im flying home to chicago tomorrow. i cant believe it. now that its time, i think im ready. this time spent in kenya has been great for processing, winding down, and just enjoying people. i am in a state of rest, ive accomplished all that i can, ive done my best, and i am completely satisfied. i know that what i have done here is not done by me, but is the work of God. and in that knowledge, i have comfort and strength.
i spent a few days at the coast, in mumbassa. i had planned on taking the trip just by myself, and using the time to reflect on all that has happened, really process through my time in africa, etc. i didnt have contacts there, i wasnt meeting anyone, and i was traveling alone. i didnt know where i would stay, what i would do, i didnt know anything. it was totally in God's hands- sort of a compressed, intensified version of what ive wanted for this whole time in africa- complete reliance on God.
it was incredible seeing God's provision for me, straight away off the bus. i arrived at 5:30 in the morning, and this guy came up and just started talking to me, asking me if i needed help, if he could show me around, whatever i needed. he was extremely nice, and helped me get my barrings. after that, it was one connection after another. i just kept running into people, getting into conversations, sharing a bit of my life, a bit of theirs. i had some time to just sit at the beach by myself and think about how great God is. and when i was exhausted and needed a place to rest, this girl came up to me and offered that i stay at her place with her and her two brothers. it was unheard of- they fed me, they let me rest at their house, they showed Christs love to me, a perfect stranger. finally, i got a phone call from a friend of a friend of a friend who heard i was in mumbassa and was wondering if i needed a place to sleep. so God even took care of my lodging. it was incredible, and i was left in awe of His provision, how He cares for each little detail. pretty humbling.
next i went to machakos. we have a project there, another childrens home. this one was recognized as one of the best in kenya. it was really cool spending time there, talking to the director, getting ideas of how the JCM project will run after it is finished. i loved being there, just playing with the kids, loving on them, serving in the kitchen, really however i could help. i learned to make chapati(best food ever), so ill for sure be trying that out when i get home. i stayed with a couple, professors from the local seminary there. that was such a blessing in itself, just being around them, dialoguing with them, sharing ideas and dreams. they are such people of God. when you spend time around people like that, no matter what you do during that time, you come away blessed. really just wonderful.
i got some great news on christmas regarding dennis. apparently ronnie found him on the streets a couple days before, and was able to take him down to the home in jinja! that was such an amazing feeling, knowing that he is safe and off the streets, that he has a place to belong, to call home. knowing that i can see him when he comes back! that he is gonna go to school and sleep in a bed at night! ah, it was so wonderful! when i heard that, i had such a sense of joy flood my heart. what an amazing christmas gift!
so now im back in nairobe after travelling around kenya. like i said, i fly tomorrow, and ive been using these last days trying to see everyone that has touched my life and say goodbye. its hard to think that ill be leaving, that after tomorrow night, i wont be seeing this place for a while. its my sincere hope to come back in may. irene will be returning then, and we are going to try and put together a team to come and finish the kids home. what an incredible day that will be!
these people, these relationships that i have made, they call me back. they always will. already i hear their voice. i will never be free of this place, it will haunt my thoughts and my heart as long as i have breath. i will hear their calling, and turn my eyes to where it comes. someday i will return. i wont forget you, street children, orphans, those abused and neglected. i wont forget you, family, friends, loved ones. i will return to tread your red soil beneath my feet once more. keep yourselves well until again we meet.
all my love
Monday, December 28
Friday, December 18
day one hundred: parting ways
wow. i cant believe its been one hundred days. looking back, i am amazed at all the time that has past. when i started, it seemed like four months was so long, like i would never reach the end of it. now that end is almost come, and im wondering what happened to all the days in between.
im back in kenya now. i arrived yesterday after traveling through the night. i didnt get much sleep, but its to be expected. i think i always have to be tired when i first get to kenya : ) its good being back. i am staying at the same house as before, but much has changed. theres only one other person here now, mary, as opposed to the multitude of family and life that busted forth from it at my last visit. its nice though, the smallness of it. itll be a lot of meetings one on one with people. im looking forward to that, to deepening the relationships ive started.
i didnt realize last time how huge nairobe is. i was just wandering around for an hour, trying to find the spot where we used to use internet. i dont know how, except that God helped me, but im here now. makes me miss tyler and irene. i hope theyre having fun in the cold!
ill be traveling to mumbassa, the coast, in a day or two. looking forward to some time to rest and reflect on all ive seen and experienced. sometimes, things happen so fast or so relentlessly, that i dont have time to pause and see how its effecting me. that self reflection, and being intentional in taking time to do it, has been so influential for me. im learning a lot about myself, about God, and about this world. not to mention that its been forever since ive been on a surf board : )
already i miss kampala. it was with a heavy heart that i said goodbye to friends and family- the people who made my time there so memorable. it was especially sad that i didnt get to say goodbye to my street kid friends. there has been a lot of football lately, and that usually equals empty streets. we went a couple of times my last few days, but no luck.
in regards to steven and dennis, im afraid thats a disappointing ending as well. i met a girl named sarah. she lives in jinja, and runs a kids home specifically for street kids. i figured that couldnt just be coincidence, so we went to pay her a visit. her home is great. there are fifteen former street kids in her care. they are all well fed, in school, and very happy. i could tell just from the feel of the place that it was a very happy and loving home. we spent the day with them, playing football and just hanging out.
that is exactly the kind of place i would love to get steven and dennis into. you cant just put street kids into a regular kids home/orphanage. most times, there is trouble with them running away and causing trouble, just not getting along well with the other kids. street kids are a different breed. they are used to complete freedom, not having any rules, doing whatever they want. sometimes, there are drug addictions to deal with as well.
any home that is going to care for street kids has to be special. they require so much individual attention. they need to feel loved, cared for, wanted. they need to be comfortable as well with the other people there. often, counseling services are needed. i could tell that sara's home would be so great to get the kids into. so we asked her
she was enthusiastic, but needed to check with her director back in canada (i dont remember what the NGO's called). he was enthusiastic as well, but wanted to make sure that the kids wanted to study- they had a kid run away about a year ago because he didnt want to be in school, it was heart breaking for them.
