Wow, Africa. My team is staying just outside of Kampala,
Uganda in a village called Kisigwala… or something close to that spelling. We
are incredibly blessed to be staying in a Pastor’s home, with beds and meals
provided, Praise Jesus! It was completely unexpected but something that is
blessing us in abundant ways. We are under an amazing spirit of unity; it’s
simply incredible. I love each team
member; we have continually seen why the Lord chose us to come together for
these two months. This community
contains different spiritual gifts that work together in a way that only the
Lord could ordain.
My heart has been broken and is continuing to break with
each person I meet. So many things are
different here due to the poverty these precious children of God face, yet they
are so joyful! Some logistical things
include: burning trash, using a squatty potty, eating non-extravagant food
[although I am definitely not complaining about what we are being fed!], no
running water, and a few other things that I have been convicted of not
appreciating back home. I see whole
families living in a home the size of our bathroom, I touch skin that has been
infected, I witness the bloated bellies of malnourished children, I meet people
stuck in the cycle of poverty because they cannot go to school, and many other
things that simply make me realize how blessed my childhood was. I have learned
so much in the past five days about what it means to be truly rich. Physically, people are lacking but their hearts are full of joy,
compassion, and love.
At the same time that you pass a small hut that provides
shelter for a family of six, you see jackfruit trees, flowers, plants, and a
beautiful sky. This is a tropical
paradise. The Nile River was
exceptionally beautiful, but every village road bursts with natural beauty. I
am not sure what I was expecting, but this beauty is overwhelming. Along with
the physical beauty of this place, I feel right being here. I completely trust
that this is the Lord’s will for me this summer and standing in that place of
assurance is absolutely blissful. It has shown me that although obedience to
His calling is difficult, it is worth it-every single time.
Thank you for your encouragement and prayers and please
continue to lift my team up in prayer!
We’ve been working with the local church and really just forming
relationships with local people. We helped teach at a school this morning, hung
out with a young adult group last night, attended a few church services, and
are praying that the Lord would continue to lead us in each person we
speak to. Glory to God!
