Week One In Bombo

It's been a while since we have had the chance to update. We spent the last 10 days in Bombo, Uganda. This is where API has their boy's homes. There are three homes, Discipleship House-which is the oldest boy's home, Stephen's House- the middle boys house, and Daniel's House- the youngest boys house. 

 We started the home school program on Monday. We also split into subject groups for that, Math, English, and Reading. Then we have a large group time of critical/creative thinking at the end. We have really enjoyed our time teaching with the boys. There are three levels, primary one, two and three. These boys are extremely bright. Most of them are homeschooled because they have had traumatic experiences, or are far behind in school. For some of the boys there are much older than the majority of people in the grade they are in, such as a 14 year old being in primary two with 9 year olds. They are often made fun of. That is why we are doing homeschooling. 

 We have had some wild experiences in the last 10 days. All of us have gotten the chance to go on home visits. We take the boys back to their families to reunite. It is just a visit though. It is an opportunity for closure for both the boys and the families. For many of the boys, they have been missing from their homes for many years. Most of that time was spent on the streets, before they joined the API homes. Most families are in shock when they see their boy arrive after so long. It was a very emotional experience for many. 

 We have also had the chance to do some crazy things while we’re here. The best part of being here for so long is getting the opportunity to live life with these boys. We are not just visiting for a short time and leaving, we are living with them. We stayed in the guest homes in Bombo. We fetched water from the well for our showers everyday. Our bathrooms consist of three stalls containing a hole in the ground. We eat a lot of rice, beans, and matooke (mashed plantain). The boys got to roast a goat WEH. From live goat to roasted goat. We dug honey out of an anthill (delicious); some of us even ate a queen ant (tasted like an egg). We have done a lot of work while we’re here. We cleared land for planting-by slashing. We had this tool that has a sharp end, and we just swung it back and forth to cut the grass. We also began building a fence. We used machetes to dig holes in the ground for the fence poles. At night we had devotion time with the boys. 

We split up into houses for bible devotions. Shane and Luis are in the Discipleship home. JT, Austin and Chris are in Stephen's, and the girls are all in Daniel's home. They sing songs, and they are extremely passionate in worship. It is incredible to see these boys be completely genuine while praising the Lord. Overall, we have had an incredible two weeks, and an exciting three more to come. 

 Update video coming soon.

Arriving in Bombo

Greeting the boys upon arrival

Going to fetch water from the well

Enoch pumping water for us

Bob, Juma, and Junior flying paper airplanes during homeschool

Austin and Frank wrestling

The queen ant

Our friend the chameleon

Our daily walk between homes

The goat: pre-roast

Church on Sunday morning

Ibra playing the drum

Regan preparing for tribal dance

Hakim and Ibra performing dance for us

Juma during the dance

Juma, Solomon, Ibra, and Latiffe dancing and singing