School is coming....

..Oh no..
....Oh dear
.........Oh dang..

...Its coming...

...It really is!

I was kind of in denial about it, but today I had no choice but to face up to the fact that school is starting up next week! Today was spent... school shopping. And when you're school shopping, you kind of have to realize that school may be just around the bend.

I know it won't be that bad. Its not even school that I'm dreading (although I can't say I like homework.. and Grade 11, I'm sure, is full of it!).. its more the fact that I am no longer free to have fun and do whatever I want.

But, actually, I'm kind of looking forward to parts of it. For one thing, I applied to go on a missions trip this year. Every year my school takes out 10-12 teams of students to countries all around the world, where they do manual labour, community outreach, and help out in orphanages and schools. Its only open to grades 11 and 12, so after years of watching the teams come and go, I'm finally going to be part of it too!! I am so excited, but quite nervous too. We don't find out what team we're on until next week, at the start of school, so that's one incentive to go! I'll let everybody know, the minute I find out where I'm going to be going.

Another exciting thing coming up is our school musical. Every year (except for this last year) our school puts on a musical. They're usually really good, and in fact get even better every year. This year they announced that its going to be Les Mis, so that should be really good. I'm going to try out, and I'm REALLY nervous!! I'm totally not the kind of person who is comfortable singing in front of other people, but I really want to be part of this. So, I'm going to step out of my comfort zone and audition. I'm singing "Castle on a Cloud", which is quite easy to sing, as all the notes are exactly in my range. But, I'm still really scared. My sister takes singing lessons, so before the audition (maybe tomorrow), I'm going to go and see her voice teacher, and get her to give me a couple last minute tips, so that should be really helpful! But still, its a scary thought! I'd really, really like to get a part, so I'm going to try my hardest, and work really hard these last couple of days, to touch it up, and make it absolutely perfect! (I hope! :S)

My school schedule is a little crazy, but shouldn't be too bad. I'm taking Math 12 in second semester, in order to have NO math at all in grade 12, which will be SOOOO nice!! (I hate, abide, and detest that horrible subject!! I'm not terrible at it, I just don't like it. What sucks was that one of my favourite teachers ever is a math teacher.. why couldn't she teach English, or Drama??) But apart from that, its not bad. I really want to find out who my teachers are. We get our schedules at the end of June, so if we want to, we can go around, and figure out which classroom is which teacher's and everything, but I usually never bother, and just get there, and find out when I walk in! Unfortunately, there's the possibility of getting my worst teacher ever (Miss M). She used to teach grade 8 (our school is K-12), so when I moved out of the Middle School, I thought I would be done with her forever! But then, she decided that she wanted to teach High School, so she asked and since she's been teaching for a long time.... they kicked out my favourite teacher (yup, the math one- Mrs. P), who was SOOO AWESOME, and brought Miss M up to High School in her place!! Everyone is so mad and upset, so maybe they'll eventually bring back Mrs. P... I'm crossing my fingers!!!

Anyway, I really should go now, and unload the dishwasher (my dad's been telling me to do it for a while! :S). I'm really trying to make the most out of these last few days, so I think I'll go to bed, and.. I dunno... read for hours or something! :P I can't sleep in, because I have to babysit, but I'll sleep in all I can on the weekend... my last chance ever!! Well, until next weekend.

My Beautiful Cell Phone! :D

As I mentioned before, on August 10th I turned 16. I had a great birthday, with awesome presents, and lots of fun. I went shopping with my mom and Megan in the morning/early afternoon to use some of my gift certificates, andthen in the afternoon we went to Chapters and Starbucks. I was so proud of myself.. I got a $40 gift card for my birthday, and with it, I managed to buy six books! And three were hardcover! Yay for Erin and her crazy shopping skills! :P
In the evening we went out for dinner (my whole family was there, and at Chapters too) at Milestones, and then my mom took me and Megan to see Becoming Jane. Ok, I am not a big Anne Hathoway fan. I like her in Princess Diaries 1, and mostly in number 2, but in anything else, she just kind of bugs me. I have to say.. she did a very good job in this movie! I didn't really think it would fit when I first heard about it.. I mean Anne Hathoway, as Jane Austin? How could that work? But I actually really enjoyed that movie, and had no idea what a sad life Jane Austin had! Well love life at least.. its so sad! But all in all, that was a good movie, and a very good birthday.

