On the World Race, every single month we pack up all of our belongings and move to another country and ministry. A month later, we pack up all our belongings and move to another country and ministry. This has honestly made me a little weary of short term missions. When I left on the World Race, I would have never considered this a “Short term mission trip”. It is just a month short of a year! But the truth is, it is eleven different short term mission trips in one. With this comes the reality that we will not be able to see the fruits of what we planted. We won’t be able to see if people grow from what we have told them. We won’t be able to see if these precious orphans grow into great women and men of God. For this month though, it means that I have to leave my friends. I have made three of the greatest friends I’ve made probably in any month we’ve had so far. Daniel, Amen, and Happy are three of the men I have met this month. They have taught me so much, and I feel like I’m more bold to do the things I want to do for the Lord and not be afraid of what my team will think because of what they have taught me. These three men have blessed me so much, and my heart seriously breaks at the thought of not having any way to keep in contact with them. In Uganda, people here do not know how to use a computer so they do not have email or face book. We can’t keep in contact by phone or any other way. All I can do is pray that God will show me favor and send me back here to my friends and the precious 650 orphans who live here.
Let me tell you a bit about each one of my friends.
Daniel (above) is probably the most talented man I’ve ever met, yes I know that’s a bold statement but I can’t think of anybody else I know who is more talented. He speaks six different languages, he plays the guitar and piano, he dances like nobody’s business, he is a great singer, he preaches the good news naturally, and he’s such a great man of God. I thank the Lord for sending him to us, because the only reason he is here is to travel with us. He lives about three hours away from here and will move here with his wife and baby soon after he trains a man to play the piano and take his place at his church. Daniel has taught me to voice my gratefulness to the Lord. I’ve never heard anyone say “Praise the Lord!” “Hallelujah!” or “God is Good!” more than he does, and you know he is truly speaking to the Lord in those times.
　
　
　
　
Amen is a seventeen year old who lives at the orphanage, but pastor takes him around to all his events so Amen can take care of the tech stuff. He doesn’t talk much but he has brought me so much laughter this month. He is such a positive and fun person. He makes this high pitch “whooooo hahahahaha” sound when he laughs, and his laughter is contagious. I think more than anything, Amen has taught me how to love people. He has a natural presence he carries that he could have fun with whoever he is around. He speaks English, but he doesn’t talk much. I’ve learned that you really don’t have to. We smile at each other, make faces, point at things and make jokes with our body language and always have fun with each other. I will absolutely miss this kid.
　
　
Last but not least, there is Happy. Happy is probably the person I have gotten closest to from any country. Happy is a very talented nineteen year old who is a very talented singer and dancer. He was about to get a record deal and make music but on his trip to Kampala (the city he was going to for his music), God hit him and told him to come to Christ. He dropped everything he was going to have with the “worldly music company” and decided to stay with Pastor to learn and grow from the ministry here. This happened the week before we got to the ministry. It was definitely God’s timing, because we would have never met. I have been able to give Happy advice that I know he really took to heart and it kills me to not know how everything will turn out. Happy has taught me to truly do whatever God is leading me to do, and to not care what others will think. If I want to kneel for worship, or put my hands up to surrender to the Lord, or dance to the music, or even spend more time in ministry than the others, I should. Before I met him, I wouldn’t do any of these things out of fear of what my team will think. Happy has helped me move out of that.
This month has been absolutely wonderful and I will pray very hard for God to send me back here to the orphanage, the awesome church here, to Pastor Naboth who cracks me up, and to my friends. I will forever hold Mbarara Uganda in my heart. I will forever miss my friends here. I will be forever grateful to the Lord for sending me here. Hallelujah!
