It is hard to believe we are back on American soil. As I unpacked my suitcase this morning (1:00 a.m. was too late to do it when I got home), my shoes still had the dirt from the roads of Uganda on them and the sight of it almost made me cry. (I wonder if that violated any customs laws?)
How can we return to normal life after what we have seen and experienced? I know it will be easier for those for whom this was a return trip, but for us who saw it all through "Disney-wide eyes", we have so much to process, so much for which to seek the Lord. Some of us have to try to relay it to our spouses - to try to get them to understand the tug on our hearts of the little Ugandan children who have a permanent place there. As we worked together as a team to gather and organize our thoughts, several phrases came to my mind that, for me, will be guiding my process as the Lord deals with me:
When I was ignorant, I was innocent; when I have knowledge, I have responsibility.
So, what next? There is so much need, in so many places. We can become overwhelmed or say it is too much for anyone to really make a difference, or, we can listen to the heart of God and hear what He says to each one of us, adjust our lives, and fall in line in obedience. That is my prayer. That is where I want to find myself. Pray with me for each of our team and for the precious Ugandan children, families, believers and friends we left behind. Our God is so big and so active all over the world. Let's find out where He is working....and join in!
Thank you for following us in love, prayer and thought. Your prayers have been largely responsible for the work we were able to do.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Worship as a Lifestyle
"And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Rev. 5:9, 10
We had the privilege today of worshiping with 2 different groups of believers. Gaba Community Church meets right beside our house and we had a more familiar worship experience, with an African twist and were able to sing along to praise songs that we knew. Then we scooted over to Bweya to meet again with the body of believers we fellowshipped with last night. They were fully in motion with seating overflowing the capacity and more coming. The growth that has taken place in one year is amazing, since last year when the team visited them in the "chicken coop church", they had about 40 in attendance and today, we worshiped with over 100. There was an excitement and energy that could not be denied and much of the service was led by various groups of youth that were an integral part of the church. It is so encouraging to see how God is so clearly at work in this place and to be able to have taken part. But possibly the greatest joy is just the thrill of being with other believers in another land who have been joined together by the blood of the Lamb who has promised to bring together ransomed ones from every tribe and language and people and nation. Praise God for his word going out among the nations.
We, as a team, have had such rich times each day of debriefing and reviewing all that we each have experienced and felt. It has brought so much growth to each of us. I wish you, the reader, had the benefit of viewing this trip through each team members' eyes, as we each have a different perspective and receive from the Lord individually from each encounter. As we bring our trip to a close, and head home tomorrow, please pray for all these requests that sum up the complexity of what God is doing on this trip.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty
to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:18
We had the privilege today of worshiping with 2 different groups of believers. Gaba Community Church meets right beside our house and we had a more familiar worship experience, with an African twist and were able to sing along to praise songs that we knew. Then we scooted over to Bweya to meet again with the body of believers we fellowshipped with last night. They were fully in motion with seating overflowing the capacity and more coming. The growth that has taken place in one year is amazing, since last year when the team visited them in the "chicken coop church", they had about 40 in attendance and today, we worshiped with over 100. There was an excitement and energy that could not be denied and much of the service was led by various groups of youth that were an integral part of the church. It is so encouraging to see how God is so clearly at work in this place and to be able to have taken part. But possibly the greatest joy is just the thrill of being with other believers in another land who have been joined together by the blood of the Lamb who has promised to bring together ransomed ones from every tribe and language and people and nation. Praise God for his word going out among the nations.
We, as a team, have had such rich times each day of debriefing and reviewing all that we each have experienced and felt. It has brought so much growth to each of us. I wish you, the reader, had the benefit of viewing this trip through each team members' eyes, as we each have a different perspective and receive from the Lord individually from each encounter. As we bring our trip to a close, and head home tomorrow, please pray for all these requests that sum up the complexity of what God is doing on this trip.
- That each team member will take adaquate time to process their experiences on this trip and that God will give wisdom and ears to hear His voice so they will know what step of obedience is to be set into motion as a result.