One of my favourite presents (for anyone in my family reading this; I liked them ALL! :D) was my cell phone, which I got from my parents. Its a Black Red Motorola Razr. If that doesn't make sense, maybe this will be better.. its a black M(RED) Razr. Its from the Red Campaign, and I just LOVE it!! Its soo gorgeous!

I just love it so much! The picture doesn't really show it properly (its just from Google Images) but its so nice. It was a huge surprise to find it in my presents!
My parents promised to pay for the first two months, but then I'm on my own. I don't really mind, because we've made an agreement. They like to go out at least once a week together. I told them I would give them 2 free hours of babysitting a week, and that will pay for my cell phone plan. Also, when combined with the allowance I already don't get in order to sponsor Jackie, it is enough to pay for Jackie's sponsorship, my cell phone, and almost enough for Reagan. I will only owe them $9 a month, which is nothing. So I am happy.. free babysitting isn't bad, and I really don't mind giving it, and in return, I don't have to worry about my sponsorship or cell phone financing. Its really my money thats going to all of it, but its way easier this way, because I would go crazy trying to remember to pay for everything myself.. this way it just comes out of my parents account! ;D It sounds kind of complicated, but trust me.. I've worked it all out in detail!

Picture of the Week

Ok, now that we're back from holidays and everything, hopefully I can get more into the routine of regularly posting... for example, putting up a picture of the week every week, and on the right day!! But we've been busy for a while, so here is this week's picture. Its been kind of hard to choose, as there haven't been that many pictures, and not that many are amazing, but I finally chose one...

Ok, so its not amazing.. no special lighting, no professional photogrophy; I just like it, because we're all together, and we're all actually smiling (I would say at the camera, but just look at Ayana's face! What a little prima donna!), and its cute. This was on our one year Gotcha Day anniversary (which was on Thursday, if you haven't read my other blog about it), so its a really special picture. So its not perfect, but I really like it; its cute and special to me! :D

Senyondwa Reagan

Ok, so I'm home, and I can now get the pictures of Reagan outside of his house. When the house is finished, it will actually be a very good house, for that area of Uganda, but right now they are living in it only half finished. They also, as I said before, will not have a kitchen, or a bathroom.. merely a fire and a pit, which I hope to do something about in time.
Reagan is the one in green (he's only wearing a shirt, which just breaks my heart.. I'll send him some clothes soon.).. look at his grin! He was just told that he has a sponsor! :D The older man is his big brother (one of 4 brothers), and the three girls are 3 of his 4/5 sisters (I'm not sure about the exact amount of his siblings).

This is the other picture, that I just cropped in.

Namulindwa Jackie

I was able to scan the pictures I have recieved of Jackie, so I thought I would share. Once again, I am babysitting, but they have let me use their scanner (we don't have one), so I can access the pictures from right here.

I also recieved, just yesterday, pictures of Reagan, with 4 of his siblings, in front of his house! I was so excited! Apparently he doesn't have a latrine, or a kitchen, and their house is only half finished, as their dad is trying to build it in between trying to find work. Its so sad, and I want to buy them a kitchen, although it costs about $200- nothing compared to what it would be here!

When I get home, I will post the picture of Reagan with his family.. some of them anyway; he has 4 brothers, 3 sisters, and at least his dad. I haven't heard about his mom yet, so I'm not sure whether she is still with them.

Anyway, here are a couple pictures of my little girl...

This is the first picture I recieved, when I started sponsoring her.

This is the second picture I recieved.. they update them about once a year, unless you send gifts, in which case they send pictures of the child recieving the gift you sent.

This is Jackie recieving some cooking essentials, and a goat that I sent to them for Christmas '05 (I'm not sure who the woman with her is.. I'm assuming it is her mother, but I'm going to try to find out for sure.)