so we went out and found the kids, told them about the home, and what was expected if they were gonna live there, and they were both excited. so we agreed to meet monday morning to take them down to jinja, while we waited for final confirmation from the NGO director. after scrambling around and pushing, probably harder than i should have(keep in mind this is over a period of two or three days), we got final clearance and went monday to meet them.
but they were a no show. both of them. we rode up to the meeting place and our hearts dropped. we were a little late, but not late enough to have missed them. at least, i dont think so. i dont know what happened. its still a mystery to me. they werent on the streets when we went out to look, as i said, they ususally go for football if there is a match. so i havent seen them in about a week, and i have no idea what happened.
just before i left(my bus left at midnight) we went walking around, looking for them, hoping that id at least get to say goodbye, but no good.
though im so sad about this all, i know its gonna be fine. we got the green light from the kids home, so all thats left is finding steven and dennis. as long as they still want to go, we can get them there. ronnie will continue to look for them, and my hopes are with him. i think, maybe, it just wasnt meant for me to take them to the home. i dont need to be the one that finishes it. although i would love to have been able to, ive learned so much trust and patience through this.
please continue to join me in prayer for these two kids. it would a dream come true if we got them in a home before Christmas!
as for leaving, that was no easy task. i put if off for about a month, slowly saying my goodbyes and tying up loose ends over that period. still, when the day came and i was packing up, it was with a heavy heart. i almost burst into tears when i was holding eddy for the last time, just before he went to sleep. it reminded me of when we first got him, he would just sit on our laps at night until he fell asleep. now, as then, i am reminded what a blessing he is, how God is so merciful.
when i was packing, he told me that he wanted to come too, to wait for him. he said he could fit in one of the bags, that he would climb inside, and come with. man, that broke my heart. if he only knew how much i would love him to be able to come with. im not sure when ill be coming back. but i know i will, and soon. if for no other reason than to see him again. of course, there is so much more calling me back. i think itll be sooner rather than later.
well, its all wrapping up. i cant say i would trade a moment.
all my love
im back in kenya now. i arrived yesterday after traveling through the night. i didnt get much sleep, but its to be expected. i think i always have to be tired when i first get to kenya : ) its good being back. i am staying at the same house as before, but much has changed. theres only one other person here now, mary, as opposed to the multitude of family and life that busted forth from it at my last visit. its nice though, the smallness of it. itll be a lot of meetings one on one with people. im looking forward to that, to deepening the relationships ive started.
i didnt realize last time how huge nairobe is. i was just wandering around for an hour, trying to find the spot where we used to use internet. i dont know how, except that God helped me, but im here now. makes me miss tyler and irene. i hope theyre having fun in the cold!
ill be traveling to mumbassa, the coast, in a day or two. looking forward to some time to rest and reflect on all ive seen and experienced. sometimes, things happen so fast or so relentlessly, that i dont have time to pause and see how its effecting me. that self reflection, and being intentional in taking time to do it, has been so influential for me. im learning a lot about myself, about God, and about this world. not to mention that its been forever since ive been on a surf board : )
already i miss kampala. it was with a heavy heart that i said goodbye to friends and family- the people who made my time there so memorable. it was especially sad that i didnt get to say goodbye to my street kid friends. there has been a lot of football lately, and that usually equals empty streets. we went a couple of times my last few days, but no luck.
in regards to steven and dennis, im afraid thats a disappointing ending as well. i met a girl named sarah. she lives in jinja, and runs a kids home specifically for street kids. i figured that couldnt just be coincidence, so we went to pay her a visit. her home is great. there are fifteen former street kids in her care. they are all well fed, in school, and very happy. i could tell just from the feel of the place that it was a very happy and loving home. we spent the day with them, playing football and just hanging out.
that is exactly the kind of place i would love to get steven and dennis into. you cant just put street kids into a regular kids home/orphanage. most times, there is trouble with them running away and causing trouble, just not getting along well with the other kids. street kids are a different breed. they are used to complete freedom, not having any rules, doing whatever they want. sometimes, there are drug addictions to deal with as well.
any home that is going to care for street kids has to be special. they require so much individual attention. they need to feel loved, cared for, wanted. they need to be comfortable as well with the other people there. often, counseling services are needed. i could tell that sara's home would be so great to get the kids into. so we asked her
she was enthusiastic, but needed to check with her director back in canada (i dont remember what the NGO's called). he was enthusiastic as well, but wanted to make sure that the kids wanted to study- they had a kid run away about a year ago because he didnt want to be in school, it was heart breaking for them.
so we went out and found the kids, told them about the home, and what was expected if they were gonna live there, and they were both excited. so we agreed to meet monday morning to take them down to jinja, while we waited for final confirmation from the NGO director. after scrambling around and pushing, probably harder than i should have(keep in mind this is over a period of two or three days), we got final clearance and went monday to meet them.
but they were a no show. both of them. we rode up to the meeting place and our hearts dropped. we were a little late, but not late enough to have missed them. at least, i dont think so. i dont know what happened. its still a mystery to me. they werent on the streets when we went out to look, as i said, they ususally go for football if there is a match. so i havent seen them in about a week, and i have no idea what happened.
just before i left(my bus left at midnight) we went walking around, looking for them, hoping that id at least get to say goodbye, but no good.
though im so sad about this all, i know its gonna be fine. we got the green light from the kids home, so all thats left is finding steven and dennis. as long as they still want to go, we can get them there. ronnie will continue to look for them, and my hopes are with him. i think, maybe, it just wasnt meant for me to take them to the home. i dont need to be the one that finishes it. although i would love to have been able to, ive learned so much trust and patience through this.
please continue to join me in prayer for these two kids. it would a dream come true if we got them in a home before Christmas!
as for leaving, that was no easy task. i put if off for about a month, slowly saying my goodbyes and tying up loose ends over that period. still, when the day came and i was packing up, it was with a heavy heart. i almost burst into tears when i was holding eddy for the last time, just before he went to sleep. it reminded me of when we first got him, he would just sit on our laps at night until he fell asleep. now, as then, i am reminded what a blessing he is, how God is so merciful.
