Another blogger recently used the term “Holy Ground” to describe a life altering experience they’d had. That’s exactly how I would describe my first trip to Uganda. Canaan Children’s Home was one of the main places our team stayed in June, and that’s where we got to have lots of time to really bond with some kids. God used that trip, those children, those places, to TRULY break my heart, and allow me a glimpse into what His eyes are seeing, and what His heart is feeling.
Last week, I got the incredible blessing to return to Canaan for a short visit! Coming back to Canaan was a sacred experience, a revisit to my Holy Ground. I prayed that the kids would feel loved and cherished to see someone returning, instead of just coming once, and vanishing forever. Now, some of you know that during my stay here in June, a little 11 year old girl named Elizabeth claimed me as soon as I stepped off the bus.
She was the one who was waiting outside my door in the morning, and outside the dinner hall every time we’d go in to eat. The one who walked me to my door each night, who’s hand never left mine, and who’s smile lights up my heart. She’s very shy, and hardly talks, but our hearts were bonded, and she knew I cherished her.
Ever since meeting her in June, I have prayed for her, and thought about her, and hoped there were people in her life who cared for her, and wanted to hold her hand, and put their arm around her, and just sit wordlessly with her cuddled into their side, instead of just going for the typical cute little babbling 3 or 4 year old. My heart broke as I searched the pictures of VO teams after mine, and found not a single picture of my girl. I was worried. Who was loving her?
Fast forward to last Thursday, and we are making the drive from Pallisa to Jinja to stay at Canaan for a night. To say I was out of my mind with excitement does not even begin to cover it. There were a million things running through my head… worries about “my” kids, and the kids of the people I love from my VO trip: Are they happy?, Do they know how loved they are?, What if they don’t remember me, because teams are always coming and going, and what if they don’t believe I really loved them?, I just wanted them to think, “Oh, she truly loves me just like she said she did, and she came back for me.” All those worries soon faded away…
So we pulled up, and got out of the car, and the little ones who were already home from school began to come over to us, their high pitched voices in a chorus of, “How ah you?” and, “Good ev-uh-ning”, with their teeny little hands and arms reaching up to me.
Then, the older kids began to trickle in the gate, coming home from school. The first child came up and greeted and hugged me, and wouldn’t let go. I knew he was Gideon. I asked, “You’re so and so’s boy aren’t you?”, (It was a husband and wife couple, and the husband had been on my VO trip, and he and his wife sponsor two kids here.), and Gideon smiled HUGE and said yes. I told him how much they loved him, and told him we’d take pictures for me to show them. Soon, beautiful Claire, the other child they sponsor, came in the gate, and beamed at me, and we hugged, and I told her the same. She was overjoyed. Then, some of the older girls I had hung out with, and sang and danced to Rhianna and Sean Kingston songs with, came in, and we hugged and talked for a while.
Every time another child with a “parent” from my VO trip came in, I made sure to tell them how much they loved and treasured them, and gave them plenty of hugs and kisses. This happened over and over, and one of the girls that had been part of my “posse” in June came and hugged me huge, and ran to gather some of the other girls. I was engulfed in this beautiful, joyful little group of kids around me, then I turned and saw her, coming in the gate. My Elizabeth. It was like something from a dream. This child that had only been in my mind and heart, and on my computer screen for the last five months, was right there, almost near enough to touch. We locked eyes, and that smile of hers melted my soul as we moved toward each other like magnets.
All of a sudden, I was holding her in my arms, telling her how much I love and missed her, and how I had been praying for her the whole time I was gone. Did she remember me? Uh, YEAH, and she remembered that I LOVED her. Was she, along with every other child there happy? YES, Canaan is an incredible, Godly children’s home. The kids are being fed spiritually, and it’s really powerful to see how that is evident in their lives. Did they feel loved? Oh, every moment. It is CLEAR that God literally holds them in the palm of His hand. He truly treasures these children of His, and I do, too.
It was such a sweet, unexpected blessing to be able to spend some time at Canaan. God knows just what our hearts desire, and He is faithful to give us exactly what we need.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
He is so so good to me. THANK YOU LORD for letting me see my Elizabeth, and bringing me back to Uganda!
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; celebrate his lovely name with music! Psalm 135:3
LOVE you all, but He loves you more!
Allison <3
