TIA

Tugume-

I want you to know that you are truly one of the most, if not THE most, incredible persons I have met. I have never seen someone so in control of themselves at all times and in everything they do like you are. You are intelligent, polite (oh God you are soooo polite), easy-going, so dedicated to whatever you are doing at that moment, funny.. scratch that… soooo funny, friendly, talented, loving and just all around awesome!

There is so much I want to learn about you and learn from you. I want to teach you everything I know. I have never once heard you ask for anything from anyone, get angry at anyone for anything, or complain about anything at all. However, I have seen you ALWAYS so graciously thank everyone for anything and everything, help anyone you see in need, and do anything asked of you with motivation as if it was for yourself.

We have the most awesome convorsations about everything, and I am stoked that you like all the music I have been showing you. Also, I have yet to meet as good a competitor at bloody knuckles as you.
I know that you are going to grow up to be an amazing person and there is nothing I would love more than to see that first-hand and help you with that. I am going to do anything I can to help you achieve your goal of playing football in England… I know you are good enough.



Isaac-

You are an amazing person. You are always so concentrated on the task at hand, no matter what it is, that I sometimes wonder if you are human. You think of everything and make sure that it is perfect. For being so young and so small it is astounding how everyone in the entire school looks up to you. It hurts me to see how much of your hard effort goes unnoticed. You always try to make things better for everyone and are always thinking of others… Well except when I let you guys use the camera, that’s when you don’t care about anyone and alwayyyss think it’s your turn, ahaha.

I can see pain and sadness in your eyes, even though you try hard to cover it and pretend it’s not there. Life has not been easy for you and you are well aware of it. I can sometimes catch glimpses of happier Isaac when we play or when you are dancing… So KEEP DANCING! You are awesome at it and you know it! Even though you are really shy about it.


Isaac, we have something special and we both know it. WE both find so much comfort just being with each other. When everyone else is having the time of their life dancing, singing, or playing you often choose to sit in my lap and play with my hands or my beard while we watch. I couldn’t even begin to express how much I love that you do that. I can tell that feeling my chest move your head as I breathe gives you such a sense of security, as it does me. Somehow, by magic, we always seem to know what the other is saying even though we often can’t understand each other (which comes in handy often in translating to the other kids). When I see you cry it takes everything in me not to cry with you, which says a lot considering I go years without crying.

I know that the thing that would make us both most happy would be to always be together.

Alex-

Oh, Alex. If I could ever begin to somehow let you know how much happiness you bestow on me, than I would. I laugh every time I think about how our relationship started. As always, you would finish your schoolwork a good half hour before most the other children in the class. Meanwhile, you would notice me struggling to sharpen the pencils with a razorblade and without saying a word come grab the razor and pencil from my hands and effortlessly, perfectly sharpen it for me in seconds flat. You did that about ten times a day for an entire week!

Now, we just have sooo much fun together. Your laugh, OH YOUR LAUGH, is the most awesome, heartfelt and contagious laugh. I love that every time we make eye contact the biggest grin spreads across your face, even though sometimes you try hard not to.

It amazes me how effortlessly you seem to do everything, yet you are awesome at everything you do. You live life as if you haven't a care in the world, and I am not sure if you do. Whenever I ask you your age or your birthday you just look at me with an expression of 'Why would I know that and what does that have to do with anything, I'm Alex...' You are just down for whatever is going on around you and involve yourself as much as you can.

You are always the center of attention and entertain everyone enough that no one seems to mind. I love that no matter how many times I have cleaned and bandaged that gnarly gash on your leg, without fail the next day it is gushing blood, dirty and the bandage is hanging off (no matter how much tape I wrap around it) but you act as if it doesn't exist or cause you any pain when I know it has to.

I'm not sure how I am going to go a day without hearing your AMAZING laugh, much less an hour without seeing you handsome smile. I love that you will be doing cartwheels around the entire field then immediately come pass out in my arms for 20 minutes only to wake back up and do it again. It's crazy for how small your hands are they fit so comfortably in mine as we walk wherever we are going, and you make sure of it.

Quick Update

It is crazy that I have been here for a MONTH already! It has gone by so fast! I thought I would give a brief (very brief) update of what I have been up to.

Since being here I have been working at Lilly Kindergarten and Primary School, a school of about 200 students ranging from ages 3-15. I have gotten to know most of the children and love well... most of them. I mostly teach the 1st and 2nd graders and holy cow is it tough! Tasha if you could give me some pointers on how to control that many small children then pleeeaaaasssee tell me.

They Headmaster of the school also runs an orphanage near the school. There are 22 kids there and they are whom I spend most all my free time with. They are all so much fun and are the greatest collection of kids I have ever met.

Crazy story-- After the first couple of weeks being here I noticed a stroooonnnggg bond between myself and 3 of the boys at the orphanage, Dembe Isaac, Mwesigwa Alex, and Tugume Paddy. Not knowing nearly anything about them I asked the Headmaster for a bit of their history... Come to find out they are BROTHERS? Too NUTS!?! I know. I have since written them each a letter and am trying to decide whether to give it to them or not. But I will put them on here:)