5/26

      We woke to the full force of northern Uganda's rainy season. Because of the morning downpour, our earlier activities were moved from the fields to inside. The activities included two simple team-building games where we partnered up with some of the on-site staff and competed against them.  Integrated with both of theses games were biblical lessons. For example, we were reminded of the importance maintaining focus on our purpose in Jesus to avoid temptations and distractions. These distractions can often be detrimental to our personal and social spiritual pursuits and callings. After this the rain had subsided, and the boys and girls split up. The boys led a soccer clinic for local students while the girls visited with the young ladies of the Christine House of Anointing. Christine's house, which is a home for girls with difficult pasts, was a great experience. We met with the girls and shared scripture and our stories to encourage them. We traded off some worship songs with them and the girls preformed a skit for us showing us some of their cultural norms. Next we had a nail painting party with the girls! Shoutout to Christine Faro for sending some nail polish along with us! It was a big hit and the girls loved it. To close out our time with the girls we prayed with them and they taught us a traditional Ugandan dance. It was an awesome experience to share God's love with one another. We were moved by the way He is working in the girls lives and how much He loves each one of us.

      After lunch, we had some hands on experience with gardening and construction. We planted soybeans and passion fruit. We then helped in the construction of the future daycare. First, we mixed red dirt and dry cement in a big pile. Then, we shoveled the mix into a man-powered brick press. In all, we created around sixty bricks which, after drying for a week, will be added to the walls of the daycare.

      We drove to a remote village where Coach Faro got to meet his sponsor daughter and her family. The encounter was amazing, and we were able to pray for the future of the family. On the way back to the hotel, we visited the vocational school of The Christine House. There, we met eight girls who were being taught hairdressing, baking and tailoring.

Aloysius and Esther joined us for dinner and shared stories of their move to Gulu and the growth of their ministry there. Overall, it was an incredible day.

Love, 

AROMA Uganda 2016

(Kirby and Liv)