There is something about interacting with others that I TRULY enjoy. I’ve been reflecting and thinking about this year when it comes to meeting people on the race. I’ve realized my time with many will be short but I am also excited for the opportunities to even know these people whether it be for 5 minutes or a whole month. When I leave these places and people it makes me upset because all I want to do is know others more. To have them be apart of my life just for another 5 minutes because I want to know all about them and share conversation with one another. I see the potential and joy of talking to people and it gets me so excited. I gain knowledge from others and find so many levels of connection. There are so many lives in this world and so many different things that each one of us have experienced… & I wanted to share with you a glimpse of the people that have been apart of my life while here in Uganda.
Amanda AKA: Muzungu of the hour
This lady right here is phenomenal! She has been our voluntary host and honorary added teammate since day 1 in Rukungiri. She is Vice President of a nonprofit called Unified in Mission. Unified in Mission aims to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through child sponsorship, building clean and sustainable water solutions, and by utilizing aviation. If you’d like to find out more about them visit –> www.unifiedinmission.org
Amanda made our transition onto the field the bessstt. She’s our roomie and so much fun to be around. She honestly showed us all of her ways. Like where to find food, the bank, market, etc. Prices of items so we don’t get the “Muzungu Price”. Introduced us to so many wonderful people. She has been beyond hospitable with our time here. She’s a genuine human being that I personally think is hilarious AND she loves The Lord with all of her heart. She listens and is pretty wise. Amanda has been more than our host but apart of our World Race fam. She shared her heart countless of times and has spent many team time nights with us. Team Liora has laughed, cried, prayed and even celebrated a 25th birthday with Amanda. I can’t even begin to explain how thankful I am for her. She made Uganda feel like home for us. I know this won’t be our last time seeing Amanda, we will definitely be crossing each other’s paths in the future and I’m so excited to see where the Lord will be taking her!
Safina
Safina is a teacher at the Canon Beatrice Ruhindi Training Centre. We attend this skills school twice a week to spend time with the girls and learn along with them. I first met Safina when we had a Salon class and the girls were teaching us how to do twists in African hair. I was clearly struggling during this process and she joked around with me saying she was glad that she didn’t have my fingers. For the rest of the class that day Safina taught us a traditional Rwandan dance and in return we taught her the “Cup Song”. I had the privilege of getting to know some of her story and her transition from Rwanda to Uganda at a young age. She has a lot to share if you sit down with her and get her talking. Safina even shared with us some helpful Ikinyarwanda terms for our next month in Rwanda!
Evas
Evas works with a ministry called Chilli Children which tends to children who have special needs ages 18 and younger. She is an occupational therapist and has a very big heart and passion for children that are struggling with disabilities and don’t have access to proper care for their needs. She also desires to see people of any age with disabilities to be able to live life like any normal human being. Her ministry has been one of my favorites while being here. I’ve been able to interact with kids in their homes that are in the middle of nowhere. I’ve also spent time with a classroom of kids with special needs and a classroom communicating with deaf children. Getting to know Evas has been a wonderful opportunity. She has shared her heart countless of times with us. She is continuously trying to move forward in her work and that is something to be admired. If you’d like to be apart of her mission or to provide basic need supplies for these children, visit her website at www.pwdsbeyond18years.wordpress.com
Enoch
Enoch is our ministry host for our time here in Rukungiri. From the day he found our Facebook pages before heading out to Uganda to now, he has always welcomed us into the community as if it was our “home away from home”. He truly believes in us and our mission and we’ve been blessed by his welcoming heart and care. Enoch has a heart for people from many walks of life. He sees teen moms, street kids, disabled kids and others with a great potential. It has been a joy spending time with his family. He has made my first month on the race and my first time in Uganda an enjoyable one.
Seth
Seth is a good friend of ours! We were first introduced to him by Amanda and then realized that he is Enoch’s son. Amanda and Seth are best friends so he was around for the time he could before heading back to his University. Seth has been a very kind friend and is really nice to hold a conversation with. He would fit perfectly in America and is truly an American Ugandan. Seth has always told us, “It’s not goodbye.. just see you later!” Some wise words to remember as my team continues our journey on the race.
Isabella
Isabella is Enoch’s assistant and has worked with us when we do certain ministries such as translating for us at the clinic. She’s always available and is a fun person to talk to and be around! We were able to celebrate her 25th birthday with her, watch movies together and get to know about her life. I’ve enjoyed Isabella’s company and her heart for the Lord. She is very smart and is always looking “smart!” (smart is basically equivalent to beautiful around here!). Isabella, we will miss you!
Emma
Almost all of these people we have connected with are because of Amanda. She has amazing relationships with the people of Rukungiri and Emma just happens to be one of them! Emma has a produce stand at the market in town and always helps us shop for our food and makes sure we don’t get the Muzungu price. He has been so kind and helpful to all of us. Emma even invited us over to his home to meet his beautiful newborn, Samantha, and his wife. At his house we sat around a candlelit table as we passed the baby around, drank orange Fanta, read from the bible and prayed with his family.
Caroline
Caroline attends Canon Beatrice Ruhindi Training Centre skills school. She has been an absolute joy to get to know these past few weeks. Caroline always has a smile on her face and enjoys being around us Muzungus. Very easy to talk to and has taught me many of the skills she learns at her school. She is patient with us and can always make us laugh. She has big dreams and desires to be a journalists some day and travel the world. I know Caroline can do it and I can’t wait to see her out conquering this world. My team will miss her very much but hopefully this is only a “see you soon”. Love you girl!
John
John is probably the happiest Ugandan around. He came by our house one day filled with joy and happy to make new friends. John is very talented and wood carves. We can always catch John on a daily basis and he is always excited to see us. John is a very hard worker and is striving towards being a nurse. John has always been an instant friend to us and I’m going to miss the joy that he brings us daily.
Michael
Michael! We like to refer to Michael as the “man of all things”. Because he can basically do everything. Michael has a servants heart and is always willing to offer his time to us. He has cooked us countless meals and is very quick at starting our charcoal grill (it takes us over an hour to light that grill). Michael has made us t-shirts, gave us a lot of wisdom on the culture, taught us how to cook Chipati and Mendazi and is all around wonderful person. He is also guiding us on a African Safari this weekend and we are so excited for that! Michael is so helpful and we are beyond thankful to know him.
The Girls at Canon Beatrice Ruhindi Training Centre
These girls! They have brought laughter, taught us cultural dances and made ministry feel like a time to hangout and enjoy their company. I started to learn how to weave, knit, crochet, sew and even do hair with them. I may have not been able to talk to each one of them but being present with them has done so much. They each have a lot to offer and will be missed.
It has been a true honor to get to know the people of Rukungiri. Every moment spent here, every time I wave hi, every time I hear “A Muzungu!”, every car ride and even every time we eat Chipati.. I can’t help but think it all has been soo sweet, just like African honey.
