The Expression of Love

We got up this morning to an American breakfast of pancakes. After quickly eating Liz and I headed out for the walk to the church; down the same path we are so familiar with now. We like to get there in time for the praise and worship time before the sermon. The various children’s choirs perform by singing and dancing and they are much fun to watch and listen to. Their voices are so pure and they just sing from their hearts. Today many of them wore the dresses they picked out yesterday (the one’s made for the Haiti mission) and they all looked so cute in their new digs. There seems to be no end to the singing and yet it is as if time stands still. I just sat there mesmerized by their voices. Please take a minute and close your eyes after you read this and really try to envision the environment in which they worship. The room is probably 30 feet by 20 feet and there are easily 150 people sitting in that space. The floors are made of concrete. There is no alter; instead a blackboard that has been written on so many times that prior writings are still visible. Windows are just holes in the walls where bricks have not been placed; but they are certainly not square holes. They are random shapes. There is no electricity and so a battery box is brought to plug in a keyboard that is lugged to the church each week (no easy feat because it is extremely heavy). The pews are hard wooden benches that are designed to sit four comfortably that cram in six to seven. The walls have random writings on them – none of them Christian related. Today was a good day because there was a breeze that came through the “windows”. But last Sunday was miserable. There was no breeze at all and it was so hot. Two of the older children lead the service (the worship portion) and they do a wonderful job. There is such respect in the church.

Today’s service was the first time that Emma Aliau preached. He was so nervous beforehand and I could see him sitting in the back of the church with his head in his hands and his legs tapping up and down. I walked back to him and asked him if I could pray over him. He accepted my offer and I was so blessed to be able to do so for him. I prayed for comfort, peace and for God to speak through him. I prayed for calmness to overcome him and for him to be able to speak his heart to the kids. John Bosco was his translator for Liz and me. He talked of God’s love for us and for us not to judge others. As he spoke of different Bible verses Jesca (the kid’s housemother) read those verses for the kids. It was great to see her heart as well. He did a great time and I was so proud of him. The kids welcomed him with applause when Phil said he would be talking today. And when he finished they applauded again. He is such a great kid and is such a blessing to the kids.

After the service Susan was supposed to pick us up at Church and we were going to go to lunch before meeting the kids back at Phils for Bible study and a celebration of Liz’s birthday. Little Lizzy turned 20 today! But in typical Uganda style Susan was not there and didn’t show up for over an hour. So there we sat…waiting! Fortunately I had my camera and that entertained me for a while but, unfortunately, not long enough! She finally came and off we went, but not before making several stops along the way! Meanwhile the kids were coming back to Phil’s at 2 pm for the study and we hadn’t even gotten to the restaurant yet. I just don’t understand Uganda time and I think it is fair to say I never will. We stopped at the restaurant and ordered our food (the same restaurant we ate at last year where we had fish) and then left to go see Faith. Faith is so grown up. I couldn’t believe how big she has gotten. We were hoping she could go to lunch with us but the school would not release her. There was a program that she had to attend but we did spend a little time at the school loving on her. Tamara, I did give her your notes and I got a hug from her for you, the two girls and Ken. I took a lot of pictures of her and she smiled in all of them. She is still as precious as can be.

By the time we got back to the restaurant about an hour later, the fish was still not ready. Uganda time…again! They are just not in a hurry…ever!! Meanwhile, the kids have now been at Phil’s for over two hours waiting for us to return and we are still nowhere ready to head in that direction. Finally lunch arrives, the whole fish, head and eyes included (Liz called the birthday card and pointed the head in my direction) and we begin to eat. At close to five (now three hours since the kids were asked to be at the house) we finally begin our trek home. Side note: Liz, Phil and I have decided to head to Jinja tomorrow MORNING to do some shopping. Liz and I are adamant that this happens in the morning so that we can spend the afternoon with the kids. In the morning they are all in school so we wouldn’t be able to see them any way. So I am being steadfast that we leave early. As a result of this I am a little hesitant to have Susan as our driver. Mornings to Susan can mean anytime between 1-4 PM. So this was brought up at lunch (Scovia was with us as well) and Susan has insisted she can be on time. I continued to say I want to run on American time tomorrow. Scovia has promised me that she will throw Susan out of their house in time to be here by 9:30. With only four days left we want to spend all the time we have left with the kids so I am praying that just for this one time she will be an honorary American!

On the way back to Phil’s we make one more stop. This time we stop at a store and Susan asks us all to wait in the car. All I can think is this is more time away from the kids who by now have been waiting forever. After waiting another fifteen minutes in the car (which at this point felt like hours) we finally got back to the house…and there were all the kids. We took Liz back to our room and told her she had to stay there until someone came for her. Esther and Ida had baked cakes for her and for the kids to share to celebrate her big day. Once all twenty candles had been placed, Sylivia Nangobi and Paul Umo were sent back to get the birthday girl. But they were sent back with a blindfold. After they attempted to blindfold her unsuccessfully Liz finally blindfolded herself. They did lead her down the hallway and out the back door where all the kids greeted her. They then proceeded to sing Happy Birthday. Liz then helped Esther serve all the kids a little sliver of cake. It was a special moment and I’m sure it is a birthday she will remember for a long time. After the kids went home she came inside and opened a birthday present from Susan. I must say she was a little leary; you would be too if you knew Susan. She was sure that whatever it was, was going to jump out at her. But instead it was three little plastic, squeaky lambs; blue, pink and white. She keeps telling me she is going to annoy me all the way home on the plane. I may have to “lose” them between now and next Tuesday…

Before the kids left I wanted to leave them with a positive message of God’s love and the love that Liz and I both feel for them. Well I expected this to be a short and easy talk but my emotions got the best of me. I wanted them to know that God loves them and that unlike any human He will never leave them alone. That He is always there and He can always be counted on. I told them that Liz and I both believe very strongly in the Lord and that I hoped they would take the time to develop a relationship with him that would continue to grow through their lifetime. I also told them how thankful Liz and I were that we were here (about this time I lost it and the tears started streaming down my cheeks) and how much we love them; how precious they are; and how much we have loved spending time with them. I also told them that we are going to be so sad to leave them when we return home and that we would be praying for them and that they will always be in our hearts. As I looked around at their faces I realized how blessed I have been to have them be a part of my life. They are such a joyous group of kids. I certainly won’t remember all of them but there are many who have touched my heart in such a special way. And I will miss them terribly. It seems unbelievable that our time with them is coming to an end.

There have certainly been frustrating moments, sometimes frustrating days. We’ve run through a compendium of emotions but in the end we will be blessed to have spent the time with the kids. I am so thankful to God for the strength and the energy to have kept going day after day. He has taken me on a roller coaster ride – ups and downs. He has given me a friend for life in Liz. I will add her to my collection of daughters. Kari and Sam you still remain the only ones on my Christmas list!! I love you all.