December 24 - AKM

It's Christmas Eve day. Doesn't feel too much like Christmas around here. We're celebrating Christmas Eve with the Norwegians in Buziga. Lot's of Norwegian traditions that we are experiencing. Going to start by having a Christmas pastry for breakfast, porridge for lunch, go out for dinner, then come back to have dessert and open presents. Tomorrow night the Australians and us are hosting a volunteer dinner at Suubi (potluck style). It's going to be lots of fun. Just got back from watching the Christmas Cantata "The Tale of Three Kings" at Watoto Church. It was absolutley amazing.
Went to Speke resort on our day off on Monday. Got gloriously sunburnt. Don't know how well we're achieving our goal of being black. Although the smoke and ash that blew in over us might help. Don't know what it was from, but it really affected me. I totally lost my voice yesterday. On my way to recovery now. People can actually understand me when I speak now. Also got to see our first monkey at the resort. He was so cute jumping along the wall. Mike (our main taxi driver) told us about a place in Entebbe where you can feed monkeys. Might have to go check that out sometime.
Security is getting pretty tight around here. Terrorist threats increase as Christmas nears. Keep praying for our safety and for the safety of all Ugandans. Thanks again for all the love and prayers.

Let it snow let it snow -CDB

Well I don't think we are getting any snow here, but at least you guys back in Smithers are :) 27* vs your -5, jealous? I wouldn't be, well its not to hot i suppose, but Christmas just won't be the same!!
So its been just about a week since we last updated this, this would be due to a not so hot internet connection out at Suubi (it only works when we don't care to go online!!) Other then that Suubi is great, and lots of the kids from bullrushes are moving out to Suubi sometime this week!! I'm so excited, it will just make Suubi that much better!! On friday they took out a kiddie pool in the yard so I sat and played in it with them, and for the first time in my life i got tanned not burned!! jealous? lol. But i didn't drink hardly any water so i got really dehydrated, hardly slept at all that night, so i spent all of saturday in bed, sunday i got to sleep in and by the afternoon i was feeling fine. Monday a bunch of the babies moved into the village so that was cool, and we will hopefully get to go and visit them sometime. Monday evening 7 volunteers from Suubi went into town to watch The voyage of the Dawn Treader and have dinner. Tuesday was the day of the staff Christmas party, wow what a day!! We had no idea what was happening untill 9:30 when the bus showed up, had to get all the kids ready and went into town with every kid and nanny and volunteer, got to Bullrushes and fed them lunch then they where put to bed and we ate a quick lunch and went to take over from Beatrice who was looking after all 11 special needs and 7 babies by herself, who where in a new environment with no cribs to sleep in, needless to say they didn't sleep all that much, i was holding one of the babies from bullrushes when i got recruited to help the other volunteers with the other rooms (hippos :D) so i went and sat out by the pool while Kristine changed diapers and Nannie made bottles, I tried leaving Divine to change the elephants who had no helper but everytime i left divine screamed so loud so i only changed 2, in the end I ended up give 11 kids bottles, and feeding 10 kids there afternoon snack, single handedly!! now thats life skills!! Amie and 2 other volunteers where kept quite busy trying to keep the 18 Suubi kids happy while the nannies enjoyed their party... We finally got home at 6:30 working almost 12 hrs, what a long day!! We slept good last night!! This morning we worked and then at lunch time left and took a boda (motorcycle) and matatu (taxi/bus) in to town and Amie and I walked up to the Muzungu (white people) mall and enjoyed a excellent internet connection :D
Lately we have been discussing how things are different here and what we will have to get used to back at home
1. Not being like royallty and having kids come running waving at us, and everyone asking how we are.
2. We don't refer to people based on their skin colour -Muzungu
3. Flagging down cars for rides
4. Bardering is not normal
5. the difference between dollars and shillings you 1,000 shillings vs .50cents (i've already said $50,000 numerous times)
Greetings from Africa
Christina Dawn

December 9 - AKM

We're all settled into Suubi. I absolutley love it here. The air is so much cleaner, the view is beautiful and we live right above the baby home so we don't have to pay for taxis. Kids are so much fun. They're all older and can walk around. Apparently the older kids from Bulrushes are supposed to be moving here sometime soon. Not sure exactly when. They are trying to make Suubi more of their main baby home and Bulrushes more for kids who need to be closer to the hospital.
Went to the church right in the village. Was much smaller than Watoto Central Church. I think I like being in the smaller group. I found the big group and big lights slightly distracting at the other church. They are both good though.
This evening we just came back from the Childrens Cantata. Was so fantastic. Told the christmas story and also included a unique adventure for the wise men. They were very lost and were flying all over the world looking for the baby Jesus. Such a funny story. The kids did a great job. Only a few little oopsies like wise mens hats falling off. Very glad we went. Hopefully we can see the adults Cantata as well.
Planning some swimming for the kids here. Already have grown attached to the babies here. Keep praying that we can make good connections with these children and show them love. Thanks for all the support back home.
~Amie

