48.00

The apples will be delivered to you the week of Thanksgiving! If you were wondering what you were going to take to that family get together...I THINK YOU JUST FOUND IT! Thank you for all your support!
God bless you!
Crystal

   So, there you have it! We are soooo excited about this fundraiser, and orders are already coming in. And don't worry wether you live in Dallas/Salem, the LC (aka Lincoln City) or Portland/Vancouver, we've got you covered. Just place your orders and I can't wait to see how God will use the money for HIS good!
  Thank you from all of us "Bodine" girs, and Global Hands of Hope!

 

Host family pictures and info

Alicia posted some awesome pictures of her host family. She is having such a fun time reconnecting with everyone, they truly are another family for her!

Ronnie and Ritah's son David and Isaac's daughter Stephanie

My host mum with grandaughter Stephanie

Patience and Benjamin

Doreen and Isaac's daughter Stephanie

   I know Alicia is working on an update for the blog, so much has been going on. I know that there has been some sickness going around at her school, and also she has had trouble with internet connection and power outages. We have had a lot of feedback from all of you wonderful people, and the word is spreading about the needs in Bukeka Village. Thank you! Thank you for your donations, for spreading the word, and mostly for all of your prayers! A lot of things are in the works for fundraising (see above), and my mom is getting organized with spreadsheets for donations. We welcome any ideas, and if you have any questions please email Alicia (she_she55@yahoo.com), my mom (salliebodine@gmail.com),  crystal ( lilchef21@yahoo.com ) or me (nikkihughes1@yahoo.com) . You can also comment right here on this blog and we'll get back to you! Keep your eyes on Jesus, He is faithful!