- Bweya Community Church as they move forward, led by Pastor Robert. Pray that they will be protected and given wisdom as they care for new believers, evangelize their neighborhood, and make plans to build their building on their newly purchased land.
- Steve and Debbie, Edith and Derrick, as they begin life together as a family in the US. Pray for the integration of the children into their family and into American society, and for wisdom for their parents as they tread this new turf.
- Marvin, as he is being considered for admission to a children's home that would be a much better situation for him, and for Beth and her family as they continue his sponsorship and seek the Lord regarding his future.
- Kevin and Nicole as they continue to seek the Lord's will in their process of pursuing international adoption. Pray that they will be encouraged, hear clearly from the Lord, and have His peace.
- Mercy and her family, as they see the love of God expressed through the fellowship of the Bweya church. That Mercy's mom can see a plan from God that involves the family staying intact; that she will be able to start a business and provide for her family after the recent lose of her husband.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty
to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:18
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Celebration day
We are winding down and nearing the end of our trip and it was time for a few hours of shopping at the craft market in Kampala. After that, we had some American-style pizza in a restaurant in the parking garage! It was good and a nice reminder of home. We headed to the celebration that was scheduled today at the location of the land that was purchased through donations through Ekissa.
Bweya Community Church showed up for the festivities and there was much rejoicing. Over 150 people from the church and community gathered over the course of about an hour....African style. They were dressed in their finest, arranged for tents and chairs to be set up, hooked up the sound system and proceeded to worship. We shared in Lugandan worship songs and traditional African dances and helped them celebrate the excitement of the prospect of having their own church building on their own land one day. We were reminded by one of the speakers that the Church was already present, because it consisted of the people who were present.
It was a privilege to share in their celebration and to have had a part in the coming together of this day. These people are so loving and welcoming and so full of the joy of the Lord. It is a blessing to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ across the world and know that we share a bond that transcends nationality and culture. Tomorrow, we will worship with them at their present location at Mercy children's home.
Bweya Community Church showed up for the festivities and there was much rejoicing. Over 150 people from the church and community gathered over the course of about an hour....African style. They were dressed in their finest, arranged for tents and chairs to be set up, hooked up the sound system and proceeded to worship. We shared in Lugandan worship songs and traditional African dances and helped them celebrate the excitement of the prospect of having their own church building on their own land one day. We were reminded by one of the speakers that the Church was already present, because it consisted of the people who were present.
It was a privilege to share in their celebration and to have had a part in the coming together of this day. These people are so loving and welcoming and so full of the joy of the Lord. It is a blessing to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ across the world and know that we share a bond that transcends nationality and culture. Tomorrow, we will worship with them at their present location at Mercy children's home.
Friday, June 24, 2011
So Many Stories...
"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation.
He settles the fatherless in families...." Ps. 68:5,6a
God is so busy here and it is hard to know which story to tell first of all He is doing. We started the day with a beautiful boat ride which we launched just down the road from our house onto Lake Victoria. We traveled for about 45 minutes along the coast, passing fishermen and small villages along the way to visit the children's home at Bethany Village, operated by the Africa Renewal Ministry (ARM), with which we partner. This place was such a breath of fresh air after the desperate conditions in which we have viewed orphans all week. Here we found, set among lush palms and grassy lawns, individual "homes" where hundreds of children live in "families" with a "mother" who is a local widow who has been carefully chosen and hired to live with and care for 12 to 15 children in each house. This facility has its own school and medical clinic and shows to us all what can happen when the believers in the States funnel their resources through a system that is intentional and accountable. It was a beautiful thing to see these children receive godly love and instruction and live in the truth of the Gospel. Needless to say, our hearts were encouraged and spurred on to see this happen elsewhere, proving that it can be done!
