Ethiopia

The internet is up for a few minutes so here's a quick up date.

Ethiopia is so different from Uganda. It's hard to compare. In Uganda we were in the country, out in villages. Here we are in the city.

We have been working with project 61. They sponsor children who live in kora to go to a boarding school. In 2 square mile an estimated 130,000 people live. The conditions are indescribable. The kids work in the dumps, looking for food. The drink the run off from the dump. In the dry season the kids are covered in ash from the fires that start in the dump. Before Project 61 took these kids to boarding school they had never had showers.

We have been doing some construction for project 61! I have really enjoyed working along side the people to complete the projects. We also have been able to play with the kids. The kids here will beg for stuff here which is difficult. It's just not fun to keep having to say no. They have learned to beg to stay alive. Many of these kids have parents who are sick, so they provide for the family.

We have 3 days left. Tomorrow we will be going to church. Monday and Tuesday we are going to two different orphanages. I'm looking forward to seeing them but I also am having a hard time because we visit so many different places. It is has to know what your purpose is. I know God has a plan and reason for us visiting each spot, I just want the experiences to be positive.

Here are some pictures of the kids of Kora.

The roads really are red

Just a heads up the grammar might be a little off on this post. I'm too tired to think.

We hear about the poverty, see pictures of the TV. Watching the commercials asking you to sponsor a child, hear the statistic. But until you smell the filth, hug the children, see with your own eyes it's just not the same. Once you hold the hand of the orphan child, meet the HIV positive mother, walk next to the open sewage the children live by then you know, then you understand. Katie David writes of the red dirt roads of Uganda but until you are walking on it, feeling it in you toes, trying to scrub it off your feet you just don't know how red it is.

And now that I know, now that I have felt just a peace of their pain, How do I go back?

I wrote that one the way to the ministry this morning. I was hoping to paint you a picture of what we did today but it's hard. I worked at the clinic, it's a ten by ten room with a desk and chairs. Outside sat 60 people waiting to get helped. Their education level here is so low. They come to the clinic with things we can't treat, itchy skin, indigestion, a hurt figure. They don't know any better. Then there are the ones who come with sick kids. The first boy I helped had a fever, he was three, sick with malaria. Four more kids came all with fevers over 103. We started taking our layers off because there was no washclothes to wet and cool them down with. The little boy was hot to the touch. He got up to 105 before we had to send him to the hospital. The other four little girls we prayed over. We cared for the girls for a few hours laying them on the grass in the shade, monitoring their temperature and trying to cool them down . Slowly God healed them. It was nothing we did we are just his vessels, praying the he will use his power.

Once we had lowered the kids fevers they wanted to put on a presentation for us. To say it was spectacular would be an understatement. They did traditional dancing like you have never seen! They have been called to perform infront of the king of Uganda multiple times. They were that good.
Today was my favorite day so far. It also has been the hardest. Tomorrow they say will ten times harder. They is a lot of witch craft and extrem extrem extrem poverty at the village we will be visiting. One of the missionaries who was serving there said don't be surprised if you see a dead body on the side of the road. This is the world we live in. The people God love. The least of these.

Please pray that God will surround us , protect us fronts forces of evil. That he will keep us healthy, and energized.

Return Ministries

Paster Samuel of return ministries is am amazing man of Christ. He has such great vision for his people. Right now he runs a small church and has an orphanage with 16 children. He also has 150 kids from the community who he feeds meals and does bible study with once a week, twice if there are funds. Paster Samuel says even though the 150 kids have families that does not mean they have a father figure or that their families are around. He tries to reverse the cycle of neglect by showing these kids God's plan for a family.

Today we went with paster Samuel and his staff to deliver food bags to some if the families from his church. When we arrived at his church he stood at the front with the bags of food and said "this food will not solve their problems, but we can help them feed their children as we help them to develop."

We carried heavy bags of flower and beans for 3 hours to different homes. I have now conquered caring the bag on my head. I was feeling very in touch with my Africa side walking over the open sewers with the bag in my head (no hands!) It was so eye opening to visit the home and pray over the people receiving the food. God has been so close to us all on this trip. Only minutes after retuning to pastor Samuels home did it start down poring. Today was an experience I will not forget. I'm sorry I have no pictures because we were at people's home we didn't feel comfortable taking them.

Cannons Children's home

We spent out first two nights at cannon. When we arrived the kids were crowded around our bus waiting to grab our hands. We spent the night getting to know the wonderful kids. The next morning we woke up to find the kids washing the clothes. Kids as little as 3 were scrubbing away at their clothes.

I become friends with a 14 year old boy, Israel. He is quite but very kind. I asked him if there was anything I could pray for him about. He told me about his exams coming up. School is very important here. They go to school 6 days a week and for much longer hours.