Ssuubi -CDB

Ok so Tuesday we went to work and Amie wasn't feeling well so we went home early and both had naps, which probably was a mistake, because come bed time I wasn't tired at all! Tuesday night we went and tried to straighten my hair and blew a fuse on our transformer, put in a new fuse, tried that again... blew that one too, tried it with out the transformer and destroyed the surge protector... smoke, sparks and a blown breaker. What we learned from this? hair straightners are not on the next trips packing list!! And hopefully ill go home with a working one!! As for the transformer we can buy new fuses for like .15cents so thats no problem and hopefully there aren't any surges!!
Wednesday we went to work, and had a volunteer meeting at the church, It was basically a workshop on child care protection, and met some other volunteers, one girl from vanderhoof, what are the chances? After the meeting we went to the craft market and bought some gifts for our advent calendar with the norweigens, then we went to go have a birthday dinner with all the volunteers.
Thursday was our day off and we honestly did nothing, sat around, read and slept which was a nice change. Then today, Friday, we went to work and they have a bunch of nannies being trained so there where like 6 people in each room it was crazy!! I started feeling sick though so we went home at 12:30, and missed the best lunch of the week, just fyi, every work place the employer supplies the meals for the employees, great idea right? Anyways we missed Rolex, which is egg wrapped in a chapati... so good!! Went home and had a nap, and when i woke up i found out that we are moving to Ssuubi, I am glad we are moving but it would have been nice to stay in Kampala for december as we where busy planning christmas stuff with the norweigens... but we can hopefully come back for christmas day... so that will be good. So we spent the afternoon repacking everything we had and decided that we would go with the girls and mitch to the beach for the evening as it was our last night with mitch and with the girls for a little while. So tomorrow we finish packing and hopefully are picked up around 2pm, which could be anytime between 2-4... pray for us to be able to settle in again, and to get to know the kids! We won't have internet there so we won't be updating that often, if you would like to send us mail, which we would love!! Our address is
Watoto Kampala
attn: Christina/Amie
box 26366
Kampala, Uganda
On top of the no internet we also won't have a washing machine, and more often then not, electricity and a shower!!
God bless you all!! and thanks for your prayers!
-Christina Dawn

November 29 - AKM

So the kids and us are all doing much better. Only a few of them still have tubes in. Some of the older kids got taken home to their families. It was really sad to see them go but we're glad they're with their families. Trevor especially was one of my favourites. He was so smart and would wear my shoes around everywhere. Treena also left to go back home this morning, so we don't have a room mate anymore.
On Thursday (our day off) we went to a local resort to relax. It's right on Lake Victoria. Spending the day there deffinatley helped boost my energy. We swam in the pool and read in the sun. Felt so good. We also have two days off now instead of only one. Planning on looking into doing youth work on one of our days off. We have a volunteer meeting coming up so we will talk to Sandrah about it then.
Church has been good. Getting to know more people.
Went to Suubi on saterday to help paint, move beds and other odd jobs. Suubi is one of the Watoto villages and it also has a baby home. Most of the babies are older and special needs. They are switching all the rooms around there. Annie, the baby home manager, was very glad for all the work we did.
We went to Bbira village this morning, one of the Watoto villages. It's a beautiful place. Was hoping to see my sponsor child Suzan, but unfortunatley she was gone at the time. Hopefully I will be able to visit her later. Christina and some of the Norwegian girls are planning on starting up a soccer team. They talked to some of the girls there that are interested.

3 weeks- CDB

So we are 3 weeks in and are starting to get in the schedual of things. Write now lots of the kids are sick with a stomach infection and after getting pucked on 3 times I think i picked it up from them. So Im spending the whole day laying in bed and Amie is at work. The kids have been great and the older ones are starting to recognize us, so thats really neat. The other day I was looking after 3 kids that had nose tubes so that the other kids wouldn't pull them out, a couple of the other kids came over to see me and Amie kept on dragging them back and by the time she brought one back the other one would have came back... it was so funny and she eventually just gave up. Its cool to see the kids starting to recognize us.
The other day I got to bring one of the kids to church. That was cool, they all really like music and never get out on their own without other kids.
Divine is now alot better, he removed his tube in the night and doesn't have to put it back in if he drinks his milk and eats his food and so far he has been doing good. Hopefully he won't get sick from all the other sick kids.
Please keep all the kids and nannies in prayer that whatever those sick would get better and the rest wouldn't get sick. Also Amie and I are starting to get home sick. Pray that God would help us to feel at home here.
God bless
-Christina