After lunch, some of us went to the Loving Hearts Baby Home, also run by ARM. The conditions there would rival any facility you would find in the US. We returned with Kevin and Nicole, our team members who had visited there all morning, looking for the child that God would connect them with, as they have been pursuing the adoption process for almost 2 years now. Please pray for them in their search for God's will, as they have had many closed doors, but still feel strongly that God is leading them to adopt internationally. Pray for open hearts and doors and for them to receive some encouragement in this process. It has been a privilege to walk beside them this week in just a tiny bit of their journey in this and now their burden has become ours as well. It was such a blessing to see the sweet Ugandan women who lovingly care for these babies and to see the Scriptures printed all over the walls of this home. Places like this give us great hope in the midst of much despair. Praise the Lord for the way He is at work in the hearts of His people. Pray for their continued obedience.
But as we were visiting this place of hope, Beth and Sarah had to face the painful and harsh reality of returning Marvin to Airfield school where he lives. It was not a pretty picture and there was no easy way of doing it and no other options. This is one of those situations where we are completely helpless to do anything for him because of the corrupted system in which he finds himself. This is a very personal example of the frustration that is experienced over and over again with the poorly run children's homes that are in place here.
At the same time, we have also seen much worse conditions.
Part of our team, Mark and his daughter, Kristie went to a school in the slums of Kabalagala, not far from here today. I had visited Rays of Hope on Tuesday with Emilie who is working each day there on her summer-long trip. Mark's sister had made dresses out of pillowcases and sent them with him and he went to deliver them. Here is a school that has been established for years for the street orphans of that slum, to give them a safe place to spend the day, have a meal a day and a semblance of an education, while receiving Christ's love and the Gospel through the hands of His people. There is no children's home for these. When the school day is over, they return to the streets. This is when the need becomes overwhelming and we can feel despair with the levels of corruption and the helplessness we feel. Thank the Lord He is in control, sees it all and is Sovereign. We can trust Marvin, Kabalagala, Mercy Home and Airfield school to His wise and loving care. Oh, let us be tools in your work, oh God.
"I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy."
Ps. 140:12
He settles the fatherless in families...." Ps. 68:5,6a
God is so busy here and it is hard to know which story to tell first of all He is doing. We started the day with a beautiful boat ride which we launched just down the road from our house onto Lake Victoria. We traveled for about 45 minutes along the coast, passing fishermen and small villages along the way to visit the children's home at Bethany Village, operated by the Africa Renewal Ministry (ARM), with which we partner. This place was such a breath of fresh air after the desperate conditions in which we have viewed orphans all week. Here we found, set among lush palms and grassy lawns, individual "homes" where hundreds of children live in "families" with a "mother" who is a local widow who has been carefully chosen and hired to live with and care for 12 to 15 children in each house. This facility has its own school and medical clinic and shows to us all what can happen when the believers in the States funnel their resources through a system that is intentional and accountable. It was a beautiful thing to see these children receive godly love and instruction and live in the truth of the Gospel. Needless to say, our hearts were encouraged and spurred on to see this happen elsewhere, proving that it can be done!
After lunch, some of us went to the Loving Hearts Baby Home, also run by ARM. The conditions there would rival any facility you would find in the US. We returned with Kevin and Nicole, our team members who had visited there all morning, looking for the child that God would connect them with, as they have been pursuing the adoption process for almost 2 years now. Please pray for them in their search for God's will, as they have had many closed doors, but still feel strongly that God is leading them to adopt internationally. Pray for open hearts and doors and for them to receive some encouragement in this process. It has been a privilege to walk beside them this week in just a tiny bit of their journey in this and now their burden has become ours as well. It was such a blessing to see the sweet Ugandan women who lovingly care for these babies and to see the Scriptures printed all over the walls of this home. Places like this give us great hope in the midst of much despair. Praise the Lord for the way He is at work in the hearts of His people. Pray for their continued obedience.
But as we were visiting this place of hope, Beth and Sarah had to face the painful and harsh reality of returning Marvin to Airfield school where he lives. It was not a pretty picture and there was no easy way of doing it and no other options. This is one of those situations where we are completely helpless to do anything for him because of the corrupted system in which he finds himself. This is a very personal example of the frustration that is experienced over and over again with the poorly run children's homes that are in place here.
