About three and a half years ago, I started feeling led towards Africa. To Uganda in particular. After a lot of research, I found an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda that cared for babies up to 5 years old. I applied online, and started the process of preparing to go overseas for two months. While doing this, I found Christie Magera's Blog online, and after finding out that she was moving to Uganda, I sent her a friend request on facebook. After chatting a bit with her, she offered to pick me up at the airport when I arrived in Uganda and drive me to Jinja. I gladly accepted, and asked if I could stay with her and her family for a week while in Uganda.
On March 2nd 2011, I arrived in Uganda at about 9pm after traveling for nearly 24 hours. I was met by George and Christie, and drove the three-ish hour trip to the small village of Bugabo where they lived. I spent a rather emotional first night in Uganda, beyond tired from the trip and missing my family, with whom I had never been more than an hour apart. But the next morning I woke up to..... Africa. A beautiful sunrise, kids pumping water from the borehole (well) and a feeling of belonging. I had only been in the village for a few hours and I already loved it. Way too soon it was time to load back up and make the three hour trip from the village to the orphanage in Jinja. I planned on returning to Bugabo for a week at the end of the month. It would take many blog posts to describe all the feelings and experiences of the next two months, so I will attempt to condense it. :)
After a couple weeks at the orphanage I began to seriously think through the reasons I had come to Africa. And the conclusion I came to was......... I came to love. I wanted to deepen my understanding of what it meant to love completely, unconditionally, with my whole heart. I wanted to grow, and be stretched in ways that might be uncomfortable. Unfortunately, that was not happening in Jinja. Now, don't get me wrong, the orphanage I was at is a wonderful ministry that is working hard to care for kids, and to adopt/ resettle babies with families either in Uganda or Internationally. But I didn't feel like I was really connecting to the kids or caregivers. I was having a good time, playing with babies, going to church and bible studies with the other volunteers, and meeting other missionaries that lived in Jinja, but still......There just seemed to be something missing. I felt my heart being pulled back to that little village that I had barely gotten a glimpse of when I first arrived. Towards the end of March, Christie and George came back to Jinja to this spot, to get away for awile, visit, and play with their kids.
It was a Sunday, so we met at church and I asked if I could go back with them to the village that evening. They happily agreed, and that night I was back in Bugabo.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words...... So here are some pictures from my first week in Bugabo.
Before I left for Africa, I decided to sponsor one of the kids at the school that the Magera's run (and live right next to) This picture is of the first time we met. Her name is Miria.
I love the expression on Miria's face in this picture. So sweet. I also had the privilege of meeting Miria's family! 
Baby Christian. He was born the first full day I was in Bugabo. His mom had some complications and I rode along with Christie and George as they rushed his mommy and daddy to the hospital. Thankfully, everything turned out wonderful, and they went back home the next day. :)
Before and after school time, you can always find kids hanging out on the Magera's porch!
Visiting with Baby Christian's family a few days after he was born.
Me and Jessie (my wonderful traveling companion and partner in adventures) planting some squash and tomato seeds I brought from the States.
After the week was over and it came time to go back to Jinja....... The more I thought about it the more I dreaded leaving. My heart had found a home in this place. Christie and George decided to name the new ministry they were starting, "Ekubo" which means "The Way" in Luganda. They weren't following their own way, but God's. I could see it in every part of life there. There was definitely a struggle going on against the darkness that continually tried to creep in, but the Light was always stronger. God was doing huge things in this tiny village, and I was delighted to be able to see it. The School was one of those things. Ekubo Christian Academy. 300 children from the village were receiving an education, and learning about Jesus at the same time! Many of these kids were/are from Muslim homes. My heart smiled every time I heard them in school praying together or singing about the love of Jesus.
Needless to say, I did not return to Jinja. I prayed about it, and decided that I would stay in Bugabo. I spent the last week of March and all of April 2011 in the village. It would take quite a few posts to write about everything that happened in my life in that month, so I will conclude the post here, but if you want to read about a few of the things that took place during that time, you can read this post, "A Basket of Avacados" and this post, "How I Arrived at this Place"
I have continued to watch God grow Ekubo Ministries in the last three years. They have expanded the school, built wells to bring fresh water to those in need, started community programs to help moms earn money to support their families, built a children's home, provided discipleship programs for local pastors, and much, much more to help their community and to share the Gospel of Christ! Please prayerfully consider joining in to support this Ministry. Pray for the work they are doing in Uganda, and if God leads you, give financially. There are 7 days left of the $25,000 matching grant, so if they get that by the end of the month, they will have $50,000, and every bit will be going towards their school, Ekubo Christian academy. To learn more about Ekubo, visit their facebook page or their website- www.ekuboministries.org
