Yet another of the many reasons I'm thankful that God gave me brothers, even though I (sometimes) wished for sisters :) @awebzy #replacingmyheadlight #brothersarethebest
Misplaced Lens Cap
No title available
Sweet Seals For You, Always

Kaledo Art

Love Begins

Discoholic 🪩

#extradirty
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
taylor price

Kiana Khansmith
Game of Thrones Daily
Sade Olutola
Today's Document
art blog(derogatory)

oozey mess
h

Origami Around
Xuebing Du
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
seen from United States
seen from United Arab Emirates

seen from United States

seen from Malaysia
seen from Canada

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Lebanon
seen from Cambodia

seen from Brazil

seen from Algeria
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Germany
@seattletokampala
Yet another of the many reasons I'm thankful that God gave me brothers, even though I (sometimes) wished for sisters :) @awebzy #replacingmyheadlight #brothersarethebest
Pretty exited about my new tshirt! "I used to think you had to be special for God to use you, but now I know you simply need to say yes." --Bob Goff #lovedoes
Tomorrow I leave Uganda after 3 wonderful months here. I will miss the sunshine and beautiful scenery, the pineapples and mangos, and all the singing and dancing. But most of all, I will miss these beautiful faces and the rest of my new African family!
On Tuesday, we had a talent show! The kids' talents varied from gymnastics to castle building to drumming, and it was awesome! We also made a photo booth where we took a ton of really silly pictures. We had to say goodbye to Niomi the next day, as she went home to Canada, but it was a really memorable time that we all had together before she left! We will miss her so much!
To end the school term, the kids' school had a sports day and graduation for the Top Class on Sunday! I was so excited to be able to attend, and got to fulfill my dream of being an embarrassing mom by cheering on and waving at my kids :) We also had five kids from Rafiki in Top Class, who graduated and will be starting primary school in January! They are (from left to right): Cocus, Annet, Fauziya, Brenda, and Esther. In being there I was also reminded of the fact that if you are to afraid of looking silly, you will miss out on so many life experiences and funny stories to tell. :) When we first arrived, as the only mzungus (white people) out of everyone there, the emcee of sports day said into his microphone "Little Rina is even becoming international! I have just seen some white parents near me. Clap for them! You are very welcome." Niomi and I could not stop laughing, probably out of both amusement and embarrassment. But, it only got more ridiculous because when it was time for all the primary kids to march, they called out the "guest of honor" who tapped me on the shoulder and said "come, we will march as a team." After confirming the fact that he was, in fact, asking us to march with him in front of all the parents in students there, I did the only thing I could - I got up from my seat and drug Niomi with me! All eyes on us, we marched behind the guest of honor and one other guy, trying to stay serious while seriously cracking up on the inside. We couldn't hold it together, though, when the emcee was explaining what was happening and described us as the two white ladies who are friends of Little Rina. I looked out at the sea of parents and felt like it was one of the silliest moments of my life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! I still laugh just thinking about it.
Some guy I ran into said you should walk through life as though your feet are kissing the earth. I tell him he really shouldnât use the word should. Yeah, the irony of that is not lost on me. But, hey, neither is the sharp edge of his point: The week that a couple thousands people are washe
This blog post was shared with me by my friend Karen, and it really impacted me. I especially love the line, "Who wants only a month of giving thanks for gifts, when you could have a life of being the gift; who wants only a holiday with a feast, when you could have a lifestyle that is a feast." Feeling grateful is not enough. What are we going to DO as a result of that gratefulness?
It is amazing to me that this trip is coming full circle. In June 2012, I saw this book in a bookstore & decided not to buy it with the reason that it was in hardcover (but the real reason was that somehow I knew it would change my life). I couldn't stop thinking about it, though, and in August 2012 I finally read it. It was incredible, and inspired me to start thinking and praying about going to Africa! Now, more than a year later, I am here in Uganda and on Friday we get to travel to Jinja where Katie Davis lives and visit Amazima, the ministry that she started. Incredible! Read this book if you get a chance :)
On Friday, we went to Jinja, Uganda to visit Amazima Ministries and we had the opportunity while there to go out on a boat at the source of the river Nile! I can't believe that I actually was able to float along that ancient river, and to touch the water that flows in it with my hands. It was incredible!
Singing and dancing with the kids during devotions every night is one of my favorite things! It is so beautiful to hear them lift their voices in worship to God and to dance with joy for Him. I'm especially impacted whenever they sing this awesome song: "I am not forgotten, I am not forgotten, I am not forgotten, God knows my name...Father to the fatherless, friend to the friendless, hope to the hopeless, He knows my name."
