It has been a little while since I have blogged and so many wonderful things have happened. Not a day has gone by that I have not talked about Uganda, thought about Marvin and Helen, and wished that I could go back. I have continued to pray and ask God for direction. I haven't known much, but I have known that I have to go back.
I started looking up trips, talking with people and different ministries and praying for direction. There was a trip with Visiting Orphans in October that still had vacancies. I talked with my friend Melissa who was interested in going and we decided to take a few weeks and pray about joining this team. We set a date to talk on May 13th, Mothers Day. When I told people that I might go back in October, people reacted by saying, "Oh- that is soon". It felt like a really long time to me.
As I was praying, I started receiving emails very frequently from Damalie. We started sharing prayer requests and as I prayed for her and those babies, I felt even more connected to life over there. Amazima needed some volunteers one week at their Nashville office, so I went in and helped. I got to talk with some girls there about life in Jinja. A friend and coworker, named Lauren, started asking me questions about my trip, knew that God was calling her to Uganda and signed up to go in October! A former coworker left on a team to go to Canaan's, where Marvin and Helen live, and I sent some letters to them through her. They both sent letters back to me asking when I could come back. I opened those letters at work one day and spent my lunch break in the bathroom crying. The letter from Marvin said, "I love you so much. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I miss you everyday. When are you coming back?". He will never know how much that letter meant to me.
I wanted to go back so bad, but did God want me to go back or was there some self serving purpose of why I wanted to go? Is it too soon to go in October? Is it the best financial decision? On a long trip in the car on May 13, I was praying specifically about the finances. One hour later, I get a text from a friend and had 800 dollars towards the trip. With Uganda still consuming my heart and mind and 800 dollars of the trip taken care of, I called Melissa and told her that I think I should sign up. I was so excited to hear her say that she felt like she should go too!
God is so good and so faithful! Melissa, Lauren, and I are headed to Uganda October 13-27. Since signing up, God continues to confirm that this is right. I am so thankful to be able to go back! I have no idea what is going to happen, but I am so excited to see what He has in store for us!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Monday, May 07, 2012
Sometimes in Africa, things do not go according to the plan. There's a part of visiting any third world country that requires you to be very flexible. One day in Ethiopia our plans to visit an orphanage didn't work out and our translator arranged another ministry for us to visit. Because the purpose of the trip was to visit orphans, we all assumed that we would be going to another orphange and working with children. We pulled over on a busy and crowded street and our translator said, " Don't take anything with you. Leave everything in the van." We all kinda questioned him. There were street kids begging for money at the windows of the van and many people looking at us getting out and leaving all our things. So none of us understood how it would be safe to leave our money, passports, nice cameras etc in the van. He said, " We have to walk thru a lot of homeless people and your stuff is safer here."
We walked in a single file line down the street and down some stairways. The stairways were packed with homeless people. It was hot and smelled bad. People were pulling on me and tapping me to ask for money. When we got down the stairs, we were told that we would be serving lunch. I was so confused, "Where is the orphanage?" I asked, "Where are the kids?". Our translator explained that we were not visiting an orphanage, we were serving lunch to the hundreds of homeless people we had just walked thru. I had never served food in a homeless ministry before and, to be honest, the idea kinda scared me a little. I was somewhat comforted when a teammate looked at me with big eyes and said, "This freaks me out." I looked at her, agreed with her, and said that we would stick together.
The first round of homeless people came in for lunch. It smelled bad. I don't handle smells well. I was so hot. I was trying to carry a bucket full of sauce but my back hurt so bad and it was making it worse. I was so uncomfortable. One man asked me to marry him and the whole table started laughing and talking about me and my friend in a language I couldn't understand. After the first round, I was somewhat angry. I didn't sign up for this. I didn't have that "heart for the homeless" that some people have.
Then God reminded me that HIS heart is for these people. I had read 1 John 4 that morning and the last part of the chapter talks about how God is love and how we are called to love others. These were the people that I was called to love.
