This is a blog I have been putting off writing for a long time now. I felt it was best to split my time in Uganda into 3 separate blogs. This is the last of the three. Also the hardest of the three to process through and write. So much happened for me during my time in Uganda, especially in the last week I was there. I pushed off writing it down because there is so much passion and emotion in my time there that I truly just have no idea how to even begin to convey it in a blog. So give me a lot of grace in writing this and please feel free to reach out if you wan to hear more. I have so much love for this place and the people that live in it. I could talk for hours about my experience there and stories of how I saw God in every step and breath I took.
A van pulled into the church drive that we were staying at and called for us to load up. We had little information about what this day held but we knew there would be a van driven by a man named Cockroach. As we crammed all of our bags into the van and then ourselves we waved to the members of the church that came to send us off. Some feeling excitement, others still unsure about leaving we were off into a new adventure. Our last stop in Uganda. We were headed to Kyampisi Childcare Ministries. Little did we all know our lives would forever be changed in one short week.
To catch you up to speed… anti child sacrifice is something that the Lord had laid on my heart prior to this adventure. It was something I knew little about but had this passion to find out about and help however I could. As we were looking for a way to help during our ATL time in Uganda, the Lord told me to start sending e-mails. He said very clearly to me that he would open and close the doors that he needed to. So I sent out 30-40 emails. Many never responded, others were closed down for the holiday season, but one responded. It was an anti child-sacrifice organization, Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM). The Lord had answered the desires of my heart. He was providing for me and where my passions were. I later found out that Uganda is the Country that still has the most child-sacrifice practiced and the town we would be working in was the area where the most child sacrifice still took place. Talk about an answered prayer…
So we drive for an hour or two, with a few stops on the way, picking up some bananas, meeting our drivers jaja, and stretching our legs. We shared many laughs, sang to the radio and all became excited with what was next. We soon pulled into a hotel. We assumed this was where we would meet the man I had been in contact with about what our time with them would look like, expectations, and maybe some lunch. Instead they began unloading our bags and leading us through the lush trees and flowers to OUR rooms. Yet again God showed up in a truly amazing way. He provided a hotel for us.. Two people to a room/bathroom, a pool, and lots of space to enjoy our heavenly father in our quiet times, not to mention the buffets we were able to enjoy three times a day! WOW! What a way the Lord and this organization provided.
We were given some time to settle in and explore then met the founder of KCM, Peter, as well as his right hand man Edrin. As we all sat down and began to share our hearts and expectations for the week I was just filled so much. Peter shared about his heart in starting the ministry and how it has grown. He shared story after story of the ways God showed up and provided for them in the most amazing ways that would truly only be from him. They were now working to help educate on and stop child sacrifice, mutilations and trafficking.
Near the end of our time of sharing Peter received a phone call. There had been a 1 month old baby abandon and they needed him to come pick it up. This fell under the umbrella of things they worked towards so a few of us pilled into his car and went to go meet the baby. The other half of the group went to the home for children who had been abandon or were recovering from surviving mutilations due to sacrificial practices.
The more time we spent at KCM the more we fell in love with the children who lived at the recovery home and the employees who we spent time with on the daily. We were able to spend some time playing with the children at the recovery home. Many of them were victims/survivors of child sacrifice. They each had their own unique and heart breaking stories but they were some of the sweetest most loving children I had ever met.
We were even able to take the kids to the pool at our hotel one day! Boy was that a blast!
We were also able to hold a ladies day at the church where we played games, worshiped, shared the word of God, and pampered them with pedicures.
A morning we spent on top of a mountain, where children used to be sacrificed by witch doctors, praying and bringing the spirit into the city.
We were also able spend a day walking around the community and praying for all of the jajas (grandmas).
My time working with KCM will never be forgotten. The people and the places, the food and the way the spirit moved was all I could have ever dreamed of. It was too amazing to put into words. Those smiles will forever hold a piece of my heart and I know that I will be back there again someday. Until then I pray that the Lord continues to move and work there in all that they do. I pray that the children and parents do not have to live in fear but that they can run and play in the streets. That God will overcome the evil that has settled there and will reign forever.
Thank you for changing my life and opening my heart Kyampisi.
