Uganda Day Two, Three, and Four...Whew!

Hello Friends

We had a power outage last night, so I wasn't able to update again. I did get a lot of pictures posted on facebook. Search for Cornerstone Women and you will see them there.

Day two was Center day. The students usually have center day once a month, even during holiday. We had some praise time and danced and danced with the kids. We also got to go to class with them as they had a 45 min Bible study. Next we had more praise with the choir, Pastor Eva spoke, and then we planted trees celebrating ARMS 20 year anniversary. Finally we got to play games. The best part was of course the children. They clung to us, holding onto to any part they could grab. The shyer ones would just come up rub our skin and run away; they wanted to know if the white would come off. They would laugh and laugh, and rub our hair, so interested in how it felt. The ones who had a hand and arm or leg wouldn't let go even for the opportunity to play a game and win a prize which was candy. It was very touching. That's how important touch, love, and attention was to them. We were exhausted by the end of the day. Please visit the Cornerstone Women's facebook page to view photos of the day, their meals, their classrooms and their faces.

Day three was Sunday. We started the day by worshipping at Gaba church. We sang familiar songs, "Arms Open Wide" and "Let it Rain." The youth was doing all the class teaching that day. Two young people, early twenties, gave their testimonies. One girl talked about how she was sponsored through the Next Generation program. She was very emotional as she spoke of her American sponsor who had supported her since she was a young girl.

Next we drove to church in Buloba. They have an 8:00 am service followed by a 10:00 Bible study. The second service is 10:30 til 1:00. It is long and it is hot, but they are happy to be there. They ask first time visitors to come to the stage and give their name and where they are coming from. This Sunday they had 5 first-timers (not including us) and 4 of them gave full-on testimonies. It was their first time. I couldn't believe it. What a difference. After church we had lunch and spent a little time with the children. We headed back to our guest house early and all the girls took a nice long nap. Later in the evening we had a power outage, but thank God the power came back on and we had fans to sleep with. We had a great night hanging out getting to know one another better.

Day four was today, but this is getting long and I am getting tired, so I will save today for tomorrow. Please know that it was another wonderful day and there is really nothing bad to report; everything has been amazing.

We have a guide her name is Olive and she is great. We were talking to her about coming to America and asking if she would be asking us what is this, what is that, why are they doing that, what does that mean - a million questions. She of course said she would be. She said she was not at all afraid of Eddie's driving, so we said we would take her on a roller coaster if she ever came to visit. Earlier tonight, we showed her a youtube video of the HULK roller coaster. Her mouth dropped open wide and she asked, "Would my intestines come out. I think I shall cry from the moment it starts." Then Florence, the lady who cooks for us, said, "Americans. They are crazy." The people here are so so nice. As a special treat Olive cooked us grasshoppers. Yes, you read that right - fried grasshoppers. Not bad tasting, but when you know that you are eating bugs it doesn't matter what it tastes like. I do think it should be a Uganda trip tradition, however, so beware. We had her try Oreos. Not a fair trade off right? She of course loved them and said her siblings would go crazy for them. We sent the bag home with her. I'm interested to know what impact it might have on their little bellies.

There are so many great stories to tell. I'll share more tomorrow.

with much love,

Tonya

Kids have a lot of energy in every country...

Today we played and played and now we are pooped. I can't wait to share our amazing day, but I will have to fill you in tomorrow.

We are going to try and go to sleep now. "Try", because there is a pretty lively wedding reception going on next door that will go on until midnight. It is 10:22 here, only an hour and a half to go. The good news is the music is in another language, so we don't have to endure the typical wedding reception staples, "Mustang Sally" or "Shout." We did hear "Celebrate" (Kool and the Gang) and "Macarena," so I guess there is still time.

Pray not.

With much love

Tonya

Uganda Day One

Day One:

Our first stop was the bank. We transferred our dollars for shillings. I have to tell you that carrying around a 50,000 bill in any currency is just cool, even if it only translates to about $25. Axl’s got show and tell covered next week, because these things are neat-o. Next we drove to Gaba. Actually, I wouldn’t quite call it driving. It was a mix of driving and flying. Traffic here is intense and the roads are very similar to Alabama clay dirt roads – rough and narrow. Imagine those roads with hundreds of vans, mopeds, bikes, and pedestrians. Add in chickens, goats, and wild cows and you start to get an idea about the driving conditions. Kind of, I left out potholes the size of ditches. Eddie is our “driver.” He drives with one hand on the wheel and the other on the horn, blasting it as if to say, “I will not be stopping so please move and do it quickly.” It’s terrifying and awesome at the same time. Like a roller coaster that you want to end while you’re on it, but can’t wait to get back on once you’re off. We scream and laugh and try to make ourselves as small as possible, thinking it will help us squeeze through the tight spots we have no business even attempting. It’s hilarious.

