Little did I expect that the words of a two year old playing with a flashlight would spark such a thought.
Yesterday we went with Micah and Tracy to an island in Lake Victoria called Kisima. After a piki ride to Msesse and just under an hour of Micah rowing in a little boat, we were welcomed with many shouts of "mzungu!" by the children on the island. Each little hand reached for even just a finger to hold as we made our way through the village to the building where Ambassador Institute holds their class.
Ambassador Institute is the ministry that the Jores are involved in, as Nate is the national director. They hold classes to train men and women in the Bible through story telling. The teachers, some Ugandan and some American, memorize the stories in the Bible and recite them for the class. Then they act the story out to help with visualizing in order to memorize, and then the class recites it back. There is then questions and discussion afterwards. The students take exams as they move their way through the Bible, starting with the story of Creation. As a class graduates, students start more classes in the villages or surrounding areas where they live, creating a ripple effect and eventually sustainability for the Ugandans themselves. We have loved seeing this ministry in action and being able to meet and pray with some of the teachers. I am so humbled to know such incredible men of God.
Back to the story: as yesterday was an exam day for the class at Kimaka, I took a stroll on the island by myself. I met some more children and they brought me to their house, where I met Medina (age 17) and her mom, Miriam. With my very, very little Luganda and their broken English, they welcomed me into their home and we were able to talk a bit. It broke my heart that Miriam apologized for her dirt floor, saying that she knows Americans prefer carpet.
Their lives are so simple, but I don't pity them in the least. They do not have the luxuries that we are spoiled with in America -- they eat the same meals day to day, they don't wear shoes, and some of the little kids ran naked -- but they don't complain. This family does not know the Lord though; I so baldy want them to know Jesus, I want them to know true joy. I hope to return to the island next week and start building a relationship with Medina; I told her I'd teach her to play Go Fish. :) I want to show her my Jesus through my love, through His love.
Can I be honest with you? Sometimes it's discouraging here. Sometimes we fell as though we're not truly serving as a missionary ought to. Some days we go to the market and hang the laundry on the line and read books. Some days, most days, I don't share with people the love of Jesus directly in my words. Am I doing something wrong? Shouldn't I be more intentional, more direct in proclaiming God?
I just finished a book entitled "One Thousand Gifts" which has quite radically been shifting my mindset while here. The author encourages the reader to find joy in being thankful, in a more intense, more specific than a general "thank you God" way. I can find things to be thankful in doing the dishes and taking the laundry in and babysitting the Jores, which all seem like I'm not really "working" and witnessing here. "How do I live in a state of awe when life is mundane and ordinary?" (Voskamp, 168). However, in being thankful in these seemingly mundane acts of the day, I find joy, and I praise God.
"Count blessings and discover Who can be counted on." --Voskamp
"A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ."
This is along the lines of what my friend, Bailey, is learning in Madagascar as well. Her blog is http://www.heybails2.blogspot.com/
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." -- Colossians 3:17
A few ways you could pray for us this week:
- We would seek ways to praise and serve God in all that we do, in thought, word or deed.
- As we continue to help at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, we would know how to effectively reach out to the mamas as well as Sarah and Rachel (the Ugandan workers that we adore!)
- As Courtney continues to train at The Keep (a local coffee shop) and build relationships with the Ugandan workers there
- Update on Edith and Miracle: they brought Miracle to Mbale this week but she has an infection in her brain, so they need to treat that first and wait for the inflammation to subside before an operation can be done to remove the hydrocephalus.
- All of this would be done in the strength of the Lord. It's easy to get tired and discouraged here, but we press on knowing that the joy of the Lord is our strength! Pray that we would remain in that joy and His strength.
"God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us."
Martin Luther
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