At the same time, we have also seen much worse conditions.
Part of our team, Mark and his daughter, Kristie went to a school in the slums of Kabalagala, not far from here today. I had visited Rays of Hope on Tuesday with Emilie who is working each day there on her summer-long trip. Mark's sister had made dresses out of pillowcases and sent them with him and he went to deliver them. Here is a school that has been established for years for the street orphans of that slum, to give them a safe place to spend the day, have a meal a day and a semblance of an education, while receiving Christ's love and the Gospel through the hands of His people. There is no children's home for these. When the school day is over, they return to the streets. This is when the need becomes overwhelming and we can feel despair with the levels of corruption and the helplessness we feel. Thank the Lord He is in control, sees it all and is Sovereign. We can trust Marvin, Kabalagala, Mercy Home and Airfield school to His wise and loving care. Oh, let us be tools in your work, oh God.
"I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy."
Ps. 140:12
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Meet the Neighbors
"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth."
I Jn 3:16-18
Today stretched a few of us but we would all agree that this stretch was good for us and so rewarding and may have been used of the Lord. Pastor Robert asked us to work within the Bweya Community today cleaning up trash and burning it as a sign of service to the community and, more importantly, visiting with the neighbors and getting to know them and looking for opportunities to share the Gospel. This news created a mix of emotions in me. I am generally leery of this activity just because it is often received unfavorably in our country. I think a few other team members had the same feeling. But at the same time, I had really wished I could get a closer look into Ugandan life as we whizzed by in our vans each day. So this was our chance.
Split up into teams of 4 or 5, and each equipped with a translator, we began approaching people on the street, at their businesses and sitting in the doorways of their homes. We were amazed at how willing they were to talk with us and share their lives. It became apparent that the issues of their lives, though the events occur a world away from us, were really no different from the issues of our lives. Most asked for prayer for their health, their families, desire for children, need for jobs and provision for homes. How different they look from us on the outside. How different their surroundings from ours, and yet, we all have the same heart-deep need for the love of our Saviour and the basics of our lives.
Some of us had the privilege of actually leading others to faith in Christ and we all were able to share the love of Christ and the news of a church in their community that loves and cares for them. It is exciting to see God at work in this village and to be a part of what He is doing here. Each of us will have to process what God is saying to us through the things we have seen and experienced here. There is always responsibility that comes with knowledge and now that we know about these neighbors of ours across the ocean, we must ask the Lord to show us what our responsibility is. Pray with us for our neighbors and for our response.
Thank you for praying for Marvin. He has recovered nicely these last few days as he spent them with us, under Beth's watchful eye. Tomorrow we will have to return him to Airfield School and Home so please pray that his transition will be smooth and that the Lord will be as faithful as He already has been in protecting and providing for him.
I Jn 3:16-18
Today stretched a few of us but we would all agree that this stretch was good for us and so rewarding and may have been used of the Lord. Pastor Robert asked us to work within the Bweya Community today cleaning up trash and burning it as a sign of service to the community and, more importantly, visiting with the neighbors and getting to know them and looking for opportunities to share the Gospel. This news created a mix of emotions in me. I am generally leery of this activity just because it is often received unfavorably in our country. I think a few other team members had the same feeling. But at the same time, I had really wished I could get a closer look into Ugandan life as we whizzed by in our vans each day. So this was our chance.
Split up into teams of 4 or 5, and each equipped with a translator, we began approaching people on the street, at their businesses and sitting in the doorways of their homes. We were amazed at how willing they were to talk with us and share their lives. It became apparent that the issues of their lives, though the events occur a world away from us, were really no different from the issues of our lives. Most asked for prayer for their health, their families, desire for children, need for jobs and provision for homes. How different they look from us on the outside. How different their surroundings from ours, and yet, we all have the same heart-deep need for the love of our Saviour and the basics of our lives.
