Hey everyone! Sorry I haven’t written an update in a little while. I’m sure you can understand how life gets busy and time gets away from you. I also haven’t been quite sure what to write about. The Lord is present here and has been doing so much in me and around me, but not necessarily in the ways you might expect.
I know I’m in the last half of my month here in Rwanda, but I want to back up a little bit to the end of our time in Uganda. After training was finished, we were commissioned and prayed over individually by each AIM staff member who was with us in Africa, and the next day we were sent out in our teams to begin this journey of listening to and following the Lord!
Just a little background information, most World Races have contacts in each country they travel to. The squad lands in the country and you’re paired up with ministry hosts and are then at their disposal for the month to do whatever they have planned for you.
Our Fusion route is different in that we don’t have host sites or contact people set up each time, but rather the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, is our contact, and we depend on Him through prayer and other ways to guide us where He wants us to do ministry for the month. It’s been incredible and I’m learning so much!
As a team, we spent time in what is called listening prayer, asking the Lord where He would have us go and what we might do, and then we were still and silent with Him and waited for His answer.
Some of the pieces of information He gave us first were direction: southwest, and a few letters: M and J. We looked at a map and found a few towns in southwest Uganda that started with the letter M, Masaka and Mbarara. Masaka was on the way to Mbarara so we would begin there. We researched lodging options, found a hostel, and set out for our journey with the Lord!
We learned quickly some key ways Africa is different from home, like their bus system doesn’t work like ours! Online we found a bus leaving at 3:00 pm that would take us to Masaka which was about three hours away. Perfect timing to get us there by dark, eat supper, and get some sleep. But when we arrived, the bus had already left, because they leave as soon as they’re full. Thankfully we found another bus, sat on it almost two hours until every seat was filled, and finally arrived at 9:00 pm.
That night we met Joseph, the manager of the hostel we were staying at, but didn’t yet realize this was the “J” the Lord had for us.
Still in the mindset of what we think ministry is or should look like, the next day Joseph took us to two orphanages he knew about as possible places for ministry during our time there. You see, I don’t know about you, but over the course of my life I had inadvertently put ministry in a box. I “do” children’s ministry at church, or help with a Bible study at the county jail, or volunteer at a women’s rehab house. It was always something I set aside time to go and do.
But I’m learning that God does not intend for me to separate my normal, everyday activities from ministry. One of the biggest things I am learning is that life is ministry, and ministry is life. They really are one and the same. Whether I go grocery shopping, stop at the library, or fill up my car with gas, every place I go I ought to be seeking the Lord about what He would have me do, and be noticing who He has placed in front of me.
So we began by visiting two orphanages, the first impacting me greatly. It is an orphanage and school for disabled and special needs children run by a lady they call Aunt Louise. She’s a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and moved to Uganda afterwards.
When we visited, the students were on holiday (school break), so most were home visiting their families. But we had the privilege of meeting three children, that due to their challenges, had been abandoned by their families and Aunt Louise was caring for full-time.
When I first walked in the room, the stench was unbearable. The room was dirty and the smell of urine overwhelming to the point I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand in there for more than 60-90 seconds. I silently prayed and asked the Lord to change my sense of smell as I wanted to be with the children.
Within two minutes I couldn’t smell anything anymore. I remember inhaling deeply to try and get a whiff, but the Lord had truly changed my sense of smell to allow me to remain in the room. To me it was a miracle, and a reminder that He is present and working in ways we might not expect, or even think to pray and ask about.
While we were standing talking with Aunt Louise in the room, the Holy Spirit nudged me to sit on the mattress pads on the floor with the girls. I was happy to sit and spend time with them, but didn’t think it was the appropriate time as I was listening to Louise’s story and wanted to respect her. I silently talked with the Lord and knew He was asking me to sit down right then, but because I couldn’t see how that was the right time I did not obey.
We finished talking with Louise and I was sad and disappointed with myself because I hadn’t done what the Holy Spirit had asked me to do. On the way out of the room I knelt down and said hello to the girls, asked them their names, shook their hands, and said bye.
Our God is a God of second chances which is a gift He doesn’t have to give. Louise walked us around the rest of the building and property for a bit when one of my teammates said she wanted to go back to the girls. I said I would join.
As soon as I walked back into the room I immediately walked over and sat down with the girls. During our time with them, we sang songs, and talked a little as they knew some English. It was a joy to see them so happy and smile and laugh and ask us questions. It was also a joy to know the Father was pleased with me.
He doesn’t hold it against me that I didn’t obey right away, and He was gracious enough to give me another chance to spend that time with the girls. It may not always make sense what the Lord asks us to do, but obedience doesn’t often require our understanding.
The Lord is teaching me so many lessons, and many things I know He will keep giving me opportunities to learn and practice this year and the rest of my life. That day He taught me that what He asks me to do doesn’t have to make sense, but that I should be quick to obey.
Is there something you know the Lord is calling you to but you can’t make it make sense logically? Don’t delay in responding. Step out in faith, trusting that the Lord knows what He’s asking of you.
