In Mbarara, Uganda, they wake up by the rooster crow and with the sun. Probably the same rooster that will be for dinner, if they’re lucky enough to have meat. I am privileged to be able to live life with them for a few weeks. Our week started with a powerful five hour long church service Sunday morning. Our team preached and did a few songs, and then Pastor Solomon preached and their worship team showed us what traditional African worship looked like. Needless to say, it was good morning cardio.
Yesterday and today, we started school ministry. Beth and I have an incredible class of twelve five and six year olds that amaze me every single day. As I sat there are watched them do their assignments, I caught myself breaking down a bit. They were so focused and determined to learn, it brought tears to my eyes. They have books made from newspaper and only a few crayons that they all share. By looking at their faces, you would think that they were the most incredibly blessed children on the face of the planet.
Yesterday evening was the hardest time I’ve had on this trip so far. We went to the local hospital, which is actually pretty big, to pray over the patients. The first wing we went into was the mental ward. It was as heartbreaking as any mental ward you could go to. Next we went to the main hospital wing, which was so much worse. It was extremely crowded to the point that patients were on floors and in corners. There were buckets of blood sitting around, and it was just a horrific sight.
I went to multiple people and prayed healing, comfort and peace over them. Then I went to two men in particular who just looked like they were on the brink of death. Through very little communication with the people standing around, I learned that one was infected with malaria, and the other dying of aids. I prayed very hard over them both and was overcome with a heavy weight. I sat beside the man infected with aids and just began to sing softly and rub his head until he fell asleep. I wanted to do anything possible to bring him some sort of peace.
I have been broken and refilled with an overwhelming compassion that will continue to flow out to the children, the sick and the villagers we live with daily. Please continue to pray for us in out last weeks here in Uganda and for what is to come in Kenya and Tanzania.