Some of us had the privilege of actually leading others to faith in Christ and we all were able to share the love of Christ and the news of a church in their community that loves and cares for them. It is exciting to see God at work in this village and to be a part of what He is doing here. Each of us will have to process what God is saying to us through the things we have seen and experienced here. There is always responsibility that comes with knowledge and now that we know about these neighbors of ours across the ocean, we must ask the Lord to show us what our responsibility is. Pray with us for our neighbors and for our response.
Thank you for praying for Marvin. He has recovered nicely these last few days as he spent them with us, under Beth's watchful eye. Tomorrow we will have to return him to Airfield School and Home so please pray that his transition will be smooth and that the Lord will be as faithful as He already has been in protecting and providing for him.
New Friends, Reunions and Good Byes
"Jesus said let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14
We started our day out at Mercy Home to lead a VBS for the children of Bweya. The morning began with singing and dancing, led by the 4 African college students that we have been fortunate to have with us all week. They connect with the kids in such an amazing way. It doesn't hurt that they also speak their language! I think for the majority of us participating we would have estimated that we might have 50-100 children but as the music started the shelter area quickly filled and we had over 300 children and parents there to hear about God. It is such fun to watch the enthusiasm and love that children express to God even in such a dry dark place as Mercy Home.
I am sitting in a very familiar place having written the blog for the trip in December except this time I was looking through very different eyes.
We had a plan for our day and what we thought would happen but God had his own plan. We would all be touched in one way or another either personally or by watching our friends. It is easy to enjoy and connect with children-they are funny, cute, carefree. These children are also that same way but they are also very hungry for something deeper. Many of them have parents that are trying hard to care for them and then there are some that have no one and nothing. God has a way of placing those children in the hands of the one he knows will stop for just that extra second and realize their need. I saw this happen with Mark and Mercy.
Mercy is a precious, petite girl who smiles and you immediately smile back. I kept noticing her at Mark's feet. As the morning went on I would see them interacting and before long her little hand was in his almost constantly. I knew that he was growing to love her. That may sound strange to some but you see I recognized this immediately because in December this was happening to me with Edith. It is a beautiful thing to witness. Mark was here serving with ekissa (Mercy in Llugandan), at Mercy Home and he is now caring for a little girl named Mercy. It is so amazing how God can orchestrate such small details so that we might recognize him at work.
Steve and I are in Uganda finishing up the legal process of adopting Edith and her brother Derrick. On this very day we received the visas for both children to allow us to return home with them. We officially became their guardians.
All of us are along with the ekissa team participating today. Edith's older brother, Asharuf, is a 8 year old boy who lives at Mercy. They were both so excited to see one another. Even though many of these children are separated from their family there is still a deep sense of commitment to one another. We were serving lunch to all the children and parents. When Asharuf was receiving his plate he immediately recognized that his brother and sister were not eating. He passed his plate to Edith so she would have something. He may not have even in days but yet he was sacrificing his lunch for them. He also stuck by them all day rather than having fun with the VBS activities. We finished the lunch time and the kids began playing in the yard of Mercy Home. It was so awesome to see all these kids having fun and laughing.
The afternoon went on and we all knew it would be time to leave them. Having left Edith in December I knew what a hard time Mark would have when he had to finally part from Mercy. And I also knew that this might be the last time that Edith and Derrick would see their brother Asharuf. I had no idea that he might be aware of this reality. As we were leaving he began to hold tight to Edith's hand and my heart grew extremely heavy. How were we to leave this young boy here alone with no one to take care of him? What would we say? How is Mark going to let go of the hand that he had been holding all day? As Edith was yelling out to her brother "Goodbye Asharuf, I love you." and Mark was hearing the tiny voice say "Come back Mazungu." the tears began and I believe that inside Mark and I are still crying. But we also know that God will provide for these kids as well as provide for us.
How it will all turn out for Ashuraf and for the relationship between Mark and Mercy? We don't know. I know that when I came in December I certainly didn't come with the intentions of adopting. God does have a plan and for that I am grateful.
