Here's a little update on the kinds of ministries we've been doing here in Rukungiri.
The majority of what we've been doing is going door to door with some of the pastoral staff of All Saints Church. We have a lot of fun marching all over Rukungiri together.
It's very different from the door to door ministy I've experienced in the States. Here, people are happy to see us and welcome us into their homes and offer us tea or soda or at least bananas. They are honored we came to visit them and want to give us something to eat to show their apreciation. Some days I get very full and feel like I never want another banana or soda ever again. But when we enter a new house and someone eagerly asks me what kind of soda I want, I give in. It's especially difficult when I can see they don't have a lot of money. But they want to bless us and it's easy to see it would be an insult to refuse.
Then we all try to tune in to the Spirit to see who has a word for this family. One of us will get a verse and share it with the family along with some encouragement. Then someone else will pray and we go.
Many times I'm sure I have been even more blessed than the people we are visiting. So many of the people here are so thankful to God even if it doesn't look like they have much to be thankful for. Their positive attitudes in the face of discouraging circumstances makes me take a second look at my complaints. And the way our presence in their homes is such an honor to them is humbling.
Sometimes I would wonder if we were really doing anything that makes a difference. But when I'm only in each place for a month, I guess I'm not going to see a lot of long term changes. So I do what I can and then I must trust that God is working in this place and even if I can't stay, He can. And I have to believe God is listening to my prayers and they do make a difference.
We have visited a girls career school a couple of times here. Please pray for these girls. They all come from very poor families and some don't have parents. This is a place to teach these girls to provide for themselves because they can't afford to go to a regular school. They are tought to sew, make baskets and other handmade items to sell.
It's interesting when we go into a church or school and they want to know what states we're from. We tell them, but it doesn't do much good because the people here haven't heard of most states. They think we must all be from New York or California. Scott's from Texas though so some people have heard of that. But they just laugh when Sarah says she's from Delaware. And when Emily says she's from New Mexico they are surprised because they "thought she was from America!"
It's funny, I thought I had an idea who these people were when I left training camp. And I thought I got to know them in Siaya. But now I get the feeling I'm only now really getting to know my team and they are getting to know me. God is knitting us together with shared experiences and time. It's a good feeling.
And I've shared a couple times in the schools we've been visiting here. The one time was really good and I felt the Spirit come on me so strongly I ended up talking about different things than I'd planned on saying. It made me feel strong, and a little scared. Strong becasuse I knew God was using me, and yet I'm scared to let myself get to that place again. I guess I'm afraid of what I might do when I'm in that place of being totally in tune with God with no fear of man to hold me back. I know God is good. I know He only wants these people to know Him and be in love with Him. But honestly, I'm scared because I know making me look good is not high on His priorities list. Which I guess just shows I still care too much about my perceived self and not enough about the Kingdom yet. But I have a feeling He will work on me in that aspect. He's not done with me yet!