when i was packing, he told me that he wanted to come too, to wait for him. he said he could fit in one of the bags, that he would climb inside, and come with. man, that broke my heart. if he only knew how much i would love him to be able to come with. im not sure when ill be coming back. but i know i will, and soon. if for no other reason than to see him again. of course, there is so much more calling me back. i think itll be sooner rather than later.
well, its all wrapping up. i cant say i would trade a moment.
all my love
Saturday, December 5
day eighty seven: food and stories
as my time here draws to an end, i find it more and more difficult to leave. any day now, i will be making the trek back to kenya. but as the day draws nearer, i find myself postponing it. for the last few weeks, whenever someone asks when im leaving, ill respond, "in a week or two." its been a week or two for three weeks now i think : ) theres just a lot still drawing me here, so much i still want to wrap up before i call it quits. and im in no rush to leave the people and places ive grown so attatched to these last months.
lately, it has been the street kids that have my heart. there are two in particular that weve become close to, dennis and stephen. every time i think im ready to go, their faces pain my heart. i want to be able to do more for them, something that will actually make a difference.
i realize that i have written very little about what we do with the street kids, but it is those late nights on the streets of kampala that have been my favorite times here. we dont do much, just a small meal and swapping of stories once or twice a week. we try and find out where the kids are from, how long theyve been there, if they have families. really, whatever they want to talk about. more often then not, i find myself talking about football clubs, since my limited Luganda prevents me from doing much else(btw, ive become an avid football fan). still these small encounters, and the faces and stories of these kids, have grabbed my heart over and over again.
as i said, there are two in particular that we see almost every time, dennis and stephen. dennis was among the first street kids i met. if you remember, there were three, and though we looked for the other two, dennis was the only to make continued appearances. i met him two months ago, which means he's not lived on the streets for five. its amazing what even two months can do, cause when i first met him, i thought that he was so new. now, five months seems like an eternity.
dennis is from jinja and he lived with his father and step mom. he was sent one day to get his hair cut at his dad's salon, but upon arriving he found the extra chair to be broken, and a long line of clients. he waited patiently all day, finally getting it cut around seven. since there was a football game(football is soccer) on at eight, he decided to go to it. upon returning home past ten, he found his parents irate, and fed up with him.
at this point, they told him to leave. just, go. they didnt care where, but they were sick of him. so they sent him away. and thats where he went, away. he started walking, and two days later, arrived in kampala to start his life as a street kid.
like so many of their stories, his is heartbreaking, and probably a mixed version of actual events and ones embellished on. we dont know the state of his home prior to his being kicked out. we dont know if his parents were abusive before. we dont know what is true, and what is shrouded. and none of it really matters. what we do know is that he wont go back, never wants to see them again, and harbours an anger at his parents from being abandoned that is not soon to pass.
dennis is an awesome kid, with an amazing smile. as i said, we see him every time we go, and i love it. his smile brightens my night, and i look forward to seeing him. i just gave him a pair of shoes that i brought to replace his stolen ones. he promised to tie them tight and get a sack to sleep in so no one steals these : )
we just met steven a month ago or so, maybe even less. he doesnt sleep where the other kids we know do, and is a bit of a wanderer. but almost every time, we run into him in one place or another. the first time i saw him, he was singing to no one on a street corner, eating a muffin. i faked taking a bite of the muffin to mess with him, and he responded with "yes, you take! 100 shillings!" after which he followed us for the rest of the night.
steven is from kitale, which is all the way in the south west of the country, an eternity from kampala. he is a true orphan- both his father and mother died, i think of HIV/AIDS(but im not sure). he spent some time living with an aunt of grandma, but it soon became aparent that they couldnt support him. as is the case in many families torn by HIV/AIDS, the buren that those it takes leave is too great for those it spares. he story is a little muddied as to the how, but he hopped a bus to kampala about a year ago, and has been there ever since.
steven is rediculous and eccentric. i have a video on my camera that ill post when i get back of him dancing. he's a little hesitent at first, but when he gets into it, theres no stopping him. he's so smart. he needed a sweatshirt on a cold night, so he went to owino(the huge market) and sang for the vendors, who paid him with a nice, warm sweater. i couldnt believe it when i saw him, he looked so sharp!
the day after thanksgiving there was a huge event called worship night. it is put on by the church i go to, they rent out a soccer stadium, and spend all night with whoever comes praising God. it was a powerful experience, relying on God for strength over twelve hours, and joining in praise to him with over 50,000 Ugandan brothers and sisters! the things i experienced and how God moved i can share another time, if you want. but, right in the middle of the night, at maybe two in the morning, i feel this tapping on my leg, and look down to see Stevens smiling face! i couldnt believe it! its incredible to think that he could have found me amongst a see of so many faces. we had a great time singing and dancing until he fell asleep, and i thanked God for bringing him into my life.
the short of the matter is this. these kids have alwas pulled my heart in a unique way, but that night God laid a special burden for them on me. im still trying to figure out what exactly that looks like, how exactly i can help, what i can do that is more than food and stories every once in a while. i want to do something lasting, something that will make a real difference. even if, for now, its just for the one or two that ive mentioned here. so i ask that you join me in prayer, beseeching the ear of the Almighty for guidance and imagination in this, and courage to undertake whatever He shows me. i am hesitant to leave without it.
before i sign off, let me share a few praises. last week, i had the opportunity to fellowship again with my friend irene, who i worked with in kenya. she had come to uganda with the purpose of attending the worship night, and catching up with some old friends. for the week she was here, we reconected and shared what God has been doing in our lives, and i thank God for the opportunity. she went back to kenya on saturday, a week early, because she received a call from the canadian embassy requesting her presence. she has been waiting to hear back about a canadian visa that would let her study there this coming semester. God is good, she got the visa, and is now finalizing plans! this after over two months of waiting, and beginning to think it wasnt happening. but God works all things in His timing. praise God!
the kids at mercy ministries(the kids home) are off to spend Christmas with relatives, most at least. but not before a final goodbye camp. monday and tuesday this week they spent at a beach in entebbe. i joined them along with the volunteers at Come Lets Dance on tuesday for an awesome day of surf and sun and soccer, and a great farewell to kids who have touched my heart with their unconditional love, bright eyes, and clinging hands. there was even a baptism, Christmas gifts handed out by none other than pastor wilson bugembe, and an adventure with a pair of camels to boot! ill maybe write more on that later. if i remember to.