Yesterday night the kids put on a performance for us. They were so talented. After I asked if I could pray with Irseal. We went and sat down and I thanked God for the opportunity to know this lovely young man. I prayed that his exams would go well, he could study hard and feel peace about how he does. That he would be a blessing to all he knows. It was wonderful to communicate with our heavenly father and I will continues to pray for Irsael.

Today we went to return ministries. Paster Samuel is wonderful and really has a long term plan for the kids. He in not just putting a bandaid on the hurt but healing it. More to come about return. I should have better Internet were I am now. Feel free to post a comment!
http://www.returnministriesuganda.org/

Waiting and Expecting

Trying out posting from my phone for the first time. Hopefully this works well. I have meet my team and they are wonderful! I'm getting to know them all. I thought I would share with you my itinerary to get into Jinja Uganda, where we will be for our first week. We flight out at 11:45sm dc time, it's a 13 1/2 hour flight to Ethiopia, we get in at 7:45 am the next day. In Ethiopia we have a 3 hour lay over and then fly to Uganda. Once in Uganda we have a 3 pulse hour drive to jinja. Our final destination! I'm not sure when I will be able to post next but know that I am doing well!

Safety

When I tell people about my upcoming trip to Africa I usually get a similar response.  They usually say "Oh that's awesome." or "Wow God will have great things in store for you."  The one thing that people say with out fail is something to the effect of "Be Safe."  Of course I so appreciate their concern for my safety.  However, it makes me think, never once in the bible does God command us to live safe lives.  Rather he commands us to be radical, dangerous, hated, persecuted and betrayed.  To me this just seem so different to what most Christians (myself included) think.


In Matthew 10 Jesus is sending his disciples out to the world, he says they will be like sheep among wolves.  Hum, sheep like the really stupid animals, the craziest thing they could do is run into a pack of wolves.  Sheep are virtually defenseless.  Yet the Good Shepard is telling us to be sheep among wolves.  Ok so if I am a sheep than I should surround myself with wolves...  Honestly I can't really think of any wolves in my life. I'm not persecuted, in danger, hated, betrayed and up until recently I though this was ok. In fact I thought this was good.  But then I read Radical by David Platt and I started digging into the bible.  I didn't find want I wanted, I didn't get a pat on the back, or a passive answer, I got the truth. 

Mark 16:15-16  And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation..."
Matthew 28:19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:10 You must be on your guard.  You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues.  On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.   And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 




Francis Chan has a great video out about living boldly.  Please enjoy.  

It kind puts in perspective doesn't it. 


Jim Elliot, who was one of five missionaries killed while evangelizing the Waodani people of Equator, said "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  A movie was put out a few years ago telling the story of these five missionaries.  I encourage you to consider watching it. 

8 days and counting till AFRICA!

Only a week until I leave for Africa and I am getting soo excited!  Thank you to everyone who has donated supplies for me to bring over. If you still want to donate supplies it is not too late and I have plenty of room!  Also if you don't feel up to getting anything and would like to send me a check I will pick up what is most needed.

I wrote this blog at the beginning of summer and never posted it.  So today I thought I would leave you with it.


I spent a few weekends back at my cabin with my family.  My cousin came with her husband and two boys who are 2 years and 3 weeks.  My grandparents and aunt came too.  It was a wonderful time and my cousin was so gracias about letting me love on her sweet baby boy.  


Saturday afternoon I laid on the couch the baby sleeping on my chest. I thought of all we do for this sweet boy.  The hours we spend bouncing with him, the countless times we wash our hands, my cousins eating just right for him...  Then I thought of all the babies living in orphanages or with HIV positive mothers who can't feed their child.  I thought of the orphaned being taken care of by a sibling who still needs a mom them self.  I thought of those born with special needs and those living in horrible mental institutions because of their disability.  I think of the some 26,000 children that died everyday of preventable causes.  That's equivalent to one child every 4 second.  A 2010 Haiti earthquake happening every 10 days!  Guys this should make us sad, mad, make us feel something.  We should be moved into action. 


If this was your child staving in another part of the world, dying of a preventable cause, would you ever think "oh that's too far for me to go to save them, too much money,there's nothing I can do to help, I'll just turn a blinded eye..."  Dear God what have we done?  How have we allowed so much suffering in the world?  Where were we to show your love?  Has God not commanded his people to care for those in need?


Luke 12:33. "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys."
Luke 3:11. And [John the Baptist] would answer and say to them, "Let the man with two tunics share with him who has none, and let him who has food do likewise."
Luke 1:52ff. [Mary's Magnificat.] "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were hungry. He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed."
1 John 3:17. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?


If we as Christians do not care for the poor, the widows, the orphans, the least of these than who will?  Who's Job is it?  There are consequences to lack of obedience to Christ's command to care for the poor.  People are dying without even hearing His glorious name.  I hope you pray with me that our hearts will break for what breaks His.  I pray we move into action.


"Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He may ask me the same question."  Anonymous.