When we let go and let God have the reign of our hearts it is easy to love with the depth that only God can provide. He simply loved us first.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
God's Timing is Perfect
Yesterday, Tuesday, we continued to host a medical clinic at the Bweya Children’s Home. When we arrived around 9:00AM there were nearly 90 people waiting on us – news travels fast by word of mouth here. On Tuesday, we saw over 200 patients including adults and children. It was a blessing to be able to provide these medical services to the people of Bweya Village.
On an encouraging note we conducted nearly 150 HIV test and only one person tested positive. That was definitely a blessing because according to one of the pastors in the area, in the past this number would have been much higher. The blessing to us in this experience was seeing the reaction of the women when they learned they didn’t have HIV! One women I personally witnessed receive her news looked like somebody had just given here a million dollars.
There was another orphanage in the area, Air Field Children’s Home, which had several dozen students who needed to see a doctor and so we decided to just stop by there when we finished in Bweya instead of bring them to us. Additionally, one of the team members, Beth, sponsors a child at Air Field and she would get to see her child, Marvin, for the first time! When we arrived Marvin wasn’t there and we asked one of the children to go get him.
Marvin is a very active, bubbly child with an ear-to-ear grin that exposes two enormous dimples. He’s always in the center of whatever is going on. When he walked up, we saw a shell of a child; head down; not smiling; not talking; and really unresponsive to conversation. We were not even sure it was him. After five to ten minutes, it was evident that something was wrong with him physically. By this time the team doctor arrived and looked him over. This same child had malaria a few years ago and looked just like this them. Between the doctor’s assessment and Sarah’s memory of how he looked before, it was decided to take him to the doctor.
At the medical clinic it was confirmed that he had a complicated case of malaria and would need to be admitted. It was becoming clear that the reason Beth was on this trip was to be with Marvin. He needed her and God brought the two of them together in this place and time. In this unique experience, God positioned Beth to where she was able to spend the night with Marvin in the hospital, at his side and watching over him through the night.
When morning dawned, Marvin was a new person. His true self was back and he was on the way to a full recovery. Beth was able to spend the entire next day with him as well and was able to really soak him in.
Seeing God move and orchestrate the perfect plan for our day was an incredible experience. Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. God clearly did more today through Marvin today than we ever imagined he could do.
Sarah says we should focus on making the difference in just one and today that was accomplished.
On an encouraging note we conducted nearly 150 HIV test and only one person tested positive. That was definitely a blessing because according to one of the pastors in the area, in the past this number would have been much higher. The blessing to us in this experience was seeing the reaction of the women when they learned they didn’t have HIV! One women I personally witnessed receive her news looked like somebody had just given here a million dollars.
There was another orphanage in the area, Air Field Children’s Home, which had several dozen students who needed to see a doctor and so we decided to just stop by there when we finished in Bweya instead of bring them to us. Additionally, one of the team members, Beth, sponsors a child at Air Field and she would get to see her child, Marvin, for the first time! When we arrived Marvin wasn’t there and we asked one of the children to go get him.
Marvin is a very active, bubbly child with an ear-to-ear grin that exposes two enormous dimples. He’s always in the center of whatever is going on. When he walked up, we saw a shell of a child; head down; not smiling; not talking; and really unresponsive to conversation. We were not even sure it was him. After five to ten minutes, it was evident that something was wrong with him physically. By this time the team doctor arrived and looked him over. This same child had malaria a few years ago and looked just like this them. Between the doctor’s assessment and Sarah’s memory of how he looked before, it was decided to take him to the doctor.
At the medical clinic it was confirmed that he had a complicated case of malaria and would need to be admitted. It was becoming clear that the reason Beth was on this trip was to be with Marvin. He needed her and God brought the two of them together in this place and time. In this unique experience, God positioned Beth to where she was able to spend the night with Marvin in the hospital, at his side and watching over him through the night.
When morning dawned, Marvin was a new person. His true self was back and he was on the way to a full recovery. Beth was able to spend the entire next day with him as well and was able to really soak him in.
Seeing God move and orchestrate the perfect plan for our day was an incredible experience. Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. God clearly did more today through Marvin today than we ever imagined he could do.
