I can’t believe it’s already been over a week since I left my home in Nebraska. The last four days here in Uganda have felt like a year! Time is a weird thing on the World Race. We are settling in nicely, have great accommodations for the World Race (even though we don’t have running water), and are getting quite used to the different Ugandan foods.
Today we had our first day of ministry. We are working with a ministry called Raising Up Hope for Uganda. Friends, I was a teacher today. With real children. And they liked me! (that’s just because I’m a mzungu). Anyone who knows me knows I’m not huge on kids, and I am definitely not a skilled teacher. I had a bit of a breakdown last night because I was overcome with fear of failure, fear of inadequacy, fear of ineptitude, and so many other lies I refuse to believe for more than a minute.
Holy Spirit is seriously teaching me what it means to walk in step with Him. Anything from listening to him when he tells me to help our friend wash our shoes, to trying to find where a verse is in the Bible but not having wifi to be able to google it, to knowing what to teach 6-7 year olds when the teacher gave me absolutely no direction at all. He is real, and he is calling me into greater intimacy with him and the Father. I still have a long way to go, but I am no longer in my comfort zone. I literally got to the point last night where I said “Lord, you have to show up, or I have to go home.” And he is doing just that.
When we got to school today, we had about 30 kids sprint out of their classrooms to greet us. I have never been hugged, touched, smiled at and called to so much at once in my life. For someone who doesn’t melt at the sight of children, that’s a lot to get used to. I have noticed that the Lord has softened my heart for these kids though. I can’t even begin to imagine the kinds of things they have been through in their short lives. I have not been here long enough to really get to know anyone’s stories yet, but I can see it in their eyes.
Today at school, one of the street kids came into the compound during worship. He was sitting next to me and looked very sad. He reeked of urine. His shirt was ripped. His pants were filthy. I looked over at him and just knew I had to make him smile. I said “seeka” which means smile in Luganda, the local language. This little boy looked like he was about to cry. I thought “Oh no, see, this is why I don’t talk to kids. They cry when I do.” When I got a small glimpse of his rotten teeth, I realized he was trying to smile. My heart broke. I don’t know his story. I don’t know he’s been though. All I know is that I have never seen anyone have to try that hard to smile. From that moment on, I didn’t care about the smell of urine or the layers of dirt on his body. I hugged him tight and worshipped God with him.
Today was just the beginning. I know the Lord is just getting started. I know the newness of the Race is still here and once it wears off things will get harder. But I am excited to continue this amazing journey. I am growing closer with my team every day. I am so stinking blessed to be going through this with them. Abba is doing great things all around the world, and we get to join him. I can’t express how cool that is.
P.S. Everyone knows I love animals. I know I can’t really pet dogs here (didn’t get that rabies shot), but our school/the boys home has a pet dog. It’s name is Muganda. Clever, right? 😉
My next financial deadline is coming up at the end of next month. Fundraising from the field is very difficult, especially since we don’t have a lot of wifi. Please consider making a financial donation of any amount. I need about $4,200 to be fully funded. Thank you and love you all!
