*Bad internet and weekend in western Uganda, but I'm back and hopefully the internet will cooperate at some point. *
This was also written earlier.
It’s funny how the devil works trying
to put so much doubt into your head. I
can say that I did not miss home at all today.
This is exactly where the Lord wants me to be. Loving on the orphan, who God has a special
call for and commands everyone to play a part in helping against them. He really does comfort your heart. God is
good. I’m trying to honor him by watching my tongue, but that is easier over
here. My thoughts still fail though.
My morning started out by waking up to
the screams of Isaiah. He was not having
a good morning and did not want to be put down.
I usually hold babies pretty constantly as they are only a room away
from me and there always little bits needing some loving and attention. This morning most of the volunteers left to
go and visit Spring of Hope, but I stayed behind to help the mamas. I had to step in and help teach the preschool
this morning because the normal girls were gone. I had the 3 year old group, and we finger
painted. I was actually impressed at how
well they listened and followed directions for the most part. We also played with playdo and reviewed some
of the colors.
 |
| Mary. |
After I loved on my little chocolate
man Judah. Oh my goodness, with his baby
fro, I could just eat him up. He loves
to be strong and shake his arms, and of course, his smiles every now and then,
just reconfirm to me that this is exactly where God wants me. Some people probably don’t think I’m doing
much when I sit and take care of the children all day. They won’t understand until God breaks your
heart, and you realize he calls us all to play a role. Once you know these children by name and
face, you heart just changes and you know they each deserve this love and
attention. Never again, will you
question if loving these children is important.
Think of if that was your child, laying on the ground not getting picked
up for hours and crying. Would you want
someone to pick them up? That is exactly what the Lord thinks each time and
that is also what he thinks about adoption.
“If they would just trust, I
would provide. How much are you going to trust me? How big do you really think I am because I
can do anything.” Plus, 15 screaming
babies under 7 months is a lot for 2 mama’s.
I got to spend time with the girls,
and Mama Lucy is so busy. There are 11
between the ages of 9 months to 1 year.
Each of them have a completely different personality, but each will try
to squeeze onto your lap, even though you don’t think there could possible me
any more room. Bath time is always a production and someone has always peed
through their cloth diaper and needs to be changed. Right now in Uganda is Winter and is upper
70s and lower 80s without the sun. Even
though this seems like the perfect weather, you can find all the Ugandans wearing
pants, long sleeves, and jackets to warm up.
Almost all of the children have horrible snotty noses and bad
coughs. I have never had a child
projectile on me expect for little Jackie today. Her snot spit-up shot out of nowhere, but
that just added to the delicious orange Fanta spilt by Brian today on our
outing, Justine’s su-su, and teenie weenie Josephinie’s snot. This is just normal, and I wouldn’t want it
any other way. Who needs to have a
clean dress on and to feel clean? I feel
like all mother’s have a new definition of what clean really means.
 |
| 2 of the 3 sets of girl twins. Grace and Peace. |
I got to have bedtime with the girls
which is my absolute favorite. After
feeding Justine and getting all of them nakie, the Mama’s wash them while I dry
and place on potties and then dress all the little ones. While we wait for the 7 older girls to
finish, I get to cuddle each girl one at a time and boy, are they snuggly
now. They gaze deep into my eyes, and I
get to sing to them and tell them how much Jesus loves them. I pray that the Lord has mighty plans for
each little girl, and that he keeps them healthy and strong in the Lord. That each of them know that they are loved
and that their family be reunited with them quickly, so they do not have to
live in an orphanage for long.
Earlier in the day, while I was
holding my little man Judah, I held
Isaiah the one who did not want to be put down.
He ended up falling asleep on me, and eventually finally drank some of
his bottle while snuggled on my chest.
Desire was laying next to me, Judah was laying on my legs, and with one
of my feet I was bouncing Tina. Always
full and always more love needed.
For dinner tonight we went to The Keep. I believe they have the best chocolate
milkshakes in the ENTIRE world! We
watched the Jinja Children’s Choir and Dance Group perform. Of course, they were absolutely amazing and
shake their cabinas like no there. When
you think they can’t go any faster, they take off shaking their thing. They all just have joy radiating from their
faces. I wish children in American could
appreciate dance more. It is a free gift
that God has given us. Nothing, nothing,
nothing, is like African drumming. I
could listen to them create beats all day long.
Tonight, I gave 3 more of the mama’s
their picture I took over Christmas break when I was here. I had put their pictures in different colored
frames I had. It’s funny how something
so simple can cause so much joy to their lives.
Their deep gratitude is something I hope to emulate when people give a
gift to me. All of the mama’s would
exclaim many words in Ugandan and then say “ehhhh.” I can already tell you, I pick up this habit
more and more each time I come to Uganda.
Susan would translate what they would say to me, but 2 of them were
moved to tears and to watch them look over and over and then gaze up at
me. Wow.
 |
| Jacob. So big and so smart now. |
Right now, I’m sitting at the kitchen
table with some of the mamas and Susan watching boxing. It’s like the WWE, but I believe from
Mexico. Haha. So entertaining especially
to watch their reactions. In Uganda,
everything has to be below the knee, and on this show the women are wearing
those hoochie outfits like normal. Heels
and basically 2-piece swimsuits. You
should hear them exclaim over and over and babble in English and Lugandan. They cannot believe that women would walk
around and dance in nothing with their boobs hanging out, legs showing, and men
watching. These mamas are
hilarious.
I the LORD do not change. -Malachi 3:6
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