Sarah says we should focus on making the difference in just one and today that was accomplished.
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Beautiful Thing
I am sitting on the back patio of the "home" in which we are staying. The voices of children playing games and singing songs is wafting from the school next door to my left. Some awesome African sounding music is playing from the yard to the right. And in front of me beyond the manicured English garden is the breathtaking view of Lake Victoria. Did I mention this place is beautiful in so many ways? Pinch me...I'm in Uganda!
Not that all of today was picture perfect, but it was God-ordained, and therefore AMAZING! With a good 3 or 4 hours' sleep behind us, we headed to Bweya Children Home in Bweya Village to hold Day 1 of a 2 day medical clinic. Our own Kevin and Nichole Rice accompanied a team of doctors and nurses provided to us by the people of Ggaba Community Church. We all had our jobs, some of "triage assessors", some as "receptionists", others as entertainers for the children of the neighboorhood and photographers and socializers. It was a beautiful sight. The Body of Christ, from a world apart, joining together to serve the people of a community with love and using their varied abilities to meet needs.
My first observation was of mothers and babies and children, mostly, coming for physical help for ailments of various kinds. Though sad in the sense of the physical suffering, it was not an uncoming thing to see in NC. Just change the clothes and some of the skin color and surroundings and it might be what you'd encounter on a normal day, with the exception of the need for HIV and Malaria testing as routine. But when the vanload of children from Airfield School arrived and older children were caring for younger children and sadness wore on many faces and you realized the loneliness and often hopelessness of these precious children, many without parents, it hit me. And it hit me hard. I wondered what good this small effort really was doing in these children's lives. If I only looked at today, I might feel like these do-gooder Americans were making themselves feel better about a day or two helping out those less fortunate in Africa. But then I remembered why we were here (see yesterday's post)...in answer to a call to obedience, not asking what the final outcome would be, not thinking we were the answer or had the ability to do anything on our own, but obeying a command and leaving the result with the Commander. How fulfilling and freeing it that?
The highlight of the day for me was when, in a seemingly isolated moment, I looked around and saw more Ugandan faces than white faces, ministering to their own people, allowing us, the outsiders to be a part with what God has called them to do for their own people. To me, this was a true picture of mission. To see where God is at work, hear Him ask you to join Him there, and watch you serve beside brothers and sisters you have never met before! So, though we were still jet-lagged and mostly unwashed, today was a beautiful thing that will resonate in our minds and hearts and that the Lord will know the eternal value of. And that's a good thing.
Pray for continued health and strength, still for the missing luggage, and for day 2 of the medical clinics tomorrow. How exciting to anticipate what it may hold.
Not that all of today was picture perfect, but it was God-ordained, and therefore AMAZING! With a good 3 or 4 hours' sleep behind us, we headed to Bweya Children Home in Bweya Village to hold Day 1 of a 2 day medical clinic. Our own Kevin and Nichole Rice accompanied a team of doctors and nurses provided to us by the people of Ggaba Community Church. We all had our jobs, some of "triage assessors", some as "receptionists", others as entertainers for the children of the neighboorhood and photographers and socializers. It was a beautiful sight. The Body of Christ, from a world apart, joining together to serve the people of a community with love and using their varied abilities to meet needs.
My first observation was of mothers and babies and children, mostly, coming for physical help for ailments of various kinds. Though sad in the sense of the physical suffering, it was not an uncoming thing to see in NC. Just change the clothes and some of the skin color and surroundings and it might be what you'd encounter on a normal day, with the exception of the need for HIV and Malaria testing as routine. But when the vanload of children from Airfield School arrived and older children were caring for younger children and sadness wore on many faces and you realized the loneliness and often hopelessness of these precious children, many without parents, it hit me. And it hit me hard. I wondered what good this small effort really was doing in these children's lives. If I only looked at today, I might feel like these do-gooder Americans were making themselves feel better about a day or two helping out those less fortunate in Africa. But then I remembered why we were here (see yesterday's post)...in answer to a call to obedience, not asking what the final outcome would be, not thinking we were the answer or had the ability to do anything on our own, but obeying a command and leaving the result with the Commander. How fulfilling and freeing it that?
