Heart break, open eyes, and Thanksgiving

Since I posted last night, SO much has happened! I know i've been posting almost everyday, but Uganda is constantly surprising me! Today I was reminded, of just how fortunate we all are. We have homes, kitchens, food, clean water, money, clothes, medicine... we have SO much. But until today, i didn't realize how ungrateful I had been for it all.

This morning, we were going over the price for the uniforms, which is actually double what we thought it would be. However, we ARE going to provide all of those students with a uniform. God will provide, as always. I was kind of discouraged by the fact that the price was so much higher than we had been told, but we do have enough.

After Kelsey and I finished our last class, we were relaxing in the office waiting for lunch, when Christine, a teacher at the school, asked us to help her escort the younger children home (the nursery children leave before lunch). So, Kelsey and I agreed to come with her. We had NO idea what we were about to see.

First of all, many of these children walk for MILES just to come to school. As Christine led us up and down the red dirt streets, i was heart broken by some of the things I saw. Families living in houses the size of a typical american pantry, children running in the streets(some not fully clothed), sick parents, and some of those parents are home alone with 2 or 3 sick children as well. Kelsey and I were introduced to a mother caring for her son, who had fallen ill with Malaria (VERY serious disease, for those of you who don't know). Not only was she caring for her son, but she has 3 other children that she is currently putting through school (i saw no father, which is not uncommon in Uganda). As we walked upto her home, she was giving her son a bath, in what seemed like water, also with some kind of green leaves (For the record, i have absolutely no idea what was in that water). Christine asked me to take a picture of the mother and her son, so the mother quickly dressed her son, who was still covered in the green leaves, and I took the picture. And before we turned to leave, i went to the mother, and said "I pray that your son is healed, soon." She smiled, thanked us for blessing her home, and we left.

As we were walking down the street, I asked Christine how many children in that are were sick. She said that there were about 15 children who were currently ill... and all of them, with Malaria.

My heart is still breaking. I can't get those images out of my head. Children on the side of the road, alone. Girls in uniforms, walking with big jugs of water (for their school). Mothers caring for their sick children, while they are probably sick themselves!!! This is so hard for me to write about, and i'm crying right now. But, I guess you could say that's how i know this is real. And one thing that makes me cheer up a little (and hopefully it'll brighten your day), is that even through sickness, and poverty, and not knowing where their next meal is coming from (if they even have one)... these people have HOPE! And let me tell you, these people know hope. They LIVE, and BREATHE, and fight to make it through the day, because of HOPE. And it's the best kind of hope. It's hope, in Jesus. They have hope, and FAITH, that he will provide, and he will heal, and he will deliver them from their pain and suffering. And you know why they have so much hope and faith? Because the hope and faith that they have in our God, is the only thing they have!

I'm sitting here now, writing this. And i'm reminded of how blessed I am. When i come home everyday, i know that i'll have food to eat for dinner. I know, that i'll be able to shower, and sleep in a nice warm bed. I know, that i'll be able to have clean, cold water to drink. But you know what... the people I met today, can't always say that. When I go home after these last 5 1/2 weeks end, I'll be coming home to Thanksgiving. And let me tell you, I now know how much I really have to be THANKFUL for. Clothes, food, a house, a bed, clean water, medicine, cars, air conditioning... But let me tell you this. I'm also going to come back with a deaper understanding of how these people live. I thought i knew how they lived, because i had some memories of my last trip. But God brought me here again, to open my eyes, to what is really happening outside my own little world. And to be honest... the view from outside my little world... is amazing me more and more everyday. Sometimes, you have to have heart break, to have your eyes opened.

I never want to close my eyes again.

How great is our god!!!

One thing that I find absolutely amazing, is that God works in ways that I never would've thought possible. When I was raising the funds needed to come on this trip, people kept donating more andymore, to the point where I was almost $1000 dollars over what I needed. And i thought to myself, "why on earth is God giving me so much extra money?" But you know what... it was, in no way, extra money.

A few days back, Kelsey and I were sitting on the front steps of the church, talking with some of the school children, when Prossy, a 10 year old girl, asked me if I would buy her a uniform. You see, uniforms here are a luxury, in which most families can't afford. My heart broke as i told that young girl that i couldnt buy her a uniform. What I didn't know, is that God had a plan... as always.

