First, I would like to apologize to everyone keeping up with my blog for taking so long to write again and for not letting everyone know the day I made it home. Rest assured my team and I made it home from Uganda last Monday. The journey home was a long one filled with three different flights, and a stop in the Instanbul airport. So, needless to say I was so excited to finally touch down in the great state of North Carolina and see my family waiting for me.
The feeling of being home felt so relieving and sad at the same time. My last day at Rafiki was probably one of the hardest days I have had in my life thus far. As a team we walked through the entire village and told all of the different cottages goodbye. It broke my heart. As I hugged each kid and told them I loved them each kid reacted differently. Some kids begged me to come back, some kids asked me to write, and some kids eyes filled with tears at the thought of goodbye. Seeing tears come to their eyes was a sight that I will always remember because it meant that they loved me just as much as I loved them. The relationships and bond that I built with these kids in just 3 short weeks will have an impact on my life forever. I will always remember the memories I made Uganda and some of the sweetest most genuine kids on the earth. I may have taught them many things about sports but they taught me the true meaning of life and how to appreciate every single moment that is given because it is a gift straight from God.
I have now been home for about 2 weeks and the adjustment has not been easy. With every passing day I think about the kids. I constantly wonder what they are doing, if they are working hard for there teachers, and how their lives will turn out. Although I am in the United States apart of my heart and mind will forever be in Uganda. To anyone who is reading this, please say a prayer for all the kids in Africa. The poverty and odds are against them but I serve a God who is bigger than any problem or challenge we can face on this earth. Also, if you are interested below is the link to sponsoring an orphan in one of Rafiki’s orphanages in Africa. You can click through and read each child’s story. If you click on “Uganda” you can see the kids I worked with. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about Rafiki or my experience.
http://www.rafikifoundation.org/Sponsor.aspx
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
-Hebrew 6:10
-Kelli Bonner, Wingate University
To God Be The Glory!
The feeling of being home felt so relieving and sad at the same time. My last day at Rafiki was probably one of the hardest days I have had in my life thus far. As a team we walked through the entire village and told all of the different cottages goodbye. It broke my heart. As I hugged each kid and told them I loved them each kid reacted differently. Some kids begged me to come back, some kids asked me to write, and some kids eyes filled with tears at the thought of goodbye. Seeing tears come to their eyes was a sight that I will always remember because it meant that they loved me just as much as I loved them. The relationships and bond that I built with these kids in just 3 short weeks will have an impact on my life forever. I will always remember the memories I made Uganda and some of the sweetest most genuine kids on the earth. I may have taught them many things about sports but they taught me the true meaning of life and how to appreciate every single moment that is given because it is a gift straight from God.
I have now been home for about 2 weeks and the adjustment has not been easy. With every passing day I think about the kids. I constantly wonder what they are doing, if they are working hard for there teachers, and how their lives will turn out. Although I am in the United States apart of my heart and mind will forever be in Uganda. To anyone who is reading this, please say a prayer for all the kids in Africa. The poverty and odds are against them but I serve a God who is bigger than any problem or challenge we can face on this earth. Also, if you are interested below is the link to sponsoring an orphan in one of Rafiki’s orphanages in Africa. You can click through and read each child’s story. If you click on “Uganda” you can see the kids I worked with. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about Rafiki or my experience.
http://www.rafikifoundation.org/Sponsor.aspx
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
-Hebrew 6:10
-Kelli Bonner, Wingate University
To God Be The Glory!