It breaks my heart to leave this place, I feel at home here.
Jesus is good; we are not.
That feels like the best way to sum up this trip.
I am so thankful for the hope that is found in Him. And the joy that is found in serving Him.
I reluctantly leave this beautiful place, so incredibly blessed and trusing that the hands held, the kisses given, the words spoken and the prayers prayed will not return empty but be manifested and multiplied and fruitful.
I leave trusting and fully confident tthat the Holy Spirit remains and that His presence is far greater and far more satisfying than mine.
They are a beautiful people, these Rwandans and Ugandans.
They love so well and have so much to offer.
I am so thankfuk for thier hearts, for their country and for their culture.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Karamajong
They are the exiles of Uganda, shamed and disgraced.
Men give empty promises of love and provision, making the tribe primarily single mothers and their children.
They live on less than 5 dollars a day, making jewlery to try to sustain themselves. But because they are the outcasts of the land, no one will buy from them.
Ya know that prayer request I had about seeing things I couldn't handle?
I couldn't handle this.
Roofs made of grocery bags, everyone caked in dirt and the wee little ones wearing no clothes.
We went to encourage them and to love them and to bless them.
They sang to us and, story of my life, I ended up in tears.
They had such joy in their faces when they sang of Jesus:
"Halleluja, Jesus loves me!"
They sang that over and over again, it was the most beautiful.
They know such pain, yet they have such joy.
They are a beautiful people.
I am so thankful for the people behind their ministry and the vision they have.
They desire to raise up their children as godly, educated men and women.
They desire to see their tribe changed.
Im so thankful that they have people backing them and encouraging them on a daily basis.
Yet again, my heart longs for redemption and restoration to come to the broken people of this world.
"Halleluja, Jesus loves me!"
So thankful for that truth and for what it brings.
Men give empty promises of love and provision, making the tribe primarily single mothers and their children.
They live on less than 5 dollars a day, making jewlery to try to sustain themselves. But because they are the outcasts of the land, no one will buy from them.
Ya know that prayer request I had about seeing things I couldn't handle?
I couldn't handle this.
Roofs made of grocery bags, everyone caked in dirt and the wee little ones wearing no clothes.
We went to encourage them and to love them and to bless them.
They sang to us and, story of my life, I ended up in tears.
They had such joy in their faces when they sang of Jesus:
"Halleluja, Jesus loves me!"
They sang that over and over again, it was the most beautiful.
They know such pain, yet they have such joy.
They are a beautiful people.
I am so thankful for the people behind their ministry and the vision they have.
They desire to raise up their children as godly, educated men and women.
They desire to see their tribe changed.
Im so thankful that they have people backing them and encouraging them on a daily basis.
Yet again, my heart longs for redemption and restoration to come to the broken people of this world.
"Halleluja, Jesus loves me!"
So thankful for that truth and for what it brings.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
In this moment
Im so sorry that I cant do more.
Im sorry that I cant stay.
Im sorry that I cant make these children better.
I can pray over them and hug them and kiss them.
I can tell them that they are loved and special and beautiful.
I can pray over them in the name of Jesus and ask for protection, ask for an angel to watch over them, ask that the Lord would reveal Himself to them that they might fall deeply in love with the Creator and Sustainer.
So that is what I do.
Each child that I touch, I plead the blood of Jesus over them and I claim truth over their lives.
That is what I can do, so I do it desparately and I do it a lot.
Trusting and believing that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
"For in You the fatherless find compassion." Hosea 14:3
Im sorry that I cant stay.
Im sorry that I cant make these children better.
I can pray over them and hug them and kiss them.
I can tell them that they are loved and special and beautiful.
I can pray over them in the name of Jesus and ask for protection, ask for an angel to watch over them, ask that the Lord would reveal Himself to them that they might fall deeply in love with the Creator and Sustainer.
So that is what I do.
Each child that I touch, I plead the blood of Jesus over them and I claim truth over their lives.
That is what I can do, so I do it desparately and I do it a lot.