Later that same day, Kelsey asked Joshua, the headmaster, how much the uniforms actually cost. And to our surprise, it was 15,000 shillings for the girls, and 18,000 shillings for the boys. 15,000 is equal to roughly 6 american dollars, and 18,000 shillings is equal to roughly 8 american dollars. That is nothing to us, but to these families, theres a very small chance of them being able to afford it. But Kelsey was DETERMINED to buy some of those kids uniforms... let me rephrase that... she wanted to buy ALL of the kids uniforms! Honestly, i didnt think it could be done. But we counted the number of students, and we were shocked to find that there werent nearly as many children as we thought. So we added up the total amount, and as the final numbers came up on my calculator, i thought to myself, "i must be doing the math wrong." I mean, it didnt seem possible that we could afford to buy uniforms for all the students from P1 to P4, for just over $200!!!! We quickly ran into the living room to have my paps double check my math, and it wasnt wrong! For just over $200, we could buy about 38 students uniforms,that they otherwise couldn't have. And that's not even counting the little kids! I am seriously amazed by this!

As I was getting ready for bed last night, i was looking in the mirror, almost in tears at the idea that Kelsey and I are gonna show up at that school in a few weeks, and see all of those children wearing their school's uniforms. And then i realized something, that literally made me say "how great is our God!" I realized, that this wasnt my doing, or Kelsey's doing, or even my Grandparents doing! This is all God. This is all his plan. He knew from the very begining that our money was going to go towards helping those kids!

I want to thank each and everyone of you who donated. Not only did it help get me here, but you have helped provide uniforms for over 60 children! You really have helped a lot! Please keep those prayer coming! And don't forget... Our God, works in AMAZING ways!

God bless you all! - Taylor Fletcher

1 week down, 6 to go!

Well, finally made it through our first week of teaching the children. I'm not gonna lie, it's challenging. The language barrier is probably the hardest part. Even though they speak english, its hard for them to understand us. We try to ask them a question, and they simply repeat whatever we said. But even though we face challenges on this trip, i'm just so thankful to be here. And the children seem to really enjoy having us here. Every morning when we arive at the school, they start screaming "Mzoongoo! Mzoongoo!" or sometimes "Teacher! Teacher!" And as soon as we get out of the car, they run to us, wanting to carry our stuff for us. These children never cease to amaze me! They will follow us everywhere, and they like to touch us to see if our white skin will rub off, and they go crazy when we give them treats! But more than anything, they love learning about Jesus. We've tought them the lyrics to "Jesus loves me" and "Jesus loves the little children", and they love it! They want to sing it all the time. And when we hand out the bible story books we brought, they just love to flip through it and look at the colorful pictures! It really does amaze them!

Its really hard for me to believe the first week has already come and gone. I guess that's just what happens when you're having fun. Before i know it, we'll be getting on a plane to head back to Kentucky! Even though 6 weeks seems like a long time now, it'll go by so fast. I'm just so grateful for this opportunity to return to Uganda, and spread the word of God to these people. They are in my heart, and always on my mind, and still will be even after these 6 weeks come to an end.

Greetings from Uganda

Right now, i'm sitting in Jinja Uganda. The window is open, which allows the cool air to blow in and make me feel nice and cozy. We've been here for about 1 week now, and things are going really well. Tuesday was an absolutely wonderful day! As soon as we arrived at the school, we jumped right into playing with the kids. They love the beach ball we brought (unfortunetly a little boy bit a hole in it, so we're gonna try and find a new one). They love to hit it around, and throw it to their friends. And they love jump rope too!

Yesterday as we we're doing a physical education class with some of the kids, i saw a girl standing by a near by tree. She doesnt understand much English, she doesnt go to school, but she loves to play. She played monkey in the middle with us, and she jumped rope with some of the other girls. I eventually learned her name, but i dont remember it. I was hoping she would've showed up again today, but she didn't. I wish i could've given her a piece of candy, or a bracelet, or something... but i trust God, and I know he will have his way in that young girls life.

I'm going outta my mind right now, and it feels good. I like the fact that these children challenge me. Even though im tired at the end of the day, and even though many things are different, i wouldn't have it any other way.

If theres one thing i want to do on this trip, i want the children to know true love. I want them to know Jesus.

Love is Patient. Love is Kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS.
- 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

Dream Big, Praise Him, and SHINE!!!!

Today, I started thinking about a girl I knew in 7^th grade. She was always really mean to me, and I never understood why. Anyway, her insults and put downs made me feel so low, and worthless… I didn’t know what to do. I was really insecure, and my confidence dropped more and more everyday. I was just tired of putting up with her.

