Visiting my Compassion child

If you don't live in Grants Pass, then you wouldn't know that it straight up poured yesterday! Which was wonderful and glorious because of all of the wildfires in the area, not only to help with the fires, but also to help get rid of the smoke for a while! I could see the sunset last night! And blue sky!! It was so peaceful, and finally felt like a real summer night again. It's crazy that in just a few weeks, I can forget how beautiful my surroundings are.

So as I was driving to work in this deluge, I was remembering when it would rain in Uganda. I chuckled to myself as I recalled what would happen when it would rain in Uganda, compared to what happens here. Here, life goes on. Throw on a raincoat and boots maybe, dance in the rain if you will, but in general, life goes on. Not in Uganda though. Some things I miss, others I don't. It was always frustrating that the lightest sprinkle would cause the power, and therefore the already finicky internet, to go out. No one went out in the rain either; life kind of came to an abrupt temporary hault. This seemed silly to us Americans, but I actually (surprisingly) adapted to that thought process! Some mornings when I heard rain on our metal rooftop (which makes the rain QUITE loud), I would lay in bed a bit longer and wonder if I should take my chances and go late to class since our professor was probably going to be late anyways (remember, the life stopping kind of thing.) As much as I would get frustrated that the power/internet would go out, and no one would go anywhere in the rain, a part of me appreciated it. It was a forced stillness, a reason to stop and appreciate life and those you were with. Instead of rushing to use the internet and get on facebook, we would stay in the dining hall and talk with friends, because hey, I couldn't go out in that rain and risk getting my braids/weave wet! Ain't nobody got time for that!



This downpour also reminded me of an incredible day in the mountains of Uganda, when I got to meet Rita, the girl I sponsor through Compassion International. WHAT A DAY!  First of all, can I just say that God is crazy cool. The family He orchestrated for me to stay with on my rural homestay in Kapchorwa work for a local Compassion center, and knew the staff that came to pick me up! First, let me back track a bit. When I booked my flight to Uganda, I booked my ticket for a week after the program ended--not knowing anyone in the program or anyone in Uganda, but figuring I would want that extra time. I tentatively planned that during that week I would visit Rita. During my rural homestay in Kapchorwa, upon talking with my host parents, they were familiar with the site Rita was sponsored through, even though it was a 2-3 hour journey away, and offered me to stay with them if I came back. Of course I wanted to see them again, so it was a win win, and such a cool thing to have connections like that that fit my plans.

All that to say, the day I met Rita, it rained. It took us about a 3 hours drive to reach the center; it wasn't so far away, but the road we took was very bumpy, and often only one lane. This means we had to wait for the MIA driver who left his car in the middle of the road to come back, we had to wait in the traffic jam when we got to a village center where the market was taking place, complete with loading and unloading of produce trucks, and and we had to make our way through slippery roads.

(Go ahead and click play and let the sounds of Rita and her friends singing be the background for the rest of this post.)

With Rita and her friends in the car

Once we reached the Compassion center, I stepped out of our vehicle to see a young woman excitingly running towards me. I say woman, because in all honesty, I am embarrassed to say I did not recognize Rita! I was expecting a girl much younger than this mature, well dressed 16 year old. She had a small bouquet of flowers she had picked for me, and after hugging, we walked with linked arms into the center. Meeting each other was a reason to celebrate! So she brought along three of her closest friends for the day as well. They welcomed me with songs, and then we all went around the room, Compassion staff included, and shared a bit about ourselves. We ate, the staff showed me the center and some of the projects they do there, and they gave me a necklace one of the students had made. The center teaches the kids usefull skills, such as farming, sewing, bead work, and weaving so that they are able to create a source of income for themselves when needed. (For more information about how Compassion works and what they do for the kids, you can read my previous blog about it here. I also had the privilege of getting my internship placement at a local Compassion center in Mukono, which is what that post is about.)

Hugging and dancing with her sisters

Next stop: Visiting Rita's home and family! The rain had taken quite a toll on the roads, and there were a few hills where the wheels were spinning, the car started slipping, and everyone got silent. After at least 20 minutes, we arrived. I knew we were close before I could see the house, though, because I began to hear that high pitched shrill of excitement all Ugandans know and love (ask me to do it for you if you want to know ;) ), and when we reached the house everyone was dancing. I was met at the car door by three of Rita's older sisters, as they grabbed my hands and we danced together. (Welcome to the world of Jessica's happiness!) After finally making it down to the house, and being welcomed many times, I got inside and sat on the couch and realized I was meeting ALL of Rita's family. It was so humbling to see that so many people wanted to be there, and to experience all of that with everyone was pure joy. I met Rita's sisters, brother in laws, nieces and nephews, cousins?, uncles, aunts, parents, grandparents.. basically anyone you could imagine was there. It was a par-tay! But on a serious note, after more dancing and singing, they went around the room and shared about themselves and how Compassion and the sponsorship has blessed them. Truly humbling. For someone who doesn't really cry, I was on the verge of tears (which is my general emotional brink). When it got to Rita's mom though... phew! She didn't speak English, so through translation, she got up and came over to me and said that she couldn't say anything to me until she hugged me. So dang humbling. Then, what she did next caught me by surprise. In her gratitude, she began to pick me up! This tiny woman lifted me off my feet!! I was dying laughing!! As was nearly everyone, and she finished that display of affection with none other than dancing with me :) I SO wish I had pictures of this!

