we're such muzungus

hello cyberspace...this is jenny reporting.

i must say that i have no idea what to write about, but sarah lee and kate insisted that i make an appearance on the blog. summing up stuff is so difficult for me, especially when every day (slash every hour) i experience something new and crazy. but i'll make my effort.

we just got back from swimming - sarah lee and i begged to go in lake victoria (the 2nd largest lake in the world) but Wyclef, our bodyguard, insisted that it was too dangerous. whatever, we plan to do it tomorrow morning. =) so anyway, Wyclef took us to a local pool (which was an experience in itself) and we swam there. Wyclef is pretty much our tour guide, bodyguard, chauffeur, and amazing friend, all in one. he is a university student here, and works with STAO in the summer. we hang out with him and his friends all the time during our freetime, and it's been the coolest thing to have local friends. he took us to a crazy ugandan concert last night...there were tons of performers and the main act, Ragga Dee, didn't even come on until 2 AM. supposedly he's one of the most popular singers in uganda. he was dressed as saddam hussein, and his dancers were wearing george bush masks. ??? it was a crazy concert, with crazy dancing (these people sure can shake it), and fun to hang out with a bunch of ugandans.

as for the real reason why we're here...i'm enjoying hanging out with the children so much! really, i can't find words to express the joy it get from them and the amount of fun i have with them. somehow the language barrier means nothing, and we just laugh and play all the time. they call me "muzungowange," a combination of the lugandan word for "white person," and "sister." it's hard for me to realize their circmstances when i'm with them because they're so full of joy, and sometimes i wonder why my heart isn't breaking more for them. i have to keep reminding myself that these kids have lost their parents to AIDS, and many of them have the disease themselves. it's so so so sad, yet so cool that they can be so joyful through it all.

for my faithful ultimate teammates who are reading this - the ugandans have the claire suver finger snap thing down to a t. it's amazing! hopefully when i come back i'll be able to show you a little of my skills.

READ THIS PART - IT'S IMPORTANT: STAO is in great need of money to finish a building on their property that will serve to house about 50 more orphans. This is such a tangible way to help this amazing ministry. We want to collect $5000 US to provide the materials necessary to finish this project. Will you help us? If you're interested in giving, send checks to my lovely mother, Susan Abegg. Here's the addresses:

In Canada:
2277 Olympia Place
Abbotsford, BC V2S 7R5

In the USA:
PO BOX 1985
Sumas, WA 98295

kwagalagno. (i love you very much.) really, i do. thanks for reading!!!