week 3!

What an amazing week! I have, of course, fallen even more in love with Myangayanga and can't believe I only have 1.5 weeks left.

This week was super busy as we prepared for the celebration on Monday. Madame Christine and I held practice for the choir and dancers every day after morning lessons for about 5 hours. The kids have been working very hard and are sounding GREAT! I even learned the traditional dance! (and will show all of you when i get home)

Yesterday, Madame Mary and I took a huge group of kids to her garden to pick corn. Her husband, an awesome guy, donated the land to the school to grow maize for porridge. Getting to the garden was quite the adventure!

We made the journey through extremely thick bush with about 100 of the kids. She showed me her cabbage, sweet potatoes, sweet banannas, cassava, and maize. It was beautiful and very interesting to learn about agriculture in Uganda. I ran the entire 2 miles back laughing and joking with the kids, who if i slowed down would shout, "Madame you hurry! You chase us!"

I don't have much more time to write but I will tell you that I DROVE a boda-boda! I do not know if I have written anything about my friend Usher, but he is awesome and my closest friend in the village. Usher informed me that we could rent a boda-boda for 1 dollar to take me to the place where i catch a taxi to get into mukono town (where the guest house is located). Best dollar I've ever spent! Usher, an experienced boda driver, drove most of the way, but i drove for about 1km! It was a quite the thrill!

On a more serious note, I have been learning about the beliefs and customs of my village this past week. The majority of the population calls on witch doctors to cure diseases, place curses on people, or seek good fortune (one witch doctor lives a few yards behind my place, however I have never seen her).

My friends have told me countless stories of people being possesed by demonic spirits, and horrible curses placed on neighbors and enemies. I am so thankful that God has protected me from the evil that surrounds the village. Though i don't sleep well at night, I feel safe.

Please pray for the hearts of the people of the village and continue to pray for the school!