This is the day that the Lord has made...

“The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.” –Sarah Ban Breathnach

Where to even begin. To catch up on life for the past few weeks would be nearly impossible. Joy. Strength. Happiness. They all have played a role in the daily life here in Uganda.

 

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

 

 

The everyday life here in Uganda is busy. It has its moments of chaos as the van is pulling out for school in the morning and Vivian is left in the bathroom mopping. Or when Norah loses Victor’s homework book before they even leave the school yard. Or when we should all really be in bed but due to the short amount of time to do chores and homework after school, I find myself laying upstairs on the floor in the boys bedroom finishing up that days homework. And then there are moments of pure delight. Moments that I can only wish I had some way that I could go back and capture them once they are over.

 

Like when Dennis and Julius run inside and yell “Auntie, come and take a picture of this,” only to walk outside and find them all gathered around the little white table that overlooks the area where you find children running around in the afternoons. As I get closer I find them ready to dig into an afternoon snack. Some of the food they have brought home from school, some are leftovers from lunch that day and then they’ve put some of their money together to buy a fanta that will be shared amongst the 10 or so ready to tear through their snack. They then go on to taking turns serving each other as they laugh and enjoy each others company.

 

 

I snap a photo and then sit back and enjoy this moment. I soak in the fact that they are learning to share. And then rejoice because at the end of the day, these are brothers and sisters doing what normal brothers and sisters do, loving and serving each other. This moment was actually captured in a picture. But then there was the moment when Norah closed out last night’s devotion with prayer. She quite possibly prayed one of the sweetest prayers these two ears had ever heard. She began with asking each of us to close our eyelashes and then proceeded to thank the Lord for all they have. For the opportunity to have their school fees paid. For the blessings each one of them has received. For the sponsors in each of their lives that help fund their daily lives. For the privilege to have moms and dads who love them in the house while there are many other children who don’t get to say that. And most importantly for what the Lord is doing in their lives. Thank you Lord for being so deeply rooted in these children at such a young age.

And then there is house three. I cannot go without mentioning what those young men and women have taught me in the time that I have been able to spend with them since arriving in Uganda. This in fact was the first time meeting most of them because when I visited in October most of them were all boarding in school on the other side of Kampala. I have never been more thankful to have them so close to us now. They are special. They are pushing through school and striving to be top in their classes. I have been so impressed with how well they are adjusting to their new schools since the move in December. They are meeting friends and getting involved. Some of the boys are playing in soccer leagues that were created within their secondary schools. It’s a pleasure to see Sunday and Hakim run up and down the soccer field with their team during a soccer match on Sunday afternoon.

 

Then there is Hakim, Kenneth and Samuel who have started an apprenticeship at a garage downtown. They travel to town six days a week and work from 8-5. They are not only learning about how to fix cars, how to drive and many other important skills needed to know in life, but they are gaining wisdom, knowledge and discipline that they will need to individually excel in life as they get older. They are taking it seriously and absolutely love it. I am so thankful that Sozo has given them an opportunity to do this. It’s an honor to sit and watch them shine in something they are passionate about. Something that is going to be used and will make a difference in many lives over the years to come.

 

I never could have dreamed that my heart could grow such a deep love for the older ones the way that is has so quickly. But that is where the Lord quickly shows up and says “these are my children too.” They make mistakes and you love them through them. They hold tight to the things you say. And they understand that they are privileged to be where they are today. Some easily forget the older ones as they are sometimes harder to take in when they have been exposed to so much more than we want to think about, but then I once again count my blessings as the Lord has allowed us to open a door to them and extend His grace and mercy to them daily.

“I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep in the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

 

I am moving in to my last week here in Uganda with all intentions to soak up and enjoy every second of my time left here. The days have flown by. I have grown to love the permanent dirt that cover the bottoms of my feet, the sweat that pours like a river as soon as you walk out the door and even the roosters crowing at all hours of the day. I am reminded of His beauty from the time the sun rises in the morning until that final look up at the brightest stars I have ever seen as I head into the house each night. This place gets more beautiful as the days pass. Praising Him for the opportunity to be here.