eddy is doing better than ever. it seems like every day he gets stronger, braver, more confident. he is trying new things, making so many friends, and learning not to be a cry baby : ) im amazed at what God has done, transforming this little pile of skin and bones, on the verge of starvation, into the happy, healthy little boy i see with my own two eyes every day. sometimes, i double take when i see him. he's got a fatty little belly, an unending smile, and he just started giving me kisses. can i say it enough? God is good!!!
waiting on Him
jon
lately, it has been the street kids that have my heart. there are two in particular that weve become close to, dennis and stephen. every time i think im ready to go, their faces pain my heart. i want to be able to do more for them, something that will actually make a difference.
i realize that i have written very little about what we do with the street kids, but it is those late nights on the streets of kampala that have been my favorite times here. we dont do much, just a small meal and swapping of stories once or twice a week. we try and find out where the kids are from, how long theyve been there, if they have families. really, whatever they want to talk about. more often then not, i find myself talking about football clubs, since my limited Luganda prevents me from doing much else(btw, ive become an avid football fan). still these small encounters, and the faces and stories of these kids, have grabbed my heart over and over again.
as i said, there are two in particular that we see almost every time, dennis and stephen. dennis was among the first street kids i met. if you remember, there were three, and though we looked for the other two, dennis was the only to make continued appearances. i met him two months ago, which means he's not lived on the streets for five. its amazing what even two months can do, cause when i first met him, i thought that he was so new. now, five months seems like an eternity.
dennis is from jinja and he lived with his father and step mom. he was sent one day to get his hair cut at his dad's salon, but upon arriving he found the extra chair to be broken, and a long line of clients. he waited patiently all day, finally getting it cut around seven. since there was a football game(football is soccer) on at eight, he decided to go to it. upon returning home past ten, he found his parents irate, and fed up with him.
at this point, they told him to leave. just, go. they didnt care where, but they were sick of him. so they sent him away. and thats where he went, away. he started walking, and two days later, arrived in kampala to start his life as a street kid.
like so many of their stories, his is heartbreaking, and probably a mixed version of actual events and ones embellished on. we dont know the state of his home prior to his being kicked out. we dont know if his parents were abusive before. we dont know what is true, and what is shrouded. and none of it really matters. what we do know is that he wont go back, never wants to see them again, and harbours an anger at his parents from being abandoned that is not soon to pass.
dennis is an awesome kid, with an amazing smile. as i said, we see him every time we go, and i love it. his smile brightens my night, and i look forward to seeing him. i just gave him a pair of shoes that i brought to replace his stolen ones. he promised to tie them tight and get a sack to sleep in so no one steals these : )
we just met steven a month ago or so, maybe even less. he doesnt sleep where the other kids we know do, and is a bit of a wanderer. but almost every time, we run into him in one place or another. the first time i saw him, he was singing to no one on a street corner, eating a muffin. i faked taking a bite of the muffin to mess with him, and he responded with "yes, you take! 100 shillings!" after which he followed us for the rest of the night.
steven is from kitale, which is all the way in the south west of the country, an eternity from kampala. he is a true orphan- both his father and mother died, i think of HIV/AIDS(but im not sure). he spent some time living with an aunt of grandma, but it soon became aparent that they couldnt support him. as is the case in many families torn by HIV/AIDS, the buren that those it takes leave is too great for those it spares. he story is a little muddied as to the how, but he hopped a bus to kampala about a year ago, and has been there ever since.
steven is rediculous and eccentric. i have a video on my camera that ill post when i get back of him dancing. he's a little hesitent at first, but when he gets into it, theres no stopping him. he's so smart. he needed a sweatshirt on a cold night, so he went to owino(the huge market) and sang for the vendors, who paid him with a nice, warm sweater. i couldnt believe it when i saw him, he looked so sharp!
the day after thanksgiving there was a huge event called worship night. it is put on by the church i go to, they rent out a soccer stadium, and spend all night with whoever comes praising God. it was a powerful experience, relying on God for strength over twelve hours, and joining in praise to him with over 50,000 Ugandan brothers and sisters! the things i experienced and how God moved i can share another time, if you want. but, right in the middle of the night, at maybe two in the morning, i feel this tapping on my leg, and look down to see Stevens smiling face! i couldnt believe it! its incredible to think that he could have found me amongst a see of so many faces. we had a great time singing and dancing until he fell asleep, and i thanked God for bringing him into my life.
the short of the matter is this. these kids have alwas pulled my heart in a unique way, but that night God laid a special burden for them on me. im still trying to figure out what exactly that looks like, how exactly i can help, what i can do that is more than food and stories every once in a while. i want to do something lasting, something that will make a real difference. even if, for now, its just for the one or two that ive mentioned here. so i ask that you join me in prayer, beseeching the ear of the Almighty for guidance and imagination in this, and courage to undertake whatever He shows me. i am hesitant to leave without it.
before i sign off, let me share a few praises. last week, i had the opportunity to fellowship again with my friend irene, who i worked with in kenya. she had come to uganda with the purpose of attending the worship night, and catching up with some old friends. for the week she was here, we reconected and shared what God has been doing in our lives, and i thank God for the opportunity. she went back to kenya on saturday, a week early, because she received a call from the canadian embassy requesting her presence. she has been waiting to hear back about a canadian visa that would let her study there this coming semester. God is good, she got the visa, and is now finalizing plans! this after over two months of waiting, and beginning to think it wasnt happening. but God works all things in His timing. praise God!
the kids at mercy ministries(the kids home) are off to spend Christmas with relatives, most at least. but not before a final goodbye camp. monday and tuesday this week they spent at a beach in entebbe. i joined them along with the volunteers at Come Lets Dance on tuesday for an awesome day of surf and sun and soccer, and a great farewell to kids who have touched my heart with their unconditional love, bright eyes, and clinging hands. there was even a baptism, Christmas gifts handed out by none other than pastor wilson bugembe, and an adventure with a pair of camels to boot! ill maybe write more on that later. if i remember to.
