Had an amazing couple of weeks filled with cool experiences. It's amazing what can happen when you just let God lead and stop trying to do everything right! And it's ridiculous to think that I only have 2 weeks left in this country to have these experiences.
I got to preach to about 400 high school students about the fact that God cares for them and has a purpose for them, and the words just kind of came out of my mouth without me having any idea beforehand what I was going to say – thank you Holy Spirit! Afterwards, about 20 girls came over and shook my hand simultaneously and I almost fell over, and the joy radiating through each one was so beautiful.
I also got to visit the needy childrens home again that we went to a while back, twice, and sing and dance and play with these children who come from places of no love. Simply sitting and holding a feisty little girl named Catherine and high fiving her about 30 times, or playing catch with 10 kids for the longest time, or holding baby Joseph and just letting him be loved, or watching Garrett bandage little Caroline's knee that has obviously not had proper care with his handy American first aid kit (bandaids-something I definitely took for granted before this trip.) All of these things were so wonderful and in my element and it was just as much of a blessing to me as it was for those little ones.
I also preached to a yard full of about 125 male and 30 female inmates at the Rukungiri prison last Sunday. Again, God provided the words I needed to say, again this time about His caring for us and that he works everything out for the good of those who follow him (Romans 8:28) and when I finished my message with Mukama Asiimwe (meaning praise God), the responding shouting chorus of Asiimwe Mununga (meaning much praise) and applause I received was all I needed to know God had made his truth known in that place!
Next, I taught some beautiful Ugandan teenage girls how to French braid and that they are loved, and took ridiculous pictures with them and ate mandazi (Ugandan donuts), all after praying for women and their babies at the maternity clinic in the morning, and the simplicity of both these things while knowing that God was working mightily through them is so beautiful.
One of my favorite moments of the trip so far was joining a wonderful Scottish man named Brian this past Wednesday that we met when we went to the bishop's house for dinner on Tuesday. We accompanied him for collection day with his organization Chili Children's Project, which provides families with disabled children with chili seeds, which they then grow and dry and sell back to the organization which sells them to an exporter. Such an awesome initiative, and God blessed me and Ashley and Christina with the opportunity to join them in collecting the chilies from 2 different collection points where women and children were gathered and meeting them and praying for them was so awesome. Not to mention the insane roads taken to get there – always a blast 🙂
Even just a night spent playing games and laughing so hard I cry and enjoying the company of my team is an example of Gods joy and love that I feel so blessed to have. Add that to the many cookie dates accompanied by honest conversation and godly wisdom, the nights of communal worship for a Heavenly Father who so obviously brought us together, and the many hugs received each day, and you've got a beautiful example of the community Paul talks about us needing in the Bible. I am so grateful for this team of 15 strangers-turned-family.
This trip has been full of crazy, wonderful, unique, and fulfilling moments, on top of our main ministry at Makobore High School where the ability to converse with and minister to and love on high school Ugandan boys has been obviously brought upon us by God as He has obviously used us to bring His children there back to Him! On Thursday evening, one boy I've gotten to know grudgingly agreed to come to our Wednesday evening fellowship, only because he lost his volleyball game and it was too late to join the soccer game, so he had nothing else to do. He hadn't been to a fellowship at the school in 2 years and hated church, but didn't want to disappoint me by not going after I had asked him. By the end of this fellowship, God fully grabbed his attention and revealed His truth to him, and this boy decided to give His life to Christ and change the way he was living! Mukama Asiimwe! All because God led me to asking him the simple question 'want to come to fellowship?' It was such an awesome moment and honestly, this whole trip was worth that one moment, and just so thankful that there have been even more incredible moments than that!
Even though I am so sad to think about leaving this little town of Rukungiri in 2 weeks, and I can't imagine living without the other 14 crazy, chaotic, passionate Christ followers filling my current house, I am filled with so much gratitude for the time I have had here in Uganda. It has absolutely flown by, and though I can't wait to be home, I'm also extremely torn up by leaving.
The biggest thing I've learned though, is that it doesn't stop here. Yes, the experiences I've had here are unique and amazing and beautiful. But I know there's more to come at home, because the term missionary shouldn't refer to people who travel to third world countries to preach the Gospel and share God's love. As followers of Christ, we are ALL called to be missionaries, every moment of every day, everywhere we go. And when we start living that way, God starts to show up and lead you to amazing experiences of the Kingdom. So Rukungiri, I am so excited to see what these final days here hold and I will miss everything about you (well, maybe not matoke or squatty potties). But Calgary, I can't wait to be home and see all of you amazing people who have supported me and share these experiences in person, and see where else God takes me on this crazy adventure of a life surrendered to Christ and what experiences are awaiting me at home!
Be blessed!
