I know what you're thinking.. 'another post already,' haha yes it's true.

Two weeks from this past tuesday I will leave Uganda for Ethiopia! And in about three weeks from that same day I'll arrive back in the ole U.S. of A. It's crazy to think that it's all coming to an end.

First things first... I survived white water rafting the Nile! It was probbaly one of the coolest things I've ever done. I mean these rapids were like nothing I had ever laid eyes on before.. and our Ugandan guide Henry was pointing us directly at them! So that was pretty awesome, defintieely a highlight of the trip.

Me and Baylee are almost done with out work on the Sponsorhip program, and what a relief that is. We've gotten the kids to write lettes in english to all of thier sponsors, (which proved A LOT harder then you'd think) taken pictures of all of them, and gathered a general update from each of em. Now we are just working on getting them where they need to go. I'm starting to have a great feeling of accomplishment for the work we've done, and it's brought peace to my heart.

I've actually found a lot of peace in the last few weeks here in Uganda. I've started to see a lot of promise and hope, even amongust such dire situations, something that I didn't see and really struggled with early in my time here. And even amid my troubling numbing questions of fairness, love, and life I found this unexplainable peace in this small Ugandan valley, that is no doubt from the Lord.

My last two weeks here in Uganda are going to fly by. For starters finishing up this sponsorship thing will take a lot of my time. At the beginning of next week we are going to be giving out bags of supplies to some of the families in the village. (Which I'm totally stoked about.) Then at the end of the week we are going to that island of exiled people (mostly due to AIDS) that I talked about in an earlier post. We'll be there for two days, with no running water, electriciy or anything! It should be amazing. (I hope we are a blessing to these people,) Then the following tuesday we leave, so yeah it's gonna be crazy!

It's gonna be hard to leave this place, and especially all the orphans I've grown to love. I get back to the states and am pretty much am throw back into the college life haha. So this could be interesting, however I feel like the Lord's been preparing, and I've been praying for, my for leaving and for closure. I really pray that these last two weeks here are the best yet, and that I would leave with no regrets! I'm excited to see what my time left in Africa brings! And I'm also starting to get excited to be back home.

I'll see you all soon!

Me and my boy Simon

Somehow I got talked into this...

Kickin it with the village kiddos

So I’ve been in Africa for about a month now, which is weird when I stop to think
about it. It has definitely flown by, and it’s crazy to go back and think about all I have
experienced in just four short weeks. Again I’m just overwhelmed with an utter
feeling of blessing for this opportunity.

These last few weeks have been really amazing, and really hard at the same time.
I’ve definitely settled in and gotten into the flow of life here in Uganda. My schedule
has become a little more consistent. (I mean comparatively you still never really
know in Africa ha) During the weeks just kind of been doing the same stuff I talked
about in my last post. And on Wednesdays me and the boys have been riding the
cattle truck into town, which is easily one of the highlights of my week. Just picture
four white guys riding through sugarcane country in Eastern Africa, sitting high atop
a rusty white old cattle truck, (of whose year is anyone’s guess) passing through
beautiful mud hut villages, quaint almost old‐time western looking ‘towns’, and
humble tea and maze farms. Needless to say it’s an amazing ride, and quite
entertaining for the locals haha. And some days if we miss the truck, or are just
feeling idk adventurous, we catch a ride on back of a bota bota. (motorcycle, p.s. I
really want a motorcycle now… I guess that I’ll have to charm that one over with the
parents come fall)

Being in Africa during the world cup has been awesome! We’ve had the opportunity
to watch all of the U.S. games, and most of the other big games in the tournament
and almost all of them have been quite the adventure. Probably the most exciting of
which was when me and the boys were frantically trying to find a place to watch the
U.S. Algeria game in Jinja one Wednesday, and the only place that was playing it
turned out to be an underground Muslim movie theater. Needless to say we were
the only white people there, and seeing as how Algeria is an African Muslim nation,
we were definitely the only people there cheering for America. At one point I looked
back in like the 92nd minute of the game and there were at least fifty angry Africans
between the door and us. Had it not been for some Kenyan truckers we befriended,
and the fact that Lee was wearing an Obama shirt… I’m not sure we’d of made it out
in piece. Some of the other experiences have included crowding into a gas station to
watch and watching at a Ugandan restaurant full of angry Germans.

Recently we had some visitors come that were quite a blessing to GSF while they were here.
The Pittman family and a friend came to visit the Greer’s and to do a VBS amongst
other things. They lived in the other half of the guesthouse with us, and brought a lot
of life to this place. It was sad to see them leave last week, however since then we’ve
had a young couple move in, they’re here to work with the handicap children, so I’m
excited to get to know them better.