Rita showing me the letters she had saved from me

After sharing about myself, 'sending greetings' to them all from my families (American and Ugandan), I shared with them how God has always provided for Rita's sponsorship. I told them that there were times I didn't have money to send, but that I would be given a job with just the right amount of payment to send to her. The whole of the conversations that afternoon were a true testament that God is good, and all glory points back to Him. I was so blessed to be able to share with them that God is my provider as well, and in providing for me, I have been able to help provide for Rita. That's a cool thing to think about!

We finished all this off with another big meal prepared by Rita's family. What another AWESOME experience, to be able to share a meal with her family! Sorry, I'm kind of re-processing that fact to myself again and blown away by all that I got to do.

Some of the food they prepared

The calf they recently bought!

When we were done with the meal, Rita showed me her room, and some of the things the sponsorship has been able to provide for her family. So check it out. I sent a small amount of money as a family gift a few years back, with which they bought a few chickens with. After selling eggs from the chicken, they had enough money to buy a rooster. Then, once they sold enough baby chicks, they bought a goat. And from the goat's milk, they saved enough money to buy a calf. How great is that?! And they still have the chickens, rooster, and goat too!! If you haven't decided for yourself yet, Compassion really is a great organization.

Saying goodbye to Rita came all too suddenly. I had just met this vibrant young woman and her family, and really wish I could have spent more time with all of them! I wish I could have stayed with them in their village for a few days. But I had to go back. I am so thankful for the time that I had with Rita, her family, and her friends, and so thankful that I was able to meet them! Come to find out, the center Rita is sponsored through is just about ten years old, and I was the first sponsor visitor to come. The staff told me after we left that Rita's father will be treated with so much more respect throughout the village because I was a guest in their home. (To be honest, I struggle with this. I don't like the paternalistic feeling, but I guess it's hard to expect different as an absentee international sponsor. I'm just glad that they are able to benefit more.)

Giving each other gifts and pictures

Her home

With Rita's brother in law?, mom and dad

The whole gang! Or at least all who fit in the picture

Such a beautiful young lady

Saying goodbye :(

Upon returning home in Kapchorwa, it had started to rain again. I was fine with walking the five minutes from the road to my house by myself, but a few of the local kids who were getting water at a well took interest in me and wanted to go with me. I assured them I was fine (a few of them actually spoke perfect English, especially for their young age), but they wouldn't take no for an answer. Come to find out, I did need them to walk me home! The path was way too slippery to go solo. (For comparison, Ugandan mud can be compared to a freshly waxed wooden floor.) I soon ditched my shoes, and "stepped down" (aka walked barefoot), to which the kids thought was hilarious! White girl in a skirt, walking barefoot through the mud, through a village in the mountains of Uganda, having kids help drag me up the slippery hills in the rain? Oh, I definitely got time for that. ;) As we were helping each other walk, chatting and laughing as we were slipping along, I was also laughing out of pure joy in the situation God was allowing me to experience. He really gets me. :) Overall, that day is going to go down in my history books.

The crew that helped me walk home :)

When my host family saw me, traipsing with at least ten kids in tow, having 'stepped down', drenched and muddy, all they did was smile and laugh with me; I'm pretty sure they get me. :)

My host family from Kapchorwa! (and Sam, a friend from the program who traveled with me)

Just a few more words I want to share. Sponsorship is a thing beyond myself. God tugged on my heart to sponsor a child when I was in the 7th grade. From the encouragement of a teacher, Mrs Ward, I took a packet from chapel in faith that I would be able to sponsor Rita. My parents didn't know how I, as a 13 year old with no income, was going to be able to sponsor a child, but I didn't give up. I took a donation jar to my dance group through church, I took one to my classmates at school. Like I shared above, I didn't have any kind of income for a good few years. There were many times I didn't know how I was going to be able to send that months sponsorship, but like clockwork, God would provide a babysitting gig or a lawn to mow, and I would get almost to the dollar what I needed to send. Absolutely NO ONE is too young or too poor, or whatever the reason might be, to make a difference. All you need is a willing heart, and God will do the rest. If you have any questions about Compassion, I would love to answer them for you! If I have convinced you to sponsor a child (hallelujah!) and want to know how, click here.
When I was 13, I chose a packet of a girl from Africa-- because that's where my heart has always been. God knew what He was doing. He was orchestrating things all along.

I want to send a special thank you to everyone who has helped sponsor Rita. This blog was for you! You helped do all these things, you helped make all of this possible. So to Sonshine girls, my freshman class in high school (she still has our class picture we took in Mr L's class that I sent to her by the way!), Lisa Ward, those who gave me jobs when I needed them, my parents for helping when needed, and Shawn for supporting Rita while I was in Uganda--Thank you.