November 17 - AKM

Not feeling so good today. Been dealing with a cold and todays the worst it's been yet. Glad it's our day off so I could just relax. Hopefully I will be fine tomorrow so I can go to work. Was surprised yesterday that I've fallen completley in love with the oldest kids at Bulrushes. Before I strongly disliked them because they were so terrible. Now they are my favourites. It's amazing to watch them grow as you try and teach them. Please keep praying for Divine because he is not eating or drinking anything  yet.
Had a not so happy day while walking to the taxi park on monday. Christina had her neclace stolen right off her neck. It was very sad but it was better that then her wallet. Many people were sympathetic towards her as we continued walking. That encouraged her a bit. I think it may have been a slight wake up call from God, reminding us that we have to keep on our gaurd and be very careful. Deffinatley very different from Smithers where we feel safe just about anywhere.
Church has been awsome. I feel silly wanting to burst out in tears of joy everytime we worship but God is just so awsome. Talked about the Jesus we need to know.
Thank-you for the prayers and support. Christina is doing very well now. Please pray that I will be better for work so we can care for these kids. Thanks!
~Amie

Two Weeks- CDB

Wow, I can't believe that it has already been 2 weeks since we left the smithers airport!! Our trip has been so amazing so far... with only a few bumps :) So We have been working at watoto for 1 week now and it has been also great.
On Saturday night we went to church because we had to work sunday morning. Church was so awesome, they had a huge choir and worship team and they sing very similiar to what we are used to, we where told they sing alot of hillsong and chris tomlin so we should know lots of the songs. At church when you sing its like a contagious joy as all 2000 people sing to one God. The sermon was also very good, he spoke from revelations 3 about the church in lacudacia (spelling?) and had very interesting points. Something that has been challenging me this past week and even before we came is how to pray. The pastor said often we come to the phone and not the throne. I find my self just going off in list form never stoping to think of how mighty and powerful God is, and how unworthy we are, but He listens and loves. Something to think about. Another thing that caught my attention was when we where praying with a group of people at the end one of they guys said thank you Jesus for listening... something to think about.
So on Monday a little girl got taken to the hospital having troubles to breath and just passed away last night. Its hard to here that one of the main things that she died of was dehydration and malnutrition... its something that us Canadians can hardly imagine. Work has been great, Amie likes working with the younger kids and I like the older ones. Today I went with the nurse to the clinic to help get check ups on 2 sick kids. They also got blood tests. The one little boy Amie mentioned in the last blog, Divine, is doing better he got a tube put in his nose so that they can get food and liquid in him, slowly he is getting more energy so thats awesome. Sebastian the boy Amie was looking after got his tube taken out and went back to his home in Zulu.
One Wednesday Amie, Treena (aussie) and I had the day off so we slept in and took the Matutu (cheap taxi, .50cents vs $10) to town and walked to the craft market, we didn't buy much mostly just look around, but as you are walking everyone is like come in come in, and if you buy something you are expected to barder with them, thats a newish concept to us, but is fun once you get used to the concept. After we walked to the regular market and just looked around, they have everything there, food, shoes, close, bags. As we walked through the crowded streets we got so many "mzungu" which means white person. Its not ment to be a negative term, just what you are. Apperently I am married, some guy grabs my arm and goes "my wife" talk about news flash! and today some black guy that was older then me said I looked like his mother... ok then!
Take care everyone and thanks for praying for my voice... its pretty much all better, the smog is still kinda hard on it but that will just take getting used. Please continue to pray for Divine that he would make a full recovery. And continue to pray for us. Thanks so much
~Christina Dawn

November 9 - AKM

Had our week of getting up at 6am every morning. This week we get to sleep in until 10. Tomorrow get a day off, yay! Going to the craft market with our room mate Treena, from Australia. At the moment I am eating a chapati. Kind of like a crepe. Tried matooke the other day, cooked green banana. Tastes like potatoes. The food here is pretty good. I haven't eaten too much because I haven't felt the greatest. I should be fine after awhile of adjusting though. Christina lost her voice, probably due to the air. The people all use diesal here. Traffic is crazy with heavy traffic jams, and there are cars/people everywhere. So many boda boda's (motorcycles). They pile people on them and drive through impossibly small spaces.
Having a great time at the baby home. Not enjoying the older kids as much. That's just due to these twins who just like to bite, lick and jump on everyone. Spent the day with a boy named Sebastian. He was sick with a diarreah infection. Was being fed through a tube for the last few day, but today he ate really well and he got to have the tube taken out. Christina was with Divine today. Apparently he's really sick too. He's getting a feeding tube put in tomorrow. Please pray for him to get better.
God Bless!
~Amie

