We officially arrived in Kampala, Uganda around 4am after the always-adventurous bus trip. The 23 hour and 37 minute bus ride took us across the scenic Kenyan landscape and into The Pearl of Africa – Uganda. We stayed the evening in Kampala, then headed North to Lira. The scenery was beautiful, the roads… less than desirable but God still continues to captivate me by His beauty and creativity.
crossing over the Nile as the sunsets on another day
Kenya was a mess for me. I was tired, exhausted, and ready for the last 3 months to be over. I wasn’t sure I wanted to really be where the Lord had and still has me. I was losing my trust in His plan and my hope was dissipating rapidly. I wasn’t excited about Uganda and I was trying to figure out how to just get by. And all I that kept replaying in my mind was, “How you end the race is how you will go home.” And all I could think was, “There is no way I want to go home like this, so what now…”
Then we arrived in Lira! My hope was restored. I was no longer struggling to get by but thriving and ready to take on the final 3 months with a hope and excitement for what awaited me!
Lira! The road to Path – one of our favorite places and an awesome ministry here in Uganda! Love the Higgins!
Our first encounter in Lira was with an awesome group of radical Jesus lovers from Antioch’s Elevate Discipleship Training School in Texas. They brought to life the vision of an awesome celebration in Heaven. As they cheered, clapped, shouted, and leapt with joy around us, it ignited a new spirit and joy inside of me. And it is still burning inside of me.
He reignited old passions inside of me with a group of rescued street boys at ATIN Afrika. I am still not sure why but until this month I have been pretty good about avoiding all opportunities to play soccer but there was something about these boys that unleashed the thrill and enjoyment I have always had while I played soccer.
playing soccer with the boys at ATIN Afrika
He gave me the time that I needed to run in the mornings. Something that has been more rare than ever before in my life. It has restored, built up, and strengthened my relationship with Him, which in turn has allowed me to love those around me better. Those I am serving and those I am serving with.
the view as the sunrises during my, Steph, and Sage's morning run
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
Even during our hardest times we are never forsaken and if we are willing to persevere the Lord has so much waiting for us; all we have to do is fight for it.