eddy is doing better than ever. it seems like every day he gets stronger, braver, more confident. he is trying new things, making so many friends, and learning not to be a cry baby : ) im amazed at what God has done, transforming this little pile of skin and bones, on the verge of starvation, into the happy, healthy little boy i see with my own two eyes every day. sometimes, i double take when i see him. he's got a fatty little belly, an unending smile, and he just started giving me kisses. can i say it enough? God is good!!!
waiting on Him
jon
Thursday, November 26
a testimony of thanks
today is thanksgiving, and although its an american holiday, and they dont celebrate it here, i was able to have an amazing dinner with my friends over at Come Lets Dance. they prepared an incredible american style thanksgiving dinner, turkey and all, and we all shared in it together, about twenty five of us, westerners and ugandans, and a kenyan, all around the same table. it was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ, united despite where we come from, our cultures and differences, together because of the love of God. and a good time to reflect on my time here, and what i am thankful for. so this year, here is my testimony of thanks.
i am thankful to God for my friends and family and community. He has blessed me beyond what i could ever ask for, and taught me so much about what it means to be the body of Christ. i eagerly await the day when i will return home and be reunited with my loved ones back home.
at the same time, i give thanks to God for my friends and family and community here, across the world. He has blessed me so much, and as i look around me, i count myself rich. who am i to deserve these wonderful people i count as family, brothers and sisters, friends and fellow sojourners. though i have just met them, and at most have been in fellowship a few months, i am knit together with them, soul to soul.
that is the power of Christ. that is the power of love. that, though strangers, we are bound together, and celebrate as brothers the redeeming and freeing work of Jesus.
after i finish this post, we are heading out to the streets of kampala to minister to the kids who live there. God has blessed our ministry with them, and we have been able to build some really encouraging relationships. at times, it is frustrating that we cant do more, but for now, we can rejoice in God's provision and the doors He has opened.
so off we go, back to the streets. and to be honest, there is no other place i would rather spend my thanksgiving. with these kids, who have nothing, we can at least give them a reason to be thankful, a reason to hope. but not us, Christ in us. may He shine ever brighter. may He remind us daily of all we have been forgiven, from all we have been set free. He gives us beauty for ashes, He gives freedom to captives. and we were all slaves once.
happy thanksgiving
jon
i am thankful to God for my friends and family and community. He has blessed me beyond what i could ever ask for, and taught me so much about what it means to be the body of Christ. i eagerly await the day when i will return home and be reunited with my loved ones back home.
at the same time, i give thanks to God for my friends and family and community here, across the world. He has blessed me so much, and as i look around me, i count myself rich. who am i to deserve these wonderful people i count as family, brothers and sisters, friends and fellow sojourners. though i have just met them, and at most have been in fellowship a few months, i am knit together with them, soul to soul.
that is the power of Christ. that is the power of love. that, though strangers, we are bound together, and celebrate as brothers the redeeming and freeing work of Jesus.
after i finish this post, we are heading out to the streets of kampala to minister to the kids who live there. God has blessed our ministry with them, and we have been able to build some really encouraging relationships. at times, it is frustrating that we cant do more, but for now, we can rejoice in God's provision and the doors He has opened.
so off we go, back to the streets. and to be honest, there is no other place i would rather spend my thanksgiving. with these kids, who have nothing, we can at least give them a reason to be thankful, a reason to hope. but not us, Christ in us. may He shine ever brighter. may He remind us daily of all we have been forgiven, from all we have been set free. He gives us beauty for ashes, He gives freedom to captives. and we were all slaves once.
happy thanksgiving
jon
day seventy eight: island hopping
as my time in uganda is coming to an end, i thought it appropriate to take a little brake from the day to day life. too much, even of a good thing, is wearing. and so this weekend, a short vacation.
there is a small group of islands off the southern coast of uganda in lake victoria called the Ssese islands. apart from boasting the best beaches in uganda(which isnt hard) ronnie used to live and work on one of the islands, so still has many friends and family on it. so it was pack the bags and hit the road this last friday for ronnie and i.
the first two days we spent on the major island- just a three hour ferry trip from the mainland. i love the water, and it was great to be on it again. nothing quite beats watching the sun sink to be swallowed by lake victoria while speeding along with the wind in your face to a place youve never been. for me, thats a picture no camera can capture, one that will live only in the mind, and the memory.
so we found a cheap hotel up off the beaten path. the large island is crawling with resorts and tourists. but we did well to avoid the expensive beachside cabins and tourist traps. still, we took advantage of them. and posing as a rich tourist, we made our way through the resort beaches, just "taking a look around" and "seeing what they have to offer." otherwise translated as trespassing on private beaches : ). good enough for a few hours and a bit of a sunburn- my first in africa. all in all, it was a much needed time of relaxation and enjoying each others company. we took in a few football games, a few sunsets, and spent some time talking to the local fishermen, watching them work.
sunday, we headed off to a much smaller island, far from anything you could call touristy. i dont think there was one hotel on the whole island. but, after some time on a fishing boat, paddeling our way through the wetlands, we arrived to a warm welcome from some of ronnies long lost friends. we rented a motorcycle for self drive and went off exploring the island- riding through fields and fields of pineapple, sugar cane, and other crops, mostly ronnie showing me the sights, visiting his old haunts, and catching up with family.
the motorcycle was an adventure in itself. it had seen better days. something with the choke was messed up, so you had to pull on a wire the whole time driving to prevent it from stalling out. during one particularly long climb, it even overheated and gave up on us! but, God was with us, and we were able to coast down to the bottom, and to safety. and while leaving, we were given a pineapple, fresh from the island(pineapples are the main cash crop there). we broke it open on the fishing boat and ate it on the trip back to the mainland. hands down, without a doubt, the best single peice of fruit i have ever tasted. ever. i am afraid of taking fruit again, for fear that it will forever taint my memory of the perfect pineapple. it was beyond words.