Over the next few rounds of people coming to eat, something began to change. Many of the homeless people were disabled and needed help getting to and from the table. They were so grateful for the assistance that we gave them. By the last group, I was having fun serving people and trying to communicate with people. I found myself laughing a lot. Then, I went to a table at the back of the room, where some of the street kids were sitting. I sat down with some young boys and started talking to them. One little boy just kept smiling but never answered. His friends explained to me that he was deaf. One of the workers told me he lost his hearing from untreated ear infections. That broke my heart, because we can treat ear infections so easily here in the US. So I asked if they used sign language or had hearing aids or anything for people that are hearing impaired. The worker said no. While I was talking to the worker, that little boy ran up to me and gave me a huge hug and smiled. Then he left, and headed back out on the streets where he lives.
After we were done serving, the director of the ministry told us a little more about what they do. The name of the ministry is called Hope Enterprises. They feed 1,000 hungry people a day. We asked how much that cost and he said 1 birr per person. When we did the math, we found out that it costs about 60 US dollars to feed 1,000 people! We couldn't believe it. We had just watched 1,000 people eat for about 60 dollars! I am so thankful that I got to witness this! It's amazing to think how far 60 dollars can go.
Serving food at Hope Enterprise was the most stretching part of the trip for me. But, I will never forget that day. One of the girls on our team is a junior in high school and just had her prom. Because of what she experienced here, she decided to borrow a prom dress and do her own hair and makeup. She donated the money she would have spent on prom to Hope Enterprises. By sacrificing one night, she fed hundreds to thousands of people. That is so encourgaging to me.
I am encouraged even more after going to Hope Enterprise to do things that are out of my comfort zone. It was a humbling experience and I learned a lot about myself and my fears. But more importantly, I learned more about the character of Christ and that His perfect love will drive out fear (1 John 4:18).
We walked in a single file line down the street and down some stairways. The stairways were packed with homeless people. It was hot and smelled bad. People were pulling on me and tapping me to ask for money. When we got down the stairs, we were told that we would be serving lunch. I was so confused, "Where is the orphanage?" I asked, "Where are the kids?". Our translator explained that we were not visiting an orphanage, we were serving lunch to the hundreds of homeless people we had just walked thru. I had never served food in a homeless ministry before and, to be honest, the idea kinda scared me a little. I was somewhat comforted when a teammate looked at me with big eyes and said, "This freaks me out." I looked at her, agreed with her, and said that we would stick together.
The first round of homeless people came in for lunch. It smelled bad. I don't handle smells well. I was so hot. I was trying to carry a bucket full of sauce but my back hurt so bad and it was making it worse. I was so uncomfortable. One man asked me to marry him and the whole table started laughing and talking about me and my friend in a language I couldn't understand. After the first round, I was somewhat angry. I didn't sign up for this. I didn't have that "heart for the homeless" that some people have.
Then God reminded me that HIS heart is for these people. I had read 1 John 4 that morning and the last part of the chapter talks about how God is love and how we are called to love others. These were the people that I was called to love.
Over the next few rounds of people coming to eat, something began to change. Many of the homeless people were disabled and needed help getting to and from the table. They were so grateful for the assistance that we gave them. By the last group, I was having fun serving people and trying to communicate with people. I found myself laughing a lot. Then, I went to a table at the back of the room, where some of the street kids were sitting. I sat down with some young boys and started talking to them. One little boy just kept smiling but never answered. His friends explained to me that he was deaf. One of the workers told me he lost his hearing from untreated ear infections. That broke my heart, because we can treat ear infections so easily here in the US. So I asked if they used sign language or had hearing aids or anything for people that are hearing impaired. The worker said no. While I was talking to the worker, that little boy ran up to me and gave me a huge hug and smiled. Then he left, and headed back out on the streets where he lives.
After we were done serving, the director of the ministry told us a little more about what they do. The name of the ministry is called Hope Enterprises. They feed 1,000 hungry people a day. We asked how much that cost and he said 1 birr per person. When we did the math, we found out that it costs about 60 US dollars to feed 1,000 people! We couldn't believe it. We had just watched 1,000 people eat for about 60 dollars! I am so thankful that I got to witness this! It's amazing to think how far 60 dollars can go.
Serving food at Hope Enterprise was the most stretching part of the trip for me. But, I will never forget that day. One of the girls on our team is a junior in high school and just had her prom. Because of what she experienced here, she decided to borrow a prom dress and do her own hair and makeup. She donated the money she would have spent on prom to Hope Enterprises. By sacrificing one night, she fed hundreds to thousands of people. That is so encourgaging to me.
