Go Out in Joy
"You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!" Catherine Booth
What an awesome observation Ms. Booth had and how appropriate for the time!
As the day continued and the team sat and listened to the teachers reveal to us how the children had come to this school, many orphans from the cattle raids of the Karamojong tribe, and the children sang songs of the crisis they face daily with hunger, famine, and AIDS, it was hard not to feel overwhelmed with grief and sadness for them. Yet each one of them had an unmistakable smile of Joy! I thank Jesus for allowing me the opportunity to go into the world in His name and bring His Joy to those that most likely feel like they have been abandonded and forgotten at times.
We were all so impressed by how well mannered the children were and how much they respect their elders and teachers. The headmaster "Naboth" would approach the children and say "Hello Children" and they would immediately respond "Hello Headmaster", then he would follow with "God is Good" and they would reply "God Is Good All the time" and then everyone together in unison would say "God is good, all the time, for that is His nature". How awesome is that, that they teach the children daily, and instill in their hearts and memory that it is Gods NATURE to be good all the time! It would seem so easy for these children and adults to curse the God that seems to have forgotten them and to moan and groan about all that's going wrong. To be mad about not having what they want, when they want it. Wow, how disgustingly American that sounds to me! I would dare to say this is how 90% of Americans would react if they were living in the same condition, and YET these children and adults of Uganda PRAISE GOD each day for being good because that is His nature. I think we could all learn alot from the Ugandan people. I'm already beginning to understand some aspects of why God allowed me on this trip. ;)
I was allowed the priviledge of standing before these children and talking with them about How God is good, and that no matter how bad it might get He is always there with them. I was able to share with them that many people in America had wanted to come and be there and that many had helped us to bring some special gifts for them in the name of Jesus. I had introduced our team members and asked Sharlyn to come up and share a song with the children. We asked all the teachers to come up too, as this is one that they would enjoy and we would get a kick out of watching them. She sang the song "King of the Jungle". I can't tell you how much fun this song is, and how much they all enjoyed it. It was much different from their cultural songs..it was a song from America. I think some of the adults enjoyed it as much if not more than the children!
After Sharlyn and her wonderful song came a salvation message to the children from Jeanice. Her words were so appropriate for the day and reaffirmed that God is the King and that the children belonged to Him. Not only did He provide them with gifts we had with us that day, but He gives them the most special gift of all, the gift of eternal life. Naboth and all the teachers had commented on how much her sharing meant to not only the children but to them as well.
We had decided that the time was perfect for passing out Gods gifts to the children. Naboth had asked me to come tell them what gifts we had for them. When we sat and really thought about all we had and I started telling him he just sat and grinned and said Thank God, the children will be well pleased. Well pleased they were! As I started to tell them all the wonderful things God had provided for them, they began to yell in excitement...eyeglasses for those that were in need..YAY!! fruit, YAY!!! story of Jesus booklets, YAY!!! soccerballs..HURRAY!! big screams..toothbrushes and toothpaste..they screamed so loud at receiving toothbrushes and toothpaste I thought I would lose it and break down crying right there! All the team members stared at each other in disbelief, could they really delight in the thought of a toothbrush over a soccerball?? It was true! And of course each child would go home with their own personal Bible. It was a day of blessings all around.
As I sat back down I looked at Jan she was wiping the tears in her eyes. She was overwhelmed with Gods goodness this day and the joy He brought to these precious children. It was amazing to watch how God had worked in each of our hearts at different moments during the trip.
Before we would hand out the treats to the children, Dr. Bwonya had come out with the matching glasses and had begun calling the children and adults up that we were able to find a match for. This was such a joy to my heart!