the trip was good, and without knowing it, much needed. somewhere in the day to day routine, some things get lost. i found myself thinking too much of ministry, putting too much of a stress on it. i think that, in my mind, ronnie and i were becoming partners, like in a business sence. we work together, and are friends because of it-as in, work has brought us together. but this trip helped to reorganize my priorities. it put us back in the right order, where we are friends frist, and can serve God together only out of that bond.
i am learning, God doesnt work like a business. we arent united because of a goal, or work, or what we do. we are brought together because of who we are, and moreover, who God is in us. we are united in love. without love, we have nothing. we strive, and are destined to fail. if it is not love in us and through us, binding us together, spuring us onward, it is not of God. because God is love, and it is by love, because of it, that the world will know us. we might as well be any other NGO or non profit, merely doing a good work. it is that love that seperates us, sets us apart, lets us proclaim Him with our whole lives.
may i learn to walk more fully in Christ and in love, and come to know that they are one in the same.
together in Him
jon
there is a small group of islands off the southern coast of uganda in lake victoria called the Ssese islands. apart from boasting the best beaches in uganda(which isnt hard) ronnie used to live and work on one of the islands, so still has many friends and family on it. so it was pack the bags and hit the road this last friday for ronnie and i.
the first two days we spent on the major island- just a three hour ferry trip from the mainland. i love the water, and it was great to be on it again. nothing quite beats watching the sun sink to be swallowed by lake victoria while speeding along with the wind in your face to a place youve never been. for me, thats a picture no camera can capture, one that will live only in the mind, and the memory.
so we found a cheap hotel up off the beaten path. the large island is crawling with resorts and tourists. but we did well to avoid the expensive beachside cabins and tourist traps. still, we took advantage of them. and posing as a rich tourist, we made our way through the resort beaches, just "taking a look around" and "seeing what they have to offer." otherwise translated as trespassing on private beaches : ). good enough for a few hours and a bit of a sunburn- my first in africa. all in all, it was a much needed time of relaxation and enjoying each others company. we took in a few football games, a few sunsets, and spent some time talking to the local fishermen, watching them work.
sunday, we headed off to a much smaller island, far from anything you could call touristy. i dont think there was one hotel on the whole island. but, after some time on a fishing boat, paddeling our way through the wetlands, we arrived to a warm welcome from some of ronnies long lost friends. we rented a motorcycle for self drive and went off exploring the island- riding through fields and fields of pineapple, sugar cane, and other crops, mostly ronnie showing me the sights, visiting his old haunts, and catching up with family.
the motorcycle was an adventure in itself. it had seen better days. something with the choke was messed up, so you had to pull on a wire the whole time driving to prevent it from stalling out. during one particularly long climb, it even overheated and gave up on us! but, God was with us, and we were able to coast down to the bottom, and to safety. and while leaving, we were given a pineapple, fresh from the island(pineapples are the main cash crop there). we broke it open on the fishing boat and ate it on the trip back to the mainland. hands down, without a doubt, the best single peice of fruit i have ever tasted. ever. i am afraid of taking fruit again, for fear that it will forever taint my memory of the perfect pineapple. it was beyond words.
the trip was good, and without knowing it, much needed. somewhere in the day to day routine, some things get lost. i found myself thinking too much of ministry, putting too much of a stress on it. i think that, in my mind, ronnie and i were becoming partners, like in a business sence. we work together, and are friends because of it-as in, work has brought us together. but this trip helped to reorganize my priorities. it put us back in the right order, where we are friends frist, and can serve God together only out of that bond.
i am learning, God doesnt work like a business. we arent united because of a goal, or work, or what we do. we are brought together because of who we are, and moreover, who God is in us. we are united in love. without love, we have nothing. we strive, and are destined to fail. if it is not love in us and through us, binding us together, spuring us onward, it is not of God. because God is love, and it is by love, because of it, that the world will know us. we might as well be any other NGO or non profit, merely doing a good work. it is that love that seperates us, sets us apart, lets us proclaim Him with our whole lives.
may i learn to walk more fully in Christ and in love, and come to know that they are one in the same.
together in Him
jon
Saturday, November 14
day sixty six: back from the source of the nile
ah, a week past and it feels good to curl up beneath my city's sky at night. the familiar sights and sounds flood my senses like nostalgia, and leave me feeling warm. ive spent a week away, just a few hours west, in jinja. and though in truth it is so close, it is another world over there.
this was my second time in jinja. if you remember, a few months ago, tyler and i stopped over for a few days on our journey from kenya. as the time before, this was one of much needed refreshement. it is amazing how a simple change of pace for a short time can reawaken your mind to the true value of things. my time away made me appreciate so much more, the relationships i have here.
i think i just have a tendency to take God's goodness for granted. i wish it wasnt so, but i am grateful that He also sees it fit to re-open my eyes to the world around me every once in a while. i got back in the afternoon yesterday, and was expecting to arrive to a full house. instead, it was quiet. so i set down my things, and took a seat, a bit disappointed.
but then in the door walks eddie, all in new clothes, with this little smile on his face(and i promise now i wont spend the whole time talking about eddie, though i suspect hes grown in the week ive been gone) and he quick-walks on over to me to be scooped up. i just held him and played with him, talking back and forth with my broken Lugandan, for an hour or two. and it was so awesome. and even now, i feel so blessed, beyond what i could ask or hope for.
i spent my time away in a small town called masese, just outside of jinja, with an organization called Serving His Children. SHC is bacially started and run by a twenty year old girl named Renee Bach. She has been in Uganda off an on for long periods of time since she was eighteen, serving with Light Gives Heat, Amani Childrens Home, and now, her own NGO- Serving His Children. She is a really great girl, who has completely let the Ugandan people capture her heart, and completely surrendered her life to God, for Him to use it as He will.
