Today we set out for the first full day of ministry and no long travel time!
The team was excited and anxious to go at breakfast. Our devotional time was really good as well. We discussed that the trip this year is different from previous in that there is only one medical clinic day; we would be spending time at the various Methodist churches in the Gulu district to worship and celebrate, plus, see the income projects each are doing in the community. Our scripture today was Philippians 2:4. We discussed how our very being here is a blessing to our hosts, the people in their community and the church. Sometimes we, as Americans, feel we need to be doing something tangible each day. We need to fix something or improve something, etc. Over the last few years we have seen that engaging with the people, giving them our attention to get to know them and their families and hear their stories is a blessing to them. They know we care and love them because we take the time to come to their community and spend time with them. We try to imitate Christ who always engaged with people on a personal level.
Today was a good day.
We started off visiting the World Vision Children of War Rehabilitation Center. This is a holy place. They take in former child soldiers who have been rescued from the LRA and begin to heal them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The current director, Christine, welcomed us and gave us a brief over view of their work. She was soft spoken, but so strong in her faith. We heard some stories about what life in the bush as an abductee is like. The tragedies the children would face. Breaks my heart each time I hear it.
We had a very special moment today at the center. There are currently two former soldiers living at the center and in the middle of if their rehab. They spent at least half of their lives in captivity. Walter was a captive for 18 years and Dennis was in the bush for 11 years. They are both men, but Christine says they still call them children because they lost the time of their lives to be a child. Each spoke very softly and did not have a lot to say, but you could see their scars- figuratively and actual. Dennis told of being cut on the back of his neck by a commander. I could see the scar run along the back of his neck to the right side while I was seated behind him. Powerful to hear them, shake their hand and do our small part to let them know they are loved. One of the biggest challenges for former soldiers is going back home. Their community and family may still feel they were at fault for abducting another child or even killing. World Vision does an incredible job of reconciling each child back with the community with their family. Both Walter and Dennis will be going to their home in a couple of weeks, so we gave them each a gift to help them get life started once again. We had a chance to encourage them and pray for them. Very powerful. Very emotional. Hearing the stories and the horror that has happened is difficult to take in and process Then to hear the staff and Walter and Dennis praise God for our visiting them and showing them we care was truly powerful.
We spent the rest of our day at the Layibi UMC church pastured by Soloman. They started off with some worship and dance and singing (it is Africa!). We then got to hear of some of the programs the church has implemented in their community and how those programs have impacted the people. The church has started an adult literacy program. Two ladies got to show us they can spell and write their names. They were both very proud, as were we. We heard of a micro-finance program that the members of the church started to help each other out, as well as, teach them to save for future expenses- like school fees. The community loans out the co-op funds to members and they are paid back. Their deposits in their community box has more than doubled. This is how the church should be leading in all communities. Sharing the gospel, but also providing training for skills and jobs, as well as, pooling resources and teaching each other to read and write. It was a wonderful, beautiful picture of the church establishing the Kingdom of God right here right now.
After lunch we came back to Layibi and a group played games with the children while the adults sang and worshipped. Leigh shared her testimony with two different sets of children and knocked it out of the park. She was also right in the middle of duck duck goose!
Ashley was all smiles and always with a child. Holding or dancing with them. It was fantastic to see.
Katie and Katherine were both holdings babies most of the time I saw them.
Kariel and Olivia jumped right in and played with the kids. It was so special to see these young girls right in the thick of things. Olivia shared her testimony to a primary school we visited. The school has 1,317 students in primary grades 1-7. Strong young ladies!
The team was excited and anxious to go at breakfast. Our devotional time was really good as well. We discussed that the trip this year is different from previous in that there is only one medical clinic day; we would be spending time at the various Methodist churches in the Gulu district to worship and celebrate, plus, see the income projects each are doing in the community. Our scripture today was Philippians 2:4. We discussed how our very being here is a blessing to our hosts, the people in their community and the church. Sometimes we, as Americans, feel we need to be doing something tangible each day. We need to fix something or improve something, etc. Over the last few years we have seen that engaging with the people, giving them our attention to get to know them and their families and hear their stories is a blessing to them. They know we care and love them because we take the time to come to their community and spend time with them. We try to imitate Christ who always engaged with people on a personal level.
Today was a good day.
We started off visiting the World Vision Children of War Rehabilitation Center. This is a holy place. They take in former child soldiers who have been rescued from the LRA and begin to heal them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The current director, Christine, welcomed us and gave us a brief over view of their work. She was soft spoken, but so strong in her faith. We heard some stories about what life in the bush as an abductee is like. The tragedies the children would face. Breaks my heart each time I hear it.
