Author: Gina Sawyer

Ugandan Women are Strong

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

Ugandan women are STRONG! I have come to love, respect and build relationships with many Ugandan women, and I have also seen many other women living what is a normal life (to them), but is quite intimidating to me.

Some women will walk miles for water, reasonably priced food and other household needs for their families. Many women who live in the villages work hard all day in the garden/fields, and then return home to their family to do all the cooking, cleaning and caring for their children and husband. Many times they wake up before the sun has risen to do household chores like ironing, cleaning, and getting things ready for the day, before going to work. Even the many women with professional jobs in town still continue to manage the household in ways that astonish me. Continue reading →

Our Life in Uganda

/ Gina Sawyer / Leave a comment

We have been so blessed to share our life and ministry in Uganda with many people who love us and care for us, and who we love and care for. For those who didn’t get the chance to see videos, here are a couple for your viewing pleasure. Our desire is for you to feel like your part of our life in Uganda. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of so many people in the U.S. and around the world. So as we continue this journey together, please continue to pray with us. Continue reading →

Third Culture Family

/ Gina Sawyer / 4 Comments

As we are preparing for our first trip back to the US, we have had some processing we’ve had to do and will continue to do. Even the word for it is hard to encompass everything it entails…”Furlough” is not accurate because it is NOT a restful vacation, but instead a whirlwind of travel to see as many people as possible. “Home assignment” isn’t best because while Leland and I grew up in America, we have lived in Uganda for a year and a half and it’s our home now, plus Adalyn doesn’t remember it as home. Continue reading →

Boda Fun

/ Gina Sawyer / 2 Comments

Throughout Uganda, there are bodas everywhere. Bodas range from bicycles to motorcycles. It’s a way of transportation for people and stuff. It’s always interesting to see what bodas are carrying. For your viewing pleasure, here are lots of different bodas carrying a variety of items. Continue reading →

I Choose Joy

/ Gina Sawyer / Leave a comment

A couple weeks ago, I woke up with a cold turned into a sinus infection, ants invading my pantry and ruining bugmaster-pest-control-kelowna-ant-invasionsome food, spending over an hour clearing out my pantry and trying to kill the ants, having to explain the day of expectations to my house worker, dealing with questions and needs from my day guards, Adalyn seemingly asking a million questions or calling my name for something… all while trying to take care of an increasing to-do list that seemed to continually get pushed to the side. Continue reading →

Reflecting on My Purpose

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

Wow, it’s crazy to think it’s been 1 YEAR since we packed up everything we own and moved across the ocean to Uganda. God has continued to be faithful through everything, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. What a journey it’s been! Continue reading →

And Somehow the Same…

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

While there are several differences between our old lifestyle in the U.S. and our new home in Uganda, there are also so many things that are similar and we are very blessed to be able to embrace both the differences and similarities. Continue reading →

Different isn’t wrong…

/ Gina Sawyer / Leave a comment

There are so many things that are different here. Some things are more difficult, take more time or are frustrating because they are different from what we’re use to, but there are also so many things that are beautiful, sweet, interesting and amusing, which makes for a wonderful dynamic. I feel blessed to be able to live amongst this dynamic… Continue reading →

Happy Birthday Adalyn

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

img_5519Adalyn is 4 years old today and we are celebrating her first birthday in Uganda.  We celebrated by going to the Entebbe Zoo, being part of a Halloween party for the expat community, and of course, having cake. We thought it would be fun to ask her some questions, so you could see where she’s at in this point of her life… Continue reading →

Nkya iga Oluganda

/ Gina Sawyer / 1 Comment

Nkya iga Oluganda (sounds like Encha yeega Oluganda) means “I am still learning Luganda.” Luckily, we are not learning how to read or write Luganda at this point, so we only write how it sounds to us, which is different for Leland and me.

99c519ad-3420-44e5-814d-b37fd053225a Immaculate, our language helper, is a primary school teacher who is not currently working, so she is able to help teach us every Wednesday and Friday afternoon for 1 hour. An hour doesn’t seem like much time but by the end of each lesson, our brain is fried and we are drained from trying to process and learn.  She is patient with us, she challenges us, she speaks slowly and repeats herself so we can understand. Continue reading →