Renee, along with any volunteers on hand at the time, rents a house in masese, which is one of, if not the, poorest areas in/around jinja. it is basically a slum. from that house, she runs a bi weekly feeding ministry, open to any children who come. it serves upwards of one thousand kids, i think. i didnt ask, but i heard some numbers thrown around, and from what i saw, it had to be at least a thousand. also, she runs a small clinic from out of her kitchen. again, it is free to anyone who comes knocking at the door. obviously, services are limited, but she provides medicine and advice to all whom she can help, or else sends them to a nearby clinic. for special cases, she will arrange to take them to the main hospital in entebbe.
as if those two werent enough, and there were infinite hours in the day, she takes in severly sick/malnourished kids, and over a course of time, nurses them back to health. many of these kids have been failed by the overcrowed, understaffed hospitals, many of their families dont have the means to care for them, and many live with HIV/AIDS. while it is not a permanent solution, it has made a world of difference for these kids, and they will return to their families(if applicable) with a much better chance of living a happy, healthy life.
most of my time in jinja, i spent lending an extra set of hands around the many projects at the SHC home. there was never a quiet moment, and i loved it. some of you know that my heart is in medicine, and eventually i want to study for a degree in it. so this was just perfect, and reminded me a lot of my time spent in the Dominican Republic. as i said before, rest and refreshment doesnt always have to look like relaxation. oftern, it can be as simple as a change of pace.
i did get to spend some time on my own. i took a day and visited old friends at the Light Gives Heat house. we went and paid some visits to the Suubi ladies, and i made my first paper bead necklace! then, as the day drew on, and everyone had places to be, i made my way alone to a quiet cafe off the main street in jinja, and had the best iced americano ive had in months! it was heaven. seriously. that glass held all the relaxation i needed : ) that night was back at the LGH house, spending some more time with friends till the wee hours.
one downside is, i got sick for the first time in Africa! i think its been building up, waiting for a good time to strike. and strike it did, with a vengeance. i had pretty much every symptom way bad for a twenty four hour period. after which, most died off, and im now reduced to a normal stomach bug, though i still feel dizzy when im move to fast. not quite sure what it is, although i got a malaria test when i was still at the clinic. negative. im getting better though. i popped some pills yesterday that should kill anything going on in my stomach that shouldnt. no trouble yet, just a little continued uneasiness. we'll see though. it was bound to happen sooner or later, im actually surprised it took so long!
my time here is winding down. i realized a few weeks ago that the halfway point has passed, now it feels like ive got not time at all. yep, before i know it, ill be back in snowy, freezing, chicago. im kinda torn about it : )
with the world, in His hands
jon
this was my second time in jinja. if you remember, a few months ago, tyler and i stopped over for a few days on our journey from kenya. as the time before, this was one of much needed refreshement. it is amazing how a simple change of pace for a short time can reawaken your mind to the true value of things. my time away made me appreciate so much more, the relationships i have here.
i think i just have a tendency to take God's goodness for granted. i wish it wasnt so, but i am grateful that He also sees it fit to re-open my eyes to the world around me every once in a while. i got back in the afternoon yesterday, and was expecting to arrive to a full house. instead, it was quiet. so i set down my things, and took a seat, a bit disappointed.
but then in the door walks eddie, all in new clothes, with this little smile on his face(and i promise now i wont spend the whole time talking about eddie, though i suspect hes grown in the week ive been gone) and he quick-walks on over to me to be scooped up. i just held him and played with him, talking back and forth with my broken Lugandan, for an hour or two. and it was so awesome. and even now, i feel so blessed, beyond what i could ask or hope for.
i spent my time away in a small town called masese, just outside of jinja, with an organization called Serving His Children. SHC is bacially started and run by a twenty year old girl named Renee Bach. She has been in Uganda off an on for long periods of time since she was eighteen, serving with Light Gives Heat, Amani Childrens Home, and now, her own NGO- Serving His Children. She is a really great girl, who has completely let the Ugandan people capture her heart, and completely surrendered her life to God, for Him to use it as He will.
Renee, along with any volunteers on hand at the time, rents a house in masese, which is one of, if not the, poorest areas in/around jinja. it is basically a slum. from that house, she runs a bi weekly feeding ministry, open to any children who come. it serves upwards of one thousand kids, i think. i didnt ask, but i heard some numbers thrown around, and from what i saw, it had to be at least a thousand. also, she runs a small clinic from out of her kitchen. again, it is free to anyone who comes knocking at the door. obviously, services are limited, but she provides medicine and advice to all whom she can help, or else sends them to a nearby clinic. for special cases, she will arrange to take them to the main hospital in entebbe.
as if those two werent enough, and there were infinite hours in the day, she takes in severly sick/malnourished kids, and over a course of time, nurses them back to health. many of these kids have been failed by the overcrowed, understaffed hospitals, many of their families dont have the means to care for them, and many live with HIV/AIDS. while it is not a permanent solution, it has made a world of difference for these kids, and they will return to their families(if applicable) with a much better chance of living a happy, healthy life.
most of my time in jinja, i spent lending an extra set of hands around the many projects at the SHC home. there was never a quiet moment, and i loved it. some of you know that my heart is in medicine, and eventually i want to study for a degree in it. so this was just perfect, and reminded me a lot of my time spent in the Dominican Republic. as i said before, rest and refreshment doesnt always have to look like relaxation. oftern, it can be as simple as a change of pace.
i did get to spend some time on my own. i took a day and visited old friends at the Light Gives Heat house. we went and paid some visits to the Suubi ladies, and i made my first paper bead necklace! then, as the day drew on, and everyone had places to be, i made my way alone to a quiet cafe off the main street in jinja, and had the best iced americano ive had in months! it was heaven. seriously. that glass held all the relaxation i needed : ) that night was back at the LGH house, spending some more time with friends till the wee hours.
one downside is, i got sick for the first time in Africa! i think its been building up, waiting for a good time to strike. and strike it did, with a vengeance. i had pretty much every symptom way bad for a twenty four hour period. after which, most died off, and im now reduced to a normal stomach bug, though i still feel dizzy when im move to fast. not quite sure what it is, although i got a malaria test when i was still at the clinic. negative. im getting better though. i popped some pills yesterday that should kill anything going on in my stomach that shouldnt. no trouble yet, just a little continued uneasiness. we'll see though. it was bound to happen sooner or later, im actually surprised it took so long!