The highlight of the day for me was when, in a seemingly isolated moment, I looked around and saw more Ugandan faces than white faces, ministering to their own people, allowing us, the outsiders to be a part with what God has called them to do for their own people. To me, this was a true picture of mission. To see where God is at work, hear Him ask you to join Him there, and watch you serve beside brothers and sisters you have never met before! So, though we were still jet-lagged and mostly unwashed, today was a beautiful thing that will resonate in our minds and hearts and that the Lord will know the eternal value of. And that's a good thing.
Pray for continued health and strength, still for the missing luggage, and for day 2 of the medical clinics tomorrow. How exciting to anticipate what it may hold.
In spite of...
In spite of forgotten passports…In spite of sliding tackles at the gate…In spite of sickness in flying and searches in security (who brought the peanut butter?)…In spite of long layovers, longer flights and lack of sleep, we safely arrived shortly after 1 am this morning. By God’s grace, He has brought us to Uganda, with no “real” incident, aside from the lack of most of our luggage (pray for its quick return), and in spite of ourselves.
May this be the theme of our week. That it won’t matter what we do right or wrong, what “tasks” we accomplish or fail to do, what we are able to check off our list on our schedules, but that the Lord’s purposes prevail, even in spite of us.
Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This is our prayer. We have made many plans in preparation for this trip but it is the Lord’s purpose that must prevail. Pray with us as we begin medical clinics today and tomorrow with the few hours of good sleep the Lord granted us.
We are already enjoying renewing old friendships and making new ones. We are so incredibly privileged to be a part of what God is already doing here. Pray with us that His purpose will prevail.
May this be the theme of our week. That it won’t matter what we do right or wrong, what “tasks” we accomplish or fail to do, what we are able to check off our list on our schedules, but that the Lord’s purposes prevail, even in spite of us.
Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This is our prayer. We have made many plans in preparation for this trip but it is the Lord’s purpose that must prevail. Pray with us as we begin medical clinics today and tomorrow with the few hours of good sleep the Lord granted us.
We are already enjoying renewing old friendships and making new ones. We are so incredibly privileged to be a part of what God is already doing here. Pray with us that His purpose will prevail.
Friday, June 17, 2011
From many roads.....
There are as many roads that have brought us here as there are team members but we are packed and ready to go! Steve and Debbie and Emilie are already on the ground in Uganda, and the rest of the 14 of us are on our way! We've been preparing for months and for me personally, this call has been on my heart for years, so in some ways, it is hard to believe that we are actually going to Africa! The veterans among us are excited to return to friends and familiar scenes. The newbies (me being one) are filled with a strange mixture of excitement, wonder and even a little fear. But there is no question about our calling and we are beyond thrilled to be answering. To be able to have just a small part in sharing the love we have received is more than a privilege.
What will we do there? Whatever God wants us to...but we are prepared for medical clinics, VBS, soccer camps, feeding and loving on children and fellow believers who live across the world and share the love of the same Saviour.
What will we see and experience? The darkness of a land where many need to see the Light. I am guessing we will be amazed, frightened, loved, tired, hot, moved and changed, I pray.
Pray for the safety of our bodies and supplies as we leave Charlotte tomorrow. Pray for the health of our hearts and souls as we prepare to be empty vessels for the Father to use in the lives of those He loves.
Stay tuned for more when we hit the ground....running!
What will we do there? Whatever God wants us to...but we are prepared for medical clinics, VBS, soccer camps, feeding and loving on children and fellow believers who live across the world and share the love of the same Saviour.
What will we see and experience? The darkness of a land where many need to see the Light. I am guessing we will be amazed, frightened, loved, tired, hot, moved and changed, I pray.
Pray for the safety of our bodies and supplies as we leave Charlotte tomorrow. Pray for the health of our hearts and souls as we prepare to be empty vessels for the Father to use in the lives of those He loves.
Stay tuned for more when we hit the ground....running!
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