We had a very special moment today at the center. There are currently two former soldiers living at the center and in the middle of if their rehab. They spent at least half of their lives in captivity. Walter was a captive for 18 years and Dennis was in the bush for 11 years. They are both men, but Christine says they still call them children because they lost the time of their lives to be a child. Each spoke very softly and did not have a lot to say, but you could see their scars- figuratively and actual. Dennis told of being cut on the back of his neck by a commander. I could see the scar run along the back of his neck to the right side while I was seated behind him. Powerful to hear them, shake their hand and do our small part to let them know they are loved. One of the biggest challenges for former soldiers is going back home. Their community and family may still feel they were at fault for abducting another child or even killing. World Vision does an incredible job of reconciling each child back with the community with their family. Both Walter and Dennis will be going to their home in a couple of weeks, so we gave them each a gift to help them get life started once again. We had a chance to encourage them and pray for them. Very powerful. Very emotional. Hearing the stories and the horror that has happened is difficult to take in and process Then to hear the staff and Walter and Dennis praise God for our visiting them and showing them we care was truly powerful.
We spent the rest of our day at the Layibi UMC church pastured by Soloman. They started off with some worship and dance and singing (it is Africa!). We then got to hear of some of the programs the church has implemented in their community and how those programs have impacted the people. The church has started an adult literacy program. Two ladies got to show us they can spell and write their names. They were both very proud, as were we. We heard of a micro-finance program that the members of the church started to help each other out, as well as, teach them to save for future expenses- like school fees. The community loans out the co-op funds to members and they are paid back. Their deposits in their community box has more than doubled. This is how the church should be leading in all communities. Sharing the gospel, but also providing training for skills and jobs, as well as, pooling resources and teaching each other to read and write. It was a wonderful, beautiful picture of the church establishing the Kingdom of God right here right now.
After lunch we came back to Layibi and a group played games with the children while the adults sang and worshipped. Leigh shared her testimony with two different sets of children and knocked it out of the park. She was also right in the middle of duck duck goose!
Ashley was all smiles and always with a child. Holding or dancing with them. It was fantastic to see.
Katie and Katherine were both holdings babies most of the time I saw them.
Kariel and Olivia jumped right in and played with the kids. It was so special to see these young girls right in the thick of things. Olivia shared her testimony to a primary school we visited. The school has 1,317 students in primary grades 1-7. Strong young ladies!
Jennifer shared her testimony with the group; she was so honest and
faithful. She shared some of her fears and anxieties and how God was there with
her walking through it with her. So great to see ladies from our church sharing
their faith and loving people right from the start.
All in all it was a great day. I heard from many team members on the bus ride back to the hotel and a dinner "today was a blast". Everyone jumped right in and gave full attention to any and all children and adults. It was powerful to see that just being there was a blessing to the community and church. Every time a local person spoke they thanked us for showing them how much we care and love them by visiting.
We didn’t "do" anything tangible today. We did not build anything. We did not improve anything. We did not fix anything. We did engage. We did talk. We did pray. We did worship. We did show we cared and loved. We did show people they were not forgotten. And we did spend time. And that was a blessing to both Ugandans and Americans.
"Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others." (Philippians 2:4)
Tomorrow we will do much the same at the Opit and Gulu UMC churches. We will hear of the projects the churches are establishing in their communities to empower, educate and train. We will dance, sing and worship. We will play games and talk and take pictures. We will show Christ's love. And we will be the ones to feel blessed to spend the day with our friends.
Tomorrow shall be another good day.
Your team member is truly being a blessing. Each one never says I cannot do that. Each one says, “Yes. Sure I can”. God has tangible hands and feet while we are here.
Thank you for your prayers. Keep them coming.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Chris
All in all it was a great day. I heard from many team members on the bus ride back to the hotel and a dinner "today was a blast". Everyone jumped right in and gave full attention to any and all children and adults. It was powerful to see that just being there was a blessing to the community and church. Every time a local person spoke they thanked us for showing them how much we care and love them by visiting.
We didn’t "do" anything tangible today. We did not build anything. We did not improve anything. We did not fix anything. We did engage. We did talk. We did pray. We did worship. We did show we cared and loved. We did show people they were not forgotten. And we did spend time. And that was a blessing to both Ugandans and Americans.
"Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others." (Philippians 2:4)
Tomorrow we will do much the same at the Opit and Gulu UMC churches. We will hear of the projects the churches are establishing in their communities to empower, educate and train. We will dance, sing and worship. We will play games and talk and take pictures. We will show Christ's love. And we will be the ones to feel blessed to spend the day with our friends.
Tomorrow shall be another good day.
Your team member is truly being a blessing. Each one never says I cannot do that. Each one says, “Yes. Sure I can”. God has tangible hands and feet while we are here.
Thank you for your prayers. Keep them coming.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Chris
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Inspiring, Christ Like Humility! GOD's Blessings
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