Who Led His Children Through the Wilderness: 2009

I have really been trying to focus on the reasons why God has brought me here. I still wake up sometimes wondering where I am and then laugh when I tell myself I am in Africa...My time has definitely been worth all the preparing but I am still wondering why Uganda. This past year I believe that God has really put both orphans and the homeless on my heart, but I mean...there are plenty of those in America. Although God has not completely answered my questions, I do feel like I am learning more than I expected. I naturally assumed my time here would consist of loving and teaching all of these children, however I think I learn more from them then they do from me.
They share everything they have amongst 58 other children. Yes Bobby cries when he finds out I secretly gave George “boggle gum” and that I do not have anymore, but for the most part these kids treasure the simplest things in life. Some volunteers brought small water bottles for each of the toddler and preschool children and for 4 days straight they continuously asked when they could have their new water bottles. Maybe it’s the fact that they have something for themselves that they don’t need to share with the other children or maybe Im just not aware of the “coolness” of a 12 oz water bottle. But besides the point, these children are ecstatic about the simplest things.
Aside from babies and the smell of susu (pee)…the other 7 girls here as well as my self ran into a little drama. Blame it on the hormones…but our problems with each other began to get in the way of Gods work through us. We all eventually sat down and straightened things out and since then I feel like the team here is so much closer.
Today three of us girls walked with Mama Caroline to her church called Victoria Baptist Church. We started with Bible study in a small room with about 9 other Older Ugandan women. We read out of Ecclesiastes and then each women gave a little talk on what it meant to them. I truly feel like those women taught me more in that thirty minutes than I have from this whole trip. Money is an obvious issue for these people and they work hard for their earnings, but while we pray for bigger houses and better jobs these people thank God for the jobs they have and for every small thing. One woman was thanking God for the bag of beans she had at home rather than complain about the lack of meat she could give to her family. Its these small things that really show me how great I have it. I pray the things I learn here don’t leave me once I get back to America. I want to remember these people the next time I feel tempted to buy something because its in style…when I have way to many clothes to fit all in my closet.
Its been three full weeks and I’m loving it more each day. Life is so simple. No one has watches. No one rushes anywhere. The food is simple. The clothes are simple. Everything is beautiful. I do however miss starbucks and my licorice. But I am learning the beauty of simplicity and how God feels so much closer than when I have a million things distracting me when I am home.
So all is well in Uganda. I miss each and everyone of you and am looking forward to seeing you all in a week.

Quick little prayer request! Last Saturday, mama Katie’s little boy was electrocuted by a fence the neighbors had put up to keep thieves out….ohh Uganda! The little two year old boy died instantly. Mama Katie works with the newborns in baby A here at Amani and she still hasn’t returned from work. Mama Katie adopted her little boy from Amani not to long ago but I cant imagine how hard it will be once she returns to see 58 little children the same age as him running around playing. It’s not like America where we can take all the time off we need to get over things like this. Please pray that God will comfort her while she is still mourning her son. When odd things happen like this its hard not to question what God was thinking…but He has a purpose for everything and good will come soon enough.