Uganda.

 

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. ~Frederick Buechener

   In Uganda I find purpose. I find a joy that I can't explain. When the day ends and the bottoms of my feet are a reddish color from the dirt, and my hands still dirty from holding the sticky hands of children and my mind is filled with things they said to me, that's when I'm happiest.  In the middle of Masese where children live with next to nothing, and all they want is to see their picture or to make you laugh or to have you speak to them... that's when I am happiest.  When their hands stained with filth touches my shirt and I have fingerprints every where, but I also have their smile. When what I thought were necessities are striped away and I have everything I need and yet, a lot less than I had, that's when I'm happiest. When I sit with babies in my lap loving to be loved, that's when I'm happiest. When I'm standing in God's perfect will for me, that's when I'm happiest.  My gladness and definition of gladness has been redefined.  I know what true happiness is, and it's not being the best or having the most. It's being with God, it's seeing Him change you. It's seeing Him show you what life is really all about.  It all comes down to His love. His love that He demonstrated so we could imitate- that's what life is all about.

   So, I'm excited that God has chosen to send me back to that place. In November I will be leaving once again, and will be in Uganda for a total of  6 months. And I couldn't be happier.

   If you would like to support me, you can feel free to use the paypal button in the right corner.  But I need all the prayer I can get.  I want to love deeper this trip, I want to love more like Jesus and care less about what the world thinks. 

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. ~Mother Teresa

That's how I want to live; the living expression of God's kindness, His goodness, His love. Pray for me.

I watched him.  So proud of his new family, I was glad for him, so glad that he finally had a forever family.  He had waited so long for this, and had endured empty promises. His cheesy white grin and uplifted head showed how happy he was.  It was evident, he was loved by many.  But my heart broke as I watched another little man, one who had lived there all his life waiting. Waiting. Yes, he knew he was loved.  Yes.  But he wanted a forever family, one who would shower him in the hugs and kisses and spoil him. He wanted it too, and that was evident. Think about it; you watch as your friends are adopted and taken to America, or gain Ugandan foster parents, or their birthparents come back for them... and you are left waiting.  Waiting.  Your heart longing to feel special enough for them.  He sat there staring and I wondered what was going through his mind.  Anger, hope, fear, envy.  I couldn't imagine- watching my brothers be taken and wondering why I wasn't good enough.

   I flip through pictures of an adoptive family on facebook, a little girl holds up and picture of her new forever family- while a girl behind her stares on.  Is she waiting too? Does she have a mom and a dad? Does she have someone who will whisper "I love you. Jesus loves you. You are beautiful and cherished."? Does she have to be waiting with so. many. Christians? If the churches stopped preaching what satisfies the crowds and starts preaching what the world needs to hear.. Yes, we are saved by grace-so why don't we extend grace?  Yes, we can do good for God from inside our comfort zones- but you will never change the world unless you go outside.  Yes, tithing is good- but God wants all of you.  Churches don't want to hear it. Churches don't want to hear about the ugly and broken, only the good and the saved and the comfortable.  But truth be told, if you have room for a orphan and you refuse to give it, you are keeping Jesus waiting.  Waiting because you don't see a way you could give up your too big house and your boat and your long hours- you are living the American dream, but not living God's plan for Christian's to care for the orphans- sure you sponsor 3 children, but you don't touch them, you don't laugh with them, you don't share anymore with them than walking to your mailbox to mail a check to them.  You are keeping Jesus waiting.
  
   God, move these Christians. 2 billion claim to be Christ followers, and yet, only 147 million are left in foster care, orphanages, waiting for families. 127,000 in the USA waiting to be adopted. Go share you're life with them. Go.  And if for some reason your health forbids you, then support those who do.  And if you really are penniless and unwilling to allow God to provide, then use your voice.  It's unfair that they wait. It's not what Jesus wanted.

What YOU do for the least of these YOU DO for me.

Don't keep Jesus waiting.