This is Jackie recieving the cow I sent her for Christmas '06.

I also sent her a blanket and matress, which she has just chosen out here.. I sent her a sweater and a pair of shoes for Christmas too, but in the names of my sister and brother (Megan and Joshua) so they were the ones who got pictures of those.

Those are some of the pictures I have of her.. I also have some from when we visited Kibaale in 2005, but they aren't on this computer. Hopefully I'll be able to put those on, but if not, I'll definitely put on the ones I have of Reagan, once I get back home to my computer.

So that is my beautiful little Jackie.. just a note; in case you were wondering why her head is shaved, I thought I'd let you know that the school makes it a policy that all students must have their heads shaved, because of lice, or head fungus. It makes it easier to manage.. thankfully Jackie has neither!

I do feel sorry for the Secondary students, and even the older Primary students. Hair is a big pride issue in Africa, so to have to shave it all off, without having any choice, in order to go to school seems a little unfair. I understand that with the younger children its a hygene issue, but I would think that the older ones (the school goes up to S5, which is Grade 12.. that's like 17, 18 year olds!) would be able to take care of themselves.
But, if I post any more pictures, you will probably notice that all the children have shaved heads, and that is why!

My Sponsor Children

I don't think I've mentioned my little sponsor girl before. I've been sponsoring her for 2 years now, ever since I got back from our trip to Uganda we took in summer of 2005. We went to visit the school that my school is linked with, and sponsors. Its called Kibaale Community Center, and is comprised of a school, from pre-school to grade 12, a clinic (anyone can come in.. its the only one for miles, so its always full), and a vocational training center (for the kids who don't do so well in school, but don't want to waste the good opportunity). The campus is huge, with great fields for the kids to play on, and matoke (a kind of banana that is harvested all over Uganda) plantations in the back. Only the "poorest of the poor" are allowed to go there, and they really stick to that. This means that many of the children, as young as 4, are walking for miles and miles, often barefoot, to get to school. We met a little boy, who was 7 years old, who walked 1 1/2 hours to school, and had to leave at 5:00, in order to finish his chores, get ready and be able to set off in time. It also means that the lunch that is served to all the students is often the only meal the children will get. It is a wonderful school, and I really admire them, and the people who work there.

I met this little girl there, who was so sweet, and I really loved her. Her name was Namulindwa Jackie. When I got home, I just couldn't get Uganda off my mind.. I had been thinking about sponsoring a child from Kibaale, so I thought I'd go on the website and take a look. When I was looking through the pictures of children available for sponsorship, I saw Jackie's little face looking out at me! I was so excited, and I immediatley became her sponsor. I send regular letters and gifts, and I occasionally get letters back (it is very hard for them to send letters, as they have so many sponsored kids, so they usually just wait until guests go to Kibaale, and then just send the letters back with them). I love being able to help her, and her family, and since 100% of the money goes to the child, and their education, I know that I really am making a difference in her life. She just turned 9, and a friend of ours recently got to visit Kibaale and see Jackie.. I can't believe how big she's grown!

Last week, I was thinking about Jackie, and how much I love helping her, and sponsoring her, and decided to look on the website again, at the available children. I looked through the Nursery students, memorising names and gazing at their adorable faces. A couple stood out to me, but there was one that just really captured my heart. His name is Senyondwa Reagan, and he is 6 years old. That night, we got together with our friend, who had just got back from Kibaale. I mentioned his name to her, and she went, "Oh! He's so cute! I really want to find someone to be able to sponsor him!" When I heard that, I knew that I had to. God really spoke to me, and told me that I needed to sponsor him, as well as Jackie. I requested sponsorship of him, and just yesterday got an email confirming it:

Dear Erin,
I have just checked my files, and am able to confirm that Senyondwa Reagan, in Nursery, is available for sponsorship. I will add the $25 to the amount already coming out of your account.

You will recieve pictures and information about him sometime next week.
Thank-you for sponsoring, and helping these children.

In God's name,
G.H.

