So much still to learn

So, yesterday i joined the choir here! ha! It was so funny. I still cannot figure out if I am a soprano or an alto. I kept switching between both. Anyways, we practiced one song the entire time...it starts out, "climin' up the mountain children, didn't come here for to stay, if i never more see you again, going to meet you at the judgemen' day." Then it goes on to talk of different biblical characters who had to go through trials, but God delivered them. The choir director told us it was one of the songs the slaves would sing in America to lift their spirits. THey would leave their family and friends and sing this in hopes they would make it through and see eachother another day, or on judgement day. So, it was a lot of learning, since i have never been a part of a choir before. I also sat next to a Ugandan, Lisa, and we just laughed and had a great time together. On our walk back to the dorms, she told me much of her story. She lives in Northern Uganda. For those of you who do not know much about the war there, it is quite intense for many families. When Museveni, the president now, tried to begin a democracy 19 years ago, the group called the Lord's Resistance Army began. THey did not want a democracy. This group was not at first violent, but they soon became that way when Museveni did nothing to keep his promises to them. They began abducting children to be a part of the army and even training them and brainwashing them to be a part of the group. Many times, the children must go to town at night, in order to avoid being abducted, (if you have ever heard of invisible children, this is them)and then go back to their village for school during the day. Anyways, so Lisa was telling me that her family is in hiding camps in the North right now, all her brothers and sisters that are younger than her. She has had a close friend shot and killed just recently as well. She has almost been killed herself. I also talked with a girl 2 days ago, Jennifer, who must be careful when she rides the bus back to her village, because they have been caught in crossfire and people in that bus have been killed. It is so much to take in and realize what these girls have gone through. Yet, it is also amazing to see that they respond with "The Lord knew it was not my time, and so I praise him"...that is what Lisa told me yesterday. So many people have so much joy in the Lord despite what has happened to them. It is incredible and yet saddening to hear all of this from these people.

on a happier note, i am going to practice volleyball today with the Ugandan team, and one of the girls was is training for the Olympics even!! Her name is Julliette, and I am now kind of nervous to play with her. It's pretty amazing though. She trains with 18 other of the top players in the country every week in kampala. So, here goes...I guess I just might get embarrassed today, haha. It will be fun though to play, I'm sure. I thank you all for your prayers once again. God is teaching me so much everyday, and I most of it is through the awesome testimonies of every person I meet. Until next time!!