Journal Notes from Francine Argue
My 3 goals for this trip are:
1) Meet Boy Jake, the boy I have sponsored for 5 years
2) Deliver OCC (Operation Christmas Child) gifts personally to all HEED kids
3) Be helpful to both the boarding and the village schools
Here are a few notes from my trip!
3/10/10 Wednesday
Today was a great day! We were able to go to the Alpha and Omega boarding school (over 700 students) where the full care kids go to school. Zach and I met Boy Jake for the first time-the boy I have sponsored for 5 years. This was very special for me to see this little boy who I pray for and support financially. Just like Pinochio’s father says, “He’s a real boy!†I have seen pictures and read about what his life was like before HEED. Now, he is a happy, healthy boy-what a difference in him!
Zach was a superstar on the playground with all the children, especially the boys although the older girls especially thought he was very cute! I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen him have so much fun! He was dripping with sweat playing soccer with the boys and sometimes sitting or standing with a huge crowd all around him. As we were leaving the school grounds they were shouting, “Bye Zachâ€! It was so cute!
I held a long jump rope on one side with another child (they took turns) and they had so much fun jumping rope. They really enjoyed the 2 extra long jump ropes and the soccer balls we brought for them. The children here are beautiful!
The music class performed dances, they sang and played instruments. It was heavenly-really! They were in perfect harmony and they loved to sing! They sang some songs in their native language (Lugandan) and some in English. Their instruments were all unique (hand-made, I think) but were similar to the xylophone, stringed instruments, maracas and African drums. Their rhythm and dancing was so fun to watch!
Cheri was able to take a large First Aid kit to the school nurse with lots of extra first aid supplies. The nurse and headmaster (Mr. Kentu Pattson) were very grateful!
3/11/10 Thursday
I got to spend several hours observing the classes and playing with the children at the boarding school. I was able to observe 3 classes at length today-Grade 6, Grade 5, and Grade 4. The 6th grade class had close to 100 kids but they were soon going to make it into 2 classes. The 4th and 5th grade had 50-60 kids in each. The children are very well behaved and very respectful to their teachers.
The children are very welcoming and they stand when they are called on to answer a question. They also sing a darling welcoming song whenever a visitor enters their classroom. “Welcome all guests to your classroom†was one class’s #1 class rule! They all speak very good English and no vernacular (their native language) talking is allowed (rule #2 in the same classroom). The teachers mostly teach by saying things and the children (all of them-together) repeat back what the teacher said. When the teacher has a question for the kids most kids raise their hands and know the answer. The only school supplies each classroom has are a chalkboard, an eraser and chalk. They have very old posters (hand-made mostly and not laminated) hanging on the walls about different things they learn about in their class. One might be math formulas, another one a map of Africa with all the countries (they were studying East African countries).
I was able to talk in each of the classes about American schools, tell them that $2,ooo schillings=$1 and then I played “around the world†with them with math flash cards. They loved it but it took a long time for all the children to get a turn! These teachers have so many more challenges than teachers in the US!
Zach stayed with me in the 6th grade class but besides that, he just played with the kids. He went into a 7th grade class (without me) and actually helped some of them with finding the area of a circle and there were some things he learned from them! Zach is very popular with all the children (all ages) and he is clearly enjoying every minute at the school. It is so wonderful to have him with our team!
We had a special time after school today to appreciate all the teachers with small gifts we brought to them. The favorite items were the sunglasses, small candles, small kitchen towels and the Puget Sound flashlight key chains (that Julie brought). The headmaster was very complimentary of the HEED children-their academics and their behavior. This was great to hear! Very encouraging to us!
3/12/ 2010 Friday
Zach and I spent about 9 hours at the school today. I visited grades 2 and 3 today at Alpha and Omega. Each class has 50-60 students! I am writing down a lot of the posters that are in their classrooms and hopefully future groups that return can bring them laminated posters with very strong tape to put them up in their classrooms. The one thing I would recommend more than anything would be manual pencil sharpeners (large ones that could be nailed into the wall). I was in a 2nd grade class where I witnessed the teacher sharpening a student’s pencil with a razor! She told me she has to do it for all her students because of course they might cut themselves (she never has, amazingly)! Top (Kindergarten) class and grades 1 and 2 use mostly pencils and Grades 3 and up use mainly pens-I think because they don’t have to sharpen them!
