"How do you carry this on your head?"

This morning was day 1 of our VBS in the nearby village and it was so great! When we first got there, there were only a handful of children but by the time we left there were probably around 50 people. The Lord was so faithful and provided translators, eager and excited children, and he equipped each one of us with the confidence needed.

Each day we will share a bible story, sing songs in English and Acholi, do crafts and games. I really enjoyed getting to teach the children new songs. It is so neat how children all over the world love music! When we went back to spend time with the people in the village this afternoon, I was so encouraged by the children who started singing the songs they learned this morning. They are each just so incredibly precious and I am really enjoying getting to spend time with them.

My favorite part of today was getting to help some of the children fetch water from the boar hole (the local well). The children in Uganda are to be self sufficient by the age of 5 so they start doing chores at a very young age. This includes fetching water, looking after younger siblings, digging in the gardens and bathing themselves. Anna and I followed a few of the children to the boar hole and ended up helping several more children. It is still so hard for me to comprehend how the children carry the water! They take the jerry cans and other assorted bottles down to the boar hole and pump the water into the cans. Some of the children come from a long way away with many cans. One little boy today brought a small wheel barrow filled with 5 cans then once they were filled he had to carry them back home. Anna and I wanted to help the young children carry the water back...I wish I could say that we successfully carried the cans back the "Ugandan way" by carrying them on our heads, but we were not so successful. Fetching water is HARD WORK! We had to stop several times along the way to adjust and take a break but one lady did help me get the can to my shoulder and I was so proud!! The can probably held between 10-15 gallons of water and I cannot imagine how the children can possibly carry them, I got a serious workout!

At the boar hole

Me and Anna when we got back from fetching water.. I wish you could see just how much water we spilled!

Tomorrow morning we will return for VBS and I will be leading the bible lesson. I am both excited and nervous at the same time. But I just have to trust the Lord and rest in the fact that it is not me but Him who is speaking through me. Continue to pray for our team and the children and how we can rejoice the Lord together.