(These are all cars trying to get out at the same time. Eddie says, "Oh no you don't. We are going to win this race. In America he would be a Nascar Champ.)

Next, we visited the ARM offices in Gaba, including the schools there. The offices are nice, but modest. We got to see how everything works. One of the most interesting parts for me was how the letters are processed. They all go to a central location where 5 or 6 women open and track them. They read them and list any questions that are asked or comments that are made. They also note any gifts that are sent. Then, the letters, with the forms of questions and gifts, are sent to the individual community translators. This ensures that the sponsored child answers every question and every gift receives an acknowledgment and a thank-you. I was very impressed with the attention given to the letters, and I thought the information was helpful in terms of writing future letters. This is not a huge organization. It is very personal and it is treated as such. See earlier post, “You Are Welcome.”

During the school tour, our guide mentioned that the kids were on “Holy Day.” ??? What Holy Day? I know it’s a different culture, but it’s a Christian school surely they don’t have extra Holy Days. So I ask. The guide explained that the students attend school 3 terms and they have breaks in between - still no answer for the Holy Days. My next thought was, “ohhh. They are Muslim holy days and they just don’t want to talk about them.” Okay, makes sense. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered that “Holy Day” translates “holiday,” and if you dumb it down even further you get, “Spring break.” Now I know. 

Our final stop was Buloba. We were so excited. We had so many questions about how it looked and what we would see and finally it was time. It was nothing like I expected, except for the kids. Smiling faces all around. Shy for only seconds. Language was a barrier that was easily transcended with a smile and a camera. They love to have their pictures taken and then to see themselves on the screen. I could write pages and pages about the short time we spent there today. We’re going back almost everyday. As we played and laughed and tried to learn the many names, my ears were constantly perked for the one name I longed to hear, “Judith.” My family has the privilege of sponsoring several children, and while you shouldn’t have a favorite child – I know that’s a sensitive subject for many – Judith is so special to our family. She is Axl’s friend. He prays for every night by name, and it is her life that teaches him so many lessons about being content, grateful, hard working, I could go on and on.

Finally, I saw a woman walking towards me, a little girl pressing against her leg. “Who’s this?” I asked, already knowing the answer. It was Judith - this shy little thing. I knew she would be. While the other kids pictures we receive show kids with these gleaming smiles, Judith exuded reserved. Always seeming a little solemn. Even now my heart overflows and so do my eyes at the sheer joy it was to be in her presence. I wanted to go on and on about how much we love her. I had to restrain myself from completely enveloping her and squeezing my love right into her little heart. Instead I smiled – really big – and hugged her gently, as I held back my tears of relief at seeing her face.

Seeing her made me feel like home. She is a part of our home and our family, and it made me miss Axl so much. I will get to visit her family in a few days and we’ll spend tomorrow playing with all the sponsored children. Even though they are on “Holy Day,” they come to the school for Center, more on that tomorrow. When I know more.

I know that many of you reading this sponsor children. I wish that I knew all of their names to tell you that they are here and real and wonderful and in return could tell them all how truly loved they are by their friends from Alabama. In honor of all of you who do sponsor, I will take every chance I get to hold, love, tickle, play, and enjoy these precious babies.

With much love

Tonya

You Are Welcome

Today we toured the ARM offices in Gaba. "You are welcome." That's how we were greeted by everyone we met. Over and over, room after room, "You are welcome."

"Thank you," we hastily replied in unison. I felt so impolite. Obviously I should be saying thank you, but I wasn't quite sure what for.

I was determined to get it right in the next office. I was prepared to exclaim, "Thank you," the moment we entered the room, but I was too late. "You are welcome" came faster than my lips could move.

Something about the way the words were pronounced the fifth or sixth time around made them finally become clear. You are welcome. Welcome in our offices. Welcome to our country. Welcome to partnering with us in this ministry called African Renewal Ministries.