What an amazing thing for children who were rejected, abandoned, and forgotten by the world to be singing and believing that the God of the universe knows their names and is their Father!
We all had so much fun at Kid's World on Saturday!! Everyone's favorite part: "Spider Man Bouncy Castle"!
Aisha just said "Auntie Amanda" for the first time, and I think it was one of the sweetest sounds I've ever heard!
Sunday we had fun with water and witnessed a full solar eclipse, to which they said, "The moon is battling the sun!" :) I wasn't able to capture it in a picture, but it was so cool that I was here for that once-in-a-lifetime event!
Celebrating Princess Carol's 5th Birthday with cupcakes!! Yes, I baked them...don't act so surprised! :)
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing..." Psalm 68:5-6
Meet Aisha! She is the newest member of the Rafiki family. She was found alongside a road, being strangled by her mentally ill mother. A man passing by saw her and immediately went to get the police. When they arrived, the mother was very hostile and violent and it was obvious that she was not capable of caring for her little daughter. The police contacted Rafiki Children’s Home, and the mother was eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I went with Joseph to get her from the police station, and I was in awe of the fact that God was bringing yet another little one so soon to be cared for at Rafiki. It was love in action like I've never experienced before, and I felt like I was getting to be God's hands and feet in such a real way as I held her on my lap on the drive home. I cannot believe this is real life for me right now!
Aisha is about 3 years old and was dangerously malnourished. She also has some scars on her body, evidence of past abuse. Aisha was a rather quiet and shy little toddler, but she immediately joined in the dancing with a lot of joy during devotions here at Rafiki! She spoke very little at first and we rarely saw her smile, but over the last few days she has really come to life and has a lot of fun making silly faces and laughing with the other kids. It has been amazing to me to see her loved back to life, as she is now part of a wonderful family. That verse from Psalm 68 has totally come to life for me in a real, vivid way the last couple of weeks! On Wednesday, we took Aisha to Kesserena Children's Clinic to be examined by a doctor. Apart from being malnourished, and having a couple wounds, she was fairly healthy and tested negative for malaria. They were not able to test for HIV that day, however, so on Thursday she was tested at Kadic Hospital. When the lab tech there was preparing to draw her blood, he started asking questions about her and the work that Rafiki is doing. He mentioned also having worked with HIV-positive orphans in the past, and said that he would be praying for us. When we went back to get Aisha's HIV results, he said that she was negative! He also said, however, that due to her appearance he had decided to test for malaria and found her positive of a rare species that would have been hard to see on the other test she received. I truly believe that God directed him to run that test, because had he not we would have never known that Aisha has malaria and wouldn't have been able to treat her for it. Since receiving the medication, she seems to have so much more energy! God was good in taking care of this precious girl, and we are all so happy to have her here. We pray that He continues to heal her, both physically and emotionally, through the loving care of the Rafiki staff and kids.
Rafiki is in desperate need of sponsors for both Aisha and Janat - if you have felt moved by their stories and what the ministry is doing here in Uganda, please consider giving just $35/month to help ensure that they can continue to provide for and show love to these beautiful children! They are not just part of a statistic, or kids in a picture taken on the other side of the world. These are real, living, breathing children who were alone and would not have a home if it weren't for God's grace, for Rafiki, and for people like you who choose to give! Check out their website for more information: http://www.rafikiministries.org/give/sponsor-a-child/.
So much fun at Rafiki :)
I finally captured a picture of Janat's beautiful smile!
On Tuesday, Joseph took us to the land that Rafiki is hoping to purchase soon! They have a fantastic vision, with so many plans for how to care for the orphans of Uganda and the community that they are in, so that more people would know about Jesus. This ministry is really special, and I truly believe that they are following God's call on their lives in caring for the orphans, and that He is going to give them everything that they need to complete what He has started here! On this land, they will be able to be more self-sustaining by having many animals and growing their own food. There are also plans to use this land for a school and a medical facility (to service the children's home and also the surrounding community), as well as a place to train the kids in different trades so that they know valuable skills as they grow up and go off into the world. In purchasing this land, they will be able to take in more children who are in need of homes and also employ people in the surrounding community, for building and various jobs after it is completed. If you would like to be a part of this vision, and bless the kids and staff of Rafiki, please be praying for this and consider donating any amount that you are able! For more information about Rafiki and their future plans, check out their blog: http://rafikiministries.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_18.html or website: http://www.rafikiministries.org/