So I said the last few weeks have been good, and they have! However in some ways
they have also been quite difficult. We had some pretty serious team problems that
arose amongst the eight of us interns, however after a while we talked it out, and it
went really good. Every since then I feel like we’ve been able to work a lot better
together. Other then that, I’ve been going through some personal stuff lately that has
been for lack of a better word a burden. For starters it’s always hard for my heart to
see poverty. I thought I had gone through this whole process during my three
months in Cambodia, however unfortunately that thought was far from the truth. I
really don’t know how to describe it. It’s just crazy to look at the way of life these
beautiful people live through my upbringing and middle‐class lens. In so many ways
it just doesn’t seem at all right or ‘just’. I know the Lord is good, and that it’s our
responsibility to take are of this world (‘rule and reign w/e’) but it’s just hard to try
and comprehend why God would let things become so dire, unjust, and unfair… it
just doesn’t seem right. Like what did I do to deserve anything I have? Why was my
soul/spirit born into a middle class American family in Greensboro NC and why was
little Phillip born with HIV into a village in southern Uganda, only to be completely
abandoned by his mom? Ahhh I don’t know, I could go on and on. Questions like this
plague my comprehension daily. It’s just hard for me to see white people in town,
and some missionaries who live with this since of entitlement, as if when it comes
down to it they are better than the Africans… but never stop and ask the question
why? how?

I was told yesterday that 90% of Uganda’s yearly income is made up of aid from
other countries. There’s very much a survival mentality here. The living situations
here are dire. For example: last week me and a few others had the opportunity to tag
along with the Pittmans when they went to distribute some bags of resources in a
nearby village. The first house we went to, we gave this women who is a Ja Ja
(Grandmother who takes care of the house and all the kids while the parents work)
a mosquito net, and a relatively small bag containing just some of the bare
necessities, including soap, sugar, salt, flour, and rice. This 80 year old woman was
so taken back, and so appreciative that she danced for joy (and yes shook her booty)
and then proceeded to cry and get down on her knees in utter thanksgiving to us
and to the Lord. It just blew my mind. This bag of simple resources that cost about
11,000 shillings (roughly 5 dollars) was enough to bring this woman to tears as she
fell to the ground... I can’t think of any physical gift that would make me do that?
Ahhh. When it comes down to it, I’m starting to truly feel that when Jesus implored
us to ‘love our neighbor’ and treat/love everyone as ourselves he meant it. Now I’ve
always known he meant it… but sometimes I fall into the tempting thought (like
most western churchgoers) that he literally means my neighbor. So maybe I should
go take fresh sweet tea and cookies over to my neighbor Peppermint’s, or even go as far to ask to mow her lawn?!? But my heart is learning that what Jesus really meant, as Kent Annan
explains: (I’m reading his book Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle, and it
has really helped me work through a lot of these questions and problems)

‘Jesus redefines family, and he’s also making citizenship basically irrelevant and telling us we
should hear statistics differently. Two billion people who are my family are hungry. How many
brothers and sisters in Africa have AIDS? Mosquito‐borne diseases will kill how many cousins
because they’re poor?.., How many of my aunts and uncles are homeless, clinically depressed, or
addicted to drugs?

The way Jesus tells it, though closes any escape routes when he disallows defining the world as
Us/Then or as American/Foreigner… shared life and Jesus reveal profound unity in which we’re
all transformed into Us, and all into Them. This doesn’t allow the problems to be Theirs, which
We will help if We are able. The way Jesus tells it, the essential statistics end up reading
something like this: I have a sister out there who is being whittled away, from life to death, by
AIDS. I have a daughter who lives in a neighborhood where a random bullet might pierce here
body. I have a son who is without parents and is a two‐mile walk away from water that will keep
him alive so diarrhea might kill him. I have a brother who was kidnapped as a thirteen‐year‐old
and then forced to murder as part of a wandering army as we awaits being killed himself. (here
he’s talking about the LRA in northern Uganda) I have a mother who never learned to read and
never got to enjoy or share with the world all the talents she could have had.

This redefined family‐ like realizing that I deserve nothing‐ is a needed antidote this ‘entitlement’
and to many of the problems mentioned.’

