Psalm 14:10 “But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.”
The race is not always as glamorous as it may seem to the outside world. Sure, you all see my pictures in incredible places, and I am certainly loving this journey. However, there are days when I just want the comforts of being home, times when I get tired of pouring out, and times when I’m throwing up over the toilet wishing I didn’t have to clean it up myself. I get tired, I have selfish moments, and I still have all the struggles I did before I came on the race. I came into this journey thinking that if my surroundings changed, then my struggles would as well. Even though I’m on the race, I still make mistakes, at times I still believe lies or feel insecure. All that being said, I wouldn’t change one thing about my World Race experience because even though I’m exhausted, my heart is so full.
When I first landed in Uganda, I wanted to go back to the US because nothing about this place is familiar. Waking up each day though, I feel more at home as I ride in a van on red dirt roads weaving in and out of cars on the way to ministry. There is nothing quite like entering a village and hearing a bunch of kiddos yelling Muzungu (which means white person) and running behind your van then, jumping in to hug you once the car stops. I feel like a famous person every time I enter a village, and all I can think is this would never happen in America. My days are long this month, we go to ministry at 9 AM and leave around 5 or 6 PM. I spend most days at Save Street Children Uganda (a home and school) loving on kids who once lived on the streets. These kids were on the streets for various reasons ranging from abuse to false hope of a better life with the “opportunity” to make lots of money. Despite the circumstances these kids have gone through, the joy on their faces is undeniable and many have shared with me all the things that the Lord has provided for them. Hearing these kids say, I am so thankful just to have a roof over my head and food to eat is honestly very humbling. People here understand the concept of truly finding joy in simple things, and it is so refreshing from the consumeristic culture of Americans. I spend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday teaching and discipling young adults, or leading games for the younger kids (since most of them don’t speak English). These kids have every reason to be angry at God, they are not privileged or well off, but they constantly praise Him and desire to learn more about Him. They have taught me what it truly means to give out of lack, and what true dependency on the Lord looks like. People here depend on the Lord for everything and it has been such an encouragement to see the Lord’s provision for this ministry and these kids.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays we actually go into the slum of Kampala to hang out with kids who are currently living on the streets. I will never ever forget the first time I pulled into this place. As we were pulling in, I saw laundry sprawled all over the ground drying, shipping containers all over, piles and piles of trash, and a group of the filthiest children I’ve ever seen. They came running to the van, so happy that the white people were coming to visit them! They were barely clothed in clothing that was disgusting, torn, and either too big or small. As I opened the van door the stench of trash and filth hit me hard, and I took a sharp inhale trying to hide my facial expression. Instantly a mob of kids surrounded me and each one wanted a hug or hand shake. I hugged each one and loved seeing their faces light up as we came into their “home”. They laid down a ripped up tarp for us to sit on and I pulled several children onto my lap. They had a performance prepared for us and they started beating drums with sticks and dancing, and they pulled us all up and taught us a couple African dances. I’m not the greatest dancer, but two of the boys were determined to teach me. They worked with me until I finally got all the steps and they shot me the biggest smiles when I told them they were great teachers. As I looked around, my heart was full but it also broke. Half of these kids were sick and a few of them were high on aerosol or gasoline which was really difficult to see. When they first get on the street, they are exposed to drugs and encouraged to get high to forget that they are cold or hungry, but they become addicted and walk around sniffing rags to stay high throughout the day as well. We broke off the kids into smaller groups to talk with them and get to know them better. In my group there was a young man named Kevin who really stood out to me because he had big, brown, sad eyes. He walked around with his head down, and refused to make eye contact with me throughout the entire discussion. He shared that he wanted to go home but he was scared that if he went home he would be mistreated by his mother and stepfather. I have never felt so helpless, and I didn’t even know what to say since I can’t even begin to relate. I remember just praying that the Lord will provide for Kevin, and I just listened to his story. I have learned that every story is worth being told, and I intend to share every story that I can. I want to be a voice for children like Kevin who aren’t heard because of circumstances that he has no control over. Even though these kids are filthy, I look forward to the couple of hours I get to spend with them and just show them the love of Jesus. I know that I can never fix all of their problems, or even know what to tell them. I do know that I can hug them, play with them, dance with them, and tell them about the love of Jesus for a few hours a couple of days a week. Honestly learning to let that be enough was really difficult, because I’m a problem solver so I wanted to save them all. Instead I have to trust that God is in control even when the situation seems hopeless, and that He works in every situation. I hope that He continues to provide for SASCU, so that they can continue rescuing street kids just like Kevin. They provide a home, hot meals, and schooling for all of these kids and it is truly by the grace of God that they are able to do this! Most of the staff and also the founder of this ministry were all living on the streets at one point, just like these kids! It is amazing to see how the Lord has redeemed each one of them, and they are also able to share the greatest gift of all with all these children! Preaching the gospel is one of the first things SASCU does when they bring in a new child, and they continue to disciple each child throughout their stay in the home. Often times when I am teaching them, or answering their questions I feel so unworthy, but I know that I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be.
Uganda has such a special place in my heart, and I have really made deep connections with these kids and the people on staff. This month the Lord has been teaching me to be fully dependent on Him in ALL circumstances. He has also been teaching me that He can use anyone, and if you’re willing then He will absolutely use you in BIG ways! He has prepared me for such a time as this, and he has developed a deep passion in me for what He is doing here in Uganda. He has given me a love for the culture, the people, and just Africa in general. I feel that the Lord may call me back to Africa one day, I don’t know if He will call me here to Uganda or to another country here. I don’t know when He wants me to come back, but Africa…I will be back.
some of the kids from SASCU swimming on a hot day
My team had the opportunity to visit a village in Western Uganda
Pictured below is SASCU on the left are the classrooms and on the right is the home for all the kids they’ve rescued so far!
