Northern Uganda. 8 days.
I don’t know where to begin.
It was a lot.
It was a lot of excitement.
Our squad of 20 people were divided into smaller teams. Mine includes 3 guys and 3 girls; we call ourselves “The Six Pack” (Get it? We want to be physically and spiritually strong. A little cheesy I know). While other teams pray and seek where the Lord leads them to, we got this opportunity to serve at the refugee camp in Northern Uganda. This is also the first time any World Racer were sent to the area and hopefully it will become a regular destination for the future routes. My team is excited. Other teams are excited for us. I mean we got to go to the refugee camp! I got to meet the people for real!
But these 8 days were not what I expected.
It was a lot of travel.
From the city of Kampala, we traveled 9 hours to Arua by bus. From Arua to the refugee camp was another 5 hours. There are many camp sites and it takes hours to travel from one to another. Not to mention everyday we went from one site to another; one church to another; meeting pastors after pastors; groups after groups. At one point we even climbed over mountains to villages where some of the churches were as little as 10 people. We traveled in a van (which is a local taxi) everyday and the roads were so bumpy (so bumpy it counted 10000 steps on my teammates’ fitbit by the end of each day, true story). It is safe to say that we spent almost 40% of times on the road. It was hot and I was sweaty. It is their culture to put on the nicest outfit in church or meeting guests like us, and you certainly want to dress appropriately to show respect. So I wore the only nice shirt and pants I had everyday. My clothes were soaked in sweat during day and I hanged it to dry at night and wore it again the next day. The roads were always dusty; I felt dirty all the time. Out of all the tiredness and discomfort, I saw how Jesus and the disciples lived.
I was exhausted but my heart was filled with joy. I got to taste and see a little bit of how a disciple lives.
(I caught the last bit of the sand tornado. The dusty part is for real.)
It was a lot to take in.
The refugees came from South Sudan. I am not going to give you the full story of the South Sudanese Civil War but I do encourage you to look it up. There were tents and facilities built by UN everywhere. It is hard to believe that’s their home. Those people were forced to move and hardly took anything with them. They now live in tents and share beds with others. The young ones either may get a chance to go to school or stay at camp because there isn’t much else to do. Some adults may help out around the camp or selling things at the market. I couldn’t help but think the whole time “What if this is my home for the next 10 years?” It is easy for me to just go back my home where there is wifi, a fridge full of food and a comfortable bed. Well..yes, the refugee camp isn’t a slum. People seem to have enough supplies and food, but would I still able to worship God the same way when I lost almost everything like those people?
One day I had a chance to hang out with the older boys (16-26), and we played guitar, worshiped, prayed, talked about bible, joked around….. I listened to their stories. Many of their families were still living in South Sudan and friends were forced to join the rebel army. While school is an option, not everyone can afford to finish a diploma or degree. They described what was it like trying to avoid the rebels during their trip to Uganda. I asked the boys “What do you all day if there’s no school?” They would say “We hang out, do devotions, and play cards.” In America me and my friends would say “I am bored” when we have cable TV, movies theaters, internet, smart phones, video games, shopping malls, and all kinds of entertainments. However, all the boys have there are each other and conversations when they are bored. Perhaps that’s why they asked me million questions about my life in US. As talkative as I am, I found myself speechless often because I just simply didn’t know what to say to their situations. Until one afternoon, the boys started opening up about their struggles with sins. Then I preached for the first time. I told them Jesus died on the cross so we can surrender absolutely EVERYTHING to Him, not just part of it.
After refugees camps, we went to meet with many churches in villages where they have desperate needs of supplies. What do you say to the people when they couldn’t even afford bibles or a soccer ball? What do you say when they didn’t even have enough water because it hadn’t been raining for a month? What do you say when their hearts are willing but lack of bible training? What do you say when they served you their best foods and you have nothing to offer? One day we climbed over a mountain and there I preached the second time. I told them they are extremely valuable to God, they aren’t forgotten, and they matter much more than they think.
Over and over I had to ask God for words before I pray, give encouragement, preach, or just talk. I understand it is not like I shared the gospel then everything is fine. Their lives go on. They still have needs. That one boy is still hoping to reunite with his siblings. That one family is still trying to buy nails to finish building his house. That one pastor is still waiting for God to provide for his church. Yet I know if I let God to speak through me, He can use me to do more. And I want to do more.
Say yes to God. It is the first step. It is in every step.
(This is Ceaser. He works a medical assistant in the camp and trying to finish his diploma. His family is still living in South Sudan.)
There were a lot of remarkable Christ-like people.
Pastor Uche and Joseph
Oh man! How should I describe these two?! Uche is from Nigeria and Joseph is from Arua. They helped us to travel around and connected us with different churches and organizations. I have seen what actual disciples look like through the way they lived. It doesn’t matter if it is the 5th church they preach at, or the 7th groups of people they give encouragements to, or countless people they pray for in the same day, they preach, encourage, and pray like it is the only chance they get. They give it all. They follow Jesus and put people’s needs first as if it is the only thing that matters. As one of my teammates said “In America, we let life interrupt church. But in here, they let church interrupt life.” Because of Uche and Joseph, I want to serve God wholeheartedly. I want to share gospel like I only have one last breath to speak. They have blessed us with their actions.
(Uche is the first one from the right, and Joseph is the second one from the left.)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Meet Jacob and Carol
https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/
Please go to their website and get to know about what they do. Jacob and Carol let us to stay at their house for a few days. They are from Texas. They left everything from the state and started this organization (the link) to teach the local about agriculture, selling produces in market, train pastors, they go to places where no missionary goes even if it is only for a few people, build houses, and so much more. They live as an example what the early church looks like – share everything. “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” They do massive amount of work with just two of them and seriously need more help. Jacob asked me “You are coming back here after the Race, right?” I felt bad because I was in silent. Perhaps I will, perhaps you will after reading their stories.
I know I will meet more Christ-like people like them in the next 10 months. I just don’t want these people to be in my memories or pictures. I need to at least tell their stories and hopefully there’s a slight chance I can inspire someone who reads my blog to do more.
It was a lot. It was a lot for just the first month.
I am not a good story teller. I probably gave way too many details but still didn’t get to the main point. What if you decide to love a little more? What if you don’t just read the bible and decide to live it out? What if you show little more kindness to a stranger today? What if you speak positively to someone today? What if you pay attention to people around you little more today? What if God talks to you and you say “OK, I will do it.”?
I am excited for you.
“The greatest evil in the world is knowing the gospel but choose to do nothing with it.” – Jacob Lee
Thanks for reading. Honestly there are still so much details about the travel. We were right at the boarder of Congo at one point and less a mile away from South Sudan. Anyway, I much rather to hear your story. I love you. God loves you more.
