Hey guys! Hopefully this works...the Internet here is terribly slow.
From my journal this morning:
I sit along a dirt path in the tall grass. Im just a few feet away from a small Cotten field. The African sun is quickly rising and preparing for a scorching day. I hear rustling in the grasses around me, bugs buzzing about and crickets chirping nearby. I am alone, just me and God as I get ready to face this new day. I am so thankful for these few minutes alone. I adore our team but I have been feeling desperate for some time just to sit and think and process all that is going on. It is amazing how being in another culture, especially a third world one, teaches me so much every minute of the day.
Today we are going out to do evangelism again, and I am nervous. I'm so afraid to make cultural mistakes or offend people and end up being too reserved. From my observation, Ugandan people, as a whole, are pretty reserved and I tend to follow suite so as not to rock the boat. I'm friendly but I don't hug as much as I thought I would. The kids in the villages are afraid of me at first and giggle when I talk to them and run away if I try to touch them. "Mazungu" they cry out when they see me, meaning white man. The children at the Bible School have warmed up to me now that we have been around for a few days. Yesterday I climbed a tree with them and after that they were all showing off for me by doing hand stands, summer salts, flips, and dance moves. "Me me!" they all shouted one after the other, wanting me to watch them perform their tricks. I clapped and gave them lots of praise and their smiles were huge.
I just love working with kids. There is something about the innocence, the joy and excitement for life, and the tender hearts. I'm being stretched immensely in the ministry I am being asked to participate it and I know it is good for me, but I can't help but hope and pray that I will get to spend more time and build relationships with these sweet and very valuable kids in Uganda.
Update from this evening:
I just love looking back and seeing how quickly God answers prayers. Today we were doing more home evangelism but then we were surprised by the opportunity to visit two schools and share there. We first shared at a high school of about 300 students. I shared a short testimony about following Jesus and staying pure until marriage (teenagers have the same issues in every country!) We then went to a primary school with lots of younger ones. I was given the opportunity to share the story of the lost sheep (which I changed to lost goat because the kids didn't know about sheep :-) I have to admit, it was not my first choice to share in front of these large groups of kids, but with a lot of encouragement and help in thinking through what I would share, I did it. And, as He is always doing, God worked through my feeble attempts.
On another note, my favorite moment of the day was snuggling a sweet little baby while the other gal on my team shared the gospel with her aunt and friend. I just love those sweet Ugandan babes. I'm really looking forward to my time at the baby orphanage!
At the end of the day, we went back to the Bible School and I got to play a bit with the kids there again. I'm falling in love! I wish the Internet worked better so I could share with you the video I took today of them signing. But all in good time....
As you can tell, God totally rocked my world today. He took me from a place of uncertainty and fear and gave me opportunities that totally blessed my heart so very much and has given me energy for our day of evangelism tomorrow. Wherever God takes us tomorrow, I know he will teach me so so much.
Naomi, I just love your blog. God is really using you to share His love with the special people in Uganda! Love, Mom
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