day thirty nine: seeds

for those with enough interest to keep reading these, let me say thank you. i count myself quite blessed to have friends and family back home willing to take some time from their lives and get an update on mine. so again, thank you. it means a lot to me to read your comments, even though i dont usually respond. and apart from that, it means a lot to know that you care.

this week has been interesting. i feel like things are finally starting to build some momentum. a lot of my time here has been spent waiting on God, seeking Him and His will for my time here and my life in general. its been really rewarding. i feel like here, in this place, i am rid of many of the distractions of life back home, and i am more able to hear, or at least more intune with, God's whispering.

so, what do i mean by momentum building this week. i came to this place with a desire to serve. if i can do anything during my stay in africa, i would that my hands and feet be used for Gods will, in whatever way that is. there have been times of frustration in discerning His will, who to serve, and finding those people. there have been times of humbling as i realize more fully my role in everything. there have been times of doubt as my own plans and desires are overshadowed or pushed aside. but through it all, God's hand is moving.

with all that said, there are a few things i would like to share with you. the first is an experience i had the other night. once again, ronnie and i braved the kampala night life to search for street kids. if you remember, we went just before tyler left, with no luck. after walking around for an hour and a half, this looked like it would end up the same. the whole time, ronnie and i were hypothesizing why this sudden lack of kids, attributing it to government, aid organizations, even child traffickers. disheartend, we made our way to the taxi park to look for a ride home.

standing there, in the middle of the bustleing market place that the old taxi park is, we had just about given up. the words, "lets go home" were dancing on the tip of my tongue. we made small talk, seemingly prolonging the inevitable. and as a consensus to leave was reached in our heads, i turned around. sitting on the ground, not five feet behind us, was a group of three boys, collecting cardboard to sleep on.

disbelieving, i nudged ronnie. together, we made our way up to them, got their names and their stories, and bought them a bit of food to fill their stomachs for the night. their names were dennis, ronnie, and (insert some difficult ugandan name). they were between 10 and 13, and had been on the streets between three months and a year. ill spend more time in the next update telling their stories and the specifics. but here, i wanted to stress God's provision and His timing.

when we had reached the end of our wills, God stepped in. its only through His workings that we met these kids. its only by His hand that we can do anything. we are going back on tuesday to see them again and meet some of their friends. im excited to see what God brings through these small relationships!

the second thing i wanted to share is a request. after this, ill wrap it up. theres a girl about my age in the neighborhood, one of ronnies friends, dora. she finds stories of kids who's parents have died, or just dont have the means to take care of them. she either takes them in to care for them, or finds some way to help them out with school tuition. right now, she has at least twelve kids that she is supporting in some way. everything she earns from her job goes to support these kids. i dont know how she can even do it.

please pray for her, and for God's continued provision in her life. may He continue to show Himself faithful, may her cup overflow. yesterday, i visited her at her house and met some of the kids she supports. it breaks my heart that theyve lost so much, and have to continue to struggle through this life. though they may not be on the street, their stories are just as heartbreaking, just as injust and frustrating. pray for these kids, pray for dora, for ronnie and myself, as we try and figure out a way to come along side and support these precious children as they strive for an education and dignity in life.

i praise God that He is revealing, little by little, people and places for me to serve. as these seeds take root and grow, as these relationships develop and are flushed out, please continue to pray for me, that i would rely on Christ alone, that i would seek Him above all, and that He would be glorified in my life.


grace and peace
jon