Evening Rain

I had almost forgot how peaceful it is here in Uganda when the rain falls.  It seems to cleanse and bring peace to a land of people and children who are in such need.  I reflect on the past several days of my stay here, meeting new faces and friends to visiting familiar places and people.  This trip has warmed my heart and has become once again an everlasting memory for me.  The people, places, children, buildings all in a land so far away but yet a land that seems like home to me. 

We took a trip to Buwatte, a village outside of Kampala, to visit friends that hold a dear place in my heart.  We drove the familiar roads, roads that are almost impossible to drive on.  We passed familiar houses, stores, churches and schools waving at people we once knew.  We drove to a familiar house, a neighbor that we once shared many smiles and laughs.  Lawrence and his family were very excited and happy to see us.  We exchanged hellos and hugs and talked for awhile learning of what had happened there since we left 8 months ago.  It was nice to see them and know that they are happy and doing ok. 

We traveled up a familiar hill, one we used to run almost daily, to find the little girl named Casey that stole my heart from the village on the hill.  As we drove there we noticed she no longer lived in the quant little place she lived before.  We were confused and asked neighbors where her family had gone.  We got many different stories of which way to travel to find her until finally we saw a familiar face that directed us just to the new house that Casey and her family now live.  As we drove up I saw her face and she saw mine and smiled.  But Casey ran, down the hill out of sight.  “Where did she go?” I thought.  We followed where she ran and found her stepmother outside smiling at us Casey in the background.  We greeted each other and she told us Casey came running saying “Mama, Mama my white friend is back but I am scared.”  I was not surprised as Casey has always been shy.  She warmed up to me once again as I gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek telling her I missed her.  I’m not quite sure if she understands my English or my accent but she could feel the love coming from inside of me.  We sat and talked for awhile, Casey sitting next to me holding my hand.  I shared the bracelet I had brought with her and the clothes I picked out just for her.  She tried each one on and smiled with every new outfit.  Casey shared her school work with me, this is her first year in school.  I was so very proud of her letting her know this with my smiles and my words.  This little girl will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget her.  I only hope that I can continue the relationship I started with her and that it lasts for many years.

I have also been visiting schools in the area sharing The Diverse Voices project with them.  This is a piloting trip, a start of the project to get the schools ideas and input and see if they want their school, children and teachers to take part.  I have received such a warm reception and excitement from the head masters and mistresses of the schools in what this project could mean for them and their school.  As well as gratitude that I want them to be involved with being a major part in organizing of this project so it is successful.  We will be working with 3 pilot schools over the next year constructing the best way for the project to work and be successful for the learning of the children and the teachers.

I still have one week here and much yet to do.  Above all I just want to breath in the  blessings that God has put before me.  The opportunity to make a difference and see the difference that these people make in my life.  I have learned so much from the ladies I live with.  Their tender giving hearts are such an inspiration for me as well as the dream that God has put inside their hearts.  A dream that has drawn us to become friends, sisters, to work together for His Kingdom.  To fight against Sex Trafficking in Kampala and help children have a hope for a future with education and love from a country so far away.  But yet in God’s world we are all so close, brothers and sisters of Him, our Heavenly loving Father.

Back to My Ugandan Home

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back…”

Isaiah 54:2

I arrived in Uganda Wednesday evening with much anticipation and excitement.  This feeling filled my heart.  I couldn’t get through security and baggage claim fast enough.  I was so excited to see my family here.  Tears filled my eyes as I walked toward the crowd of Ugandan people waiting outside.  Many African people waiting in excitement for their friend or loved one.  I searched and searched through the crowd until my eyes locked with the familiar eyes I remembered from 8 months ago.  There was Prudence waiting with anticipation and a smile on her face.  I ran and hugged her so tight, forgetting about my two large bags.  As I let go I noticed Hilda and Susan close by.  I hugged them almost as tight as they welcomed “Auntie Lynne” to Uganda.  We started walking, the girls insisting on carrying my bags, and not far away were the rest of my family.  I gave them all a huge hug and told them how much I loved them and missed them.  Mercy hugged me the longest.  The one who said she didn’t like hugs.  The trip home from Entebbe to Kampala was amazing.  Traveling familiar roads again made me smile and happy to be back to my second home. 

The next day we ventured into Kampala to buy some airtime for my phone.  We do not have internet at The Glory House.  This makes it difficult to communicate with my family and friends.  I had forgotten the business of the city.  The many people walking the streets, and sidewalks.  I see children and adults begging for money on the street everywhere.  They are usually crippled and some look sick.  I was told once not to give them money because they are being watched by others that take the money from them.  My heart is so sad to see God’s children like this.  I’m sure His is breaking for them as well.  Once again I am the minority, the only white wonderer here but I don’t mind because I am with my family.

We stopped by an orphanage to see the children.  This orphanage is going through some tough times but it was nice to see the children and share God’s love with them.  When you have His love to share nothing else matters.  My prayers are that God will protect and guide them.

My body is adjusting to the new time, different food and dust in the air.  I will be fine because I am happy to be home.  I am enlarging my tent.  Stretching myself to live out the vision God put inside of me.  God has said “I am not finished with you.  I’ve got something bigger for you."  As long as you have breath, God isn’t finished with you.

