I woke up in the middle of the night with an urgency to pray about the upcoming women's conference to be held the next day. I'm not sure why, but it seems that God always presses on my heart to pray when I'm asleep, and as I awake I sometimes am not sure if I'm delirious, dreaming, or if it is in fact God. The thoughts that were running through my mind were words to be spoken about women being given unique qualities about them as life-givers, life-savers and nurturers of their families. These qualities are what separate us from men. I was also being led to pray about true salvation. I sat wondering what kind of response I would get from these words, but going to say them nonetheless. When we are truly saved through Christ there is a newness of life, the old ways pass and a new life emerges. We begin to bear fruit in our lives. If we are not seeing change, or bearing fruit we may want to consider if we are truly saved.
I dozed on and off meditating on these thoughts, and suddenly my alarm went off.
I noticed that I had 2 text messages from Nichol. She had sent me the news that Michael Jackson had died, and it was really making her very sad. It hit me as very sad news, but in a way I didn't expect. My first thought was, "who cares!". I felt that it was really sad that so many today would mourn an idol, a mere man, when so many would die of starvation and noone would care. I was irritated at the world and feeling very sad.
I went into the restroom and was surprised at the fact that we had NO water. This would be a mess on many levels..no toilet, no sink, no shower. Luckily I had showered the night before and there was enough water in the shower pipes to wet my hair. Sharyln on the other hand was not so fortunate and had to make due with wet wipes she had brought.
I went online with the few minutes I had and saw that Farrah Fawcett also died. A sad day for many people. Michael had died at 50 of a heart attack and Farrah at 62 of cancer. Both major icons in the entertainment industry.
I thanked God again for Sharlyn and her infamous coffee! As we got ready for the day I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with sadness in so many ways, one of them being that this would be our last day with the children at smile africa.
We went down stairs for breakfast and met with Pastor Ruth. She had confirmed that we would visit the slums of Tororo today to visit some of the homes that the children from smile africa live in. She had gotten permission from government officials for us to enter this area. They want to make sure that anyone that enters this area are in there with the right intentions and not to exploit these people.
We would also take time today to visit the widows tailor shop. It would be another busy day.
Here in Africa there are very few time commitments. You get there when you get there and not a moment sooner or later. LOL
We loaded up the van with supplies we would bring with us for the kids, and the families in the slums.
As we pulled up to smile africa, the kids were so excited, screaming and yelling at the van. Sharlyn was overwhelmed and teared up at their excitement when we come. Again, it was so wonderful to see God move our hearts at different times during our stay with the children. Although I will say that tears seemed to roll almost everyday and several times a day!
We unloaded the gifts God provided for the children. We had a limited amount of time this morning, so we asked pastor Ruth if we could spend 5 minutes with the teachers and children showing them how to use the parachute. She agreed this would be fine.
As we began unfolding the parachute, Pastor Paul,one of the workers that round up the karamajong children came over to help us unfold the "tarp". They had no idea what this was and how much fun they were going to experience. Slowly but surely groups of children came over to see and soon there was a large gathering of children. I began to worry about the little ones underneath the parachute, that they might get trampled. Sharlyn showed the teachers the different techniques you could do with the parachute. It was so much fun to watch. Soon, the soccer balls came into play and they bounced it up and down on top of the parachute!
There were other items that were given to the teachers for the children to do at a later time, we still had much to do outside of smile africa. Last night Sharlyn had put together a little care packages to give each teacher with small tokens of love. These teachers work tirelessly each day with the children. We put 30,000 schilling in each bag which amounts to 15.00 USD. They make this each month, 50 cents per day. Pastor Ruth was so excited that the teachers were recognized this way, I could see tears in her eyes. Each teacher was so thankful for God to provide this way.
While we were waiting at smile africa food was being purchased for the families we would visit today. Once it arrived we loaded back up in the van and headed out. It was hard to leave the kids knowing we would be gone most of the day and we would not see them after today.
