Day 188: Wobulenzi, Uganda
For our first Sunday at Ebenezer Church here in Wobulenzi, we worked with the children’s ministry. After last month, I was expecting a small, intimate congregation with a few kids; however, what I found was a church of over 500 adults. Mamma built this children’s program from 10 kids to where it is today with anywhere between 150-200 children coming each Sunday. These children worship with all of their hearts and you should hear them pray…they are intercessors!
Day 189: Wobulenzi, Uganda
We live with a very strange chicken who refuses to lay eggs anywhere but inside the house. She loves to lay them on our freshly clean clothes and, unfortunately for my teammate Shay, on her bed. It’s like an Easter egg hunt every day to find out where she laid her latest egg!
Day 190: Wobulenzi, Uganda
We visited the children of Cornerstone Community School again today. The 3 and 4 year olds I worked with last week sang the songs and rhymes I taught them as soon as I walked into their room and little miss Christy who was so frightened by us last week came up to give me a big hug! : ) Pastor Alosias, the founder of Cornerstone, asked our team to plant a tree in their yard. He named it after our team so we have a BAMPH tree planted in our honor in Wobulenzi, Uganda.
Day 191: Wobulenzi, Uganda
Today was a really hard day. We went to do hospital ministry at two local clinics. It was heartbreaking to see the deplorable conditions of these hospitals, the flies swarming around wounds, and the children lying on their dirty sheets with no life or color in their faces or their rooms. What broke my heart the most today, though, was Mugisha. Mugisha is 7 months old and is hanging on to life by a thread. His young mom doesn’t know how to care for him and doesn’t seem to care. When we arrived in the room, I picked him up and he smiled a ghastly smile. From the stench and the urine soaked blankets wrapped all around him, my guess is that he hasn’t been picked up in a long time. At feeding time, his mom handed me a sippy cup that his pour little mouth could not reach around so my teammate, Stephanie, went to get him a bottle while I rocked him and talked to his mom about ways she could help her malnourished child. Please be praying for Mugisha and Gloria (his mom). She needs wisdom and he needs a miracle.
Day 192: Wobulenzi, Uganda
We met Grace and three of her five children working hard on the mats she sells to help make a small living for her and her family. Grace loves Jesus, but has a husband who forbids her to go to church or have a Bible. We spent a long time with Grace encouraging her in the Word and praying with her for her husband and children. While I started our conversation with the idea that I would be encouraging her in her faith, I walked away encouraged by a woman who, despite all of the hardships and obstacles in her life, loves Jesus with all of her heart and uses nothing, not even her husband’s hatred towards the things of God to dissuade her. She is a hero; she is a disciple of Christ.
Day 193: Wobulenzi, Uganda
David has been one of our translators this month. He is a goofy man who loves Jesus and wants to serve Him in any way possible. David has a heart for the predominantly Muslim community in this remote area outside of Wobulenzi. He and his wife started this school only two months ago after realizing the need for an education for these children. The school is partially built with very little on the concrete walls and a playground that consists of mango trees and chickens, however, many of his students are attending school for the first time in their lives.
Day 194: Wobulenzi, Uganda
We went to an African wedding today. I wish I had a picture that could capture this experience in all of its goodness, but there really is no way to convey what today was like. I will try though. Picture this: glass bottles of Fanta, Coke, and Sprite set up as table decorations, orange and black as the color scheme, an emcee (yes, their weddings have an emcee) dressed in eight inch high heels announcing our arrival with these words: “we recognize the presence of our beloved whites.” I love African weddings! : )
