Imagine walking into a war stricken school, where every move you make is being watched through little eyes that have lost their innocence and are desperately searching for hope, when you look around at the absolutely beautiful faces of these hurt children, you see children soldiers and orphans and kids who are abused on a regular basis, they show you everything they have from their dorm rooms to their gardens and cattle, they want to share with you what little they have and they look at you as if you are their savior. To them muzungu (white person) means rich in spirit, rich in finances, and rich in kindness, their smiles are absolutely priceless and gives you the goosebumps as if God himself is smiling at you, and their stories, oh their stories, they are heartwrenching, but their testimonies, they are so heartwarming!
At the very first school we went to in Gulu, I met a girl named Jackie, she was 14 years old and told me she had become a Christian 4 years ago. I asked her how her life had changed since she met Jesus and she went on to tell me that at the young age of 10 her father died, making her an orphan, she had recently became a Christian and was filled with worry as to how she would eat and survive without her father’s income. She decided to surrender her worries to the Lord and trust Him to take care of her and not long after she surrendered her heart, she received a sponsor, somebody to pay her tuition which in turn gives her a place to sleep and food to eat.- What childlike faith! Jackie has a faith that I long for, at 10 years old my biggest worry were my brothers teasing me and for her to surrender her life to Christ in such a grown up way really encouraged me and opened my eyes to the blessings in my life!
There are tons of stories like Jackie’s that we have all heard and that have spoke to us in different ways, but all in all, we are learning each and everyday how big our God is and how much He loves us!
Next week we are going to Kabale and I can’t wait to continue sharing with you what the Lord is revealing to me!
In Love!
Rachel
