All good things come to an end

Well I've been home two days now and the stories and feelings are beginning to arrange themselves. To begin I will say that just as the dust from the Kampala streets will probably be present in my lungs for the rest of my life, the love for Africa will exist in my heart. I don't know entirely when or how I will return but if God calls me back I will surely not resist.

The final week was more of the same type of ministry only better. I put my all into each visit we made, knowing it would be my last chance. Things started out at Remand home, the juvenile detention hall. One of the Americans in the house found the courage to share a really personal message with the children. She talked on sexual immorality and gave her own testimony as compelling support. It was the first time that I've seen the children pay more attention to the sermon than the singing. Afterwards, a few of them came up to share similar testimonies by opening up to levels we had neither expected nor experienced before.

On the third to last day we did some door-to-door evangelism. Unlike in the US, where people partaking in this are often met with rudeness and annoyance, families in Uganda always invite us in and are at least willing to let us pray for them. During the trip, it had been my intention to pick a child who really touched my heart, and to sponsor them when I return to America. The first house we visited was about 10 square meters and home to parents and 7 children! The father who we talked to was a very God-fearing man who worked an honest job but just couldn't afford to support all of his family. He was the cook at the local university but during the summer he lived off the little he earnt during the semester. Of the 7 children, he could only afford to send 5 to school. The other 2 were at home when we visited and though they spoke little english, they followed us around for the rest of the morning to all of the other houses. Many young kids will follow white people asking for money but these girls just held our hands and were content with our presence. Later on that evening, I got a few people together to visit the house again to officially announce that I wanted to sponsor one of the children, Sharon, 6. All of her siblings were home from school and they were all so excited and grateful at the news. We also took information about the youngest child, Valencia, 4. She should be due to start kindergarten next year if the money is provided. It is my intention to find a sponsor for her so if you think you'd like to help, let me know. The money goes towards school fees, school uniform, books, and lunch at school as well as for a mentor from the organization to go and check-up on the child each month.

Another highlight from the final week was the church service on Sunday. A staff member of Empower-A-Child was the pastor of this church which is located in a village about an hour from Kampala. It has only been open for 8 months and already has a congregation of around 100. The village is infamous for its witchcraft and struggles with violence. The service actually meets in the community hall, the same building that the witchdoctors get together in to pray to their spirits. The pastor has been attacked twice since beginning the post. Amazingly, the introduction of the church has brought a new life to the village, a claim that almost everyone seemed to mention. The churchgoers were so intense, the service lasted for 3 1/2 hours and was followed by a community lunch at someone's house. At one point in the service, members of the congregation are welcomed to come forward and testify. One lady from our group ventured up and broke down in tears of joy because she was so taken with the love that filled the air. We all thought that it was our favorite church and to think that it didn't even have its own building says a lot!

My flight was late on Monday evening so I was able to conclude things nicely on my last day. During the course of the month I visited the same babies home around 5 times. Right from the first time I had been fond of one of the boys named Joseph. Each time I would go back and look out for him. He quite literally was the cutest baby I have ever set my eyes on and as a payment for his peeing on me, I madly photographed him. I hope to post those pictures sometime. Monday morning was our final trip to the home and getting to see Joseph one more time before I left was a great way to start the day. I arrived back to the house to my final lunch of rice and beans coupled with a quality conversation with one of the Ugandan volunteers. In the afternoon I packed and washed obsessively while everyone planned for the following week. As was tradition when someone leaves the house to go back home, I was placed at the certain of a circle of people and prayed over before I left. Before praying, people often offer to give encouraging words to the one leaving. I was so blessed by some of the things that were said to me and couldn't thank everyone enough for the time that I spent there. The feeling of unity that we had as a team, the way everyone built eachother up as we are instructed to do so, and the complete inclusion of everyone in the house were all such an inspiration for returning home. I choked out a few words before I got in the van and gave about a bazillion hugs.

I returned home two days ago and the shock that I felt at the culture difference was huge: I went to a restaurant and couldn't bear to leave food on my plate; I saw a building project my dad was about to start and couldn't wait to get stuck in; A random conversation with a group of teenagers reminded me of the things many of us throw our lives away for. I hope the shock slowly disintegrates but I also hope that I don't slip back into the 'good life' that I had before. Uganda has changed my life and I am so grateful for the chance that I was afforded. I thank you all for your prayers and urge you to continue. Each seed that was planted needs to be followed up on and worked on. I have faith that our God will deliver on that front. In the words of the primary kid's favorite song, "God's not dead...NO...He's alive!"