It was getting late and time was coming for the kids to go home. Many had to walk long distances and if they didn't leave soon they would walk in the dark. We also had to visit Feddy still. It was hard to leave the children. Naboth had asked us if we would come back tomorrow and work with the teachers on handling the children. Now knowing what they are saying he was asking us to come work along side the teachers on new methods of learning in the classroom. Unfortunately our schedule was so full that we would not be back in Butambutye this trip. It was something I tucked in my mind as a new project on another trip to Uganda..yes.come back! ;)
We all loaded back up in the van and headed a few hundred feet up the street to the home of Feddy. Feddy is the grandmother of a Ugandan soldier in Iraq by the name of Deo Mushumbo. I had met Deo online through Verda Reeves the Assistant Attorney General in Arizona. Deo is also involved in the Soldiers Bible Ministry of Heart of God International. We send Bibles and study materials to any soldier that wants them. Deo's testimony is amazing and somewhat long, so I'll share a shortened version, he was born and raised a muslim and began having dreams about a man named Jesus. This man Jesus came to him each night and began to reveal himself to Deo and to uncover and reveal the sins Deo was committing. The dreams intesified each night and the desire became more urgent about following this man named Jesus that after the fourth night he gave his life to Christ. He is now sharing the gospel with other men in Iraq and hopes to return home soon and share his new found faith with his family. This is quite amazing when you think about it..a man in N.Y. is ministering to Deo from Uganda in Iraq, who is in conversation with a woman in Arizona, who in turn is in conversation with me in California and Feddy just happens to live within 5 minutes of a school we are ministering to...hmmm..God once again has his fingerprints all over this trip! Another interesting fact; Dr. Bwonya also happens to be a childhood friend of Deo, they grew up just huts away from each other, so he knew exactly where to take us to reach Feddy..amazing!! Feddy is blind. Verda asked me to bring her some seeds to help her grow crops and some money to help her buy food. There is a drought in Bunambutye and food is harder to get.
Deo told us that even though she could not see us, just to be near her and pray with her would be a blessing. Next to the home were graves of family members that had recently passed away. All the family members came to greet us and thank us for taking care of Feddy. When we arrived we sat with her and Dr. Bwonya explained to her what gifts Verda had provided, that we had for her. We really didn't have much time to spend as it was getting late and you don't want to travel at night in Uganda. As we thought we would be leaving all of a sudden they began to bring out food and set it on the tables. YIKES! We don't have time to eat, and we're not sure about how much we can eat. It's a horrible spot to be in, you don't want to offend anyone that has taken the time to prepare food, ESPECIALLY when they don't have the food themselves and yet they are preparing it for you. Things are not prepared the same way we prepare it and the bacteria could be a problem for us.
I looked at Dr. Bwonya and said, "what do we do? we don't have time to spend for dinner?", he grinned and quietly said, "sister Denise, it is custom that if someone prepares a meal for you, you must take a small bite of something before you leave", ok, so here we go..we all sit and take a small bite. I had some boiled potatoes. All the neighboring people were out near the hut, peaking at the "mazungo's", the guests of Feddy. They really don't have guests in these villages, so it's a big deal if you do. We sat for about 15 mins. and during that time Pastor Ruth had shared her testimony with me. She is ONE amazing woman and I am forever thankful to God for allowing our paths to cross! We were soon on our way back to Tororo. What a long but rewarding day we had. It saddens me to see some of these wonderful people just once in our trip. I know that God must have future plans.
On our way back we were able to see more of the african culture. This photo is a group of men sitting around a large pot with very long straws. They are "boozing". A common custom of adult men. They sit around drinking from these long straws and get drunk on homemade booze. As we drive by and take photos I say a silent prayer that God would release them from this habit.
We were able to stop at Mbale Regional Hospital for Dr. Bwonya to take in a bag of glasses that still need to have the prescriptions read on them. I was excited to see this because I had be working with Dr. Bwonya for a few months prior to our trip and he had told me that he was a specialist here at this hospital. It's amazing how different you picture something in your mind, then when you actually see it. Let me paint a picture for you. In Uganda there are NO ambulances, if you get hurt, you figure out how to get you or the injured person to the hospital. Picture our roads, very smooth and paved. Now picture a road riddled with pot holes large enough for your vehicle to go into and not be seen until it comes out again...this is the road to Mbale regional hospital! If you were injured, you may very well not survive the ride to get help if your injuries were bad enough! Anyway, I'm glad I got to see with my own eyes where Dr. Bwonya works.
We finally made it back to the hotel and decided to eat in the room. Sharlyn had packed freezed dried meals and we were able to sit and enjoy each others company and reflect on the day. Pastor Ruth had let me borrow her internet modem for my laptap! WOOHOO!! I was able to get online for awhile tonight and post a few things. We actually had been without computers, phones (for the most part) and t.v. the whole week, and actually aside from the computer..I didn't miss any of it! God is Good!
What an great scripture for today and all days! I love this!
"The poor shall eat and be satisfied...All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's and He rules over the nations." Psalm 22:26-28 NKJV
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