Quiet Lives

I read my daily devotion this morning from God Calling and it was called Quiet Lives, it was based on Matthew 25:21: Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And it follows with some words as if written by God saying, "The world may never see it, the humble, patient, quiet service, but I see it, and My reward is not Earth's fame, Earth's wealth, Earth's pleasures, but the Joy Divine."

Reading through Matthew 13 with all the Parables and how in Jesus' hometown they were far from believers, its evident that its seldom the famous names, the large leaders who willingly search for God's joy and serve faithfully in His name.

So thank you all that willingly and joyfully go and visit the lonely, or care for the sick, thank you to those who clean up the mess of this world, quietly and humbly in only the sight of God for the glory of His kingdom. I'm thinking of many of you that read this blog that have set a great example to me. 

 

Neverland

As I think back to the beginning of my arrival, I realize how much these kids have grown and changed. Emma now can both sou sou (pee) and poop on the potty and no longer wears pampers to bed; I potty trained a boy! Carol can identify almost all her letters. Joshua is such a better reader. Brenda and Annet no longer have the attitude when you correct or discipline them. They all grew in height too!! Sometimes I think I just wouldn't want kids because Never, Neverland doesn't exist, and they'd all grow up and I'd miss their tiny precious years, the years of their innocence. 11.16.12

                                                                       Fauziya

                                                                               Joel

Jumping rope with Auntie Sarah

Just after naptime when delerium is still evident.

 

Friends

At devotion/praise time Cocus and Brenda seemed to be dancing in a similar way and they both noticed it, so Brenda grabbed his hand and told me that Cocus was her friend. (Cocus is the one with the absess in his back from spinal tb, and we've been praying for him a lot this week, just focusing on his emotional well-being and that he would feel encouraged and uplifted.) So Brenda's friendship was a great extra boost to his little ego. Then after our devotion and during prayer time I see Brenda rubbing his head and back. Joshua, the eldest saw it too as the prayer ended and he removed her hand from Cocus (ok, you could think Joshua was jealous and that is why he removed it, it could be some silly childish romance thing), but she turned to Joshua and said, "No, Cocus is my friend" and went back to rubbing his back gently and lovingly, it was the sweetest thing to watch. 11.15.12

Couldn't catch them with the camera in the act of sharing their friendship, but at least you know who is who:

 

On the Mount

I woke up this morning, got the kids ready for school, readied myself and did several loads of laundry, but when I realized I washed my own clothes without soap, I thought, maybe I'm a bit distracted this morning. One might say I woke up on the wrong side of the bed; I didn't respond to anyone with unkindness, but on the inside I wasn't feeling very kind.

Even though yesterday was my day off (and I enjoyed my leisurely day with a run, grocery shopping, lunch at the cafe and working on a project for the kids and concluded with a lengthy, fully encompassing deep discussion with Auntie Jo), I still felt like I wasn't emotionally or spiritually capable of serving today at Mengo Youth Development. So I opted to stay behind, finish doing laundry, make Carol and Don's beds, and spend the bulk of my day in the Word, praying and listening to my favorite Hillsong United songs.

I opted for the Sermon on the Mount as my starting point. It was fulfilling to read, and as my Bible is of the study variety, there was a great discussion on the sermon being about making our inner appearances match our outter appearance, and maybe that's how I was feeling, mismatched from inner to outer. Yes, I woke up, put on a cute skirt and some jewelry, but I wasn't really ready for my day on the inside, and I didn't want to short change the kids in my serving, they deserved the best of me and I just couldn't do it today. I suppose I don't acknowledge this enough in my "normal" life, maybe if I did every day I would be kind and loving even of my enemies, never judging, never worrying, always full of salt and light, and always seeking Him. Probably not, but acknowledging this need to slow down and serve myself even after a day of rest is a good lesson to learn. 11.15.12

 

Verse & Song

Since the children of Uganda learn by repetition, they have memorized a verse for each week I've been here leading them! I'm totally impressed with them and excited for all that they've learned, and hoping they carry this wisdom and the stories with them. Now at random times I'll just say the first (and sometimes second) word of the verse and they complete it.

My first week they learned, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep from being polluted by the world." James 1:27 It is the motto of Rafiki Africa Ministries, I've got a cute video of them doing the motions along with the verse.

Then we learned, "God saw all that He had made and it was very good" Genesis 1:31. While learning about manners and good behavior we learned The Golden Rule, "do unto others as you would have them do to you", Luke 6:31. We memorized at least 7 of the Ten Commandments when we learned about Moses. When reading Noah we learned "I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth" Genesis 9:13. We learned "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I will not sin against thee." while learning the B-I-B-L-E song in sign language one week.

