March 29, 2012
RECAP:
I wanted to write this journal entry as a sort of recap of
stories of things that have gone on thus far at House 2. Today is day four and it already feels
like a month has gone by, but in a good way. We have done so many things to fill up our time here and it
involves so much walking. We have
spent a lot of time “being still” here at the house in the beginning because we
haven’t started our exact schedule yet.
I really want to sell my car though and just use a bicycle when I get
home, but we’ll see if I feel the same when the time comes. We have walked to our local
store/market a few times, walked with Uncle Francis to get milk (which was
8km), walked to the paper mill, and almost 4 or 5 days a week we walk to
Entebbe Road, uphill both ways, to catch taxis. We learned today how to catch a taxi by ourselves. I felt like a true Ugandan.
This was a journal entry that I wrote just to encompass what
went on the few days after I posted my last blog. Like I said in my previous blog, I find it much simpler and
more meaningful if I add some of my journal entries to my blog so you can truly
feel what I am experiencing in the moment.
June 1, 2012
Washed by the Water
The past two days we have spent a majority of our day at
Rays of Hope. Rays is a school
that Joel, the house dad for House 3, runs with his mother. There are about 300 kids from ages of 4
to 18 going to school there. We
spent the day Wednesday serving breakfast and lunch, teaching classes, moving
sand for a project on site, and loving on the kids. This place truly has no words that can describe it. Desperate is the only word that comes
to mind. It is in the slum of
Kabalagala and the land area is maybe the size of our beach house, if even
that. These kids either have
families in the slums, some just outside the slum, or still some who are
orphaned. We met a deaf boy named
George who Joel allows to come to school because he has nowhere else to
go. Joel says that he runs around
the slum and hides at night so he can survive. Because of his disability his family has disowned him and
even though he has nowhere to go and no family and is deaf he has so much
joy. It is indescribable to see
the smile on his face every time I walk into Rays of Hope. On Thursday we spent the day serving
breakfast and then put on a huge Field Day for the older kids. We had relay races, some played soccer,
and the kids loved the giant parachutes we brought. It was a lot of fun and the Muzungus (“white people”) got
more competitive during the races than the kids did. Last thing I forgot to write about that happened Wednesday
at Rays of Hope. As I was washing
dishes from lunch my hands got really dirty from moving the giant, heavy, metal
pots for washing in the dirt. One
little boy saw my hands and how dirty they were, grabbed a cup full of water
and washed my hands. One of the
most humbling experiences to stand there and watch this boy who was probably 10
years old continue to pour the little water he had on my hands and rub them for
me until they were clean again. It
almost brought me to tears.
This journal entry taught me so much about the Lord’s design
for us to continually grow and to use some of the most humbling situations we
can even think of. He has designed
our lives and our journeys alongside of our Creator to always allow for divine
interruptions. I never expected
this kid to come and humble me to the point of tears, but this interruption has
taught me so much about the character of our Lord and how He so much desires us
to be like Him.
June 4, 2012
Worship through…
Song Dance Prayer Stillness Humility Thankfulness Encouragement Attitude
Last night we had a family night worship session and I think
it was just what most of us needed.
I know I did. It had been a
while since the last time I truly worshipped our Lord outside of church. It felt so good to completely humble
myself before His feet and His throne and abandon everything just to
worship. His presence was readily
available because He knew we need Him. During worship I couldn’t stop thinking
about Detour and the kids and leaders there. Then this morning Lee, Blake, Ryan, Carly, and Zack came to
my mind. I’m not sure if this was
the Lord’s way of telling me to pray for them or if was something more. Either way Lord, continue moving in
each of them. I’m so thankful.
June 6, 2012
Skype: a missionary’s link to Home
I was able to Skype with Ryan tonight and even though it was
for only 15 minutes, just the small link to home and the chance to talk with a
best friend was worth every minute.
Ryan has grown to be such an incredible friend and more of a best friend
over the past year or so. I’m
amazed by the way God worked through the both of us to bring us together. His divine purpose and timing are
unmatchable.
Lord,
Thank you so much for Ryan and the utter joy he brings to my
life. I’m blown away by His
faithfulness. Lord continue
preparing him for August and his future.
June 10, 2012
All Things NEW
Although I have been living here for over three weeks now, new
things continue to arise. Problems. Situations. Experiences.
Mercies. Opportunities. Desires. Everyday is an adventure and even though the Lord is always
constant He always provides new areas for growth. We have our first team here, living and
working alongside of us. I’ve had to
have tough conversations with my family here about living out a good
representation of Christ and being respectful of our elders. More thoughts about the future. Continued struggle brought back into
existence. Many new and trying things have occurred over the past few
days. But good new things
too. Our first movie night with
the kids. First team. Josh said I could be his dad while he
was here. Opportunities to connect
with high school students.
Continued growth and investment with Esau. Growth with Gilbert.
Soccer match: House 1 vs. House 2…we won.
Father,
I pray you continue making all things new. Lord continue renewing my heart and
body. I am yours. Use me. Mold me. Make
me clean. Pour your spirit upon
me. Give me the desire to grow in
intimacy with you. Thank you for
your love, for your grace and mercy, for your death on a cross for me and ALL
others. Make that a reality in my
heart. May I understand the
importance of spreading Your truth.
Thank you for the opportunities you have given me and will give. Thank you for the impact you’ve
made. I love you with all of me.
The Lord has blown me away since the last time I’ve posted
with His faithfulness, His opportunities to be still, and His love for me
displayed throughout all His truth.
I am so thankful for all that I’ve experienced and I hope and pray that
each one of you will get to experience the Lord in ways you’ve never
imagined.
“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy
who need a doctor but the sick. I have
not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark
2:17
“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and
do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but you can
say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be
done. If you believe, you will
receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew
21:21-22