It was not the sarcastic admonishment of a parent whose child had temporarily forgotten their manners. It was a greeting of complete sincerity. Everyone stopped what they were doing, focused on our presence and seemed genuinely concerned with making us feel welcomed. Tonight as we discussed our day, one of the things that we loved and shared was their sense of "external perspective." The people of Uganda, especially the ones with ARM, expressed a real concern for people other than themselves. Without hesitation, they completely stopped what they were doing to make others feel welcome.

I felt welcomed. First day, first lesson learned. People more than notice when you stop your busyness to care about their presence; they feel it and it feels good.

With much love,

Tonya

Universal Truth

I got word about two weeks ago that I would have the opportunity to speak to a group of Ugandan women. The excitement of sharing God’s truth with the women of Uganda faded quickly as I began to focus on how little I have in common with the women on the other side of the globe. I can’t imagine that self-image is a high priority to women who struggle to provide meals and medicine for their children. My excitement turned to fear. What will I share when I know nothing of their struggles? Who am I to share with them anyway? I’ve seen glimpses of this culture on the videos of teams who have gone before us; and through the children’s visits, I’ve witnessed first hand the overwhelming love and joy that this group of people have for and in their Saviour. They need to be sharing to me. I want some of what they’ve got.

I was recounting my fears to a friend and without hesitation she said, “Share the Word. It’s universal.” Simple. Profound. It was embarrassingly obvious - share the Word. After all, what do I have in common with the middle aged, Jewish men who penned the words of God’s amazing truth? I am neither a man nor Jewish, and I am certainly not middle-aged – not even close. Right? I could list dozens and dozens of differences between Paul, Peter, James and myself, but none of them could compare to the one amazing thing that we share - Jesus. We are loved and redeemed by the same Creator God of the universe. We are broken sinners whose only hope of freedom in found in the blood of Jesus, and we are bound by the truths of the same 66 books wholly inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Our differences are wide. The women of Uganda might not understand my sarcastic humor, but they do understand brokenness, fear, and trial. Just like Paul and just like me. More than that, they understand provision, grace, and what it means to be loved by Jesus, and sweet friends so did Paul and so do I.

Jesus and His word are universal. He is for them, and me, and you. I know that American stories and quirky cultural references won’t tickle the ears of a Ugandan crowd, but the unending message of hope that is the Word has the power to trickle truth into every fiber of their souls.

Please pray alongside me that God’s message will be clear. That He will speak through me, and that no part of me will interfere in what He has in store for these women.

With much love,

Tonya

Trite and True

In three days it's wheels up, off to Africa with a small team of believers longing to share the love of Jesus. Sounds trite, right? “Share the love of Jesus.” Overused. Unoriginal. Uninspired. Yes, in a way. Like so many religious clichés regurgitated on cue, “Jesus love you,” has lost its cultural appeal. But if it’s not about His love then what is it? It’s not the adventure or chance to get away. “Squatty Potty” is not something I look for when considering travel destinations. It’s not obligation. There are hurting souls and broken lives in my very own neighborhood. It’s not attention or the need for pats on my back. Few will even know that I’ve left home. Trite? I’m okay with trite as long the core of the message is still truth. People need to feel the overwhelming, unconditional acceptance and love of a Saviour; that’s a truth that never goes out of style.

Buloba is the community we will visit. Our church, Cornerstone, has partnered with the people there for five years. During that time, God has provided a freshwater well on church property, the beginnings of an actual church structure, and sponsorship and education for 300 Buloban children. God is already at work in this village. We are not going with the focus of sharing the Gospel, these people love Jesus and they worship Him. I mean they worship Him! We are going to love on them. To stand beside them and say I am your friend, your sister in Christ, and I support you, pray for you, love you.

Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on those babies, big babies, children that we sponsor collectively as a church. I know that God will use them to change my life. I pray, please pray alongside me, that my current perspective will be challenged and uprooted. I welcome it, long for it. I pray too that we can truly share the love of Jesus with our friends so far away, and that they understand that it is because of His love for them and our love for Him that we journey across the world, leaving the familiar behind.

This trip is about love. It was love that caused God to send His son on a mission to us, and it is love that sends us on a mission to Africa. So, with all the triteness I can muster I say, “Jesus loves you,” and I pray that you experience that in a very real way today.

With much love,

Tonya