A Mzungu! A Mzungu!

5/16- Wednesday

            Today we were able to visit the Good Shepherd School, which is sponsored by the church we went to on Sunday. As our van was getting close, we saw the familiar pointing and chanting of “Mzungu! Mzungu!” (White people) We got out of the van and walked up to the school as kids starting popping out from everywhere! Many ran up to us just to touch our hand or give us hugs. The teachers called the students into the main room and had the school choir preform for us. They first sang a song about how happy we were there has their visitors. I was once again so overwhelmed by their hospitality. Kids not in the chorus came up and sat in our laps and played with our hands, analyzing each finger. The chorus then preformed the local dance we had seen the day before with authentic grass skirts and African drums! 

Me and sweet Stella!

They then wanted us to teach them an American song, so we taught them the Hippopotamus song and Down By the River. After the assembly we had a few minutes to just play with the kids and take pictures, which they loved! They would pose and say “Me! Me!” then at least five other kids would hop in the picture too. They loved looking at the playback images on the cameras! Needless to say, we all have a plethora of beautiful pictures on our cameras of these sweet children.

            In the afternoon we went to the Mengo girls home again. As our van pulled in, there were about seven kids that started chasing the van chanting “A Mzungu! A Mzungu! A Mzungu!” This time all in sync, and literally a chant. Melia said it remineded her of the aliens in Toy Stoy and how they have a look of awe on their face as they all chant, “The claaaaaawww!” It was true. Today, we were the claw. It was really funny. The girls weren't back from school yet so we played with the neighborhood kids, who were adorable! The girls got back few by few, each greeting us again with a “You are most welcome!”

The local dance!

            After a few minutes I went back to one of the bedrooms to find about six girls hanging out. I asked what they had been doing and they said they had been singing, so I asked if they would sing for me. They sang mostly church songs and a few Lugandan songs. Melissa walked back to the room and the girls asked us to sing the national anthem! The duet was a rough one, sorry America. But they loved it! They then sang us their anthem. They asked for us to teach them a song, so we taught them several fun songs, then Melissa taught them “Set a Fire,” which I love! It was so beautiful to hear their sweet voices sing one of our favorite songs. One thing I love about people here is that they sing LOUD, regardless of singing ability. It’s awesome. A lyric from the song that was so fitting for today was, “There’s no place I’d rather be, then here in Your love.” Being with those girls is dwelling in God’s love!

            One girl, Stella, came and sat by my towards the end of the afternoon. Stella is 18 and in her last year of school, planning to go to University for Engineering. She is a dedicated student and explained to me that since Cornerstone pays school fees, they can honor that by being disciplined and making good grades. To Ugandans, school is a gift, and they love going! They realize what a privilege it is, and take it seriously. I just kept thinking about how many lessons Americans could learn from Ugandan ideals. This is just one example of things I have learned from them. Stella is truly a woman of God and great faith who recognizes her loses in her life, but is not defined by them. Instead she is rising above her circumstance to better herself and bless everyone around her.

Some of the sweet kids at the school

            When we got back from the home, we ordered pizza! Which is different than American pizza, but still good! It was a nice change from all the rice we have been consuming! Tonight I am thankful for pizza! I am thankful for small children who think my white fingers are the best thing since sliced bread. I am thankful for Stella and how God spoke to me through her today. I am thankful for songs that bridge the gap of unfamiliarity and different cultures. And I am thankful for a God who love never runs dry, as He pursues each of us individually, from Tennessee to Kampala, 7,000 miles “ain’t no thang,” and that’s not even the half of it!