I’ve been in most of the classrooms and I am very impressed with the staff at Alpha and Omega. The teachers are totally dedicated and very qualified to teach. There are several male teachers which gives the children positive male role models. The students are on task most of the time (they are human!) and they are making the most of this opportunity to learn with very little resources.
Around 3-5 pm the entire school had an assembly so different students could campaign and run for different offices and jobs at the school. 3 of the HEED children made speeches. They did well and they seem to be very well liked by their peers. After the assembly, we had all the HEED children with us in 1 of the classrooms and they each got to make 2 bracelets with letter beads to spell their name and their friends’ names. They loved this! We also had prayer all together and every one of the HEED kids prayed and said what they were thankful for and for their sponsors. It was precious! They have so little yet they are so thankful!
March 13, Saturday
This was the best day to me so far because we were able to spend about 8-9 hours straight with the kids because they were only in class until noon (on Saturday!). At 1st we met in 1 of the classes and I did my lesson on “In His Image†with the scripture “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful†Psalm 139:14. I told the story about how King Saul had become selfish and loved himself more than God so God sent the prophet Samuel (ISamuel 16) to Jesse to anoint 1 of his sons to be the future king. I lined up 8 of the HEED boys from biggest to smallest and I had Zach be Jesse and I was Samuel. I told how Samuel went down the line thinking the biggest, strongest son was going to be the future king and going all down the line of 7 of his sons. When Samuel got to the end God told him that none of those 7 brothers were to be king so Samuel ask Jesse if he had any other sons to which Jesse replied that he had 1 more but he was a small shepherd boy. But, because God looks at the heart instead of our outward appearance (the main point of my lesson), he told Samuel he had found the correct son to anoint in David as the future king. I then gave out small compact mirrors (with a pop-out brush inside too) and I talked to the children about how each of them was special and unique and how much God loves them. I told them they were made in God’s image, they were special and unique and they were a designer original in small parts where they repeated these things back to me as they were looking into their own mirrors. At the end I told them that every time they look into their new mirror I wanted them to remember our lesson and say those things to themselves so they will never forget it!
We were waiting on our bus so we gave out the small wooden crosses and different colors of permanent markers. They wrote their names on them and most of them wrote other wonderful things like, “Jesus saved me from my sins†or “Jesus loves me†or other great things.
Our bus finally arrived (a very nice one!) and we took all the HEED kids to Wonder World Water and Amusement Park. It was an amusement park with a few rides and a playground and inside play area too (Like a McDonald’s play land) and even a large dance floor where I was told William and others danced for Cheri and Julie! I wish I could have seen it!
Zach and I were busy swimming with the younger kids because we were the only ones with swimsuits and I was so glad to be in cool water on a hot day and even more blessed to get to swim with the small children who wouldn’t have been able to swim without an adult in the water! I was mainly with Tabby (Tom’s adopted daughter), Hannah, Agnes and Owen but Benjamin, Gideon and Boy Jake also spent a lot of time in the pool too. The best part of swimming with the kids was hearing Tabby squeal with delight every time she jumped into the pool to me! Her huge smile was so fun to see because she is normally very shy. Hearing her say, “Daddy, watch†to Tom was precious too.
After swimming I took the smaller ones to the small car ride where there were big smiles everywhere from the kids! Then we went to the big indoor play area and Zach and the kids had a great time but never any complaining or whining when we said it was time to go-or any other time either!
We took all 21 HEED kids (ranging from around 5-16 years old)to Mama Rabina’s guest house where we were all served a traditional African homemade meal-chicken (a rare thing because they give them eggs) with a beef yummy sauce, yellow rice, thin green beans and carrots and something like a think tortilla (I forgot the name of it). It was very good food! But before we ate, Tom asked the kids which child wanted to pray and Cam raised his hand and even though I couldn’t hear a word he said, it was beautiful to see.
