What an amazing adventure!!

What an amazing three months I really can’t believe that this is coming to an end. Looking back at my time here in Uganda I’m reminded of all the great things that God has done in my life. He has taught me what it really means to rely on Him for absolutely everything! He has shown me what it means to love unconditionally, generously and continually.

So it’s time to start saying goodbye to some amazing people. I’ve been asking myself the past few days how do I even go about this. It seems like it is almost impossible to do. I’ve worked with, lived with and learned with these people every day for three months they have changed and transformed my life through their love for God and their wiliness to serve Him with a passion that has challenged me daily. I’m going to miss each and every one of them.

Like I have said this has been an amazing journey it has truly been a blessing to love on these babies. What a reward it is to walk into the baby’s home and be greeted by children with open arms who are so excited that you’re there to play with them all day long. One of the most rewarding parts of working in the baby’s home is being a part of helping babies and young children adjust to living there. It’s amazing to watch them come in timid and hurting and within days see them gain courage, strength, joy and comfort. One of the children was asked do you miss your old school and friends and they said “I like it here much better.” It is only God that can bring this peace over a child who has been terrible pain.

Watoto is an amazing ministry and I feel overjoyed knowing that I have been able to serve them and be a part of the great works that they are doing in Africa. I pray that God continues to use this ministry and these people to reach out and change the lives of so many people in this beautiful country. Thank you so much to everyone back home for your prayer and support without you I wouldn’t have been able to experience any of this.

I can't believe it's almost over!

Well my time here in Uganda is coming to an end I only have about three weeks left. This place is amazing and has changed my life so much it sure is going to be hard to leave. The babies here have become such a big part of my life watching them grow and learn new things makes me feel like a proud mom, one of the babies that I work with has just started to learn how to crawl what an exciting thing to be a part of! Each morning when we walk into the babies home we are always greeted by two or three of the toddlers running to the door with a big smile and open arms ready for a hug. These are the things that keep you going each and every day.

The other day one of my roommates and I took two babies to the coffee shop down by the supermarket for the afternoon. We were stopped by a few people on the streets asking us questions about the babies and where they are from. So many people were so grateful for the fact that we were here looking after the orphans of their country and what a blessing it is to be able to make such an impact not only in the lives of the babies but also for the future of this beautiful country. We had such a great afternoon, the babies were so well behaved and you could just tell that they had an amazing time.

I love it here and I pray that I will be able to somehow keep track of the babies here when I go home to continue to watch them grow and develop into the next generation of leaders in Uganda.

Lots of Amazing People!!

The baby’s home has been pretty busy the past little while. On April 5^th we were visited by the founder of Watoto, Mrs. Skinner. She came to tape some footage for promo material for the new baby’s home being opened in Cape Town, South Africa later this year. She is such an amazing women of God, her demeanor just completely radiates the love of God. For her visit we were able to dress all the babies (approx. 40) in matching colorful onesies. They looked so cute!

I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing organization that doesn’t just meet the immediate needs of the children that they take care of but also goes the extra mile to see that they are blessed and are able to have “normal” childhood.  An example of this was this past Sunday when we dressed up about 25 babies and took them to church to be dedicated!! I was blessed to be able take my favorite baby to get him dedicated in front of the church family that will be supporting him and helping him grow in the Lord for the rest of his life! I can’t believe that I get to be such a huge part of these children’s lives. During the service the pastor called all of us to come on the stage with our babies and just like back home he recited a few vows for the church to commit to love and support these children and then prayed that God would bless their every step.

I am also having a great time getting to know the nannies here at the baby’s home. Getting to know their stories and building relationships with them is such a blessing. I have built strong relationship with them all, their hearts and commitment to love the babies with everything in them blows me away each and every day!!

I hope all is going well with each and every one of you back home. Love you all and miss you so much.

A Blessing in Disguise

Hello everyone back home I miss you all so much. The past few weeks have been pretty crazy here I feel that I have been stretched in so many ways.

Having my computer and being able to stay in contact with you all back home has really been my life line here. Getting emails and notes from you energizes me to take on the challenges that I face being here in Africa. ..

So when my computer decided to die on me I was faced with a big challenge. Just over a week ago I went to trun my computer on and it just wouldn’t trun on.I spoke with my supervisor at the babies home and she said she would talk to the tech people at Watoto church to see if they could recommend anything to me. Thankfully the tech people at Watoto were willing to help me get the new parts needed to get my computer up and running again. Anthough it was an unexpected expence and took a bit over a week to get fixed I am greatful that I finally have it back in my hands. Durning that week without being able to communicate with anyone back home I had to find my strength from some where else. Depending on who reads this, this may sound crazy but I found all that I needed in God. I was challenged to seek Him in all areas of my life for all my needs, big or small, significant or seemingly insignificant. And because of this I truly feel like I am more equipt to do what God has actually called me to Africa for. I feel like I have been given the ability to love more and to serve with a joyful heart and to see blessings in all situations. Having my computer die on me for a short time has truly turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  

A verse that has helped me get through so many challenges since being here is found in James 1:1-4 “…when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing.”  