 

“In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

 

 

Out of the Overflow of My Heart...

It is hard to believe it has already been one week since I arrived. It has been full days filled with contagious joy, sweet prayers and of course anything and everything that you would expect from a house full of siblings—CRAZINESS!!

The Lord has repeatedly shown up in the midst of it all to either teach me something about Him or to refine something within me. It’s a beautiful thing. I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to pause and reflect on all that the Lord is, all that He has done in my life and truly lavish in His love. He is so good. And these children, aunties and uncles are evidence of this in the flesh. They sing a song that talks about yearning for the Lord so much that it hurts. What does that look like? Do I yearn for the Lord so much that it hurts? It is a sweet thing; A beautiful picture of utter dependence.

I have begun the education evaluations this past week that we intend on doing on all of the children in the next few weeks. This is going to help us see where they currently are, and then allow us to evaluate their progress throughout the remainder of the year. It’s been exciting to watch the kids already improve from the last time that I was here. They are each getting smarter and smarter with every day that passes and it makes me hit my knees with thankfulness at the thought that there are so many families on the other side of the world who make sacrifices to sponsor these children every month. Be it through education, nutrition, health or housing, it takes every aspect to make a child whole. With every outfit I see these children run around in, with every doll I see the girls braid the hair on, and at every meal that we take throughout the day—I am yet again reminded that without the generosity of so many, life here would look very different. And then in the same breath, I am humbled at the moms, dads, aunties and uncles over here. They love each one of these children well. They do whatever it takes to make sure they are fed, well rested and growing like weeds! Family is valued here and I am blessed to play a part in this big family.

I pinch myself every morning I roll out of the bed from under that mosquito net at the thought that today I am getting to do life in Uganda at this time in my life. I am treasuring each day. With every piece of clothing that is laid out to dry, with every shirt that is folded, with every dish that is washed, I pray that I am serving well and loving well. I pray that in the stillness, I am being filled, and in being filled, I pray that loving and serving is done out of the overflow of my heart.

And so it begins..

Life in Uganda for a month. It is going to be a blessing. I can already tell. It's busy as it always is here with the normal everyday buzz of that alarm that comes quickly at 4:30 am. Wake up, chores, breakfast and then morning prayer and its off to school we go. I quickly learned my first day here that things are different from the last time I was here. It is quiet in the house throughout the day as all of our kids are now officially enrolled in school. I have fallen in love with the intentional moments that I have been blessed to share in between the Aunties and Uncles. We are rolling into day 3 and I can assure you that I can now chop and grate bellpeppers, onions and tomatoes like it is my job. But in saying that, I messed up the first few times. It is done precisely but instead of momma and Christine getting impatient and doing it themselves, they allow it to be a teaching moment. Life is about teachable moments. Christine told me yesterday that if babies gave up on trying to walk after there first attempt that led them to end up on the ground from a wobbly fall, we would never have mastered walking. It takes mistakes to learn. And that can be applied to much more in life that just the size I chop my bellpeppers! We pick up four of the kids at 12:45 and the rest do not come home until close to 7. But let me tell you, the short time spent with Vanessa, Frances, Florence and Zoob(the name has stuck around the house once I couldn't say his full name correctly) before lunch and nap is not taken for granted. Once 7 o'clock hits, the madness strikes up as they bathe, have devotion and eat all before that quickly approaching 9:30 bedtime. The days pass quickly. It feels like Monday and it is already Thursday!!
Pray for our kids as they have started back to school this week for the first time since holiday break. They are getting adjusted to a new schedule and longer, busier days. Pray the Lord sustains them throughout each day.

 

ZOOOOB!

 

Little Miss Priss, Van!

Post-nap play