We stopped at our fist area I thought to myself that it didn't appear too bad. We got out of the van and started to walk. Jan had some concerns about walking long distances and pastor Ruth suggested she could stay at the van, but that it was not too far. We forgot that ugandans are used to walking very long distances..so when they say not too far it's all relative to what you're used to! We headed down and alley behind a store front and there sat a young woman reading her Bible, as we passed her and turned the corner we would see that it was much worse than it seemed. The smells here alone can make you ill.
As we walked down the dirt path Pastor Ruth brought my attention to a small area of bushes and said this is the toilet. There is no running water here, no sewer system. They build the "hut", dig a hole and when it gets full they move to another location.
We continued down the path and I heard giggling coming from a large area surrounded by trees. Then I heard "mazungus" coming from up above. I looked and small children had climbed to the top of the trees to watch us. There were curious on lookers all over.
The first home we visited was of a man and his family. A small mud and grass hut no bigger than most of our bathrooms. It was bare. The father was dressed in a t-shirt and trench coat and the children even less. We prayed with him and offered him provisions that would help his family for a day or two of rice and beans/posho and some toothbrushes. He seemed a bit frightened. The officials that came with us from smile africa were taking notes on the children. Although the items we left with him would not make a real change for them, they seemed very grateful.
The other homes were worse in condition that the last. Roofs with holes, walls falling in, no windows. The doors consisted of what looked like sheets. When the weather would get bad, these people were left to the elements. One home we entered comprised of a mattress, cooking pot and chicken on a nest next to the mattress laying on eggs. The room was about 5 X 7.
We walked through several areas and met with families. We prayed over them and their homes. All were eager to for us to bless them as if we had magic in our words or on our tongues to cause a change in their conditions. If this were to happen it would not be from us, it would come only from God. The children were excited to get their toothbrushes and the families happy to recieve food. Just as in every other place we visited the children loved to have their pictures taken. The parents did also, they would push their children into areas to be seen and ask us directly to photograph them.
The area suggested that their were businesses, but I highly doubt that they made money. We passed a pharmacy and I was amazed that it stood in the middle of the slums. Who on earth could afford medicine?
As we were nearing the end of our visit we began to hear drums in the background. I had asked Pastor Ruth what it was. She told me that it was a nearby village and they were rebuking us for not bringing gifts to them. That was a scary thought! At that point I was ready to get in the van!
Pastor Paul guided us through the slums and before we left he showed us his home and introduced us to his family. He was so proud of his home and said that he was only sorry that he did not have a chair for us to sit on. It was by far much cleaner than most and made of concrete. Most others were made of dirt, mud and grass. Pastor Ruth had told me that many of those living in the slums paid about 1.50 a month in rent. Which was highway robbery!
It was getting late and we were really wanting to get back to the children at smile africa. We still had a stop to make at the widows tailor shop.
We arrived at the tailor shop and the widows greeted us with songs. It's always a big ordeal to have guests and visiting a shop was no different. They would continue to sing until Pastor Ruth in her hearty laugh said, "thank you my sisters, you may cease". They began to show us what they made. Sharlyn and I would purchase items to bring home. It was nice to support them in this way. I will say that Sharlyn bought the cow and the farm! LOL She is so sweet and had many friends and family that she would bless back home with wonderful handmade gifts from Uganda. We went into the back of the building where Pastor Ruths mother stays. What a wonderful woman, and it's easy to see where pastor Ruth gets her dispostion. Her mother made wonderful jewelery as well. I was able to find a couple of pieces to bring home with me.
Time was getting late and we would need to get back to smile africa if we would see the children again before they went home. As we entered the gates of smile africa the kids were waiting for us with much excitement. As I watched them I couldn't help but cry. It's been a long emotionally draining week, but one I'll never regret being a part of. I will miss seeing them!
We jumped out of the van and began interacting with the kids and passing out more of God provisions. I was talking with the teens and told them that we would miss them. They didn't understand how long we would be gone. It seemed that time was not something they thought of more than within the day. When I told them it would be one year, they didn't seem to understand how long a year was. Uenice came up to me and in a teenage attitude told me "maybe I would come to America with you someday"..and the group of girls she was with just laughed. I beleive that she wishes she truly could.
We passed out booklets, bracelets and candy and said our good-bye's. It was like tearing out a piece of your heart to drive away from this place.
"You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving" Amy Carmichael
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