Earlier this week I had the opportunity of going with some of the orphans to the HIV
clinic. It was one of the harder things I’ve done since I’ve been here.. but also one I
wouldn’t trade for anything. It was almost unreal to see the hospital system here.
(and we were easily at one of the nicer ones around) I can’t even begin to describe it.
The hardest part of that experience, and the most beautiful as well, was when two of
the orphans who have HIV, Phillip and Henry, (before I say this remember I that I
HATE country music haha) so anyways my friend Kelli that was with me gave into
their demands and allowed them to listen to her ipod. She took this as an
opportunity to pollute their minds, and ideally in her mind the continent, with
country music. Naturally I was giving her a hard time, however being stubborn she
wouldn’t let me show them ‘real music,’ so I gave up. About that same time a
beautiful thing happened. Phillip and Henry, while waiting to go for their monthly
HIV checkup and to get their meds, began singing the popular country song Live Like
You are Dying. Come to find out they had been listening to this over and over a gain,
to the point where they were able to sing it in its entirety. Even now I still don’t
know exactly what emotions I felt in that moment when those two little boys whom
I love, started to sing that song in their precious Ugandan/English, it’s almost as if
words aren’t adequate. I was overwhelmed with feelings of sadness and
compassion, joy and jealousy all at the same time, and all I could
do was watch as they happily sang their little hearts out tp words which my
soul will never fully be able to understand.

So I’ve been here in Uganda for a little over four weeks now, thus marking the
‘halfwayish’ point of my African adventure. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long,
and equally hard to believe that I’ve got about a month left. I’m really looking
forward to the rest of my time in Africa. I’ve got some really awesome opportunities
coming up in the next few weeks! This coming Friday we’re going white water
rafting on the infamous Nile river… which supposedly has class six rapids!? Then
sometime In the next little while for a few days we are going to go to these really
impoverished islands out in the middle of lake Victoria, which house people exiled
because of poverty, and mostly AIDS and other diseases. I can’t wait! When I heard
about it… all I could think about was how it sounds exactly like a place where Jesus
would live. There’s also a lot of other cool things coming up, and I’m starting to get
really excited about spending a week in Ethiopia at the end with Lee and the
Robinson girls!

I don’t know if the bombing in Kampala Uganda made U.S. news or not… but rest
assured I am safe and sound, and so is everyone else I know. Some Somali militants,
alleged to connected to Al Qaeda, set off simultaneous bombs at a soccer club where
people were watching the World Cup finals. As of now something like 72 people
have been confirmed dead, including one America, with multiple others seriously
injured. Kampala is the biggest city in Uganda, and is located roughly thirty miles
from where we’re located. So it was a ways away, however seeing as how we were
watching the game at a similar type place in the second biggest city in Uganda, it was
a little unnerving. Just a somber reminder that East Africa is a crazy place, and that I
need to be careful. But everything’s perfectly fine, no worries.

I could go on and on, but this post is overly long as it is hah. I dearly miss ole
North Carolina, and all my family, friends, and foods it’s home to haha. Take care of
the state for me! I can’t thank you enough for all the encouraging emails I’ve
received from you all, I truly feel truly blessed. Well my goal is to post my next blog
sooner so it doesn’t have to be this long… buttt we’ll see how that goes hah.

Peace and Love!
Jordan

P.S. I had some pictures and videos I really wanted to post... however due to the awful internet and lack of technology I was unable... so I'm hoping to post them when I go into town on Wednesday!

An so the African adventure begins..

Africa, Uganda, Africa hah where to start? I apologize for this entry being so long, it’s just hard to try and fit everything my eye’s and heart have experienced and seen into one post. I have quickly fallen in love with this beautiful place and it's people.

My journey to Uganda didn't start off on the best of foots, the trip over was harrrd. Probably the most strenuous trip of life. I wont get into the details (mainly because i just don't wont to relive them) just know it was like nothing I had ever experienced before, however all that was quickly forgotten as soon as I stepped foot in East Africa. I can remember the moment, thinking "I'm standing foot in Africa, what the hell!?." I found myself self in a place I had long yearned to be, and that realization in some senses has yet to fully set in.

The first night we stayed at a guess house near the airport, since The Good Shepherd's fold is quite a drive from Entebbe and our flights got in late. As soon as I saw my first mosquito net, I was taken back to me and Anna's childhood days of building forts.. and I knew sleep would not be an issue here hah.

The next day we slowly worked our way to the Good Shepherd's Fold Orphanage where I would be spending the majority of my time in Africa. We stopped in Kampala, the biggest city in Uganda, to pick up some supplies for the orphanage and some stuff for us 8 interns.. including a ghetto retro cell phone for each of us haha. Then we made one more stop to get to some grub to survive off of. Then finally we turned from one dusty dirt road to another at a slightly faded sign marked "Good Shepherds Fold This Way," and as soon as we rounded that curve I immediately knew in my heart that this was were I was sopose to be for the summer w/0 a shadow of a doubt.

