Greetings! I pray this update finds you all doing well! As I write to you, I’m just finishing up what was quite an amazing weekend! The Lord is so amazing! I had the priviledge of heading out to Suubi Village Friday evening and spent the night with some wonderful Ugandan friends. I was welcomed with a large, friendly smile and open arms by an individual named Carol. I actually hadn’t met her before, but she is a teacher in the Watoto village there. She used to room with my friend Elizabeth that I got acquainted with two years ago. When I returned to the States after I visited Uganda the first time in 2009, Elizabeth and I remained in touch. Carol and I chatted for awhile until Elizabeth and Abby (her current roommate) returned from town. Then we all laughed together and had a great time. I spent the entire day with them last Saturday. We had a Ugandan breakfast and lunch. Later in the day, a guy named Patrick came, who is actually Elizabeth’s daughters father. I rode home with Patrick and two of Elizabeth’s sisters children. They were with me in the back seat. The littlest one I kept hugging on. He was so sweet. Then he got really tired and fell asleep on my arm, so I picked him up and sat him on my lap and held him. He laid his head on my chest and slept the entire way home. He was so precious. I was loving it. The thing that kept going through my mind is this: you see here you never know what these little ones have gone through or what they’ve seen. This nation has seen so much war and poverty. “Love them like Jesus” kept going through my mind and as I sat there holding this boys little head in my hand, I too experienced the love of Christ as I extended His love to this little one. It was such a precious moment. Also, at the same time as Patrick continued to drive me home we had a wonderful conversation about what it means to follow Christ. He considers himself to be a Catholic and began asking me about what it means to be born again. I could sense he was really searching and trying to understand how to be a follow of Christ. I basically shared the story of Jesus’ life with him, shared a few Scriptures that the Lord brought to mind, and asked him a few questions. He said he feels like he’s really close and that he understands what I was saying to him. He’s such a sincere guy. I was also able to share with him about Freedom in Christ and he was really interested in receiving the material. So I’m going to get him the books and try to burn the sermons off onto a CD. Please join me in praying for Patrick.
Sunday I was able to lead worship for three services at Watoto Church South. They were amazing services and the Holy Spirit’s presence was so strong.
In conclusion, overall, I’m really enjoying it here, but for whatever reason last week was a little more difficult. I feel interesting things and a lot of those thoughts and feelings I cannot exactly put into words in order to help others to understand. There are days (like last week) I’ve was missing the “comforts” and “familiarity” of home, which I haven’t before honestly. I’ve been really looking forward to being home again. Then other days, I feel this strength rise up within me that says, "I can do this, I can live here,” which I sense as the Lord’s encouragement and in His strength of course. It’s just so different here. I have a level of independence I’ve never had before on one hand, then on the other hand I can’t necessarily just get up and go anywhere and know where I’m going and have that level of independence that I had back home. But I’m learning my way around and with time. I was having to depend on a ride everywhere so I did a lot of waiting. Now, I’ve begun branching out and calling a bota to take me on what they call motorbikes here around in the city. They are 100CC miniature cruiser’s basically. They aren’t exactly the safest routes, but it’s a reminder of riding my bike at home with the wind running through your hair. Plus it’s a cheaper route to get around the city. That’s probably the thing I miss most is riding my bike with dad through the windy roads of the beautiful countryside. I sometimes miss the clean, clear air of the country. I haven’t learned the taxi system yet, so I call what they call a “special hire” to take me if I need a car, however, they are fairly expensive so I have to use them sparingly. However, a huge praise is that I will be buying a car very soon, a Honda CR-V. The next challenge will be navigating and learning my way around in chaos…ha in the midst of a very busy city. If any of you have been overseas you will understand what I’m talking about. It’s certainly an adventure…J. But I know that where the Lord sends me, He will provide the grace to keep me. I’m often reminded, “just trust Me.”
A lot of things are still up in the air in regard to housing, my current job position, ect… I don’t really ask a lot of questions and just trust that God will work those things out in due time. I’m really striving to be obedient and thankful and trust God with where I’m at in my current position still, and it’s honestly been a bit difficult as more time goes on in staying put in an office. Please pray with me about this as well.
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