Uganda – June 22, 2009 (Victoria Oliver)

We have been in Agape Children’s Village for a few days now and it is different than Kaihura, to say the least. As soon as my feet hit the ground I met a girl named Joyce (Coincidence? Haha.) who told me to stay in House 4. There are eight houses all together here. These houses are not what you are thinking a house for a children’s village in Uganda would look like. I would be happy to live in a house like this. They are very nice. Only four of them are being used, 2, 4, 7, & 8. I found out that I was staying in House 7 with Sarah Beth, John, Davis, and Mrs. Riedell. When we first headed over to the house we met all of the children and the house mother. Our first impression of the house mother was not a good one. She seemed extremely harsh and somewhat quiet. Well, we were very wrong. She is wonderful and very smiley and so sweet and always willing to help us.

We walked into the house and realized that we were not in Kaihura anymore. I looked up and saw a TV. Yes, a TV. Oh, wow. I am talking about a television … a working television. I could not believe it. Anyways, we sing here before meals and pray together in the “living room” and then each night one of the kids does a devotion for everyone. It is really cool to see each of these kids get up each night and speak in front of everyone. The first night a little boy named Robert talked about the parable of the lost son.

Oh, and one more thing about life here. Despite the fact that there is no toilet seat and I have finally conquered the hole after three weeks in Africa, there is a light in the bathroom. What? Yes, a light. You can actually see here! The difference between the two places is incredible. This place is like a resort compared to Kaihura. The atmosphere here in general is very different. A lot of that is probably because the children here have so much more and they see mzungus (white boy, in translation, but it really means anyone who is not African) all the time. I was sitting on my bed the other day with Maureen, Harriet, and Prossy pigging out on some cookies that I had bought and they were telling me that every child here has a sponsor and that some people from the UK come and stay a month every year with them. I thought that it was interesting.

So, our time here is running out and it is really sad. While I could have stayed for another two years in Kaihura I am kind of sad that we have such a short amount of time in Agape Children’s Village! The girls in mine and Sarah Beth’s house are wonderful. We bought all of us matching bracelets at the craft market yesterday and the day before that we had a make-up party with the older girls and tonight we are painting nails! The stories of the children here are insane. Last night Sarah Beth heard the story of Edith, the girl in the bunk next to me, and she relayed it to me this morning. John also told us the story of another little boy called Brian and Emma shared one from another little girl. I am not going to write the stories here, but these children break my heart. They are so wonderful and sweet and sometime you forget that they have backgrounds and stories of why they ended up here. These children have gone through so much and it is heartbreaking to hear it and to actually know them by name and have a bracelet that matches theirs! People can sit at home and read chain e-mails with a story about a girl in Africa, blah, blah, blah, and say, “Oh, that is sad.” Then they go on with their lives. It is so different to know them and live with them and know what they have been through.

Witchcraft is a big deal here too. The only thing that I ever really knew about it was what is in the movies, but it is real here! Some of the guys, apparently, walked right by a witch doctor’s house on the way to the well. Yesterday in church, a woman asked for everyone to pray about the child sacrifices. Child sacrifices. I mean, I knew that people still did that some places in the world, but now that I am in a community with a witch doctor and a shrine down the road it is eye opening. Please pray for these children who are victims to witchcraft and night dancers and who knows what. But do not freak out, parents. I am not sure if I should have written that because some of you are probably freaking out right now, but I have no filter. We are not in danger here, do not worry. Haha.

Change of pace … While I will be happy to be home when I get there, it breaks my heart to think about that right now. I love it here so much and I love these kids. My old friends in Kaihura and the new ones I have made here. Dr. Dirk said something the other day that I thought was very relevant. I am trying to remember so it will not sound as good when I say it, but too bad. This is not one trip, it is twenty some different trips because each person’s heart is being impacted differently by each one of these children and this experience. Okay, that was just my version of what he said. Anyway, I have so much more to say, but since I already wrote more than last time I should probably stop. Oh man, I tried so hard not to ramble. Too late. Okay, final thought. I love it in Africa and it is so beautiful and it broke my heart to leave Kaihura and it is going to break my heart to leave here. Now I am off to paint the school!

P.S. I miss everyone so much! I am sending my love in the form of a computer screen!

Victoria Oliver