It was January 2014 and I had just arrived in Uganda for the first time. It was a country I had dreamed about and prayed fervently for for almost two years.
I was working with an organization called Show Mercy International and had just begun my three month internship. I would be evangelizing, working with orphans, teaching in schools and praying for the sick in nearby clinics.
According to our schedule, as interns, we would be spending Tuesday afternoons in Bakka; a village I knew nothing about other than the heavy presence of witchcraft there. Each Tuesday we would arrive in Bakka and crawl out of our 14 passenger van to a crowd of children standing on the side of the road. Those were my favorite days.
I’ll never forget the first day I met Gabriel. I remember how out of sorts he looked, his hair was white because he was so malnourished and he was unable to walk. His sister, Gertrude, carried him on her back and their other sister, Nyonnga, followed close behind.
She sat him down in the crowd of kids and I quickly scooped him up into my arms. He sat looking lifeless as the rest of the children danced and sang all around. I remember thinking I had never seen such a malnourished kid before in my entire life, I remember wondering what his name was and how long it had been since his last meal. He instantly fell asleep in my arms and for the next few hours I just held him.
Every Tuesday afternoon that was my routine: hold Baby Gabriel and pray over his frail little body believing for a miracle. I remember filling the lid of my water bottle for him to drink from hoping it would miraculously bring him back to life. I remember his distended belly and fragile little legs – thinking I might break them if I held him too tightly.
As my internship went on I deemed Gabriel and his family as mine. I got to know their mother, Juliet, and often visited their home on my off days. We prayed for her every week and knew this family needed a miracle.
Then came reality, my internship was coming to an end and I would soon have to leave. I would have to leave this family behind, a family I so deeply loved and cared for. I would leave them behind without any means of communication not knowing if I’d ever see them again.
I knew I couldn’t stay forever and leaving them was one of the hardest things I had to do during my internship. Through many tears and hugs that weren’t quite long enough, I left them behind.
After returning home from my internship I thought about them constantly. I told my friends, family and supporters about Gabriel and the story of his family. I prayed for them daily and wondered if they were okay. I learned a big lesson in trust with the Lord during that season of life. He reminded me that He was a better care taker, Father and comforter than I ever could be – even on my best day.
In March of the following year I was able to go back to Uganda for two weeks. I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to see my friends at the market in Wakiso, I couldn’t wait to get back to life in the village but most of all I couldn’t wait to get back to Gabriel and his family.
During my second trip to Uganda in 2015 I was reminded why I loved Uganda as much as I did. Being back in the village and hearing little voices scream my name as we drove by brought joy to me in a way I couldn’t describe. I was able to revisit many of my friends and enjoyed catching up with the staff from Show Mercy International. Of course, I got to visit Gabriel and his family several times and was thankful to see they were still surviving. That may sound harsh but it was the truth. They were barely getting by and their mother had no money to raise her children. It was a bitter sweet reunion.
I’ve never been more mad at God than I was when I left Uganda the second time. I remember hiding in the bathroom the day we left and breaking down; I couldn’t stop crying. I was mad at God. I didn’t understand and I wished I could just stay. I remember telling him, “Why would you bring me back here to have me leave again?” His response: “I’m not going to withhold something from you that you love this much.” That was enough for me to trust his timing and his plan. It wasn’t easy but I found my way back to the states.
Fast forward to present day. I’m in my eleventh month of the race and back in Uganda. God is faithful to His promises. I’m spending my month working with an organization called Save Street Children Uganda (SASCU) doing outreach in slum areas of the capitol city, working with vulnerable children & families and teaching in their school. Even though I am not working with Show Mercy, I made it a point to visit their compound.
I didn’t sleep for two nights thinking about a reunion with Gabriel and his family. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I made my way out to Show Mercy last Saturday. I was overcome with emotion as we drove by all the familiar lard marks and markets. The familiar boda-boda ride through the village almost brought me to tears. As we pulled up to the Show Mercy gate the tears started welling up in my eyes. So many familiar faces and welcoming hugs – I felt like I was at home.
Now I want you to know, the last time I left Uganda I questioned if I was really making an impact. When I left, Gabriel and his family were under the pressure of local leaders and police in the area. Because of my advocacy for the family, the village was now aware of the situation they were living in and the local leaders got involved forcing them to change. I knew things were messy and I often thought, “Man, I just should have let them be.”
Here is Gabriel now. Happier and healthier than I’ve ever seen him.
“Transformation” doesn’t even seem to define what has happened to this family. It pains me to report that their mother, Juliet, has passed away from health complications but their father is now very involved and is raising them. All three children are sponsored and enrolled in school. Show Mercy has helped build them a new home and they are now filled with hope. Their father is more joyful than I have ever seen him and is extremely grateful.
As I got out of the van to visit this family of mine, I sobbed. They have come so far in the last three years. They have overcome the odds set before them. They are not only surviving but thriving.
That Saturday I saw in living color what it means to, “Let go and let God.” The Lord is ever present and all powerful. He really does care for his little children, and a little bit of obedience sure does go a long way.
For those of you who have been praying for Gabriel with me, THANK YOU! Many of you have heard me tell stories and even seen pictures of this family. You’re a part of the difference too.