my time here is winding down. i realized a few weeks ago that the halfway point has passed, now it feels like ive got not time at all. yep, before i know it, ill be back in snowy, freezing, chicago. im kinda torn about it : )
with the world, in His hands
jon
Sunday, November 8
day sixty: grace and redemption
i am convinced that a child's smile is one of the most redeeming things on earth. when God made us, He put more of Himself in this majical expression of joy, and saved it, only giving it to us when we are young. you can be having the worst day, and everything can be turned upside down when a kid bestows this gift on you. its like, your heart remembers what love is, what joy is, and you live in that moment for the rest of the day.
i never knew that joy until eddy. maybe its because i have invested so much of myself into him, that when i see him happy, it makes all the difference in the world. in truth, i dont know why, but it lifts my heart heavenward.
its amazing what a few short weeks can do, the difference that can be seen in them. ive already written about the state eddy was in at first. sick with way too heavy a burden for anyone, let alone a child, malnourished to the point of starvation, unresponsive, uncaring, just taking each day as it comes, waiting for death.
three days after, the light in his eyes was returning. i heard the sound of his voice for the first time- its so sweet. i still smile every time i hear it. i got my first glimpse of a smile, heard the first fragments of a laugh. two weeks later, eddy is a different person. if he isnt babling away about something, shuffeling around, or sitting contentidly with a smile across his face, you know something is wrong. no longer does he just sit and wait. he is not content with being ignored. and if he is feeling it, you know it : )
he is becoming more confident in himself. if ronnie, mom, or myself, are around, he will tell us when he needs anything. i love when he asks me for anything, even if i dont always understand him, and if at all i can, i love getting him what he asks. sometimes, im worried we are spoiling him, and we probably are, but after four years of neglect and witholding of love, i think a little excess is in order.
when ronnie or i come home, he comes running to us from wherever he is, or at least, as shuffling along as quickly as he can. its adorable. and theres nothing better than scooping him up and while he laughs gleefully.
he is still shy around strangers, but he's getting better. we are working at acclimating him, building his confidence in social situations. we bring him to the kids home once or twice a week, though hes still scared of them. who wouldnt be, when you are the size of a toddler, and dozens of kids are towering over you, running every which way? he is becoming fond of the neighbors as well. and when we walk down the road with him, he loves to point out all the different things he knows the names of, while waving to the shouts of all the kids, muzungu, muzungu! (they are calling to me, and muzungu means white person, but he waves anyway)
i think im getting carried away, and im sure most of you have lost interest by now, but what i want to say is this. this kid is a daily reminder of Gods grace, and is teaching me more and more how He loves us, His children. each day that eddy lives, he gets stronger. every breath he takes, every time he laughs, every step he makes, is evidence of God's healing presence in his life. and its a beautiful picture of how He has saved us, brings us to Himself, makes us stronger every day.
apart from that, im going to jinja this next week. ill be working with a girl named renee, who is running a ministry out there, doing a biweekly feeding ministry and also taking in kids, nursing them back to health. i have a few other contacts out there that im looking forward to getting in touch with as well. it should be a good experience, seeing God's hand in another place, with other people.
there is a lot more i would love to say. i waited too long since my last update, and now i dont know where to start. so instead, i just said what was on my heart, and thats eddy. maybe ill be able to do another of these soon. God is working mightily here, and i feel privledged to be a witness to it.
one last thing. we took eddy and charles for HIV/AIDS testing on monday. after a long day of anxious waiting, we got the results that they are both negative(which means aids free)! God is good!
in His arms
jon
i never knew that joy until eddy. maybe its because i have invested so much of myself into him, that when i see him happy, it makes all the difference in the world. in truth, i dont know why, but it lifts my heart heavenward.
its amazing what a few short weeks can do, the difference that can be seen in them. ive already written about the state eddy was in at first. sick with way too heavy a burden for anyone, let alone a child, malnourished to the point of starvation, unresponsive, uncaring, just taking each day as it comes, waiting for death.
three days after, the light in his eyes was returning. i heard the sound of his voice for the first time- its so sweet. i still smile every time i hear it. i got my first glimpse of a smile, heard the first fragments of a laugh. two weeks later, eddy is a different person. if he isnt babling away about something, shuffeling around, or sitting contentidly with a smile across his face, you know something is wrong. no longer does he just sit and wait. he is not content with being ignored. and if he is feeling it, you know it : )
he is becoming more confident in himself. if ronnie, mom, or myself, are around, he will tell us when he needs anything. i love when he asks me for anything, even if i dont always understand him, and if at all i can, i love getting him what he asks. sometimes, im worried we are spoiling him, and we probably are, but after four years of neglect and witholding of love, i think a little excess is in order.
when ronnie or i come home, he comes running to us from wherever he is, or at least, as shuffling along as quickly as he can. its adorable. and theres nothing better than scooping him up and while he laughs gleefully.
he is still shy around strangers, but he's getting better. we are working at acclimating him, building his confidence in social situations. we bring him to the kids home once or twice a week, though hes still scared of them. who wouldnt be, when you are the size of a toddler, and dozens of kids are towering over you, running every which way? he is becoming fond of the neighbors as well. and when we walk down the road with him, he loves to point out all the different things he knows the names of, while waving to the shouts of all the kids, muzungu, muzungu! (they are calling to me, and muzungu means white person, but he waves anyway)
i think im getting carried away, and im sure most of you have lost interest by now, but what i want to say is this. this kid is a daily reminder of Gods grace, and is teaching me more and more how He loves us, His children. each day that eddy lives, he gets stronger. every breath he takes, every time he laughs, every step he makes, is evidence of God's healing presence in his life. and its a beautiful picture of how He has saved us, brings us to Himself, makes us stronger every day.
apart from that, im going to jinja this next week. ill be working with a girl named renee, who is running a ministry out there, doing a biweekly feeding ministry and also taking in kids, nursing them back to health. i have a few other contacts out there that im looking forward to getting in touch with as well. it should be a good experience, seeing God's hand in another place, with other people.
there is a lot more i would love to say. i waited too long since my last update, and now i dont know where to start. so instead, i just said what was on my heart, and thats eddy. maybe ill be able to do another of these soon. God is working mightily here, and i feel privledged to be a witness to it.
one last thing. we took eddy and charles for HIV/AIDS testing on monday. after a long day of anxious waiting, we got the results that they are both negative(which means aids free)! God is good!
in His arms
jon
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