We are officially getting settled into our house located by Jinja, Uganda. Eleven college-age students sharing 3 rooms and 1 bathroom - probably a thoroughly exhausted recipe for a reality show, but with our mix of people I’m really feeling excited about this trip. After crossing the Nile River this morning, we ventured over to the STAO (Save the Aids Orphans) orphanage in Mafubira today, immediately being surrounded by screaming kids. Even with 11 of us, our plates were full of playing small games, singing songs, giving hugs, and taking pictures (taking pictures is easy; displaying the results to dozens of onlookers is the tough part).
Albeit with obvious contextual differences, this reminds me much of the AHOPE orphanage I volunteered at in Ethiopia. The kids are around the same ages, oozing with energy and fascinated by our foreigner status. One of the kids goes by the alias, “George W. Bush” – and another prefers a more patriotic title, “President Museveni.” As I learn about the current needs and projects of STAO, I am encouraged that there is push toward self-sustainability. Pastor Nelson voiced his distaste at having to send letters asking for money, though the stakes are high – so many parent-less kids (some of whom are infected with HIV) are benefiting from his work.
The team is now pretty exhausted and covered in Uganda’s characteristic red dirt. And it’s only been one full day! Prayer would definitely be appreciated to sustain our physical strength (we can’t even move around sometimes without the added weight of two or three kids) and good spirits. Having been in Africa for over two months now, I personally find myself with a unique attitude – I am constantly amazed at the manifestations of God’s work and human compassion, yet I wrestle with feeling numb to the problems myself, and feeling hopeless to change lives in the long run. I am no George W. Bush or President Museveni…
Comments
Dale,
Thank you for the update. As for your hopelessness. This is something that I struggle with when I watch the nightly news but I rebound when I hear about people like you and Kate and the rest of your team doing God’s work. Live in the moment for the next four weeks and remember that you’re making a difference in the lives of those children each day. Let God take care of the future. Thank you.
Hi Dale,
JESUS lives in you! May His love, His power, His sufficiency fill you, and may His joy be your strength. I don’t know that we are responsible for the “long run,” just to obey Him in the here and now. May you affirm each day that HE is Lord. Sending hugs and lifting up prayers!
Not George Bush or President Museveni, but you ARE sons and daughters of the Most High!
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