Uganda was a month of ask the Lord. This meant we were sent to a country and we then pray about where we will stay, what we will eat, and what our ministry will be. This has led to many good and hard experiences. Our month in Uganda started with the whole squad in debrief. Our leaders and coaches had flown in from the United States and were there to spend a week with us. As we came to the end of debrief we were assigned new teams (see Team changes blog to learn more about my new team – https://christygray.theworldrace.org/post/team-changes-welcome-to-42-deep). We started praying about what would be in store for the rest of our month once we came together. One of the girls on my new team, CC, had a connection with a ministry that was near by. Her mother and sister had been there a few times to help serve and the family that started it were good friends of theirs from home.
As we all prayed into it we all came to agreement that this would be a good place for us to start our time together. It was called James Place. It was run through Heal Ministries. They were working on closing things down for the Christmas season but welcomed us with open arms for a week. The purpose of this ministry is to empower and resource vulnerable, abandoned women and children in Christ centered holistic programs that teach sustainability and family preservation. They work towards doing this by teaching the women different trades. They had
pottery,
leather working,
sewing,
laundry,
bead making, and basket weaving.
They also had a day care and school for the children of the women.
Our time there was very laid back. They were so gracious in knowing that we were a new team and would need some time to bond as well as to pray about where we would go after their facility closed. We spent the first few days praying and seeking out guidance from the Lord. In the afternoons as well as the last few days that we were there we joined the women in their work. We would sit and talk with them, listen to their stories, things that they loved and things that they struggled with. We would pick up a piece of pottery, a leather notebook cover, a basket of laundry, or a cup of beads and work along side of them. We went there intending to pour into and encourage these women. Giving them a small glimmer of God’s love for them… but in fact they simply loved and poured into us. We would go to bed tired but with full hearts. God would shine through those women in the most incredible ways.
I spent much of my time with the women who were making beads. Many of them were older and widowed. They were left to raise children and provide a living on their own. The more I would sit and listen to them talk the more I would see Christ. Many of these women had NOTHING. Absolute bare minimum. Some would walk over an hour every day just to get there. Yet they were so thankful. They loved so deeply. It was truly amazing.
The women took time to slow things down and teach the little white blonde girl who to make beads, how to roll them properly and make sure they stayed together properly as they dried. After a day or two of that they kindly assigned me the job of threading. I would go around and collect the finished beads and thread them onto fishing line.
After finishing the strands I would pile them up for varnishing the next morning. That was the messy but fun part! Mama Z taught me the proper technique for that. Making sure that the beads were of the proper quality and that they would make the most beautiful jewelry.
There was a small collection of beads that I myself had made and varnished that the ladies put together for me into a neckless that I was able to purchase and keep as a little memory for myself.
At the end of every day after we were finished cleaning up for the day the women would sit and wait for their time to go home (typically 5 minutes). During that time we would sit and chat or maybe sing, and then I would go around and kiss each of them on the cheek telling them that I loved them and I hoped they had a great night. At first this was strange to them. You should have seen the looks on their faces as I started the first day, I am pretty sure some hid from me… But by the end of my time there it was something most of them looked forward to and that they would give me in return as well. What a simple way that we can make people feel seen and loved.
The ladies truly poured out love over me and in a short time felt like I was sitting in a room full of my very own jajas (grandmothers). Those women will always hold a sweet spot in my heart and I cannot wait to see them again someday, whether here on this earth or in heaven, but in know that wherever it is we will be jumping and dancing together.