I truly hope that each and everyone of you who reads this knows that you too have the chance to rely and depend on God for all things. He is there for you in all situaions big or small. He will be ther e for you to heal you of sickness or to help you get through exams. He cares for your every need. And I pray that you all get the opportunity to find this just as I have.

I love you all so much.
Be Blessed,

Jaclyn xox

Behind me is Murchison Falls

This lion was very happy to pose for us for quite some time.

I'm loving this!

Wow the past few weeks have gone by very fast. I can now say that I am finally feeling settled in and comfortable living here in Africa. In saying that each day is filled with new challenges to overcome, challenges that really stretch you to the point of learning the importance of finding your strength in God and God alone. It has truly been a joy being able to work daily with the nannies at Watoto their faith and love for God is shown in the way they love and care for the children at the babies home each and every day. Being able to be a part of the lives of these little ones alongside these nannies still blows me away and I am loving every minute of it.
This past weekend I went on Safari what an experience! I was able to see lions, elephants, giraffe, hippos, wort hogs and so many more beautiful animals. It was such a relaxing weekend and really gave me a chance to re-energize myself after the first few weeks of getting used to the culture and routine here. I have so many amazing photos and as soon as I learn how to post them on this blog I will LOL!
I miss you all so much and can't wait to hear from you again.
Be blessed and talk to you soon.

Week one.

I’ve already been living in Africa for one week!! This week has totally been a roller-coaster of emotions as well as filled with heaps of new experiences. The babies are absolutely amazing I still can’t believe that I get the opportunity to be apart of their lives even if it is for a short time. Today I was working with the clinic babies which are babies that have come to Watoto malnourished or with other diseases. This proved to be a challenge because many times although the child is hungry it won’t eat because of the pain so many are fed through a tube which is hard to see but is a necessity. At the babies home you get thrown right into the duties as well as the care of the babies, I have done pretty much everything including taking babies to get vaccinations. I’m loving what I am doing. That said it is defiantly not easy to live here culture shock is very difficult but with the strength of God I will make it though and have already made it past the first week which has been said to be the most difficult to overcome. I feel settled into my house with the four other ladies that share it with and am looking forward to what God has in sort for me. I miss you all so much and love you even more.

Talk to you again soon.

I'm here!!! Oh my goodness!!

I've been in Africa now for three days! What a culture!! There are so many new things that I have to get used to including transportation!! I have been working with the babies now since day one and I am loving it so much. I was able to take a baby with me to church as well as to the mall and for lunch. There are about thirty babies at the home that I am at all with various hardships and troubles but each of them have a smile that takes my breath away! I am not able to put pictures up of the babies unless I get permission from Watoto so there may be some coming in the following blogs. I miss you all so much and can't wait to hear from you. Please feel free to email me anytime I love being able to feel connected to you all.
Talk to you all again soon.
Be blessed.

Thank you!!

The past few days have gone by so fast and have been filled with tons of blessings. I wanted to send out a HUGE thank you to everyone who has supported me financially your generosity has truly blown me away. And to everyone who bought baby clothes thank you, the children are going to be so blessed! I also want to thank everyone who has been supporting me with prayer and words of encouragement without this reassurance this journey would have been a lot more difficult. So the next time you hear from me I will be in the “homeland” surrounded by beautiful wildlife and many babies! I can’t wait!!!!!

Counting the days...

This morning I woke up (very early I might add) and was hit with the realization that I'm really leaving for Africa!! Wow this is crazy....as the days go by I am reminded of the blessings that God has for us each and every day. He is not waiting for me to be in Africa to bless me but rather takes every opportunity to shower His love upon me. He is not waiting for you or I to "have it all together" before He will work in and through you but is rather willing to take a chance on us, a chance that will stretch us in ways we never dreamed of. So instead of counting the days I am challenged to live each minute and hour of every day serving and soaking up the blessings that God has for me and I challenge the same for you.

Africa Bound

Sixteen days and counting to one of the greatest adventures of my life. I am on my way to Uganda to work at an orphanage through Watoto village. This has been a dream of mine for years but became a goal in my life about four years ago when the Watoto children’s choir visited my church. I had a group of four young girls and their auntie stay at my house for two nights where they shared their passion for God with me and my two "quasi" little sisters Jess and Megs. These young girls spent the days with us watching Lion King, playing board games, drawing pictures and most of all singing and dancing around the house trying to teach us their rhythm. It was then that the need to visit their village began to burn in my heart and here I am days away from this dream.

So "Jaclyn on a mission" is the title of this blog I must emphasis that the mission is totally in the hands of God I do not have any hard fast plans to change Africa but rather to allow the people that I work with and the children that I love to change me. My goals while I am there is to love and to serve. I will be working in the baby village holding and caring for babies. To think that I will have the opportunity to be a part of the lives of these children totally blows my mind but again here I am with an open heart and "ready to serve!"