I am so excited! I am now sponsoring 2 little African Angels over in Kibaale, Uganda. When I get home, I'll post a picture of Jackie, but I can access a picture of Reagan from this computer already. He's so adorable!

If you want to look into sponsoring a child from Kibaale, just follow this link:
http://www.paoutreach.net/pages/kibaale/kibaale_sponsorship.htm

Check it out! Like I said, 100% of the money goes to the child, and pays for their education, a feeding program, medical care, and family agricultural needs. Its also possible to send additional gifts to the family, such as a new roof, a cow, a goat, blankets, shoes etc. Its a really good program, and the children really benefit from it, as well as the sponsors. I, for one, can not wait to get my next letter from Jackie, and my very first letter from Reagan! I love them both so much.. they're like my little sister and brother, over in Uganda. They call me Auntie Erin, and in each letter (Jackie does.. I haven't recieved one from Reagan yet) express just how much my sponsorship means to them.
And I know that many people say this, but really; think about it. For Primary School students (Pre-school/Nursery- Grade 7) its only $25 a month- that's less than a dollar a day!

Lots to catch up on!

Well, we've been away a lot, and very busy this last month, so, as you may have noticed, I've been neglecting my blogs! Lots has happened, and I'll try to fill you in on everything. I'll have to do it later though, as I am at someone else's house babysitting, and I really want to post pictures. So instead, here's a quick snapshot of what I've been doing:

-Capernwray Summer Bible Family Camp; I mentioned it in a previous post, but I'll try to go into more detail later on when I can put more pictures on. It is such an awesome experience. It is totally geared towards families, but also each member of the family seperately, as their own person. There are family sessions, adult sessions, and teen, pre-teen, kids, toddlers and baby groups. In each there are amazingly cool activities (for example, one night the teens go to a campsite, and have a campout, under the stars!) and its just overall tons of fun.

- Pentiction; we went with some of our friends, and it was lots of fun. We rented a boat twice, and went waterskiing and tubing, and for some crazy-fast boatrides. Seriously, I was at the front, with my brother and his friend, and we were like terrified.. I honestly thought I would fall out. Eventually we all screamed at the driver (the dad of my brother's friend... we've been friends with them for about 13, 14 years) to stop, and we all climbed into the back, where we were safe.. I had the hugest headache after that! We were getting some serious air!!

- My 16th birthday!! I can't believe I'm able to get my L now.. I know in lots of other places its younger, like 14, 15.. but I'm so excited about it! :D Ayana was so excited about my birthday for days ahead of time, talking about "bifday cake" and "bifday pesents" and "singing".. she was so excited, I almost wonder if she thought it was her birthday coming up!

- Lots and lots and lots and lots of babysitting. Like I mentioned before, I'm babysitting right now. The kids are on a nap, so I thought I'd take this time to actually post something! I'm pretty much a daycare leader for them! I babysit them all day, three days a week. They're really sweet kids (Cate is 4, and Cen is 2) but they are full of energy!! I'm glad when its nap time!

So there you have it; a glimpse into the last couple weeks of my life. Hopefully I'll be able to go into more detail later, with pictures and everything, but for now, I have to say goodbye. I still have to go clean up from lunch time!

Picture of the Week

I missed yet another one last week, but this time I actually have an excuse! I was gone with my family to a family camp on Thetis Island. If you've heard of Capernwray Bible College, you may have heard of this. They host a family camp every summer (the one on Thetis Island- I'm not sure about any of the other Capernwrays), and we just love to go. I'll write all about it later, but first let me update my picture of the week. Because we were gone, it was very hard choosing a favourite picture of the week.. there were so many!! So I compromised, and this week, you get TWO pictures of the week!! I just think they are both so so beautiful! Of course, there were many beautiful ones of everyone in my family, but these two just stood out.. next week I'll chose one of someone else, other than Ayana! :P She's just so darn cute!

I think the lighting on this one is just gorgeous, and her expression is so cute!

I love this one, because Ayana and Abigail (the little girl in the background), had so much fun together.. this just shows a glimpse of how happy they were while playing together.