Trusting and believing that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
"For in You the fatherless find compassion." Hosea 14:3
Sangaalo
The best was to describe this day was encouraging.
I am so thankful for that, my weary heart needed a lil joy and today joy it found.
Sangaalo means joy in some tribal language that I do not have the ability to pronounce.
Damilee is the founder of this beaufitul ministry and her whole compound overflows with the joy of the Lord.
I held baby Grace literally all day long. She is almost 2, but she looks like she is no more than 6 months. She was found malnourished locked in her grandmother's house, abandoned.
Every baby there has a similar story.
Bobby, the most recent addition is 3 days old. His mother gave birth on Monday and then tried to kill him. Neighbors intervened and brought the babe to Damilee.
I know these stories are not encouraging, but Damilee and her ministry are.
It is a called a baby cottage and Damilee is a safe haven for abandoned babes.
If I have ever seen someone have a calling it is this beautiful woman. She currently mothers 13 newborns, she has had close to 25 at one time.
She LOVES babies.
And she loves them well.
At one point today all were wailing at the top of their little newborn lungs and she just had the most beautiful smile on, so full of joy.
It is encouraging.
I am so thankful for her and for her heart.
I might have been peed on, spit up on and had snot covering every inch of me, regardless her ministry stole my heart today.
Dont mind if I dont come back.
I am so thankful for that, my weary heart needed a lil joy and today joy it found.
Sangaalo means joy in some tribal language that I do not have the ability to pronounce.
Damilee is the founder of this beaufitul ministry and her whole compound overflows with the joy of the Lord.
I held baby Grace literally all day long. She is almost 2, but she looks like she is no more than 6 months. She was found malnourished locked in her grandmother's house, abandoned.
Every baby there has a similar story.
Bobby, the most recent addition is 3 days old. His mother gave birth on Monday and then tried to kill him. Neighbors intervened and brought the babe to Damilee.
I know these stories are not encouraging, but Damilee and her ministry are.
It is a called a baby cottage and Damilee is a safe haven for abandoned babes.
If I have ever seen someone have a calling it is this beautiful woman. She currently mothers 13 newborns, she has had close to 25 at one time.
She LOVES babies.
And she loves them well.
At one point today all were wailing at the top of their little newborn lungs and she just had the most beautiful smile on, so full of joy.
It is encouraging.
I am so thankful for her and for her heart.
I might have been peed on, spit up on and had snot covering every inch of me, regardless her ministry stole my heart today.
Dont mind if I dont come back.
Uganda
Where manaquins have wide hips,
the airport is someone's backyard, instead of having for sale signs they have not for sale signs,
wild sunflowers are found in abundance,
the main electricity company is called 'Africity', probably because it is the power source for all of Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya (nevermind that the plant for four countries is the smaller than Raleigh's plant),
the smiles, big, the roads, dirt and the people, beautiful.
So thankful to be here and ready to learm more of the Lord's heart.
the airport is someone's backyard, instead of having for sale signs they have not for sale signs,
wild sunflowers are found in abundance,
the main electricity company is called 'Africity', probably because it is the power source for all of Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya (nevermind that the plant for four countries is the smaller than Raleigh's plant),
the smiles, big, the roads, dirt and the people, beautiful.
So thankful to be here and ready to learm more of the Lord's heart.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Lament
Noun: A passionate expression of grief.
Today the Lord invited me deeper into lament through him.
The death of a team mate's sister ending her mission early.
Saying goodbye to 600 loves after 2 short days wondering if you really made any sort of difference.
Hearing the testimony of a young man living through the genocide watching one by one all of family members brutally murdered.
All of these happening in the span of 24 hours is overwhelming and we rest tonight heavey hearted and full of a sorrow that calls us to press in to Jesus.
In some moments I wonder where the good is. I wonder why it can nievely seems as if evil has won. I understand the hope to things to come, but in some moments I lack wisdom to comprehend how to cope in the here in and now.
Jesus understands thisp heartache better than I can imagine. He invites me onto lament not on my own so I am drowning in sorrow alone, but with Him so that I can know of His love on a deeper level. That is the joy of lament, knowing and understanding His love on a deeper level.