The children got to have Fanta Orange Soda and have fresh pineapple too. Not one of the 21 kids said a word during dinner until they were finished because they were enjoying their meal so much! They used forks (and some knives too) and they normally eat with their hands (scooping it up from a bowl). I sat across from Jackson who nervously looked up at me as he was eating and trying not to drop rice or anything else. Most (if not all) of the kids went back for seconds. Jackson was the last one eating and he reminded me so much of Jacob –the amount of food he could put away and how slowly he ate and how he definitely enjoyed his food!
On the way back to Alpha and Omega School it was dark outside, the windows were open with a cool breeze and many of the children spontaneously started singing praise songs-some in English that we know and some in Lugandan (their native language). They did 2 and 3 part harmony all on their own without anyone leading them! It was truly heavenly. They obviously sing a lot!
When we got back to Alpha and Omega, we gave out the OCC care packages. My dream of seeing children open and enjoy these things that are collected all year had finally happened! Many of them hugged me and graciously thanked me. It was very rewarding but emotional too. They all promised to share with the other children at Alpha and Omega.
March 14, Sunday
This day was amazing! First we went to Mama Robinah’s kid’s street church. These children (It’s for kids but a few teenagers help lead worship) are from the slums of Kampala and they all walk to church by themselves-some holding a sibling on their back or holding their hand. Church starts at 7:30 a.m. so most of them would need to get up very early to get there on time. Their worship was precious and very moving to me-the words take on new meaning in this situation. They sang a song that went, “It’s not hard to do what’s right when you are walking in God’s lightâ€. These children have nothing but they love God and he is their joy! I was pretty much a crying basket case after their worship and somehow I was supposed to teach them! Whenever I start crying it is so hard to stop but somehow the Lord helped me get control of myself and I was able to teach the same “In His Image†lesson to these children. It wasn’t what I had planned to do, but it was the right thing. After the story, we gave the kids a piece of candy (“sweetie†to them) and then they received a cup of porridge (possibly their only meal that day). We also met an American missionary family who had 3 boys-the oldest was Zach’s age. The dad is the administrator/director of the African Children’s Choir. He helped lead worship part of the time with his guitar. They had been in Kampala for 1 year and they said they had 2 more years to go.
Then we went to Alpha and Omega’s chapel service. Jovia (one of the HEED kids) led the worship team! The school’s wonderful musical group did “At the Cross†with one of the children standing on a table with a small garment wrapped around his middle and he closed his eyes and held both arms out like he was on the cross during the song. It was amazing to me how personal their worship is. After worship, Julie spoke to about 600 of the students (all but the little ones) about how God had put Uganda on her heart many years ago and she had to walk in obedience one step at a time. I think it was great for all of the children (mostly HEED kids) to hear her whole story of why she is here often and how she is not only helping them but the entire village of Myaliiro where HEED has started a village school with around 225 students.
After Julie spoke we all went down to the “little†church (Alpha and Omega’s youngest children) with around 100 little ones from 3-6 years old. Julie told the story of adults crowding around Jesus and how children wanted to listen, see and touch him. I helped with the kids to act this story out and we told them how much Jesus loves children. Then I spoke for a little while about how they are made in the image of God. Zach and I also taught them to count to 13 in Spanish!
After both services we drove for 3+ hours to Jinji where we saw the source of the Nile River (we put our feet in) where Lake Victoria (one of the largest lakes in the world) and the Nile come together. We took a little boat cruise (like a large canoe) and learned about all the birds, trees and fish (mostly Talopi and perch). There was also a beautiful waterfall where we saw 2 different Africans go over it-one swam and the other went over it in a 1 person kayak (with lots of drama)!
March 15, Monday
We had a box of clothes for the older HEED girls who each got 2 outfits and the 2 Matrons got an outfit too-we had just enough! They all looked so beautiful in their new clothes! Thank you Gina Messenger!
March 16, Tuesday
We made the 4 hour trip to a remote village called Myaliiro. What HEED is doing with the children at Alpha and Omega and now in the village starting a school that now 225 children attending is astounding! The children performed (in beautiful English) for us. Cheri videotaped it. I could watch it a million times and never tire of seeing their sweet smiling faces singing songs of praise to God and the enthusiastic way they dance.
