My love for missions began during my freshman year of
college back in 2004. It was during that fall semester that “Missions Week”
took place, telling us what trips would be going out over the course of that
year. A few months later I was boarding a plane to take part in my first
over-seas mission trip.
A few years later it was my senior year and my last trip was
booked, and I was headed to Central America. Not exactly what I wanted, but I
was grateful for the opportunity. I was the girly girl people worried about,
being that it was a labor trip. Turns out I proved them wrong, which was no
surprise to me. But in the back of my mind I knew I was still missing
something.
I never made it to Africa.
During spring of 2008 while planning for that trip, a dream
was formed. A dream that had nothing to do with my trip to Central America,
other than Jesus was involved. But rather a dream of Africa. A dream of
orphans. A dream that sprung out of a man named Gary Skinner who spoke at my
church. A dream to go to a place known as Watoto.
Back then I had no idea how I would make it to Africa, let
alone find a way to work with Watoto. All I knew was that my church was
connected, and therefore I could make it happen. Somehow. As time slowly
passed, my last college trip came and went, I kept the dream but the efforts
dwindled. Africa was still so heavy on my heart, but it was very far off I my
mind, especially Watoto specifically. At times I think the only reason I even
remembered it was the fact I wore a wristband everyday that said, “Hope for
Africa’s children. Watoto.”
Then God called me to the World Race. Honestly at first I
remember thinking, ‘Well I love missions, and I’ll go to Africa… I’m in!”
Then in Moldova, we had kids beg and plead for all of the wristbands any of us
wore. Sure enough, somewhere along the line, my Watoto band went along with the
rest. And after a few months, so did the thoughts of Watoto.
also known as an African taxi, it all came flooding back. A woman was walking
down the street on the back of her shirt it said, “www.watoto.com”. I turned to
Nicole and I was freaking out. I wanted to find out where it was, how close it
was, etc. etc. Then a day or two later we went to a feast also known as lunch
in a home of a man we met in the Cairo airport who had invited us. We just
happened to be around the corner from his house, divine appointment if I’ve
ever seen one. While at his home, they had Hillsong playing on the computer. I
finally asked one of them, “How does everyone in Africa know Hillsong? My
church back in the states is a branch of Hillsong and I love hearing this all
the time. It makes me feel like I’m home.” He goes on to say they perform
locally. Now I’m very confused thinking I’m in the middle of nowhere, where on
earth do they come to? He tells me they go to Watoto. It all clicks, and my
heart is now soaring. After some questions, I find out it is about 10 minutes
away from where I’m staying here in Kampala, Uganda.
scheduled to, Nicole and I were sent to Watoto. I was like a kid in a candy
shop, or a kid going to Disneyland for the first time. I was ssoooo happy. We
got there and it was like heaven on earth in that moment. Despite the hard
times, the heat, the never ending sweat, the bug bites, the same food, the
mzungu comments, despite all if it, God redeemed Uganda for me in that moment.
obedience. I was going to tell my testimony and throw in many stories from the
Bible where obedience was so important. But now, I need to change it up a bit.
Yesterday I learned a major lesson from God. I didn’t just come on this trip
because He called me too. But because I came on this trip following His call,
he filled a dream I’d had for quite some time. And he didn’t just take me to
Africa, which to me was already fulfillment of that dream, but he took me to
the EXACT place I dreamed to go.
Beach, California and developed a dream listening to a man preach, yesterday I
sat on a Sunday morning in Kampala, Uganda listening to that same man preach,
and had that dream fulfilled. I really can’t even explain how it really made me
feel. All I know is I turned to Nicole mid way through service and told her, “I
know you knew I was so excited to come to Africa, but this is why, and here I
am…”