Even through sorrow, I choose to praise Him with a thankful heart.
Hebrews 13:12-14
"And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are lookimg for the city that is to come."
Today the Lord invited me deeper into lament through him.
The death of a team mate's sister ending her mission early.
Saying goodbye to 600 loves after 2 short days wondering if you really made any sort of difference.
Hearing the testimony of a young man living through the genocide watching one by one all of family members brutally murdered.
All of these happening in the span of 24 hours is overwhelming and we rest tonight heavey hearted and full of a sorrow that calls us to press in to Jesus.
In some moments I wonder where the good is. I wonder why it can nievely seems as if evil has won. I understand the hope to things to come, but in some moments I lack wisdom to comprehend how to cope in the here in and now.
Jesus understands thisp heartache better than I can imagine. He invites me onto lament not on my own so I am drowning in sorrow alone, but with Him so that I can know of His love on a deeper level. That is the joy of lament, knowing and understanding His love on a deeper level.
Even through sorrow, I choose to praise Him with a thankful heart.
Hebrews 13:12-14
"And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are lookimg for the city that is to come."
Babez
Noel Orphanage has 600 kids.
We rolled up and an over whelming amount ran up to us.
The two hardest things for me were a of all walking in to a room full of newborns knowing that they didnt have a mother or a father to rock them and hold them. And b of all seeing a child fall and get a boo-boo and not having someone to come amd scoop them up, kiss their boo-boo and tell them they are OK.
I made those two things a priority, picking up as many babes and praying over them and kissing as many boo-boos as I saw.
I know it barley puts a dent on anything, but it is the most I can do and I pray and trust that the Lord honors that.
We rolled up and an over whelming amount ran up to us.
The two hardest things for me were a of all walking in to a room full of newborns knowing that they didnt have a mother or a father to rock them and hold them. And b of all seeing a child fall and get a boo-boo and not having someone to come amd scoop them up, kiss their boo-boo and tell them they are OK.
I made those two things a priority, picking up as many babes and praying over them and kissing as many boo-boos as I saw.
I know it barley puts a dent on anything, but it is the most I can do and I pray and trust that the Lord honors that.
I hung out with 5 girls who go to university today.
We sat in their room and I told them that they were loved and that they were special and that they were beautiful.
One girl, Bella, laid her head down on my lap and I stroked her hair. She started to cry and I asked her what was wrong. She told me she was so happy, she had never felt this loved before but someone she barely knew.
Then we both cried.
I prayed over them before I left and I am trusting that those words would not return empty but would prosper and that they would know of the Lord's love for them.
We sat in their room and I told them that they were loved and that they were special and that they were beautiful.
One girl, Bella, laid her head down on my lap and I stroked her hair. She started to cry and I asked her what was wrong. She told me she was so happy, she had never felt this loved before but someone she barely knew.
Then we both cried.
I prayed over them before I left and I am trusting that those words would not return empty but would prosper and that they would know of the Lord's love for them.
Bensi
She is my lil friend and was my lil tourguide today. We sang Niki Manje and made each other friendship bracelets.
She graduates from the orphanage next year at age 17 and is supposed to go to the university.
I know what statistics say.
According to the numbers she will end up in human traffiking.
But I also know the power behind the name of Jesus.
And I know what His word says, that He has good in store for Bensi, that He works things out for the good of those who love Him.
We talk about the future and about transitions and how they can sometimes be scary and lonely.
We talk about the how the Lord is our comforter and is more than enough for her.
I pray for protection over her, for angels to watch over her and that one day we might meet again, if not in this world than in Heaven, singing and dancing for all of eternity.
This world is broken, me included. I cling to the promise that one day Jesus will return and wipe every tear from our eyes, that one day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. He will make everything new.
I trust in that for Bensi and claim that for her, hopeful and excited for the restoration she will one day have in full.
She graduates from the orphanage next year at age 17 and is supposed to go to the university.
I know what statistics say.
According to the numbers she will end up in human traffiking.