I am encouraged even more after going to Hope Enterprise to do things that are out of my comfort zone. It was a humbling experience and I learned a lot about myself and my fears. But more importantly, I learned more about the character of Christ and that His perfect love will drive out fear (1 John 4:18).
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Yes, people got sick. We bathed in cold, dirty water. We worked with kids with HIV. We ate weird things. We brushed our teeth with bottled water. We threw our toilet paper in the trash because it can not be flushed there. It was really hot. We did not have air conditioning. We were around people with malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. I did not feel really clean while I was there. And, it was a wonderful trip.
But, when I think about my trip I don't think about things I had to go without or things that were out of my comfort zone. I think about how my life was forever changed for the better. I think about how I got to see the heart of God and fall more and more in love with His character. I think about the love and peace that comes from serving the poor. I think about those little orphans that I fell in love with. I think about what I learned from people who have nothing but live in so much gratitude. I think about what I learned about trusting God and living in dependency of Him. And in light of all these things, a cold shower is worth it.
Maybe, its like a mom meeting her baby for the first time. People always want to ask questions related to the uncomfortable part of the birth. "Did it hurt?" "How long were you in labor?" etc. But, when you hold your baby for the first time, your life is transformed by the love you have for this child. There is so much joy in what you just experienced. Yes, it was uncomfortable at times but this baby was worth every second. You don't dwell on the discomfort because you are experiencing love in ways like never before.
The statements above are all answers to questions people have asked me. They show the fear that many people have about traveling overseas. I try to remind myself that God is faithful to his promises and He promises to sustain us and protect us. He is bigger than all the fears that we have. He is more than enough, Trust Him to protect you and sustain you and go serve overseas. Your life will be forever changed for the better.
But, when I think about my trip I don't think about things I had to go without or things that were out of my comfort zone. I think about how my life was forever changed for the better. I think about how I got to see the heart of God and fall more and more in love with His character. I think about the love and peace that comes from serving the poor. I think about those little orphans that I fell in love with. I think about what I learned from people who have nothing but live in so much gratitude. I think about what I learned about trusting God and living in dependency of Him. And in light of all these things, a cold shower is worth it.
Maybe, its like a mom meeting her baby for the first time. People always want to ask questions related to the uncomfortable part of the birth. "Did it hurt?" "How long were you in labor?" etc. But, when you hold your baby for the first time, your life is transformed by the love you have for this child. There is so much joy in what you just experienced. Yes, it was uncomfortable at times but this baby was worth every second. You don't dwell on the discomfort because you are experiencing love in ways like never before.
The statements above are all answers to questions people have asked me. They show the fear that many people have about traveling overseas. I try to remind myself that God is faithful to his promises and He promises to sustain us and protect us. He is bigger than all the fears that we have. He is more than enough, Trust Him to protect you and sustain you and go serve overseas. Your life will be forever changed for the better.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
I woke up this morning to an email from Damalie.
Hello friend,
Thank you so much for the letter. Am excited now that we can be in touch.
You were a blessing to us and I thank God who brought you to us. It
was His perfect timing.
I thank him for letting us meet.
The babies are fine. Jackie, Jen-ni, Sarah and Shadrack need prayers
though. They are down with malaria.
It breaks my heart to see them sick.
Thank you for supporting me in being His hands extended to the precious ones.
God Bless You.
Regards to everyone.
Damalie
I have said this before, but Damalie is one of the people I admire the most. For those of you who have children, you know how hard it is when your baby is sick. So, please pray for Damalie right now as she has 4 babies that have malaria. They do not have running water in their house and they have limited access to health care. I will try to give an update soon!
Hello friend,
Thank you so much for the letter. Am excited now that we can be in touch.
You were a blessing to us and I thank God who brought you to us. It
was His perfect timing.
I thank him for letting us meet.
The babies are fine. Jackie, Jen-ni, Sarah and Shadrack need prayers
though. They are down with malaria.
It breaks my heart to see them sick.
Thank you for supporting me in being His hands extended to the precious ones.
God Bless You.
Regards to everyone.
Damalie
I have said this before, but Damalie is one of the people I admire the most. For those of you who have children, you know how hard it is when your baby is sick. So, please pray for Damalie right now as she has 4 babies that have malaria. They do not have running water in their house and they have limited access to health care. I will try to give an update soon!
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