Dylan, you had such a good life back home. You had a nice comfortable bed when you were tired, a warm shower when you were dirty, and access to cold water when you were thirsty. You also can’t forget that amazing job you had where you made good money and the church you drove to every Sunday to see all your friends and family. Speaking of friends and family, they were pretty cool too. They were always there when you returned home and available when you needed help. Mom was there to take care of you when you were sick and needed the right kind of medicine and also there to say, “I love you” before you walked out the door. Dad was there to give you that piece of advice that you couldn’t have come up with on your own and pour out his help to you. Your sister was there to fight with you constantly but always knew how to come down to your level and understand you like no one else could. You were so comfortable! You could’ve settled down, went back to school and eventually had a family!
SO WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE ALL OF THAT?
Sarah is a late 60 year old woman who is raising a 5 year old, Araphat, and 3 year old, Gefete. These kids were abandoned by their parents and now only have their grandmother to raise them. Sarah sells firewood out of a shed to barely make a living to provide for the three of them. The 2 kids sleep on a 1-inch foam mattress while Sarah sleeps on the ground. I’m not sure I will ever meet another gracious woman like Sarah. Her hands were calloused from her hard, daily work but hidden behind her constant smile were the eyes of an overworked, stressed woman. Of all the things Sarah did though, her day started off in constant prayer and devotion to the man she and I share a love for. That’s what kept her going day to day. Even though she spoke little to no English, I knew she loved God. I learned from her to share the Gospel every day and when need be to use words. At the end of our month in Uganda, Sarah made a bonfire for us from her wood. We ate chicken, a delicacy there, laughed, and then ended the night with washing our hosts feet. That night, God put it on my heart to bless Sarah with what little I had. Despite all the fears I had of giving her money, I took my local Ugandan friend, Stella, and we both went to Sarah’s room/home and blessed her with what I had. The money I would use to fill up my truck halfway seemed like a million dollars to her. You know what she did? She praised God, not Dylan. It was nothing I did in the first place. My awesome father instructed and I just got to be a part in His great plan that night. After jumping and singing praises to the Lord for 20 minuets, she invited us into her home that was just as big as my bedroom at my house. As we walked in, I saw Araphat and Gefte sleeping on their new mattress that a teammate blessed them with, along with Sarah’s bed, which was a blanket on the ground. She was still praising the Lord and told me that she had prayed for a blessing and didn’t know how she was going to provide for herself much less two children. She said I came to Africa just for her. God’s beauty in that situation was indescribable. He could’ve done it on his own but he chose me to be a part in it.
So give me eight hours of rest in three days.
Give me cold showers from a bucket and warm water to drink
Take away everyday conversations with my family and friends
Steal away my job and the constant income.
Take away my comfort.
If being uncomfortable makes others comfortable and you happy, Jesus, then
MAKE ME UNCOMFORTABLE!
Sarah’s story is just one of many that I plan to share. But I want you to know that I’m not doing this trip to get likes on Facebook, to see how many people view this blog, or for any pats on my back. I am here sitting in Africa because of God and that’s why I am doing this mission trip. That’s why I can say with confidence that even in the uncomfortable times, God will be my comfort. Every time. No questions. We trust him to take us to heaven one day, why can’t we all trust him through the situations we’re going through this very moment. If you’re reading this you still have purpose. You’re still breathing which means that purpose is written all over you. I have one last secret to tell you. You do not have to leave your life behind for 11 months to experience this. God told me to get up and go, so I did. The same God that is here in Africa is right beside you this very moment waiting to make His own revelations to you. I’m just being Joshua and Caleb and telling you that the land here is good! Souls are still being saved and God is still working! I love you all and thank you for my texts and emails. Please don’t stop sending them. I love getting them.