But I also know the power behind the name of Jesus.
And I know what His word says, that He has good in store for Bensi, that He works things out for the good of those who love Him.
We talk about the future and about transitions and how they can sometimes be scary and lonely.
We talk about the how the Lord is our comforter and is more than enough for her.
I pray for protection over her, for angels to watch over her and that one day we might meet again, if not in this world than in Heaven, singing and dancing for all of eternity.
This world is broken, me included. I cling to the promise that one day Jesus will return and wipe every tear from our eyes, that one day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. He will make everything new.
I trust in that for Bensi and claim that for her, hopeful and excited for the restoration she will one day have in full.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Best Family Eva
That is their name, The Best Family.
I love it.
It was started by 4 boys who escaped the genocide.
Highlights:
Praying over their new business (an internet cafe fir college students) while a crowd gathered.
So many lil chickadees running up as soon as we stepped off the bus, smiles wide, arms open.
The best African dance party, seriously.
They love Lil Wayne and Justin Beiber.
I had real talk with a girl who was a senior in high school about her and her boyfriend, we just had the best time.
It was beyond difficult to say goodbye to them.
I hold on to the hope that even though we may not meet again on this side of Glory, we will spend Eternity together, fully restored and fully complete.
So thankful these peeps will be in Heaven.
I love it.
It was started by 4 boys who escaped the genocide.
Highlights:
Praying over their new business (an internet cafe fir college students) while a crowd gathered.
So many lil chickadees running up as soon as we stepped off the bus, smiles wide, arms open.
The best African dance party, seriously.
They love Lil Wayne and Justin Beiber.
I had real talk with a girl who was a senior in high school about her and her boyfriend, we just had the best time.
It was beyond difficult to say goodbye to them.
I hold on to the hope that even though we may not meet again on this side of Glory, we will spend Eternity together, fully restored and fully complete.
So thankful these peeps will be in Heaven.
Safe 'n Sound in Rawanda!
A of all: Setting your alarm for 345am is a joke.
B of all:The guy who checked me in in Rals is leaving for the world race (google it dawg) in Jan, so we chatted it up about lovin' on some orphans.
C of all: That awkward momemt when youre trying to find your team and you introduce yourself to a non team member.
D of all: That really great moment when you meet your team and they are the best ever.
E of all: Traveling for over 25hrs makes one a wee lil weary. And your feet veryyyy swollen.
F of all: Africa smells the same as it did 5 years ago. So thankful for that.
B of all:The guy who checked me in in Rals is leaving for the world race (google it dawg) in Jan, so we chatted it up about lovin' on some orphans.
C of all: That awkward momemt when youre trying to find your team and you introduce yourself to a non team member.
D of all: That really great moment when you meet your team and they are the best ever.
E of all: Traveling for over 25hrs makes one a wee lil weary. And your feet veryyyy swollen.
F of all: Africa smells the same as it did 5 years ago. So thankful for that.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
welp.
im goin' to africa.
so much planning, so much prayer and in 6 short days i'll be there.
nothing currently brings me more joy than that statement.
it just feels right to go and to be there, ya know?
this blog is for friends, family, supporters from our team to keep you updated on all the goings on of the trip.
i feel like i shouldn't promise to update it much really.
i hope to and i really want to, but in reality who knows what it'll be like over there?
i have every intention of keeping you posted on the things Jesus does, maybe some pichas of the babes, and how to be praying.
thankyouthankyouthankyou for your continual love, support, prayers and desire to be a part of our trip.
im goin' to africa.
so much planning, so much prayer and in 6 short days i'll be there.
nothing currently brings me more joy than that statement.
it just feels right to go and to be there, ya know?
this blog is for friends, family, supporters from our team to keep you updated on all the goings on of the trip.
i feel like i shouldn't promise to update it much really.
i hope to and i really want to, but in reality who knows what it'll be like over there?
i have every intention of keeping you posted on the things Jesus does, maybe some pichas of the babes, and how to be praying.
thankyouthankyouthankyou for your continual love, support, prayers and desire to be a part of our trip.
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