Eventually, things started getting better, but I was still upset. But today, I watched a video of Taylor Swift, and one of the lines in her song, was:

“Don’t you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that SHINE!!!”

I started thinking, maybe I’ll never know WHY she said the things she did, but I realized that I was looking at it the wrong way. Yes, bullying is wrong, and very serious, and NO, nothing will ever excuse the things she said, but I’ve spent almost 3 years being too mad at her to move on... that’s just wrong!!! God says to forgive, and until now, I haven’t been WILLING to forgive her.

Since I started homeschooling, my perspective has changed a lot. It wasn’t just that one girl who made me insecure. There were a lot of things that broke me down. But now, I’ve changed my way of thinking. God has revealed himself to me in MANY ways in the last few years. I’ve made new friends, I’ve tried new things, I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone, and I’ve learned how to dream again. During the time where I felt lost, and alone… I forgot how to dream. All I ever thought about was how sad I was. But once things started getting better, I remembered how much I liked being a teenager, and how much I loved life. Now, I dream BIG!!

Overall, I’ve learned that it’s true… People DO throw rocks at things that shine. Yes, I’m different from most girls my age. But I have Jesus on my side… and I live for him. Not for the approval from people of this life. This is all just temporary. I’m choosing to shine for someone that really cares about me… because although there are people who don’t like me, this man, thinks I’m to DIE FOR!!! I’m choosing to SHINE for JESUS!!!

So yeah, people will try to get into my mind, and they’ll try to mess with me, and they’ll try to break me down… but they WON’T succeed. So join me! Together, we’ll dream big! Together, we’ll praise Jesus, the man who died for us. Together… we’ll SHINE!!!

Until the whole world hears!

Think about something really important to you. Think about something you couldn't live without. I bet 60% of you are thinking about your iPhone, your boyfriend/girlfriend, or your favorite sport... am I right? You see, that's the thing. It's not supposed to be that way. I'm not trying to lecture anyone, because I'm the exact same way. We are so wrapped up in worldly things these days, that we are going day by day without focusing on the important things. Like, God.

Now, stay with me here. Really hear me out on this. What if we treated God the same way we treat our favorite sports? Like, when you stand up and start cheering when a football star makes a touch down... what if we stood up and started cheering when God scores a touch down (which, by the way, is every single day)?

What if we treated our bible the way we treat our phones? What if we turned around to get it if we forgot it? What if we didn't go anywhere without it? What if we had trouble putting it down?

You see, that's just it. We as Christians are supposed to lead a good example for people... not be hypocrites. We can be "Good Christians" in Church, but then when we step outside those walls, its back to normal. Guys... its NOT supposed to be that way!!!!!

Starting today, I want us to all try something:

1. I want us to all put God FIRST!!!

2. I want us to make loving God a must!!!

3. I want us to sing God's name until the whole world hears!!!


Hold on, go back to number 3. Are you with me on this? Think about it, how amazing is it that we can tell the WHOLE world, that God is OURS, and that he can be theirs too... do you get it? Its not about us, or the worldy possesions we thrive on... its about HIM!!!

Think about it... and just do it... SING HIS NAME...

UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD HEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ask a friend to join you on your next voyage...

Since the last time I wrote, a lot has happened. I am definetly going to Africa this fall, but not only that, but my best friend, Kelsey, is also coming! We laugh about how this all came to be.

(FLASHBACK)

Kelsey and I are both on our youth praise team, and one day at practice, the Africa subject came up. She said "I want to go!" I thought it was awesome that she wanted to come, so I said that she should come with me. Well, I didn't think much else about it, until 2 days later, when my mom and I were eating at Super China Buffet. As usual, we were fighting over our fortune cookies. I grabbed one, and claimed it. She said "You open that, and you'll see that it's for me". I opened it, and here is what it said...

"ASK A FRIEND TO JOIN YOU ON YOUR NEXT VOYAGE"

I froze. My mom was asking me what it said. When I told her, she didn't quite understand. Once I told her about Kelsey wanting to go to Africa... it all made since. I told Kelsey about the fortune cookie that night, and she said... "DUDE! IT'S A SIGN!" And it was!


This will be the most special trip ever for me. Not only because I get to spend 6 weeks doing what I love, but also because I get to spend it with an amazing girl, who is like a sister to me. 

Please pray for Kelsey, my Grandparents, and I, as we travel to Uganda this fall. I really do appreciate it :)

God Bless,
Taylor