In Uganda, there is rarely hope for children with special needs. There are very limited resources here and most families with special needs children lack even basic information about the diseases or challenges that their child is dealing with. Special needs children are kept out of sight and rarely leave the house because of the stigma attached to special needs in Uganda. Issues like cerebral palsy, Downs’s syndrome, mental retardation, and hydrocephalus can keep children from even being allowed to attend school.
Serving with Suubi House has been eye opening and inspiring. Suubi House is a safe place for the children and their mothers to come get a healthy meal, have fun, pray, fellowship with each other, and be encouraged and empowered to continue supporting their special needs children. Suubi House is committed to empowering families with special needs children in Uganda, bringing them the hope that they so desperately need. Our host, Sarah, moved to Uganda five years ago to establish this ministry. The word suubi really does mean hope in Luganda and that is what Sarah is bringing to these children and families through her ministry at Suubi House.
The Lord has been teaching me a lot about hope recently and so I am especially thankful to be at a place that is literally called the Hope House. Every time I walk through the door, I can see the promises of the Lord and be reminded to cling to the hope that He offers. Hope is transformative. It is not just a virtue, but a way of thinking, and the hope of freedom and eternal life in Jesus Christ is more transformative than any kind of programs or services that we could offer to these children and their families.
I am certainly out of my comfort zone here and I know I cannot do this on my own. I am placing my full hope and trust in the Lord, knowing that He has a purpose for me here even if I am struggling to see it. My hope is in the Lord, for He will renew my strength.
‘I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame…’ Psalm 25:2-3
One of the girls that has really captured the hearts of our team is Vanessa. She is nine and has cerebral palsy. Vanessa comes to Suubi House with her siblings Jovia (15), Sandra (11), and Owen (7), who are currently caring for her. Bringing hope to them this week has looked like dancing to the whip and nae nae, playing fun games, having water fights in the yard, swimming at the pool, letting Sandra braid my hair, and giving them a chance to be kids again rather than worrying about the responsibility of caring for their sister.
I know the Lord has me here in Uganda to help bring hope through Suubi House, but He also has me here to start learning what it means to fully place my hope in Him.