Upon turning we could see the GSF's gate which were holding back students, orphans, and staff waiting to greet us with drums, dances, and love. As soon as we stepped off the bus, I had a kids racing to hold at each of my hands and one jumping on my back.. with another attempting to climb up me. Needless to say it was a picturesque welcoming to this wonderful place.

The first few days here were kind of a blur. We did a lil touring, and learned a little bit about the culture and stuff like that. This country, and GSF, are simply put beautiful. Uganda is so lush and we are located out in the rolling hills of sugar cane. Every time I walk out of our little guest house or the outhouse I'm taken back by the scenery that awaits my eyes.

Within the first few days of being here the phrase T.I.A. quickly arose. Meaning "this is africa." For example on my 3rd day here we saw a monkey like 1o feet from our porch and shortly after experienced an earthquake… and all you can really say to something like that is T.I.A. haha But yeah Africa is crazy.. and I love it. There have been some many moments when the reality that I'm in Africa slaps me in the face, and it almost seems unreal. For example the other day I found myself crammed into an african hut/house watching the Ivory Cost play against Portugal in the world cup on this tinny little tv, surrounded by Ugandans and cheering for the African country while I myself am in Africa haha. Or today when I found myself in the middle of an african soccer match, GSF kids and us white folk vs. the villagers and it was just like one of those moments when you're like is this really happening haha. Speaking of "white folk" they call us Mzungus haha. So say you're walking through the market, you'll have venders left and right yelling "Mzungu Mzungu come shop here," or when I made a hoffific play on the volleyball court and they laughed and muttered “Mzungu bad” haha. Call me crazy but it just seems racist to me.. but hey what do i know I come from the most racists races of em all right? haha.

Like I said earlier this place is beautiful. We are living in the “guest house.” It’s like a stucko/cement house. It’s not to bad at all actually, I mean compared to what I’m use to its definitely ‘roughing it’ but relative to the conditions most of the people in this country live in (and what I expected to live in) it’s nice. We have lights, and one fan, and the most magnificent porch, with an amazing view that is ahh.. just breath taking. We sleep in simple metal bunk-beds with mosquito nets. And we have a cement outhouse that has a toilet and a shower. Which surprisingly enough has hot water, be it a trickle, but hey T.I.A. right? And I’ve quickly gotten over my hatred or lets say intolerance of insects, simply because they are EVERYWHERE.

Yeah so the first couple of days were kind of just to let us get into the swing of things. So last Wednesday was when we hit the ground running with our work. I'm working with a girl named Baylee and we're working with the orphanage sponsorship program. Our work for the time being consists of getting all the children who live here and have sponsors updated and to have them write letters to their sponsors, cause for a lot of them it’s been over a year since their sponsors have heard anything about them. This task is quite tedious and doesn’t really fit into what I would call my ‘calling’ but the Lord’s already taught me so much through it. We’ll probably be doing this for another few week, but seeing as how I’m a dreamer in the most outlandish since of the word (you guys know me) I plan of radically changing the program in anyway I can so that this place will have the necessary funds to do God’s work and love of God’s people of Uganda. The days here are full of all kinds of other work though, most of which just involves loving on the orphans.

This place is so laid back, which is exactly the opposite of what I expected. For the most part I make my own schedule. I work on the sponsorship program whenever I want throughout the day. I spend an hour with Moses, the special needs child which I was blessed to be placed with, whenever I wanna fit it it. At four I help coach the schools soccer team, which is almost a joke cause they should be teaching me hah.

I don’t know what else to say. I apologize again for the length haha, but I could just keep going and going. I have seen and experienced so much in my short time here, and wish I could tell you in detail of every beautiful story. Seeing the dire situations of the people of this country and just the simple opportunity that I have been given to live here and do what little I can has left me with an overwhelming feeling of genuine blessing. I pray that you are continually reminded of the blessings our Lord has bestowed upon you, and that you continue to use them for the glory of His kingdom. I miss you all dearly, but know I am doing well, and wake each day with a great feeling of purpose and an overwhelming sense of the Lord’s presence w/ me.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement, it has meant the world to me, I wish you could all be here with me! Please email me I would love to hear from you, my email is jordanwhowell@gmail.com, and if you want to learn a little more about The Good Shepherds Fold.. here’s a link to their website www.goodsheperdsfold.org

Peace, Love, and Grace be w/ you,

Jordan