One week was a bit complicated and I didn't get much time to work with them, so I taught them the story about Lazarus dying and the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" and then also told them where the song I had been singing to them was from "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path", Psalm 119:105. While studying Ruth and Naomi's story I taught them Ruth 2:12, " May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." And this week we are learning about Joseph (as in son of Jacob, not Mary and Joseph) so I chose Genesis 45:5, "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."

Next week we are going to discuss thanksgiving and memorize Colossians 3:17, then the last week I am here we are going to work on Psalm 23. They are impressive, right?!

In addition to all these verses, they've all taught me some songs and I've taught them a few, including a prayer my family sings at the dinner table occassionaly: God we thank you (2x), Once again (2x), We will ask your blessing (2x), Amen (2x). I want to teach them 'Beloved, let us love one another', from 1 John 4:7-8.

I sing them a song before they go to sleep most nights, I choose soft hymns because nobody sings hymns anymore, it helps them settle down and they're picking them up too!

Teaching and Learning

This morning the girls were slow and hesitant in getting ready for school because of a cockroach, although they told me it was dead (several hours later when I remembered it was there and to take care of it, I found out it wasn't really dead, just in severe pain, I ended the pain). Then Oscar started screaming and crying during nap time, and I rushed in to see a lizard on the ceiling, the little guy was less than two inches long and this 4' kid was freaking out. Seriously, most of the time we are outside one of them picks up a bug and brings it to me to see, and here they are bugging out, is it because it is inside their home? They are so funny! (By the way, haven't seen the mouse recently, maybe he found another home!)

Today I really enjoyed my afternoon with the kids, we saw these beautiful multi-colored birds fly into the tree just outside our compound, and they were so enamored by it. They sat with me watching the birds and talking about it for quite some time; at one point I couldn't see the last one in the tree, but they all could, I can't remember which kid it was but one of them said, "Auntie, you take your goggles (sunglasses) off, then you will see." It is funny how they process things sometimes. I'd like to think its my enthusiasm at things like birds, etc. that get them excited, but then I realize that they run to tell me about the tiniest bug or random thing they see, so it is just how they are! (Ohmygoodness I sound like my mother!!)

After our bird watching I wanted to work with Fauziya on letters and phonics, but the other kids wanted to participate too, so we had an impromtu lesson at the picnic table this afternoon, me donning lowercase letters with a picture on the back. I had the youngest kids tell me the letters, and the older kids share the sound it makes, then we all guessed what picture was on the back. I couldn't believe how attentive they were! I told Joshua he could read me a book after school every day this week and he's holding me to it, except today he read it to whomever was interested, and that means most of the kids. They really do love learning and helping whenever possible!

Uncle Joseph (the director) left for America today to join his wife and daughter and spend the holidays in the states while fundraising and attending speaking engagements. I was a bit teary-eyed watching the kids say good-bye to him, knowing my turn is coming and I am going to miss them terribly. Before I came to Uganda I really struggled with the thought of being another person that enters their lives and leaves them, much like their parents, grandparents, etc. Someone tried to encourage me that I am giving them what they need while I am here, and that is what my purpose is and I have to own only that level of responsibility, love them as much as I can, teach them, and help them grow in godliness, wisdom and knowledge. I'm struggling with this concept again, but the inevitable will happen, I will leave; we all have seasons and relationships that come and go. 11.13.12

The best view

I was walking to buy eggs the other morning, we buy 30 eggs for 8500 UGX (about $3) once or twice a week. Instead of recycled cardboard egg cartons they have plastic ones you take with you, so I have three of them in my hand and I only have to walk pretty much the distance of taking the kids to school, maybe a little over a 1/4 mile. As I round this one turn, it is my favorite view of Kampala, usually I am walking there around 7:30 or 8, the sun hasn't been up long and there are just these two beautiful hills looking back at you in all their glory. I get to this same point and I thank God for the beauty of His creation. But I also notice all the sounds I hear on my walk, a cow mooing, a chicken clucking, a rooster crowing, some unidentified bird singing, a goat bleating, a dog barking, children playing, water running. It's really spectacular! And I remark about this view to my Ugandan friends, but they don't notice it; and I am reminded of that great verse, I think maybe its in one of the gospels, that a prophet is without honor in his own country. How often we miss the beauty of things right before our very eyes.