Ok, so I can't get the pictures on this posting to go where I want them to go so they are all at the beginning in no specific order.

Waiting for our boda bodas (motorcycle taxis) to pick us up so we can go home. Saying goodbye.

Everyone together. Paul is the top far left and Rose is sitting on the bottom right.

Camiya was the shyest kid at the orphanage. All the kids were taking turns listening to my Ipod and when it came to Camiya's turn he started whipping out his dance moves. He totally came out of his shell. It was the cutest thing ever. Can I please just bring him home?

Before the children could watch a movie with us on our laptop they had to do their night time reading. Colin was reading Winnie the Pooh with me. His English was next to perfect. I know I don't sound that good when I read in Portuguese.
All the children celebrating right after I told them that we had gathered the funds to help build them a chicken coup.

Dance party with the orphans.

We went and had a slumber party at the St Paul and Rose orphanage last night so that we could share the good news -- we have officially raised enough funds to help build them a chicken coup! Pretty sure Rose and Paul's is my favorite place in Uganda. We couldn't leave Lugazi until we danced at the AIDS festival so we didn’t end up getting out to Rose and Paul's until about 5:00. We were greeted with the same excited banchee calls followed by an on onslaught of hugs as last time, there's nothing like the feeling of having 30 kids attack you with hugs and love every time they see you.

Lauren and Ally’s boda broke down on their way out there so as we were standing in the front yard waiting for them we decided to show the kids our dance moves from the AIDS festival. That of course started a big party with singing and dancing. The boys even got a couple of Jerry cans (big plastic containers they use to carry water from the well) and a tin can to use as drums to accompany us. It was actually really cool how legit it sounded.

Once Lauren and Ally finally got there the kids wanted to show us that they had been working on their net ball (volleyball) skills since we had last been out there. They even got a net which they tied into the branches of the trees. They played for quite a while but you know me and my short attention span, I was done after about 10 minutes. Cecilly and I grabbed the kids who weren't playing and took them back to the garden where we peeled the bark off the banana trees and started braiding it into bracelets.

A few of the girls and I came up with the bracelet idea while we were bored waiting for Kizza at the mushroom house earlier in the week. It actually makes pretty decent bracelets. I know have one for every limb. J

After dinner we taught the kids how to roast marshmallows. Such joy! They all went out and found their own sticks and everything. We tried to explain to them to hold the marshmallow just above the flame so that it would turn a crispy gold brown but they had their own ideas about how it should be done -- sticking it straight into the ashes until it caught on fire then letting it burn for a few seconds before blowing it out and smooshing it between two delicious cookies. I bet they don’t get treats like that very often, it was so fulfilling to see the looks of pure joy on their face! You would be amazed how quickly a huge bag of marshmallows can disappear. Then again we did have 30 orphans fighting for them.

After the marshmallow fiasco we asked Paul if he could get the kids to gather around so we could make an announcement. Lauren started by thanking them for letting us come and telling them how much we love them and then turned the time over to me. I got up and reminded them about the project and how we told them we would do everything we could to help them out. Then I told them we found donors. The second the words left my mouth Rose was up out of her chair followed by the children yelling their banchee cheer. It took a good couple of minutes for them to calm down enough to let me speak again. I filled them in on some of the details including the fact that they would be seeing a lot more of us (at least those who are staying). At that point the cheers erupted again and all the kids got up and jumped on me once again attacking me with hugs. It was so touching as they expressed their gratitude, I almost started crying. Everyone was very excited. Paul addressed us after that and once again promised our work and donations would not be in vain. He promised that whatever we gave he would work to make it grow into something bigger. Once again his gratitude was so sincere.

We were going to go watch a movie after that but Paul wanted to do prayers first. We all crowded into their front room (about 6 feet by 6 feet)and the kids began singing their gospel songs. It was actually really touching if not slightly irreverent. How do you respond to situations like that? I guess you just appreciate the fact that they are grateful for what they have. The singing and dancing was all fun and games and actually really thought provoking. Then they actually started praying. It was one of those prayers where one person is praying and everyone else is murmuring their own prayer. It just reminded me too much of my mission (where "black magic was highly prevenlant)for me to be comfortable. Especially when they asked those of us who are going home to America to go into the middle of the circle so they could put their hands on our heard and bless us so that we could travel safely. As uncomfortable as I felt it actually was really nice to hear them pray for us and to hear them express thanks to God for us being there. After they finished the prayer Paul officially welcomed us to the family and announced that their home is now our home and that we are welcome there whenever we want. Woohoo!! Who would have thought that I would ever have a home in the middle of nowhere Uganda?

The rest of the night was spent watching a movie on my laptop and just goofing off. The kids loved it so much! It’s weird that everything we did was something so normal for us but for those orphans it was something so extraordinary! I doubt if they’ve ever sat in their front room and watched a movie on a laptop.

After the movie they fed us yet another meal. I wonder if they eat that much when we aren’t around. I felt kinda bad that they were giving us so much food, especially when we really didn’t want to eat it.

The next morning we basically just ate breakfast and left. It was sad saying bye to the kids for the last time! I’m really going to miss them. I want to see them and know how they grow up and what is happening their lives. It’s hard when there is pretty much no way to maintain contact other than through the HELP volunteers who are only around during the summer. At least Paul has e-mail and can keep us updated.