I’m typing up this blog right now with so much joy in my heart. I am so grateful to have been running on such an overflow of it over the last couple of weeks. My time in Uganda has been nothing short of sweet and simple. And I couldn’t be more thankful.
I am living in Lira, which is located in the northern part of the country. My team, along with another team is serving at Lightforce International. This organization houses 24 orphans, runs a christian private school, a community health clinic, has loads of livestock and also crop land. Walking around the compound gives me so much excitement for the present and future. I have loved working with such an efficiently run NGO and hope to be able to run a sustainable one in the years down the line, as well. I’m not exactly sure where, how and when, but I know the Lord will guide me, accordingly!
Lightforce provides local employment for so many of its community members. There is a lot of need for employment in Uganda, as well as much of the continent of Africa. Women have a much harder time obtaining a job, even with a university degree. I learned this past week that in order for a woman to be considered for an employment opportunity over a man, they commonly have to perform sexual favors with the boss several times. Sadly, there are so many places of the world that have similar circumstances. My heart beats extra fast for women and their precious babies. They deserve a future and an equal chance at the starting line of life.
I have been working with a social worker at Lightfroce the last couple of weeks, with some of my teammates. We go out into the community with the intent to extend service in the little day-to-day ways. Trying to share a little hope where it is needed most. Yesterday we visited a very young mother and her two tiny children. Her husband is struggling with alcoholism and there is barely any money to take care of her family. People in the neighborhood help her out when they can. We got to fetch some water and help with chores. I held little Faith, who is a year and a couple of months for most of the time, so the mother was free to get some things done. I have never held such a malnourished child in my life. She was so small, looking approximately 6 months old. She had no muscle in there legs and could just sit. When I lifted up the back of her shirt, I saw her little spine. I felt so helpless, knowing I didn’t have the ability to change much in this family’s life. And that’s the sad reality of the effects of sin in this world. Because there is the ability to choose wrong, bad things happen. People aren’t treated fairly. Sometimes we can make big changes, and sometimes we don’t have the physical resources to do that.
While sitting in that brokenness, God reminded me that I don’t have to be strong, and neither does sweet little Faith, becasue He is strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for me power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities, For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
I had the honor of speaking life over this little girl, and putting my trust in what God will do in her life. This, again, has fueled my heart’s desire to make change in this world in the lives of those who do not have a voice.
With only two weeks left on the field, I am definitely feelings many emotions about leaving, and also coming home. I love love my friends on my squad and being a missionary; spreading the gospel on behave of my heavenly Father. I am also very eager to be reunited with all my people back home. This upcoming Tuesday I will be going on a safari! I am so grateful for the once in a lifetime opportunity. The experience even includes a boat ride down the Nile, talk about amazing! Thank you, as usual for the support back on the home front. I love you all!
God bless! xo
