"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." Jesus
My time in Uganda was so precious! One of the things we did was to help build a kitchen/guest house for the African Hearts boys; boys who once lived on the streets because they have no one to care for them.
The streets are a slum area - dirty, scary, full of drugs, prostitution, fights, hunger and abuse. This is where young children are living and dying. The only way they can escape such pain is to hide from it with the drugs.
No mother, no father, no family....
A few of us visited Open Door orphanage. This young lady cried several times because she doesn't have a mommy or daddy and anyone else. So young, so alone. I gave her my "mothers love" as much as I could and prayed with her. I pray that in her heart she will accept the truth that she has a Father who loves her.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." Jesus
When these boys first come to the home from the streets, their eyes are hopeless, their faces hard to cover the fear and anger.
Soon, their sweet hearts change and happiness and playfulness begins to replace that hopelessness. They can look forward to living life, instead of living death.
They began to trust that someone cares, that they will be protected, fed, schooled and helped - they began to trust that they are loved and will not be alone again.
Then they learn about the love of God and can began to trust the love of a Heavenly Father.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Jesus
Jesus CAME to us so that we could have hope and life and know the TRUTH. If we do not GO, how will these little ones know that they are not orphans! How will they know the love of a father or a mother. The LORD encouraged me before I left that I would just do what I love to do here in my own home...be a mother. I can't adopt them all and bring them home...but I can mother them and tell them of SOMEONE who is their Father and is bring them home. They are no longer "orphans", it isn't "who" they are...who they, and all of us, are is "Children of God."
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13
If we don't go, how will they know?
As you can see, my post on Uganda will be very emotional because the trip and the people really touched my heart. I look forward to telling more about it....
I can't wait to hear more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. Look forward to hearing more about what you did in Uganda, and how God used you.
ReplyDeletemama of 13
Wow...that is so humbling. Hard to imagine as we sit here in our cushy American homes that there are so many who are desperate just for someone to love them.
ReplyDeleteIt's very eye-opening...Thank YOU.
aw, i miss africa already! i am sure y'all do too! I hope that we can meet up in Uganda again one of these days :)
ReplyDeletei look forward to "re-living" the trip through your blog.
love y'all!
I can't wait to hear more, ya'll are such a blessing.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, there simply are no words. I am humbled. What an incredible time you had--I can't wait to see more, and hear more. So amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Shonni! Your words bring it all back for me. I miss Uganda already! I miss the GO team, the Ugandan "brothers" I now have, the African Hearts boys and everything else about our trip. God taught me a lot and I know He is not finished with me in Uganda yet! Maybe we'll be back together some day! I look forward to seeing you again!
ReplyDeleteyour "little brother", James
Bless your heart Shonni~can't wait to hear more. I will keep a box of tissues handy...God is so Good!
ReplyDeleteKimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted
I can't wait to hear more. I'll be emotional right along with you. :)
ReplyDeletetrina
oh such a beautiful post/
ReplyDeleteEnjoy popping over here and soaking in all God has for me wrapped in His love and your words. Your trip brings back sweet memories of our time serving in the bush in Kenya. And hopefully sooner than we realize, we will be back to bring our little Ethiopian hugs and kisses home.
ReplyDeleteBlessings from Costa Rica,
Sarah Dawn
Oh how I miss Africa. It has been 11 years now since I worked there but my heart is still with the children. I am already planning a trip like this when my daughters are a few years older.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that you were able to go and share with them the love of Jesus.... the truth of His hope and to hold them and love them.
ReplyDeleteMy heart cries out with the longing for our family to serve Jesus full time in Africa or China. To share with the people of the Father's love... of salvation through Jesus and to minister to the orphans. God has not opened the doors yet for us to be able to go yet. I know He is preparing my family.... so for now I find myself still saying, "Here I am Lord, send me..." OH, please Jesus, send me.
I have such a restlessness. It is so difficult to not be there. To see those precious little faces and not take them into my arms and share Jesus with them.
Thank you for being HIs hands and feet on this precious journey.
I love the story of the two boys and I know the seed has been planted in the girl you are hugging.
ReplyDeleteIt took 30 years of seed planting for me, but God is faithful. I am His.
Thank you both for sharing your love from Jesus for the kids He created.
Nannette