I was in the middle of a sentence when I saw her across the lawn seated on a wooden bench. I can only guess what my face looked like as my breath caught in my chest. Before knowing what I was doing I started to hop up and down excitedly, telling those around me, “I can't believe she is here!” My immediate inclination was to hurdle over children, tuck and roll across the yard then pick her up in my arms and twirl her around. I decided against it though since I was borrowing Jessie's skirt and I didn't want to get it dirty or interrupt the pastor. My translator Kato and the 30 or so children I was teaching at the time looked at me with confused expressions since I had paused to let these ideas run through me head. Their gazes didn't really faze me since people usually look at me like I'm half crazy. It might have something to do with the fact that I frequently dance across the yard or make funny faces or sit in the dirt. (Most people use a mat to sit on and get very flustered if you don't use it.)
If you don't know who “She” is read about our first meeting in my blog “Did I just pray for a Witchdoctor?” I feel terrible about the fact that I still don't know her name. I've asked her a few different times but for some reason I can't understand her answer. I refuse to keep calling her “ The Witchdoctor” so until I know otherwise I am going to call her Kwagala (It means “love” in Ugandan.) We had invited her to church on a couple of occasions but she never said anything about coming.
The first time we visited she told us flat out she was drunk and didn't want to talk about God and yet tears filled her eyes as Jessie and I shared about the unconditional love of God. The second time we visited her Kara was with us and shared the gospel. That time Kwagala requested that we pray for her family and called out children to come sit with us so we could pray for them. When we left that day hope was swirling around inside my chest but I expected that we would visit her again I never thought she would visit us. That just shows how much greater God's ways and plans are!
After the service I made my way over to speak with her. I sat close as Kara asked her questions and asked if she believed in Jesus. I sat in awe of God's goodness as my team mate lead her in a prayer of salvation. I truly love this woman and can feel God's love for her. I am humbled by the fact that God doesn't NEED us but ALLOWS us to take part of all the the things he is doing. We plan to visit her more before we leave in a little over a week to help encourage her in her new found faith. Also, thanks to some generous donors it will be possible to put a brand new bible in her hands and others like her, who are newly seeking the life God has planed for them. WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD!! Thank you all so much for your continued prayers!
