Believer, Be Moved

I've sponsored  a child here. I've put pictures on my refrigerator, cried a few tears and spent sleepless nights over her.

But to really be in Uganda. In her land with her people. It has left me breathless and created a consuming fire in me that could only be explained as Divine. The people are now seared in my soul.

Uganda has been touched by God with beauty. The countryside is green with rolling hills, tea fields, sugar cane and banana trees. The Nile flows peacefully and then rages violently. There are beautiful creatures that are only found In it's borders. There are many beautiful, architecturally  magnificent buildings constructed many years ago with arches and detailing but given no care since their construction and now stand crumbling.

War in the country wiped out families, jobs and resources. Corruption, murder and disease escalated. Thousands of Ugandans die from AIDS and Malaria each year . Sewage flows like streams, water shortages, dismal living conditions and lack of health care and food cripple the great country. The tales of children of their innocence lost to violence and dignity lost to despair made my blood boil and heart break.

Then...

"But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ." Eph. 2:4-5

There are bright brown eyes everywhere with laughter. Tiny little arms reaching for hugs and hands, stroking my hair and caressing my face. There is hope in the future of its children.

I look around and all I see is God's grace and mercy for Uganda. Hope is in the cross of Jesus and His work through God's servants  It's in the voice of Whitney, the 7 year old worship leader whose 

mom and dad died of AIDS. It's in the dancing of Joel who lived on the streets after his father died and acquired a fleah eating flea called a jigger. It's in the smile of Sarah who had an abusive family and lost her dad to drugs and alcohol. It's in the prayers of Ronnie who lost his parents to AIDS.

Their life is hard, but they are going to make it more beautiful.

It's in the service of Joseph of Agape Home who is a fierce advocate for Uganda, spending his life on
setting captives free and loosening chains of injustice. Hope is in the courageous people of Uganda declaring God's goodness and faithfulness.

Hope. I can't explain it but I can see it. It's literally everywhere. It's contagious.


Will you pray for us and the mission team's role in supporting Uganda? Will you pray for Uganda and the children of Agape Home? If you want a better place to invest your emotional energy than first world problems, pray with me to see God's Kingdom come. When we who recognize and receive mercy, we will show it to others and act justly for a country that has endured tremendous suffering.

 "Let His compassion make you weep. Let the remembrance of His Salvation  in your life bring you 
to your knees. Let your voice be lifted high as you sing the song of the redeemed. 
Believer, be moved." 

Grab my hand. Let's do this.