Saying Goodbye to Kacey

"The poor shall eat and be satisfied… All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.  For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations."  Psalm 22:26-28

It is Friday morning, as usual, a beautiful, peaceful Ugandan day.  Morning tea tasted extra special today as I looked out the door across the amazing beauty of the landscape in Buwatte, Uganda. I sit here pondering my return home in two weeks.  In two weeks I will be boarding the airplane once again with my suitcases full all of my belongings, which now consist of many African items.  I'm excited for my return, to see my children, my family, my friends and to personally thank all of you who have given so much to this mission God designed for me.  I also think of leaving my African home, the sadness it brings to my heart, the looks on the many peoples faces when I told them I'm leaving and them asking me "When will you return?" Especially my sweet daughters I live with and whom have stolen my heart, my love.  I believe this is not a goodbye to my Ugandan family but a new beginning.  A beginning of living my life through different eyes.  Seeing life through God's eyes, a life of humility.  You see I have learned that life is not about what you have but what you can give.  I have learned that I am the living expression of God's kindness and I should share that with all who God places before me.  I will be saying goodbye to my family here but I know in my heart that I will return.  Jesus also said, "The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.  Night and day, while he's asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens."  Mark 4:26-27  There is still much seed to be scattered here.

Goodbyes are never easy.  But a goodbye to someone who has touched my heart as Kacey has is even more difficult.  Today was the day I had to tell this sweet, precious little girl that I would be leaving to go home.  To a home she may never know or see although I would love for her to know it one day.  We walked up the familiar hill to the village where Kacey and her family live.  As we walked I knew that I would be saying goodbye but in my heart I knew that it would not be forever.  The question was will Kacey understand this?  We arrived at Kacey's house to see her mother cooking outside, her father at home and Kacey, her little sister and her brother outside playing with other village children.  They looked like a family, something I had yet to see.  A smile crossed Kacey's face when she saw us.    A smile that had just newly formed but I knew it was always inside of her.  I even witnessed a smile on her mother's face.  An inviting smile and happiness I had not experienced from her mother until now.  I could tell in her mother's face, her actions, her voice that a transformation had taken place.  Once again a miracle performed all due to the sharing of God's love.

    As we sat and talked with Kacey's mother she explained to us how much they had missed us and how they were looking forward to our return.  She smiled, laughed and spoke as friends would, friends who dearly cared for each other.  She finally understood and knew how much we cared for not only her stepdaughter Kacey but also for her and the rest of her family.  "Has she ever felt this kind of love?"  I thought as I sat and tried to understand the words she was saying in her language.  I wasn't able to understand all of what she had said but the expression on her face and the happiness in her voice was enough for me.

As we sat and talked more village children gathered.  They laughed, played, and craved the attention we had come to offer.   Kacey is the one who God placed in my heart but I truly love all of the children I have grown to know in the village.  They all have their own special needs, but above all a need to share in the love of our Father.

We watched as the village children played and joined in at times.  They loved getting their pictures taken and most of all being able to see their picture and how they look.  They live this life of poverty.  Many of these children may never experience school, maybe not even Kacey, because of the expense.  This is an injustice in my eyes.  I believe all these precious children should have a chance of a life full of education, full of opportunity.  My mission this time proved to be to share the love of God with all the children God placed before me and my passion is to make a way for them to have a fair chance at life, an education, a chance for a successful life.  God will make a way.  He will show me my next step, purpose, journey to make this happen.  This is how I know that my work, mission, is not finished.  Now is the time to prepare, to gain wisdom and insight and to have faith that God has designed a perfect plan and will place people in my life that can help direct me on how this can be accomplished.

Our time came to an end with Kacey, her family and her friends.  We explained to her mother we were leaving, I was leaving. That I would be heading back to my home in America. This was very difficult to explain to a family that had such a special place in my heart.  Sadness crossed Kacey's mothers face.  She said "I will miss you!"  I wanted her to know how much I would miss her too so I hugged her and kissed her cheek.  I told her she will be forever in my thoughts and prayers.  She smiled.  I know she felt the love God wanted her to experience through me.  We then explained to Kacey we had to leave.  She stood there with a look of disbelief, then tears welled up in her eyes.  Tears streamed down my face as I felt the sadness I saw on Kacey's face.  I hugged her as if I didn't want to let go.  I whispered "I love you" and kissed her cheek.  I didn't want to let go of this little girl who touched my heart.  She is part of me, my daughter.  As we walked away I continued to look back to make sure Kacey was alright.  She just stood in the same place, wearing her pretty new pink jumpsuit, tears falling from her face.  As I stood waving goodbye I thought, "This little girl will not be forgotten.  I will be back.  I will hug her and kiss her once again but next time I will be equipped and prepared to bless Kacey and so many other children with so much more!"  God does not demand that I be successful.  God demands that I be faithful.  When facing God, results are not important.  Faithfulness is what is important.

“I am the vessel.  The draft is God’s.  And God is the thirsty one.”  Dag Hammarskjold