Cause this is Africa- CDB

Alright so here I sit on my iPod in an Internet cafe because my laptop just died and we paid for an hour, dang!! Any ways, we made it to Uganda all safe and sound, flight was alright didn't feel horribly long and were picked up at entebbe and didn't get home till like 12:30am our new roommates were waiting for us 4 of them are from Norway and just got here on saturday and will be staying here just as long as us, and we are getting along well with them. On our second day we did our orientation with Sandrah and Brian and saw the babys home. To get home the 6 of us where going to take a taxi, one little car, and as we pulled out the traffic police pulled us over. 3 of the girls hopped out and that left 3 of us without a cell phone, 1 police man and 1 angry cab driver. We tried to ask them to let us out but he insisted he needed to find us a taxi. So after a 1hr taxi ride without any of us recognizing anything, and a worried house of girls we arrived home safe and sound! For all hose of you who where concerned. Our apparently is great, only one geco:) a large fence around it, a security guard, 3 dogs and one turkey, who's name is Christmas :) day 2 we got a tour of a couple watoto villages and had a 3 hour work day. Today was our first full day. I worked with the hippos (1year +) and amie worked with the monkeys (0-3 months). They are all so adorable it's insane!! They all just want cuddles and to be held!! Africa is great so far!! Please keep us on your prayers as well as the children! God bless!

London - AKM

We're in London, staying at my cousin's place. Trips gone fairly well so far. Had a misshap with my wallet on the way to Vancouver, but praise God I got it back. God is good! Christina and I explored London today. Took a double decker bus tour. Saw all the sights (Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, Big Ben, parliament building, etc.) We also had a ride on the Thames. Had so much fun today. Still tired from waking up at 2:30 (London time) this morning, so we had a lot of laughs while in our overtired states of mind. Got lost on the way home. Got off the tubes fine, but then walked too far to get back to my cousin's. Did a lot of walking and more tube riding to get back. Finally back and are ready for bed. Waking up at 6am tomorrow woohoo!
~Amie K Miller

Tomorrow -CDB

Wowzers!! we are actually leaving tomorrow!! I can't believe how fast this has all flown by. Everything is just about in order now... although I'm sure I will forget something.. because thats how lucky i am :) oh well it shouldn't be that important!! So just wanted to give you guys a heads up. Our flight from Smithers leaves at 9:55 and we will get in to vancouver at 11:30ish, we then spend the day in vancouver staying at my aunts house with my grandparents. Our flight to London leaves at 8:30ish saturday evening and we won't get into london until 11am sunday morning (this would include the 9hr time difference) we then get to run around london and see all the sights and are then leave tuesday morning for Entebbe! our final stop :) Please keep us in your prayers as we travel, and that God would begin to work in our hearts!! And that everything runs smooth!! God Bless and farewell Smithers!!
~Christina Dawn

Pre-trip-AKM

Alright, so both Christina and I are officially accepted and we've finished booking our tickets. We'll be leaving Smithers on Friday, October 29th. We're landing in Entebbe on November 2nd, then from there we get picked up and driven to Kampala. We are very excited and thankful that God is answering our prayers as we prepare for this trip. Please keep praying for us, that God would keep guiding us every step of the way. God Bless!

~Amie

Pre-trip- CDB

Watoto is a holistic care programme that was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda. It is positioned to rescue an individual, raise each one as a leader in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild their nation. The Watoto model involves physical care, medical intervention including HIV/ AIDS treatment, education- formal and technical, trauma counselling and spiritual discipleship. We exist to raise the next generation of African leaders, by pursuing excellence in academic and practical skills, in conduct and moral values, so that each on becomes a responsible Christian and a productive citizen.

1 month!! In exactly Amie and I will be on our way on what will probably be one of the greatest experiences in our lives thus far. I can't believe how fast its coming up. So for all of you who don't know, Amie and I are going to Uganda, Africa to work in a baby orphanage for 5 months. We leave Vancouver airport on the 30th of October and head to London, and from London we head straight to Uganda. This is a very exciting and busy time for us as there is lots to get ready for it. Last weekend we had to go to PG to get caught up on all our shots and there is still so much to get done. We will try to keep you guys all updated on whats happening, here and there and would love it if you would keep us in prayer.

God Bless- Christina Dawn