Uganda has not been easy. I didn’t expect Africa to be, but
this is a new depth of helplessness that I never expected to hit. The needs are
so vast, the stories beyond tragic, and pain unfathomably deep. I’ve found that I had to throw up walls in my
mind in my heart- because if I let it all in, the weight might just kill me.
And besides-that’s not my job. Jesus already let it all in on the cross. I’ve found
what I can do though, is pray. And ask you guys for prayer.
with this month, called Ambassadors of Life Church, situated a chaotic 15
minutes outside of the center of Kampala, is pastored by a lovely couple named
Joseph and Beatrice. They have four kids: Sam-8, Sarah-10, Sandra-6, and
Soloman-2.
At the beginning of the month I asked Ms. Beatrice if she
enjoyed being a pastors wife. She thought deeply about it for a moment, and
then answered me-“it’s the hardest thing I think there is to do.” She went on
to explain how much they have suffered for the sake of the gospel. Because the people here are so very poor,
their church is quite unable to support them. Their kids are two years behind
in school because they often can’t pay school fees. They have to move around
all of the time because they often get kicked out of their homes because they
can’t pay rent. They go hungry quite often.
I don’t know if its par for the course for them or if we
brought our black cloud with us here, but just in the one month we were here, trial after trial came to them. A
storm and flood blew their only half built church to pieces. Joseph got a
hernia and appendicitis. Beatrice, who worked for catering company, got fired
because someone broke into the office and stole the company’s money. She was
owed compensation for the last four months she worked, but they told her they
would not pay it due to the robbery. Beatrice has, just in the last few months,
lost her sister, her aunt, and her father to AIDS. She cried in my arms for a
long time the other day. She was heartbroken. They try and try, but it seems
their efforts, their genuineness, and love for their congregation is only
answered in pain and loss. They try to work for a living, but it seems the
Ugandan economy and government are set up with no protections for such acts by
an employer.
feel like Beatrice was my main ministry. My heart aches for this family. This anointed
family, working hard each day to love their church, their community, and for
the furtherance of the gospel. They are genuine. Peace bringing. Strong.
I wrote this blog to ask for one thing. Prayer. Please pray
for this family and this church. That God would heal them and bless them. That
he would make their building and their hearts whole again. That he would
provide and show up big time. And pray for Uganda. That peace would come. That
as the elections and Joseph Kony are coming in February, that God would put His
hand directly on this place. That he would rise up leaders, that would protect
the people. That would provide infrastructure that would allow for good jobs,
for safe roads, for growth. To provide medical care to a population running rampant
with AIDS and hunger. Move the heart of God to show up in this place. To show
up in these people.