Tom Silas, the African man who works for HEED and drives us everywhere is so nice! He really takes good care of us and I know he is very tired much of the time because of our long days and he does all the driving. He is wise beyond his 20 “something†years and he is totally committed to the children at Alpha and Omega and in the village.
March 17, Wednesday
We took pictures of every child with a name card so Julie can get them sponsors and then we got to hand out the OCC packages! It was amazing to see their little faces! They were very grateful and they enjoyed everything so much! There was just enough for every student, every teacher and 1 toddler that was with a teacher that wanted one! We even had enough for absent children! It was very moving to me and really made me feel even more that this project is pleasing to God for these children.
These are some things I learned for the future when packing the care packages: don’t pack anything chewy like tootsie rolls, starbursts or laffy taffy because they don’t like anything stuck in their teeth! Balls of any kind are great and so are Frisbees, yo yo’s, school supplies and hard candy! Smarties are great because there are lots of individual pieces and they like to share! We need to try to avoid toys or puzzles with lots of pieces because many times they didn’t know what to do with them. We really need toothpaste in all the packages. Many did not get toothpaste and I felt terrible (we had run out).
Before the gifts I forgot to say that Julie spoke about the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly and how God changes us into something beautiful when we give our lives to him. Many (100-200 of the 225 kids) asked Jesus into their hearts after her message! I held up pictures of the different stages that a caterpillar develops into a beautiful butterfly.
March 18, Thursday
Today when we got to the village Cheri and I passed out de-worming pills (with water) to the children and we took the pictures of the children who were absent yesterday when we did all the other children. Cheri typed up lists of all the children at the village school by their classrooms from a master list from Rusty. This will be very helpful for Julie to use in the future and for the individual quilt squares we are going to do for each child. Our plan is to make a few different quilts with every child having a quilt square with their name on it. We will do one quilt for the full-care kids who wrote their own names on their squares. Amanda Sandico will sew the squares together onto a blanket and then I plan to ask Terry Green to make them into quilts! It will be so neat to know that each square represents a sweet African child that we met and that touched our lives!
There were 2 boys named James (about 5 or 6) and Ivan (about 3 or 4) that were absent yesterday because they were attending their mother’s funeral! This was the saddest story but I was so glad to give them OCC care packages that we had saved for absent students. They slowly enjoyed the “sweeties†with brown somber eyes. I got out the little football that was in one of their packages and played catch with them. I got James to smile and Ivan to laugh. I hope the toys can be a good distraction. James has to take care of his little brother and no one is in charge of them. It’s absolutely heart-breaking!
Evaluation
This was an incredible experience that Zach and I will never, ever forget! We have so much to be thankful for in the United States. It seems so unfair that we have so much and the Africans have so little. However, in many ways, they are blessed far more than all of us! They live by faith every single day and appreciate everything that is given to them. They are continually nice, polite and very loving ALL the time! In many ways I want to be more like them! It is my responsibility to use my resources and my life to help children like the ones I met on this trip. I hope to speak for HEED about what I experienced and I hope to help bring more sponsors to the children of Myaliiro. I will continue to work collecting and purchasing items for OCC year round for those care packages that help to let the children that go to the village school know that they are loved and special and that the greatest gift ever given was Jesus Christ. I also hope to prepare future teams with educational materials that will really help the teachers at the boarding and village schools. I will continue to pray for Julie, HEEd and for Tom and the incredible journey that is happening and will continue to happen. I will pray for more Africans to come alongside Tom and Mama Rabina to assist with all that needs to be done. I will pray for Godly men and women to hear the call to help the village children in Myaliiro. We are all called by God to go and make disciples of all nations-this can look different for all of us. We can use our talents that God has given us and God will show us how to give back to Him. Sometimes he will use our weaknesses and we don’t always like this. Whatever His will, whatever his way, I want to do the will of God!
See the pictures of their trip at www.heeduganda.org
At the bottom of our homepage we have a link to Zach Argue’s presentation from his trip to Uganda.
