That’s what I feel like. Even though eating chapati (it’s like African tortillas, except better), isn’t helping me lose weight, I know there’s some more muscles there from laughing so much. Living in community is so hard at times, but it brings so much more fun and laughter into your life. I’ve had this weird cough/bronchitis thing going on for a month now and I’m wheezing up a storm, but it’s also hilarious because I can’t breathe from laughing so hard and it makes the funniest noise.
Let me tell you a story. Last night I was just sitting in my top bunk with my headphones in, and all of a sudden I hear my teammate Emily scream. She’s not the squirmy type but she was screaming and putting her blanket over her whole body, so I knew something was up. I then started to freak out and asked what was wrong. Then that drew more people into our tiny room and asked what was wrong. She said, “A bat is flying around and almost touched my head!”. Us girls just start jumping around making tons of loud noises. If we would see this bat flying we would dive into one another trying to get away. But, I mean, that really didn’t help the fact that the bat is still stuck in our house. It was a funny moment that I’ll always remember because of all the chaos. Our contact came in and made fun of us. It’s one of those, “you had to be there” times, but a funny one at that.
(This is my church in Uganda, The Promise Christian Church.)
I have loved Uganda! Every day is great. So far we have done some bar ministry, hospital visits, and neighborhood evangelism. At the bar we went to, there were drugs and prostitutes all around. God gave me a heart for the women there and I just told them how much they are loved and adored, they aren’t too dirty for God, and there’s no reason to be sad when the Father wants to have a relationship with you. They ended up wanting to give their life to Christ and came to church yesterday! They danced with joy and freedom. At the hospital we just prayed for fast recovery and hope. One family I talked to rejoiced with clapping when I left. Let me tell you, Jesus is good! My cup is overflowing with joy. My cup is overflowing with thankfulness. God has stopped me many times and said to just be still and enjoy this moment. Enjoy this moment with these children, with the Ugandans, enjoy talking about childhood stories with your teammates, enjoy what is around. I’m thankful God has intervened.
(I got my Ugandan name this day; Mbabazi: merciful & gracious)
On Tuesday I get to go to the delivery/newborn ward of the hospital and hold/wash babies. I LOVE BABIES! We will be praying with the moms and bringing the presence of God in that place. I get to love on people this month. When you feel so joyful, you can’t help but fall more in love with Jesus. Oh, my heart.
(An one month old I visited at the hospital)
