My team’s ministry has mostly been evangelism. We walk to the church and then to the villages around there. Africa is so different in almost every way imaginable, even the way they evangelize. For someone like me who doesn’t even really like the word (because I picture crazy people in long missionary skirts trying to save the Africans), this is really a stretch. I have told the girls on my team that if I saw myself coming, I wouldn’t talk to myself. This is also the response we get from some people we meet, but then we meet some people and get to pray with them and that makes it all worth it.
The first day we went out I met a 14 year old girl named Lukia. She was a Muslim. We were talking with another girl and not even to her when she walked over to my translator and said she wanted to be saved. They are really quick with this in Africa. They walk up to people, ask if they go to church, if they are saved, or if they want to be. When someone says, “Yes” they want to move right along to a prayer. I like things a little slower. I want to make sure people really know what this means. It’s not about numbers. I want people to simply know the truth and have the hope that offers. I also feel like follow-up and discipleship is very important. This is something we are working with the church on.
This really is the reason I did this whole crazy trip and it is crazy. Most of the time I have no idea what I’m going to do once I get somewhere and once I do know, I feel like there must be someone better somewhere who could do this. I have learned that this is a lie because clearly I am who God wants to be here or I would see someone else. Last month was really neat for us as a team learning to use one another. That is why we are all here together.
I have met many people out in the village. Today we met a six month old baby named Samali.
She was at an older couples house. We asked whose baby she was. They said she was dropped off two months ago by a women they didn’t know and she never came back. She is precious. We learned that the mother wanted to throw the baby down the latrine which is a deep hole. The mother’s sister told her she couldn’t do that and took the baby. When she got home, her husband said he didn’t want the baby, so she ended up taking the baby to this couple’s house.
This couple were in their 50’s I would guess.
They have grown children that are out of the house and really don’t feel like they can take care of her either. A couple of our girls held the baby, but I felt like if I held her in my arms, my heart would break and I would start crying. I was already on the verge of this just looking in her big brown eyes.
Samali was also small because she doesn’t have breast milk and her guardians say that she eats when there is food and it didn’t sound like they had a enough food all the time. The older couple are Christians and go to another church. I asked if anyone wanted the baby from church and they said no one was helping them. We asked about a children’s home and Pastor Alex told us about a baby home in Kampala. We are getting more information about this and hopefully will be able to check this out soon. The guardians want the baby to go to this home. The women is also disabled and they say they can’t take care of her. We were also told that Samali has malaria.
Please pray that if it’s God’s will that the home would have space and want to take Samali. Pray for her health. Pray that I don’t bring one of these adorable babies home in my pack. Samali means gift and I believe she is. Pray also that we are able to get Bibles for the church in their language. They are expensive and most church members don’t have Bibles. We feel this is so important for them to grow in their faith.
On another note. I checked my support account and noticed that I need about $600 more to raise. It is amazing that God has provided over $13,000 already. I’m trusting Him for this. Thank you!
I also said in my last blog that I would tell the name of Adrian’s baby. Her name is Amira and we got a scale and were able to weigh her. She was a little one at barely 6lbs. Continue to pray for that little family too! I had the fun of giving Amira her first two baths. Her birth I will always remember on the Race. I love you all. Until next time.
